"I hope so. I was coaxed into this. I used to be an honest man," responded the freight thief.
"Well, before you die, you'll learn that 'honesty is the best policy,'" observed Sam.
"I've learned that already. I've lost all my old friends, and I can't show myself anywhere any more."
The crowd had to tramp a good mile and a half before they reached a farmhouse where they could procure a team and a sleigh big enough to take all of them to Oak Run. Then they set off at a fast pace and at about supper time reached the Rover farm.
Those at the farm were much astonished at the "game brought in," as Anderson Rover declared. The boys waited long enough to get a meal, and gave the prisoner something to eat, and then they set off for Oak Run with their father and Dangler. Here the freight thief was placed in the custody of the local constable, who locked the man up in the garret of his own home.
That night and the next day the telegraph and telephone were kept busy, and some officers of the law from Ithaca visited the old Sobber homestead. They found the place deserted and no trace of Merrick, Pike or Tad Sobber was to be found.
"It is too bad," declared Dick, when the news came in. "I thought sure we'd round up the rascals."
From the authorities the boys learned one thing—that the Sobber homestead was on the same road that ran past the Stanhope cottage.
"That may account for Merrick coming and looking in the window that night," said Dick. "Maybe he was traveling past and wanted to see what was going on."
"More than likely he was looking for a chance to rob the place," was Tom's grim comment.