“Tell me first, have you heard anything from Jerry?” demanded the other.
“Not the least thing. But I’ve been making up a plan that it seems we will have to follow, since you come back alone,” observed Frank.
Of course this was an invitation for Bluff to unload, and tell what he had accomplished besides getting his gun just before starting back.
“Sheriff out hunting the hobo thieves, just as you feared. No one could say as to when he would return. Might be in an hour, and again, perhaps, it would not be for the balance of the day,” he began.
“You waited until you got tired and then left a note for him?” asked Frank.
“Just what I did, fellows. The whole community is aroused. Seems like these two hoboes must be yeggmen for keeps. At any rate several robberies occurred on the night following the affair on the steamer. A farmer reported that his place was entered and some money and other things taken. Then the thieves broke open the storage warehouse over in Newtonport, and rummaged through a lot of stuff. No one knows what they took there, but they left everything in a great upset. The local militia company in our town is out helping the sheriff hunt!”
“Say, things seem to be stewing at a great rate,” gasped Will.
“And to think that the nervy chaps responsible for it all are here on this very island near us. Yes, more than that, we’ve had experiences with them, and even now they undoubtedly are holding our poor chum for ransom, or some other purpose,” declared Frank, shaking his head.
“Do you think Mr. Dodd will come?” asked Will.
“He certainly will, as soon as he knows. Why wouldn’t he when the men he’s on the lookout for are here waiting for him?” replied Bluff, beginning to eat.