But his wondering was interrupted by hearing footsteps at the rear of the log cabin.
CHAPTER XI
NO POTATOES
Bob Dexter was not at all alarmed by hearing the footsteps of some one in the rear of the log cabin where Hiram. Beegle had his home. The young detective knew that it had been, and probably would be, visited by many curiosity seekers, though now that the first wave of excitement was over there was less morbidness about the cabin.
But the lad was somewhat surprised when he met, coming around the corner of the shack, Chief Drayton of the Storm Mountain force—the whole force, one might say, though the chief did swear in constables on the few occasions when they were needed.
“Hello! What are you doing here, young man?” demanded Mr. Drayton in rather a harsh voice. He did not seem to have recognized Bob.
“Oh, just looking around the same as you are,” was the lad’s easy reply.
“You can’t be looking around the same as me!” snapped out the officer.
“Why not?” coolly demanded Bob, thinking the chief was going to question his right to be on the premises.
“Because I’m here in my official capacity as chief of the Storm Mountain police. I’m here to solve this mystery, and you can’t be here on any such errand as that.”