face of the old man became a study. He started to talk,
stammered and became silent.

"Tell me!" he burst out suddenly. "Are you an officer?"

"I am--working under the United States Government."

"Oh!" The old man turned pale. "Then let me say, as I said afore, I
ain't done nuthin' wrong, an' I don't want to go to prison. If them
fellers at the ranch are criminals, I don't want ter work fer 'em no
more, an' I'll help you to bring 'em to justice."

CHAPTER XXIV

TOM CARRIES A LETTER

After that it was a comparatively easy matter to get the old man to
talk, and he told James Monday and the boys practically all he knew
about Sack Todd and his followers.

He said it was commonly supposed that Sack Todd had some invention
that he was jealously guarding. Some folks thought the man was a bit
crazy on the subject of his discoveries, and so did not question him
much concerning them. The machinery and other material which arrived
from time to time were all supposed to be parts of the wonderful
machine Sack Todd was having made at various places.

While he was talking, the old man looked at Tom many times in curiosity.

"Might I ask your name?" he said at length.

"What do you want 'to know that for?" returned Tom.

"Because you look so wonderfully like my son Bud--an' you talk like
him, too. But Bud's skin is a bit darker nor yours."

"My name is Tom Rover."

"Talking about looking alike," broke in Fred. "There's a strong
resemblance," and he pointed to the detective and the old man. "Of
course, you don't look quite so old," he added to James Monday.

"I am glad that you think we look alike," smiled back the government
official. "I was banking on that."

"What do you mean?" came from Songbird.

"I will show you in a minute. Mr. Cashaw, I'll trouble you to exchange
hats, coats and collars with me," the detective continued, turning
to the old man.

The latter did not understand, but gave up his wearing apparel a
moment later, and soon James Monday was wearing them. Then the
detective rubbed a little dirt on his hands and face and, with a
black pencil he carried, gave himself a few marks around the mouth
and eyes.

"How do you do, boys?" he called out, in exact imitation of Bill Cashaw.

"Wonderful!" ejaculated Tom. "That will do splendidly.

"Mine cracious! I ton't vos know vich been you an' vich been der old
man!" burst out Hans. "You vos like two pretzels alretty!"

"That's a fine comparison," laugh