done said dat dey was abo't to call on de bank but got
skeered off."

"So, they robbed the Riverton station and post-office as well, did
they?" asked Harry. "Have they any notion as to who did it?"

"Wall, Ah reckon ef dey did dey would have apprehended dem by dis,
Master Harry. All dey know is dat de malcomfactors done come in a auto
an' went away in a hurry."

"Did the same fellows rob both places?"

"Ah reckon dey did and done went to de bigges' place fust. Down at dis
station de postmaster and station agent, bein' one an' de same, as you'
am aware, was woke up by hearin' de noise an' come a runnin' to stop de
robbery. Dey was an exchange of compliments in de way of pistol shots
an' de robbers took deir leave an' as much else as dey could get away
wif an' struck fo' de nex' town below."

"Then the agent saw them go?"

"Yas'r an' dey took de wrong road at fus an' was headin' fo' de little
creek what runs into de river o't'n de ravine jus' back o' here. De
agent tried to catch 'em an' done telephoned to de river station but de
wiahs was cut. Den de robbers done turn de oder way an' got off, goin'
like de wind an' all."

The boys were naturally excited over this piece of news and during the
day more was heard which greatly added to the touch of excitement they
had already received.

After school Dick Percival, who had a little runabout which the doctor
allowed him to keep in the barn, came to Jack and said:

"I am going down to the station to learn some more of this affair of
last night. Will you come along? We won't be away more than an hour and
I have already obtained permission to go."

"Certainly. I want to hear more about it myself and would enjoy the ride
very much."

"All right then, I'll get it out and we'll go at once."

Jack went to the barn with Dick and showed great interest in the little
car, so much so in fact, that Dick said:

"You seem to be interested. Do you know anything about cars?"

"Oh, yes," returned Jack, quietly.

"Would you like to run it down to the station?"

"Yes," and both boys got in and Jack ran it out of the shed and toward
the road.

As they passed the school buildings they saw Peter Herring and some of
his cronies standing together, Herring saying quite audibly:

"There's Percival and his chauffeur. I guess that's what he was before
he came here and we gentlemen have to associate with him. H'm! just an
auto driver mixing in with gentlemen! It's a shame."

Jack