, they
inquired about that coat. I at once saw that they had a great interest
in it. I told them I didn't know where it was. They insisted that I
did. They ransacked the house from top to bottom. They took me away
from town to a miserable hut where they were staying. Until yesterday
I was a prisoner there, tied up, half-starved, and every day Slump
would come and demand to know if I was going to tell him what had
become of that coat. From the first I knew that coat was what they
were after when they burglarized your house, and wrote what words I
could on the wall of your sitting room."

"Yes," said Ralph, "we found your message there. Did you learn what
their especial interest was in the coat?"

"Yes, I overheard some of their conversation a few days ago," replied
Earl. "That coat contained some diamonds they found in an old box
car."

"What!" cried Ralph. "Is it possible?"

"It seems so. I escaped yesterday. You had told me about this place,
and so I came here. Zeph Dallas was my friend at once, when I told him
my story. Here he is now."

Zeph approached with a beaming face.

"Fairbanks," he said, "I suppose Danvers has told you how he came
here, and his troubles with Slump and Bemis."

"Yes," nodded Ralph.

"Well, I went to Dover yesterday and saw the old rag man. He ransacked
his stock and we found the coat."

"You did?" spoke Ralph, expectantly.

"Yes, and in an inside pocket were the diamonds. Here they are."

Zeph handed Ralph a moldy chamois skin bag. With interest the young
fireman inspected the contents.

"This is a rich find, Zeph," he said. "You must report to the car
finder at once."

"I am going to the city to-day to see him," explained the former
farmer boy.

Zeph left headquarters about noon. The next morning he reappeared. He
was fairly gorgeous attired in the uniform of a conductor.

"One thousand dollars I get as a special reward for the recovery of
the diamonds," he said, "and more when the car finder has seen their
original owner. I am to divide with you, Fairbanks."

"Not at all," dissented Ralph.

"Oh, yes, I shall," insisted Zeph. "And, by the way, I have some news
of importance for you."

"Indeed?" said Ralph.

"Yes. You know where Trafton is?"

"On the Midland Central."

"Exactly. Well, this morning on the platform there, I saw a man in
whom you are considerably interested."

"Who was that?" inquired the young fireman.

"Bartlett, the fellow who was a partner of