"Where are you youngsters going all by yourselves?" he asked in a friendly way.
"Out on a ranch," George answered promptly.
"Near Grand Forks," put in Sammy.
"We're going to stay all the rest of the Summer," added Bob.
"Is that so?" said the other genially. "Quite a long trip for boys of your age without any grown-ups with you. I was born and brought up on a ranch myself."
He went on to tell them many interesting things about ranch life, and they listened with the most absorbing interest. There was a shiver and yet a delightful thrill in the feeling that they were actually talking to a real criminal. How the boys in Fairview would envy them when they should tell them about it!
HE TOLD THEM MANY INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT RANCH LIFE.