"I don't think I'll stay," and Link Merwell moved still farther away. "I'll meet you later, you know where."
"See here, Link! Don't be in such a hurry," cried Dave, advancing toward the youth. "I want to talk to you."
"I know your game, Dave Porter! You want to catch me and hand me over to the authorities!" exclaimed Link, and showed more fear than ever.
"What makes you think that?"
"Never mind, you're not going to catch me this way! Don't forget, Porton. I'll see you later," and thus speaking, Link Merwell turned and started away on a swift walk. Then, as Dave went after him, he broke into a run, and reaching the roadway, dived into the woods beyond.
"My, my!" came from old Professor Potts. "David, why did he run away?"
"He's afraid of being arrested; that's why, Professor," explained our hero. "Don't you remember, he is one of the villainous fellows who robbed Mr. Wadsworth's jewelry works a year or so ago?"
"Oh, yes, to be sure!" murmured the old gentleman. "I remember now. What an awful thing for a young man like that to be such a criminal!"
"You say he is a criminal?" asked Ward Porton, curiously.
"He certainly is," answered Dave.