“Can you tell me what Smithers looks like, Paul?”

“He’s very tall, stoops quite a lot, uses snuff like they do down in North Carolina, and has small blue eyes and a queer nose.  Some of the boys say it looks as if it had been broken.  That man in the red car knew it when Jack called it a hooked nose, sir.”

Mr. Pender slapped his thigh as though in great glee.

“Well, this is great luck, sure enough.  From your description I believe that I know this Mr. Solus Smithers, though that isn’t his name at all.  It keeps on getting better and better, the deeper I grub.  And if all turns out well, I shall owe you a heavy debt, my dear boy.”

“Make it up in that letter then, sir.  The stronger the better.  And if you happen to need any further assistance don’t hesitate to call on us.  We’ve got some dandy trackers in the Red Fox patrol; and it would have to be a pretty smart fellow to pull the wool over their eyes, sir.”

“Good for you, Paul,” said the gentleman, warmly; “always ready to sound the trumpet for your comrades; but if the truth were told I reckon I’d find the scout leader at the top of the bunch when it came to a knowledge of woodcraft.”

“Please don’t, sir,” pleaded Paul.

“Jack has been confiding to me all about how you’ve always been deeply interested in outdoor life,” went on Mr. Pender; “but as you have told me all you know about this red car that has gone along the Grapevine Road, headed for the old mill pond, I believe I’ll have to leave you.  Take my hand, won’t you, Paul?  I promise to be good, and not put on pressure, though my heart is very warm toward you, lad.”

So Mr. Pender hurried away.

Paul turned back.  He had noticed an air of unusual excitement inside the post-office, and his curiosity was stirred.  While Mr. Pender and his strange mission was in the foreground, of course, he had been able to pay little attention to anything else; but now that this was shelved he could not resist the inclination to return, and ask what made the people stand around in knots as though exchanging views.

He discovered Ted Slavin and three of his friends jabbering away just inside the door, and heard one of them exclaim: 

“Course we will go along; it’d be a big feather in our cap, fellers, if we’d be the ones to bring him back.”

“Yes, send out word for the boys to get together, Ted.  We’ll show ’em what we fellers that has hunted since we was knee high, know about follerin’ a trail!” another remarked.

“Let up, you; d’ye want to give the whole snap away?  See who’s here!” whispered Ted; but in such a hoarse tone of voice that Paul could not help hearing.

Of course his curiosity was still further aroused.  Whatever could have happened in quiet Stanhope, to cause all this gathering of people, and such earnest consultations?

He saw Chief Billings, who was in charge of the police force in the town, leaving the post-office, and noted that a large delegation trailed after him.