Matt likewise had a vague notion that he had heard the voice before, although he could not tell where. The man came steadily onward and, when he halted within a few feet of the boys, they could see that he was in uniform, and wore a cap with gold braid. There was lettering on the cap, but it was too dark to read it. The collar of the man's coat was turned up about his ears, and the cap was pulled down over his forehead.
"You're Dave Glennie, are you?" queried Matt.
"Sure," was the answer, but there was a shifty undernote in the voice which still further aroused Matt's suspicions. "Who did you think I was? I've been watching by this old quarry for two or three days, and when I sent that letter to you I had to get a boy to post it in La Grange. Didn't dare to leave here myself. If you—Thunder! What's the matter with you?"
Matt, with a quick move, had leaped at the man and jerked off his cap.
"Brady!" he shouted. "Help here, boys!"
He grabbed Brady by the shoulders, and both of them fell to the ground.
"Prady!" gasped Carl. "Vell, vat do you t'ink oof dot! Prady! Und ve t'ought all der time he vas a tedectif! Ach, plazes, vat a surbrise!"
Ferral, appreciating the necessity of quick action, did not stop to say anything. Running to Matt, he helped him hold Brady on the ground. Presently, Carl came, and the three boys soon had the escaped convict helpless.
Brady's fall had caused his coat to come open. Under it Matt saw a lighter suit of prison stripes.
"Brady put the uniform on over the prison clothes," panted Matt.