us villain, and the
fact of these boys treating him so decently seemed to make an
impression on the fellow, for he watched Frank closely.

The boys were talking the matter over, as to how they might best get
their prisoner transported to the lockup in town, when sharp-eyed Nat
began to make a great noise, and pointed down the road.

"It must be the Chief and his officers heading back home!" cried Andy,
jumping up from his seat.

"Here, make a dash toward the fence, and get their attention! Don't
tell them why we want them to come in here, but just let down the
bars," said Frank; and at his words Andy went flying away across the
pasture.

By swinging his arms and shouting, he managed to attract the attention
of those in the passing car, which was halted. Then Frank saw Andy
speaking hastily, at the same time letting down the bars; after which
the car swung in, with the Bird boy perched on the step.

Chief Waller did not look particularly happy as he sat there alongside
the man who served as chauffeur. He had lost a night's sleep, and
covered many miles in a useless search of the great Powell woods; and
for so stout a man this was exhausting business.

"Hello! Frank! How are you, Colonel? Sorry to say we haven't picked
up our man yet; and the chances are we won't do it, either. He must
have taken the alarm, and slipped off before we got there."

Then the police head must have detected Elephant grinning broadly; and
this no doubt excited his suspicions; for he whirled on Frank, having
laboriously descended from his car, and burst out with:

"Looky here, Frank, what you got up your sleeve, anyhow? There's
something doing that I ought to know about, I reckon."

"Oh! we thought it might pay us to set a trap, Chief," returned Frank,
keeping as straight a face as possible. "Sometimes you have to go to
the mountain; and then again it comes to you. We made up our minds to
try it, anyhow."

"And it worked?" demanded Chief Waller, his face lighting up with
eagerness.

"Did it, fellows?" asked Frank, turning to the rest of his mates.

"If the Chief had been anywhere around at three this morning he'd have
thought something was working all right," gurgled Andy, his face all
aglow.

"Larry, help our guest out here, won't you?" said Frank; and only too
willing the one addressed stepped inside the shop, to reappear a moment
later and not alone. Chief Waller took but one look and then threw up
his hands, exclai