[CHAPTER FIFTEEN—A FURNITURE SHOWER]
News of the raid on Dandelion Camp traveled swiftly, so that the head of police in Elmertown heard of the posse and the reward offered to capture the convicts.
He was going down the street after hearing the story and, meeting Mr. Allison, stopped him.
“I suppose the scouts came home this afternoon,” he said.
“The scouts! Why, no—why should they?” asked Mr. Allison.
“Is it possible that you have not heard?”
“Heard—heard what? Has anything terrible happened?” cried the frightened father.
Now, the policeman knew that no one in Elmertown had heard the story, but he liked to create an effect, so he explained carefully, “Why, two convicts got away from State’s prison and were hiding on that mountain where your girls are camping.”
“Good heavens! What happened?”
“Nothing more than their camp was broken up. All the food-stuff and furniture are gone. The men stole everything and what they could not carry away, they broke to bits.”