“There was some one with him,” the chief said.
“How can you tell?” asked Ned.
For answer the police official pointed to another series of footprints in the dust. They were smaller than those with the arrow mark, and bore no distinguishing imprint.
The board, a plank about ten feet long, had been dragged from a store room as the marks in the dust showed. It had been drawn back only part way, probably because the thieves had been in too much of a hurry to leave after securing their booty.
Following the chief the boys descended the stairs from the lodge room. The recent developments put a new light on the matter, though the boys did not see how they could lead to the detection of the thieves.
“I must have a talk with some of the tenants of this place,” the chief remarked.
They had reached the street by this time, and the boys were about to leave. At that instant, Mr. Nixon, Noddy’s father came running up to the head of the police force.
“I want your help!” Mr. Nixon exclaimed.
“What’s the matter?” asked the chief.
“Noddy has been kidnapped!”