“I must corner Barker and make him tell me the whole truth,” was his one conclusion. “If mother is alive, I want to know it. I’m not going to be a nobody any longer.”
Half-way to Dartinville Bob met Frank driving a bay horse at a furious rate.
“I have telegraphed for the detectives,” said the young man. “They will be on hand this evening.”
“Then what is your awful hurry?”
“I have a clew as to the whereabouts of Barker, Grogan, and that fair-ground swindler. Come along, and I will tell you how I caught it.”
Bob eagerly assented, and the two turned off into a side road, leading to a hilly district, rather hard to travel.
On the way Frank explained how he had got on the track. While telegraphing at Dartinville a stranger had sent a message to Stampton. He had written out the message twice, throwing the first sheet away.
“The stranger’s manner excited my curiosity,” Frank went on, “and I picked up the slip. It read: ‘Meeting at the red house on Rayville Road. B., G. and C. there. To-morrow sure.’ I knew it meant Barker, Grogan, and Casco.”
“They have some big plan on hand,” returned Bob, “and we must stop their evil work. Let us drive as fast as we can.”
On and on they went, Bob on the way relating to Frank what old Blake had confessed.