“I would think he’d make a good one,” said Ned. “He’s always finding out things.”
“Well, when he was down to headquarters the other afternoon,” went on Jerry, “he says he overheard the chief tell the sergeant in charge to tell the special detectives about some happening. This made Andy suspicious, as he had read about the big private detective agency which supplies officers. He says he saw a couple of strange men go into the chief’s office a short time afterward, and stay for some time.”
“Oh, Andy’s always imagining things,” said Ned, sending the motor boat closer in toward the shore.
“But I think he’s right this time,” spoke Jerry. “He showed me the men he had reference to, and I think they are detectives of some kind.”
“What do you suppose it’s all about?” asked Bob, getting his mind off something to eat for a few minutes.
“Oh, you’ve woke up, have you, Chunky?” asked Jerry. “Well,” he went on, “there’s some connection between the police boat, the strange detectives and robberies along the river, that’s certain. What it is I haven’t found out. But I’m going to. It may be that Noddy and Bill are mixed up in it, and if they are, it may concern us. Noddy seems to have a habit of getting us into trouble along with himself and his cronies.”
“But I haven’t heard of any robberies,” spoke Ned.
“Of course not,” said Jerry. “They’re keeping them quiet, that’s why. But I happen to know that the grist mill, down near Tiverton falls was entered the other night, and quite a sum of money stolen.”
“You don’t mean it!” Ned exclaimed. “Why didn’t you tell us before?”