he could
steal behind the engine sheds and reach the big gates!

With cat-like speed and lightness he crept round the corner, and as
soon as he gained shelter, ran at full speed to the small gate, that
was half an inch ajar.

Inside the watchman's box old Joe slept heavily, from the effects of
the drugged whisky. Dick dashed out almost into the arms of Policeman
X., who looked suspiciously at the breathless lad, in his stockinged
feet. "Oh, please, come quick!" he cried, laying hold of the strong
hand as no criminal would have done. "They're burglaring the office
and stealing tracings. Come now at once!"

"How many?" asked, the policeman with alacrity, as he beckoned to a man
in plain clothes opposite.

"Two."

"All right, lead on, and if you're telling a true yarn we'll nab them.
If not--well, mind yourself."

But there was unclouded truth in Dick's bright eyes, and the man in
blue followed him confidently, his mate bringing up the rear.

Dick led them cautiously till they came close to the locomotive.

Then somebody trod on a piece of loose iron, and there was a slight
clinking noise. In affright Whatman darted round the office, to be
instantly taken possession of by the second man, while policeman X. ran
forward and caught the stranger, who was just emerging from the window
with a slim roll of papers in his hand.

"Well caught!" said the man in plain clothes, as he slipped the
handcuffs on.

"You young spoil-sport, so this is _your_ doings!" said Whatman
vindictively. "I'll have my revenge on you, see if I don't."

The stranger, who looked very pale and cowed, tried to offer a bribe,
but the policeman stopped him at once and warned them that anything
they said would be used against them at their trial.

Then when Dick had fetched his discarded shoes, and told what he had
overheard, the little procession moved out into the street.

"We must wake up that dolt of a watchman and get the place made fast
once more."

And after giving his name and address, Dick was glad to go home away
from the sight of Whatman's rage.

"I am sorry I had to do it," he told Mrs. Garth over the fire that
evening, "but it wouldn't have been right to let them steal, would it?"

"In course not, my boy, you only did your duty; though maybe Whatman
would have said you were up to no good if he had found you there alone.
It was lucky for you they didn't find you out when you went to give the
alarm."

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