"But he'll get away, and we'll never solve the mystery!"
"That may be, but we can't take this means of finding out. We don't know who that man is. He may be a dangerous chap, who would make trouble if you interfered with him. You stay here."
"But how are we ever going to find out, Frank?"
"If this boy is the one whom that man wants he'll show his hand sooner or later. He was taken by surprise when he found that we had him, and he didn't know what to say. But he won't disappear altogether—not while the lad is with us. He'll come around again. Now you stay with me."
"All right," assented Andy, but with no very good grace. "I'm going to holler after him, anyhow."
Then, before Frank could stop him, had he been minded to do so, Andy raised his voice in a shout:
"Hey, where are you going? Don't you want to send some word to that boy we rescued?"
The man turned half around, and for a moment Andy and Frank hoped he would come back. Instead he shouted something that sounded like:
"Important business—see—later—don't bother me."
"Humph!" exclaimed Andy, as the man resumed his rapid walk. "We're not going to bother you. But we'll solve that mystery, whether you want us to or not," he added firmly. "Won't we, Frank?"