mill. The blaze had been confined to the building where it started, and,

in spite of the excitement over it, the damage had been small.

“I’m glad it didn’t get into my office,” remarked Mr. Judson, the mill owner, who had arrived on the scene soon after the fire started. “All my valuable books and papers would have been destroyed.”

“Yes, you got off pretty lucky,” said the chief.

“Thanks to the hard work you and your men did,” Mr. Judson replied. “I won’t forget it, I assure you.”

“We only did our duty,” responded the chief modestly. “It’s our business to put out fires.”

There was not much more of interest to see, and the three boys, as did a number of others, began to think of going home.

Ned, Jerry and Bob started from the mill yard. As they passed a pile of lumber near the gate Ned gave one of the boards a careless kick. There was a rattling sound and a small round object rolled out at his feet.

“What’s that?” asked Jerry.

“Look’s like a tin can,” observed Bob.

Ned picked it up to examine it better, for it was now quite dark, the fire giving only a faint glow.

“Look at this!” Ned cried, holding out the object.

“It’s a burglar’s dark lantern!” exclaimed Bob. “I saw one just like it that the police took from a thief. It is over to police headquarters.”

“Wonder who put it there?” asked Jerry.

“It’s hard to--” began Ned, and then he stopped. Dropping to his knees he reached his hand into the hole from whence the dark lantern had rolled. He groped around a few seconds and then drew out his hand.

“I’ve found ’em,” he said.

“What?” asked Jerry.

“The things I was looking for,” and Ned held up to view in the faint gleam from the burned building a cold chisel and a hammer.

“What are they for?” asked Bob, not seeing the connection of the dark lantern and the tools just found.

“These are the things the mill safe was robbed with,” replied Ned. “The lantern made the light that puzzled me that night I came past, and with this cold chisel and hammer the lock was cut out. The thief must have hidden the things under the boards as he ran away with the money. It was on his route as he passed out of the gate.”

“This mill robbery seems to follow us,” observed Jerry. “Every once in a while something about it crops out.”

“Yes,” commented Ned. “I saw the robbery being committed, or rather I was there while it was being done, we learned about the queer bank bill and Noddy’s connection with it, and now we have discovered the tools that were used.”

“All we need to do next is to recover the money,” said Bob.

“And find the thief,” said Ned.

“I fancy that won’t be difficult to do,” added Bob. “If Noddy--”

“Hush!” exclaimed Ned, “some one is coming! Let’s get out of here!”

Hurriedly Ned hid under his coat the lantern, the hammer and chisel, and the three boys passed out of the mill yard.

“What are you chaps doin’ here?” demanded a rough voice, and Bill Berry shuffled up, looking sharply at first one and then another.

“We were watching the fire,” replied Ned politely. “Any objections, Mr. Berry?”

“You boys better keep away from here,” growled Bill. “I reckon Mr. Judson don’t want another robbery.”

“What do you mean?” demanded Jerry. “Do you mean that we robbed the mill?”

“Well you might and then agin you mightn’t,” mumbled Bill. “I ain’t sayin’ as how you did, and I ain’t sayin’ as how you didn’t. You’d better move on.”

“We’ve as much right here as you have, Bill Berry,” said Bob. “We’re ready to go and we’re going; all you may say wouldn’t move us, as long as Mr. Judson didn’t object to our being here.”

“That’ll do for you,” muttered Bill, as he shuffled away.

“Did you catch the horse and win the five dollars?” inquired Jerry, referring to the countryman’s fractious steed that ran away.

Bill’s only answer was a growl.

“Come on, let’s get home and go to bed,” suggested Bob.

“Take good care of those tools,” warned Jerry. Ned promised to do so; and there the talk came to an end.