"Where's the mail?" he asked.
"There's the newspaper bag," said Andy; "here's the registered mail pouch. Those thieves took the other bag of mail."
"They did? Do you hear, officer? Get after them quick, won't you? Never mind us. Describe them, kid."
"How can I, when I never saw them?" said Andy.
Ripley groaned and wrung his hands. He was in a frenzy of distress and indecision.
"See here," spoke the officer to him. "You had better go after that horse. Your wagon isn't worth fishing up. Got all there was in it, lad?"
"Yes, sir," answered Andy.
"Very well, bundle that bag and those packages in here, and come with me. It's good you held on to that registered stuff."
Ripley started after the runaway horse. The officer hurried townwards, questioning Andy closely. He stopped at the post-office and made some inquiries among the crowd loitering about its vicinity. Then he drove to the town hall, went into his office, jumped in the buggy again, and they proceeded toward the circus.
"I've got a vague description of your two men," he told Andy, "but that isn't much, with so many strangers in town. You think they are partners of that Rapp, whom the circus people know?"