Gus wheeled about.
"Bill, it's Thad! Description hits him exactly and there's five hundred reward. He's done a house-breaking stunt and tried to kill two people and I don't believe they've got him yet. Mr. Hooper wouldn't want us to keep quiet on this; would he?"
"It might be a good idea to talk to Mrs. Hooper and Grace about it before you inform on Thad," Bill said.
"I'll do that," Gus agreed and was off. In half an hour he was back again.
"I saw them, late as it was. Grace and Skeets were playing crokinole and Mrs. Hooper came down. And, what do you think? Mr. Hooper wrote that Thad had forged his name on a check for several hundred dollars and got away with it and, even if he did still want to shield Thad, the law wouldn't let him. Grace says Thad ought to be caught and punished and that her father will want it done."
"But Gus, even if you got Willstown on the long distance 'phone, how would that help to——"
"We'll get them later; after we have located Thad."
"Oh, Gus, do you think Ben Shultz was dreaming?"
"When he said he saw Thad out there in the barren ground woods by the old cabin? Not a bit of it! It's the last place they'd ever think of looking for him—right on his uncle's place. Thad is pretty keen in some ways. But I doubt if he'll stay there long. He'll be pulling out for the mountains. There's a late moon to-night, you see."
"I wish I could go with you; this old leg—"