the second tramp, looking from one to another
of the intruders. "We ain't done nothin'."

"Of course not, Charlie," Burton assured him gaily. "Who would ever
suspect that you or The General would do anything; but somebody did
something in Oakdale last night and I want to take you back there and
have a nice, long talk with you. Put your hands up!"

"We--."

"Put 'em up!" snapped Burton, and when the four grimy fists had been
elevated he signalled to his companions to search the two men.

Nothing more formidable than knives, dope, and a needle were found upon
them.

"Say," drawled Dopey Charlie. "We knows wot we knows; but hones' to gawd
we didn't have nothin' to do wid it. We knows the guy that pulled it
off--we spent las' night wid him an' his pal an' a skoit. He creased
me, here," and Charlie unbuttoned his clothing and exposed to view the
bloody scratch of The Oskaloosa Kid's bullet. "On de level, Burton, we
wern't in on it. Dis guy was at dat Squibbs' place wen we pulls in dere
outen de rain. He has a pocket full o' kale an' sparklers an' tings, and
he goes fer to shoot me up wen I tries to get away."

"Who was he?" asked Burton.

"He called hisself de Oskaloosa Kid," replied Charlie. "A guy called
Bridge was wid him. You know him?"

"I've heard of him; but he's straight," replied Burton. "Who was the
skirt?"

"I dunno," said Charlie; "but she was gassin' 'bout her pals croakin' a
guy an' trunin' 'im outten a gas wagon, an' dis Oskaloosa Kid he croaks
some old guy in Oakdale las' night. Mebby he ain't a bad 'un though!"

"Where are they now?" asked Burton.

"We got away from 'em at the Squibbs' place this mornin'," said Charlie.

"Well," said Burton, "you boes come along with me. If you ain't done
nothing the worst you'll get'll be three squares and a place to sleep
for a few days. I want you where I can lay my hands on you when I need
a couple of witnesses," and he herded them over the fence and into the
machine. As he himself was about to step in he felt suddenly of his
breast pocket.

"What's the matter?" asked one of his companions.

"I've lost my note book," replied Burton; "it must have dropped out of
my pocket when I jumped the fence. Just wait a minute while I go look
for it," and he returned to the fence, vaulted it and disappeared behind
the bushes.

It was fully five minutes before he returned but when he did there was a
look of satisfaction on his face.

"Find it?" asked his principa