They reached the city with their prisoner, and put him in jail.
But a startling surprise awaited them.
The chief of police came in with little Joe Crosby, alive and well.
In answer to their startled inquiries about him, they were told that Martin Murdock’s bullet had failed to do its murderous work.
The boy had fallen wounded and senseless.
When Frank carried the detective into his house a resident of Readestown had come along in a carriage, saw the boy and took him into the vehicle.
Carrying him home and summoning a doctor, he had maintained secrecy about the matter, and had the little fellow completely cured.
Long after Frank had gone in pursuit of Murdock he had taken the boy back to Chicago and put his case into the hands of the police.
There Joe had been ever since.
If he had perished Murdock would have been hung; as it was, the villain was forced to make restitution, a new guardian was appointed for the boy, and he prospered after that.