would
attempt to surround the haunted house, and taking its occupants by
surprise, would compel them to surrender.

They wanted to remain at the drug-store until the capture was effected,
but the keeper ordered them home to bed, and they reluctantly obeyed,
listening every step of the way for the sound of shots. But nothing
occurred to mar the stillness of the night, and they wondered if the
desperadoes had after all escaped. So anxious were they, and so
nervous over their unusual experience that it seemed as if sleep would
never come to close their eyes, as they lay once more in their bed at
the Eagles' Nest; and they were astonished to find themselves waking up
the next morning at the sound of someone knocking at their door.

"Who is it?" called Billiard, vaguely wondering if he could have
dreamed all that had transpired during the past twelve hours.

"Susie," answered a voice from the hall. "The sheriff wants to see
you."

"The sheriff?"

"Yes. Hurry up! The bank robbers have been caught and you have to go
to the justice of the peace's office."

"Then it's really so," sighed Billiard in relief.

"Course it is!" retorted Toady, now thoroughly awake. "But what do you
s'pose the _sheriff_ wants us for?"

"Dunno. Quickest way to find out is to go down and see."

Susie and the twins were waiting for them when they emerged from their
room, and ecstatically announced, "We're all going, too. They want you
to be _witnesses_, and Tabitha to take notes. No one else in town
writes shorthand."

"But what is it all about?" demanded Billiard. "Ain't the robbers in
jail?"

"We have no real jail here," explained Tabitha, who chanced to overhear
his question. "When a man does anything that he has to go to prison
for, they take him to the county seat. This court only tries to prove
whether or not there is evidence enough to hold him for trial by the
county. Hurry up, they are waiting for us. And children, remember,
you must come straight back here after you take a look at the
prisoners. Queer how youngsters want to see such things, isn't it?
Perhaps it will be quite a while before I can get back, but I know I
can trust you to keep out of mischief and mind Mercedes. Oh, Glory,
I've got nervous chills already about taking that dictation. The
lawyer who is to defend the robbers can talk like lightning."

"Fudge!" replied Gloriana reassuringly. "You won't have any trouble at
all, I know. They will take in