ndy answered.

"What has Horton got to do with you?"

"That's some more of our business!" replied the boy.

"Now, look here," the detective said in a moment, "we're here, as you
probably know by this time, in search of an escaped convict. We have
positive information that he is hiding somewhere in this district. We
have brought in plenty of supplies, and intend to remain here until we
find him. He's a slippery fellow, but we'll get him yet."

"That doesn't interest me any," suggested Sandy.

"But I'm going to interest you in just about one minute!" declared Katz.
"The boy who stole my property and left your camp in the night is likely
to return there at any time. We want that boy. Will you help us get him?
If you don't, you're likely to get into trouble yourselves."

"I guess there isn't much chance of his coming back to us!" Sandy
answered. "I guess you know that yourself."

"You know who he is?" ask the detective.

"We've been told," was the reply, "that he is the son of the man you're
hunting for, but we don't believe it."

"Well, we've made up our minds that he is," Katz went on, "and we've
also made up our minds to watch your camp until the boy shows up again.
I'll teach him to steal my badge of authority!"

"When you catch him," Sandy requested, "just let us know. We want to see
him ourselves. Will you do that?"

"I guess you'll see him before we do," replied Katz, gruffly. "And now,
if you don't mind," the detective went on, "I'll just go over to the
camp with you and see what the other boys say about him. And while I'm
there, you might make me a couple of cups of coffee. I'm a long distance
from my camp and quite hungry."

Notwithstanding the impudence of the request, the boy consented to the
arrangement and the two were starting away together when the sound of
approaching footsteps was heard.

"Gee whiz!" exclaimed Sandy. "This deserted country seems to me about
like the corner of State and Madison streets tonight. There's always
some one walking around in the dark."

"Suppose we wait and see who it is," suggested the detective.

Now, Sandy had an idea that one of the persons approaching was Tommy and
that the other might possibly be Chester Wagner. He had no notion of
assisting the detective to get his hands on the boy, and so hung back
when Katz would have stepped forward to intercept those who were
advancing toward him. Thinking this an attempt to break away, Katz
caught the lad by the arm