"Why?" Dalzell wanted to know, "This is the center of all the excitement in town to-night."
"Yes," Prescott replied, "but as soon as Mrs. Dexter thinks of it she'll send for us and offer more thanks and rewards. We can get away 'most any time now. And there comes her special policeman. Dexter won't be back to-night, anyway."
So the Grammar School boys slipped away, but they had added another page to the history of Gridley.
Dexter, with his usual luck, appeared to have made a safe retreat. The police paid a visit to his former cave up the road, but did not catch him there, although a police guard was kept at the cave for three days.
But Dick received a postal card, on the back of which was printed:
"If you ever interfere with me again, I promise you that your luck is at an end!"
The message was unsigned, but the message was postmarked at Gridley.