ather unintentionally mentioned it at the breakfast table."

"It was immediately after the raid that Mr. Davis seemed to lose
interest in the case," Penny said musingly.

"Yes, he was bewildered by the turn of events. I didn't know it until
tonight, but he quietly set about watching Jimmie. In a short while he
had learned the truth."

"And how did you know that Jimmie would be here tonight?" Penny
questioned.

"He told me," Betty admitted. "For weeks I have pleaded with him to
give up this dreadful life he has been leading. He promised me he
would. But he said there was a special reason why he must drive the
truck one more time."

"That was because the leader of the gang had threatened to tell Mr.
Davis," Penny commented.

"Anyway, tonight Father forced me to admit everything. When he learned
that Jimmie would be at the old sawmill, he determined to come here and
try to save him from his own folly. Oh, Miss Nichols, do you think
they'll keep Jimmie in jail?"

"Not if I can prevent it," Penny returned firmly. "Come on, I want you
to repeat to Father what you've just told me."

The girls found Mr. Nichols and a group of policemen talking with
Jerome Davis. The latter looked completely discouraged.

"I'm not asking you to believe my story or to let Jimmie go free," he
said quietly. "My son has broken the law and he must be punished the
same as any other offender. Of course I shall resign my position on
the force immediately."

"That may not be necessary," Mr. Nichols told him kindly. "In my
opinion you've already proven that you had no hand in the affair."

"It was my fault that the raid failed," the policeman accused himself.
He turned to his son. "Jimmie, you were the one who tipped off the
gang that it was to be staged?"

"Yes, Father," the boy admitted. "I dropped it out before I thought.
I didn't mean to do it."

"I take all the blame," Jerome Davis said quietly. "I should never
have mentioned the affair at home."

He moved over to his son, placing his hand upon his shoulder for an
instant. Then he turned sternly back to the group of officers.

"Do your duty, men," he directed.

No one moved.

"It isn't right to arrest this boy," Penny declared. "He was trying to
go straight and he ought to have a chance."

"He'll get it too!" Mr. Nichols added. "With you as a witness in his
favor, Penny, I'm confident he'll be released."

Brunner, Molberg and other members of the captured ga