s it?" said Phil, presently. "Couldn't he
lay claim to it?"

"I don't know about that--I suppose so, since the mine is now completely
lost."

"I hope you can find this Abe Blower and get him to go with us," said
Dave. "An old prospector like that ought to know that territory well."

"Blower does know it--so they say."

"Did you ever meet him?" questioned Phil.

"No, I never even heard of him until Uncle Maurice died and left his
property to mother."

"Then you don't know what kind of a man he is?"

"Oh, he must be pretty nice, or my uncle wouldn't have had him for a
friend. I've no doubt that he is rough--many of that sort are--but I
feel certain----"

Roger stopped short, as a strange crashing in some bushes back of the
summer-house reached his ears and the ears of the others.

"What's that?" cried Dave. "Some animal?"

"Hi, what are you doing there?" came, in the voice of the Wadsworth
gardener. "Come here, I want to talk to you!"

"Somebody is in those bushes!" exclaimed Roger, and ran from the
summer-house, followed by his chums.

They were just in time to find Joseph, the new gardener, running after a
young fellow who was making his way through an apple orchard on the
other side of the brook. Joseph was somewhat stout and not quick of
foot, and the young fellow easily outdistanced him, leaped the orchard
fence, and hurried down the back road.

"Who was it, Joseph?" demanded Dave, when the gardener came up, all out
of breath.

"I--don't--know--sir!" gasped the man, puffing for breath.
"He--was--hiding--in the bushes back of--the--summer-house."

"Hiding here!" cried Dave. He looked at his chums. "Can it have been
Merwell?" he murmured.

"Would he dare come here?" asked Phil.

"He dared to come to Crumville, after he knew there was a warrant out
for his arrest."

"How did that fellow look?" questioned Roger.

"I didn't see his face, sir," answered the gardener, who had now
recovered somewhat. "He had on a soft hat and a brown, baggy suit."

"That's the way Merwell was togged out, so Laura said!" cried Dave.
"Fellows, it must have been Link! Now what do you know about that!"

"Do you think he heard what we said?" asked Roger, much disturbed.

"He must have, if he was hiding in those bushes," answered Phil.

"Wonder how long he was there?"

None of the boys could answer that question, nor could the gardener
enlighten them. Joseph had been coming along the side of the orchard
when he had