ivided into two sections. The judge and the girls and Tommy
went under Kie Wicks' leadership. Tommy was very contemptuous at the
idea of help from Kie, but he followed without any remarks, deciding
that the man needed watching. And that job would be his!

Instead of being offended at the arrival of a searching party, Ramon
Salazar seemed to welcome them and even his wife acted as if she had
been expecting a visit.

"Take a look around, folks," said Kie Wicks as he himself opened a door
and looked into a bed room, littered with mattresses and soiled
blankets.

"He ain't here," said Kie. "I didn't more than half think he was. But
you never can be sure unless you take a look."

Bet caught a quick glance of understanding between the two men, but in
the next second decided that it was a glance of approval.

"They're up to some mischief," whispered Kit in Shirley's ear. "I
don't trust that Kie Wicks and he is altogether too sugary today to
suit me. But don't say a word to Bet. She will flare up and then we
won't be able to watch him."

Shirley agreed with Kit, who knew Kie Wicks better than the others.

Tommy was watching the two men, his nerves keyed up and every sense
alert to the slightest movement of the men. He had noted the quick
look between Kie and the Mexican and felt sure that it was a danger
signal. It conveyed a message. Not for a second did the boy doubt
that Kie and Ramon knew where the professor was.

The boy was angry clean through, but he held his temper under control.
Only in that way could he keep in touch with these rascals and watch
them. Sometime he would catch them off their guard.

Ramon joined this group of searchers and made some suggestions as to
possible places to look.

"What we ought to do is to round up them fellows at the tunnel and make
'em talk. They probably killed the old man and threw his body over a
cliff." It was Ramon who spoke.

Kie Wicks looked startled. He had not told Ramon that the men at the
claim were being paid by him. He frowned toward the Mexican, then his
face relaxed suddenly. "Now that's an idea, too," he said. "Only I
should think it might be just as well to leave them in possession until
we find the professor. Someone has to stay there and we need all the
men we have to hunt for the old man."

"I think you're right, Mr. Wicks," agreed Bet.

Kit looked her disgust. To herself she was thinking, "I never would
have believed that Bet could