limb on right
behind me."

Professor Maddox maneuvered himself behind the Sheriff on the horse,
balancing unsteadily as Sally shied away. "Where do you think Ken could
have gone?" asked Johnson. "Don't you suppose he's over at one of his
friend's?"

"He wouldn't do a thing like that without letting us know."

"He went up the canyon with the wood detail 2 or 3 weeks ago."

"I know--but that was different. Aren't there any policemen on the
streets now? What happened to the ones who used to patrol in the radio
cars?"

"They're walking their beats, most of them. Two are mounted in each
district. We'll stop by the station, and then try to find the mounted
officers. It's the only thing we can do."

They moved down the dark, empty streets. It seemed as if there never had
been any life flowing along them, and never would be again. They passed
the station, lit by a smoking oil lamp, and left word of Ken's
disappearance, and moved on. They came to the edge of the business
section, where street lamps used to shine. This area was even more
ghostly than the rest, but policemen patrolled it, perhaps out of habit
and a conviction that failure to do so would admit the end of all that
was familiar and right.

As they rode on, the clatter of other hoofbeats on the cement sounded
behind them. Johnson turned and halted. A flashlight shone in their
faces. It was Officer Dan Morris, who identified himself by turning the
light on his own face.

"The warehouse has been broken into," he said. "Over at the skating
rink. Somebody has busted in and made off with a lot of food."

The Sheriff seemed stunned by the news. "What idiots!" he muttered
self-accusingly. "What complete, pinheaded idiots we turned out to be.
We didn't even think to put a special guard around the warehouse! Do any
of the other patrolmen know?"

"Yes. Clark and Dudly are over there now. I was trying to round up
someone else while they look for clues."

"I'll have to get over there," said Johnson.

"But Ken ..." Professor Maddox said. "I've got to keep looking."

"You come with us. I've got to look into the robbery. Ken can't have
come to any harm. I'll pass the word along and we'll all keep watch for
him. I promise you we will."

"I'll keep on," said Professor Maddox. He slid from the horse. "I'll
keep moving along the street here. If you find anything, I'll be
somewhere between here and home."

Unwillingly, Sheriff Johnson turned and left him. The sounds o