“But that was more than an hour ago; I am quite recovered now, my dears,” laughed Mr. Gilroy.
“That makes no difference with us—we were ordered to see that you kept quiet,” declared Ruth.
“I can keep just as quiet while riding in the car with the Chief as if I sat on this chair,” argued Mr. Gilroy.
“Impossible! The excitement of the chase will give you a fever,” said Julie, emphatically.
“Why, they are two poor convicts who are most likely in chains by this time. Our posse has captured them long before this, and all I have to do is to pay off my men,” explained the stubborn patient.
“Well, you’ll find they are not quite tame, or as easy to secure, as you fancy,” ventured the Chief. “One of those rascals is a member of that gang that tried to bomb New York City recently. And the other one is a leader of a group of ‘Reds’ that the secret police rounded up lately. Both, being aliens, were kept in jail until they could be deported. But they managed to make their escape.”
“How did you get the orders to capture them?” asked Mr. Gilroy.
“Why, the Police Chiefs all over the country were sent secret communications with descriptions and photographs of the fellows; just the other day, a young man who lives with his granny on this mountain, said he had seen two evil-looking tramps somewhat resembling the pictures. So we quickly planned to start a round-up when we heard from you. Then last night I got a message over the wire that two suspects were trailed as far as Junction or its vicinity, and we were to look carefully to see if any disguised strangers were hanging about our town.”
“Well, well! This is certainly interesting, but now I am more determined than ever to go with you when you start. Are we waiting for anything?” said Mr. Gilroy.
“Nothing except the consent of your nurses,” laughed the Chief.