Bob took the lantern and made a close search. But though there were foot-marks, there were too many to trace out those made by the swindler.
“What is beyond here?” asked the young photographer as he returned the lantern to the spring wagon.
“This cow-path leads to Gus Freeman’s barn-yard.”
“Is it far?”
“Quite a walk. There is a short cut over the fields.”
“Then supposing we take a walk up that way? We may head the fellow off.”
“That’s so. Wait till I tie both horses and we’ll go.”
To a person not accustomed to outdoor life, walking over the rough fields would have been no easy task, but Bob was used to it, and he easily kept up with Hicks’s long strides.
When they reached the barn-yard of which Hicks had spoken, they found it dark and silent. The house stood some distance away, but there, also, was no sign of life.
“He must have branched off,” said Hicks, as they came to a halt near the stile.