."

But this would be quite different, Jack argued to himself--to cause the
capture of criminals. And what possible danger could there be in it? No
one would believe for an instant that I would go into such a thing
seriously, he told himself.

"All right, Mr. Watts," he said aloud. "I'll do it."

"Good! It's a go!" The freight-stealer spoke with satisfaction, and
rising, grasped Jack's hand. "I told you I knew a clever boy when I saw
one--and that means a wise one.

"Well, that's all there is to it, excepting the money matter. Where will
we send that? Here?"

Jack responded with an effort. "Yes, you may as well send it to me here."

"All right. Look for it at the end of the month," said Watts, proceeding
to the door.

"Remember, you are dumb. That's all. Good night."

Jack's sense of honor was not long in convincing him that he had made a
mistake in entering into such a bargain, even with a law-breaker. A dozen
times during the days that followed he would have given anything to have
been able to wipe out the agreement.

Unhappily this dissatisfaction with himself was to prove but a minor
result of the misstep.

Shortly after he had relieved the day operator at the station a week
later he was surprised by the appearance of one of the road detectives,
and with him a stranger.

"Good evening, Orr," said the detective in a peculiar tone. "Let me make
you acquainted with Sheriff Bates."

Jack started, and glanced from one to the other. "Is there anything
wrong?" he asked.

"Very slightly. Your little game is up, that's all. Your older partner
has given the thing away, and we have just found the watch in your room
at the boarding-house," announced the detective.

"Given the thing away? The watch? Why, what do you mean?" exclaimed Jack
in alarm.

"Oh, come! Watts has squealed, and we found the watch hidden, just as he
said, in the mattress of your bed up at the house."

In a flash Jack saw it all. Watts' offer had been a trap! A mere trap to
get him into trouble, probably in revenge!

He sprang to his feet. "It's not true! It's false! Whatever it is, it's
false! I did see Watts, and he asked me to go in with them, but I only
agreed so as to learn who they were, so we could capture them!"

To his utter dismay the two officers only laughed drily.

"No, no! That's quite too thin," declared the detective. "Read this."

Blankly Jack took the letter, and read:

"Chief Detective,

"Middle Western R. R