l came this way," declared Bobby, suddenly forgetting to
laugh.

"Barnacle's nose might have deceived him," said Laura.

"I haven't faith in much of that dog _but_ his nose," declared Jess.
"He showed particular intelligence in following the trail down here.
Why should we suddenly suspect him of being foolish, just because we
found what we didn't expect."

"Clear as mud!" exclaimed Bobby. "'Didn't expect' is good, however. If
you had asked me a minute before we saw him, who was the most
unexpected person to find at the end of our walk, I should have said
Old Dimple."

"Why!" gasped Jess, "it _couldn't_ be Professor Dimp."

"You mean he couldn't have been the kleptomaniantic thief?" chuckled
Bobby.

Laura began to laugh softly herself. "Nor could he have been the
person we--and the Barnacle--have been trailing," she said, suddenly.

"Why not?" demanded Jess and Bobby together.

"Did you ever notice Professor Dimp's feet?" asked Mother Wit.

"Horrors! No. Never saw him barefooted," said Bobby.

"Miss Smartie! His shoes, then?" proceeded the unruffled Laura.

"I--I----Why, no," admitted Bobby.

"Look at them now. He's not a big man, but he has plentiful
understandings," chuckled Laura. "See?"

"Plain!" exclaimed Jess, peering through the branches.

"And those footprints we followed were of a person who wears a narrow,
small boot. Small for a man, I mean. I don't believe the old Prof.
ever _could_ get into such shoes."

"Hurrah for Mother Wit--the lady detective!" cheered Bobby, under her
breath.

"I am going to ask him----"

"What?" demanded Jess, half frightened as Laura started to press
through the fringe of bushes.

"If he knows anything about that young man."

"What young man?" demanded the startled Jess.

"The young man who scared Liz last evening in the storm. The same
young man who took the things from our camp--and left the ten dollar
bill."

"The kleptomaniantic!" breathed Bobby, tagging close behind.

"Then it's the man who has been fishing with the professor?" gasped
Jess.

"You've guessed it," said Laura. "They are together. This is a camp
for two. You can see the fish-heads lying about. There are two
tin-plates and two empty cups."

"Are you sure the--the old Prof was one of those fishermen we saw in
the boat?" asked Bobby.

"I recognize that old coat and hat," said Laura, firmly. "I do not see
why I did not recognize Professor Dimp, in spite of his disguise,
before."

"Wel