division?"

"No!" said Jack in surprise.

"They are. And they have evolved some scheme that is more baffling even
than the 'haunting' trick you spoiled for them here last spring. Every
week they are getting away with valuable stuff from one of the night
freights between Claxton and Eastfield, while the train is actually en
route, apparently. That sounds incredible, I know, but it is the only
possible conclusion to come to, since the train does not stop between
those places, and I made sure the goods each time were aboard when it
left Claxton."

Jack whistled. "That does look a problem, doesn't it! But where do I come
in, Mr. Boyle?"

"Last evening, while thinking the matter over, the trick the thieves used
here at the Junction recurred to me--the man shipped in a box. It came to
me: Why couldn't that same dodge be played back against them in this
case?"

"Oh, I see! Have yourself shipped in a box, and 'stolen' by them! Clever
idea," exclaimed Jack.

"Not so bad I think, myself. Well, in the country between Claxton and
Eastfield, where it is my theory the gang has its headquarters, there are
no telephone or telegraph lines, and it struck me it would be a good plan
to take someone along with me who in case of things going wrong could
make his way back to the railroad, and cut in on the wire and call for
help. And naturally you were the first one I thought of. Do you want the
job?" asked the detective.

"I'd jump at the chance," Jack agreed eagerly. "It'd be more fun than
enough.

"But, Mr. Boyle, how do you know that the boxes are taken to the freight
thieves' headquarters, unopened, and not broken into right at the
railroad?"

"I figure that out from the number and size of the packages they have
taken each time--just a good load for a light wagon. And anyway you can
see that that would be their safest plan. If they broke up boxes near the
track they would leave clues that would be sure to be found sooner or
later, and put us on their trail.

"And through a friend in the wholesale dry-goods business at Claxton, who
I'll see down there to-night," the detective went on, "I can make
practically sure of our being 'stolen' together. The thieves have shown a
partiality for his goods; and by having our boxes attractively labelled
'SILK,' and placed just within the car door, there will be little chance
of the robbers passing us by."

"My plan is to bring it off to-morrow night. Would that suit you?"
concluded the