tidings.

It was after one o'clock Sunday morning when the Grammar School boys
returned to their several homes, discouraged and heartsick.

Of course the "Blade" got wind of the affair and had Len Spencer and
another reporter out working on the mystery.

The police, too, took a hand, though there was an absolute lack of clues
upon which to work.

Broad daylight came Sunday morning, and still no Greg Holmes accounted
for. Now, the police took a further hand by beginning to drag the river.

The mystery continued throughout that long, dreary day. The Grammar
School boys felt as though "there had been a death in the family." Len
Spencer was aware of the suspicions against Ab. Dexter, but, through
fear of the libel law, he was restrained from putting his suspicions
into print until there was some real proof against Dexter.

CHAPTER X

A PROBLEM IN FOOTPRINTS

Monday morning dawned bright and clear.

Yet, at 7.40, the fire alarm whistle blew "twenty-two," the signal for
"no school."

Some boys heard the whistle and wondered. Dick & Co., minus Greg, who
were gathered on Main Street at the time, did not wonder.

Two minutes later a series of long, loud blasts rang out, the signal to
call the populace to fire headquarters.

"Just what we thought," guessed Dick, as he, Dave, Dan, Tom and Harry
started on a run. "There's no school because there's to be a general
hunt for Greg."

The volunteer firemen of Gridley were among the first to reach fire
headquarters. The few regulars of the fire department could not leave
their posts. They must be on hand in case of fires starting.

But the police, the local militia officers and a few fire-department
officials were quickly gathered and ready to lead searching parties. As
swiftly as could be, the fire chief detailed the leaders for the parties
that were to go in the various directions.

The boys of Gridley were left to join which ever searching parties they
chose.

"Which crowd shall we go with?" asked Tom Reade.

"I think we'd better go with the crowd that's going up the river road,"
hinted Dick. "Have the rest of you any better plan?"

No member of Dick & Co. had a better suggestion to make, so Dick's plan
prevailed.

There were some twenty men in the party that went up along the river
road, and more than a dozen boys. Captain Hall, of the Gridley militia
company, commanded this expedition.

"Now, just as soon as we get out into the country," explained C