"That was the same fellow," declared Tavia. "What in the world does he
follow us for?"
"It's all the Burlock business," Dorothy answered. "But hurry, we must
give the alarm this time. Perhaps they will be able to catch him."
Out of breath, and very much frightened, the girls reached the center of
the village, going directly there instead of turning into a side street
to go home.
"Perhaps father is in his office," remarked Dorothy.
"There's Ralph," said Tavia, as that young man emerged from a doorway.
Quicker than it takes to tell it a searching party was formed. The three
men who had been talking politics were still in the major's office, and
when told of the girl's fright they promptly started out for the lane
picking up more help at every turn.
"We will get him if we have to burn down the woods," declared the major,
deeply incensed at his daughter's peril.
"And not a gun in the crowd," remarked Mr. MacAllister. "This is where
we need our constable."
They had reached the lane now, and it was quite dark. Numbers of men,
who had been taking a quiet evening smoke at their own doors joined in
the "rounding up" as Mr. Ford called it.
"No Squire Sanders to help him out this time," some one remarked.
Then the men scattered--completely surrounding the place where the tramp
had been last seen.
Pages:
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120