CHAPTER II
HE DOES A GOOD TURN AND MAKES A DISCOVERY
“What became of the Schmitts?” Tom asked.
“It’s aisy ter see ye’ve ben away from here,” said Pete.
“I’ve only been back five days,” Tom explained.
“Wal, if ye’d been here two weeks ago, ye’d know more’n ye know now about it. Ye’re a jack ashore, that’s what ye are. Ye’ve got ter be spruced up on the news. Did ye know the school house burned down?”
“Yes, I knew that.”
“Wal—about this Schmitt, here; thar wuz two detectives come out from Noo Yorrk—from the Fideral phad’ye call it. They wuz making inquiries about Schmitt. Fer th’ wan thing he wuz an aly-an, ’n’ they hed some raysons to think he wuz mixed up in plots. They wuz mighty close-mouthed about it, so I heerd, ’n’ they asked more’n they told. Nivir within half a mile uv Schmitt did they go, but by gorry, he gits wind uv it ’n’ th’ nixt mornin’ not so much as a sign uv him wuz thar left.
“Cleared out, loike that,” said Pete, clapping his hands and spreading his arms by way of illustrating how Adolf Schmitt had vanished in air.