"Shucks!" he cried. "I ain't got nothin' in my head,"nor did either sense the unconscious humor of the state-ment. "What I got is a gang o' thieves an' murderers, an'I'm callin' up thet big city deetectiff to come arter 'em."

Mrs. Case sank into a chair, prostrated by the weightof her emotions, while Willie took down the receiver af-ter ringing the bell to attract central. Finally he ob-tained his connection, which was with Jonas Prim's bankwhere detective Burton was making his headquarters. Here he learned that Burton had not returned; but fi-nally gave his message reluctantly to Jonas Prim afterexacting a promise from that gentleman that he wouldbe personally responsible for the payment of the reward. What Willie Case told Jonas Prim had the latter in amachine, with half a dozen deputy sheriffs and speed-ing southward from 0akdale inside of ten minutes.

A short distance out from city they met detectiveBurton with his two prisoners. After a hurried consulta-tion Dopey Charlie and The General were unloadedand started on the remainder of their journey afoot un-der guard of two of the deputies, while Burton's com-panions turned and followed the other car, Burton tak-ing a seat beside Prim.

"He said that he could take us right to where Abigailis," Mr. Prim was explaining to Burton, "and that this0skaloosa Kid is with her, and another man and a for-eign looking child. He told a wild tale about seeingthem burying a dead man in the woods back ofSquibbs' place. I don't know how much to believe, orwhether to believe any of it; but we can't afford notto run down every clew. I can't believe that my daugh-ter is wilfully consorting with such men. She alwayshas been full of life and spirit; but she's got a cleanmind, and her little escapades have always been en-tirely harmless--at worst some sort of boyish prank. Isimply won't believe it until I see it with my own eyes. If she's with them she's being held by force."