"But what shall I do with this, sir?" asked Frank, holding up a package wrapped in newspaper.
"I don't care; any old thing. But what is it, Frank?" asked the chief, turning as he was about to hurry away.
"Why, the stuff that was in the leather bag!" replied the boy, quietly.
Chief Hogg gasped for breath. He could hardly believe his ears. The idea of a mere boy having outwitted so clever a pair of rascals as those whom he was hunting just then staggered his belief.
"Say, Frank Allen, do you mean to say that you were that smart as to empty out the bag before putting it under the seat for a bait?" he asked, showing his excitement in his trembling voice.
"Yes, sir. You see I rather expected that those fellows might come after us, and demand the bag, so I made a package of the stuff. Then I half filled the bag with stones, so that they wouldn't be disappointed too suddenly! But I never thought they'd just slick it out of the back of the buggy without letting us know," remarked Frank.
"Well, that is a great trick you played. I'm just thinking how mad they're going to be when they open that bag, and find the rocks lying there. Here, Tom, you squeeze in with the boys, and go back with 'em. They may need protection, with all that boodle they're carrying now. I depend on you to see that the package isn't undone till I get back. Bill, we'll take a turn down the road, and perhaps we might happen across a pair of fellows running wild."
"Two to one they make for the railroad, and skip out of this part of the country like a streak. They'll know now the cry will go out, after these boys get in with the stolen rig. But I'm game to make the try, Chief," responded the man called Bill.
Chief Hogg actually shook hands with each of the boys before he left them.
"I might have expected that you'd get the better of those rogues, Frank. Sure, the fellow who outpoints you has to be an early riser. I've seen you play ball, and I've watched you skate, and I know!" he said, with Columbian pride.