Frank continued.

"Yes," again came the reply from the party at the other end.

"Chief Waller asked us before we left Bloomsbury to keep in touch with
Headquarters, and that you would supply us with any new information
that might come to hand while we scoured the country overhead, looking
for signs of the men who robbed the Bloomsbury bank last night, and
escaped in Percy Carberry's biplane. Who is this I am talking to,
please?"

"Officer Green, Frank."

"Oh! is that you, Joe; I didn't recognize your voice over the wire,"
Frank went on to say. "You heard what the Chief said about giving us the
latest news, didn't you, Joe?"

"I certain did, Frank," answered the man at the other end of the wire.

"We've covered quite a large territory up to now, and think we've run
across a clue; but we want to make sure before putting the bloodhounds
of the law on the scent. Get that?"

Frank was wise to the fact that Officer Green took himself and his
position on the local police force very seriously. True, he had never
done anything very great, to distinguish himself, beyond once stopping a
runaway horse that some people said was too decrepit to have gone twenty
paces further; and rescuing a little pet dog that had fallen into the
lake from a wharf; but then he believed in himself; and read up all the
thrilling stories of police achievements that were published in the New
York papers, satisfied that sooner or later the day was bound to come
when he would be able to prove himself a grand hero.

And that was just why artful Frank used that phrase "bloodhounds of the
law," for he knew that it would cause Joe Green to puff up with pride,
and feel more kindly disposed than ever toward the speaker.

He gauged matters exactly right, too, it seemed; for when the police
officer spoke again it was with additional eagerness.

"Good for you, Frank; all Bloomsbury expects the Bird boys to do the old
town proud again. Many the time have you done it in the past, we all
know. And when you feel dead sure that you've got track of the desprit
villains who looted our town bank, all you have to do is to give the
police the signal, and they'll throw a drag-net around the hang-out of
the yeggs. That's what we're here for; that's what we draw our salaries
for; to protect the citizens of Bloomsbury against danger by fire,
flood, robbers and the like."

Frank knew only too well how Officer Green liked to talk, especially
when once started on the s