"Thank you," said Ralph, showing the value of this information in manner and face.
"Do you know them?" inquired the old woman eagerly.
"I think I do," said Ralph.
"Can you find them?"
"They will not be hard to locate," answered Ralph definitely. "Do not worry, ma'am. You have given me a very clever clew as to the robbers. I think I know who has got the papers that were in that little tin box."
"Oh, be sure to let me know if you get back those papers, won't you?" pressed the old woman anxiously.
"I certainly shall," promised Ralph.
He bade mother and son good-bye. Then Ralph proceeded in the direction of the old Farrington factory.
Great crowds lined the ravine and surrounded the site of the factory. This had been burned to the ground. The ravine in places was still a nest of fire, but the flames were confined there. The fires in the grass and in the shrubbery had been beaten out.
Ralph passed from crowd to crowd, gleaning many a bit of exciting gossip.