So Harry, who had expected it, served as a guide on the return, and conducted them safely to the wagon.
Reuben was paid for his service with a dollar bill, which he declared he should have considered satisfactory for a whole day’s labor.
Harry was about to say good-by to his companions, but they advised him to ride back with them to a point on the road where he could make his way to Waybridge without the trouble of passing through the wood, besides having a less distance to go.
“What time is it?” he asked.
“Two o’clock,” answered one of the detectives, consulting his watch.
“Only two o’clock!”
Harry could scarcely believe it, so much had happened since he got up in the morning, yet it was even so. It had taken very little time to do his business in the city, as we know, and almost half the day still lay before him.
Harry thought of what he had accomplished with pardonable pride and satisfaction. He had frustrated the plans of two daring thieves, caused the arrest of one of them, and the probable speedy arrest of the other, arranged for the restoration to the owner of a valuable property, and earned for himself the munificent sum of two hundred and fifty dollars.
Nothing particular happened on his homeward walk.
“Got home so soon, Harry?” asked Uncle Obed, as our hero entered the little cottage.