“The teeth of the dog drew blood, as you can see, my boy,” he remarked, holding the article out to Tom. “I should say that rascal will have a most decided limp to his gait for some days to come.”
“Then everywhere I go I’ll keep on the lookout for any man who walks with a cane, and limps as though each step caused him pain,” suggested Tom, perhaps in a semi-humorous mood, though he hardly felt as though the subject was one to be treated lightly.
“Perhaps I had better send this fragment of cloth to the detective who’s looking for Adolph Tuessig,” continued Mr. Raymond reflectively. “It might afford him an excellent clue, in case he manages to find the German secret agent of the Kaiser.”
“You seem to feel absolutely certain, Father, that this man must have been the same thief who visited the house before.”
“There is no question about it in my mind, Son,” returned the other firmly. “He has realized that what he managed to secure is only a fragment of the whole; and so he either came back himself, or else sent an accomplice, to try to find the rest of the papers containing my secret invention.”
As the air was cold, and neither of them had fully dressed, the two spent no more time in the open, saying a last word of commendation to the dog, and then retiring indoors.
In the morning Tom investigated, and could easily see where the would-be thief had scrambled so hastily over the fence; for footprints led to the spot, and by looking closely he could even detect tiny specks of a suggestive red stain on the boards, that told the tragic story.
When Jack came he showed a tremendous amount of interest in the story, and had to be taken over the whole ground, as well as pet Duke and compliment him on his staying qualities. To all of this praise the bulldog seemed to listen with more or less appreciation, if the jerking of his abbreviated tail could be accepted as evidence.
That day would see them off. The minutes dragged in a way, because both boys were becoming very nervous over the parting scenes, which they dreaded a little. But it was over at last, and they boarded the afternoon train bound for New York.
When they arrived in the great metropolis the afternoon was well on toward its close. Indeed, already the shades of evening had begun to gather as they took a taxicab and with their steamer trunks rode down to the dock from which their vessel was to leave at some indefinite time, perhaps before sunrise on the morrow.