One thing that puzzled the excited citizens of Gridley was the placid way in which the chief of police and the sheriff of the county appeared to take the sad news.
Mr. Pollock drove his car as close to camp as he could, after which he and his companions hurried over the uneven ground until they came upon five high school boys seated outside.
"How did it all work out, Harry?" shouted Dick, leaping up as soon as he saw his approaching comrade.
"It is working in great shape, you young scoundrel!" roared Editor Pollock, gripping Dick Prescott's hand. "And the yarn is going to make the biggest and best midsummer sensation that the 'Blade' has ever had!"
Mr. Pollock and Len Spencer remained at camp for something like an hour and a half, enjoying a trout luncheon before they left.
It was four o'clock in the afternoon when editor and reporter reached the "Blade" office.
At five o'clock the "Blade" put out a bulletin, around which a crowd collected in no time. The crowd grew to such proportions that the policeman on the beat tried in vain to make it "move on."
That bulletin read:
"Lake Tragedy All a Tremendous Hoax: Read the 'Blade's' six o'clock extra."
At a few minutes before six o'clock Len Spencer began to arrange one of the street windows of the "Blade" office.