"Oh, school wasn't so bad," declared Frank. "We had good times there; didn't we Billy?"
"Sure we did. I'll never forget how you fellows threw a scare into me the night you had on the black beards. I sure did think Shackmiller and his gang had me cornered."
"And that was what made you act so frightened all the while?" asked Frank. "Fear of losing that paper you carry?"
"That was it. I'm not half as nervous as I was. By the way, I think I'll send my uncle a message."
"What about?" asked Andy.
"Oh, just to let him know we're on our way, and that Shackmiller has been left behind."
They filed into the nearest telegraph office, and Billy soon had the message written out. As he was paying for it, the operator remarked:
"Sageville, Kansas, eh? I don't often get messages for there. But this is the second one that has passed over the wires to-day for that place."
"It is?" exclaimed Billy. "Was the other one to my uncle?"
"I don't remember. I just remember the name Sageville. The message only passed through this office. It didn't originate here. It came from Northup, in Pennsylvania."