“What time was this?”
“Must have been in the neighborhood of two o’clock.”
The sheriff shot a questioning glance at Mr. Haley.
“It was Len; no doubt about it,” said that worthy, nodding. “He’s only a kid and I s’pose he got scared when he found himself alone in the dark.”
“You don’t know which way he was going at that time?” asked the sheriff, turning again to the boys.
“It would be hard to say. At one time the cries seemed to be nearer, then got farther, and finally ceased altogether. We all heard them, including the ladies, and none of us went back to bed until everything was quiet.”
“Let’s see,” said the sheriff; “I didn’t quite catch your names.”
“Mine’s Jim Barlow. This is Gerald Blank. We’re members of a camping party from Baltimore. We arrived in the mountains yesterday morning for a two weeks’ stay.”
“Blank?” repeated the sheriff. “Blank? Any relation to Blank, the broker?”