Donald Graeme, sometimes nicknamed Old Solomon, was the son of the chief engineer of the Creston Paper Mills, and one of a considerable family of boys and girls.  He was of Scotch descent and inherited many of the characteristics of his ancestry as well as many of their superstitions.  Something of the burr clung to his tongue, and he was given to the occasional use of a Scotch word or phrase.  He had also the Scotch canniness and never committed himself by a positive opinion.  Although not as quick as Rand, he was more persistent and usually carried out, to the end, anything that he entered upon.

Jack Blake was the oldest son of Mr. Blake, editor and publisher of the Crest, the newspaper of the town.  Brought up in the newspaper atmosphere, Jack had early developed a nose for news and was the best reporter, although unofficial, on the paper.  He was always on the lookout for items and always putting two and two together, sometimes with most surprising results.

Lastly, Pepper Blake, Jack’s younger brother, who was of a quicker, more nervous, disposition than the others and given to stammering when excited.  Impetuous and quick-tempered, he was always getting into difficulties, but always finding a way out.  Romantic and imaginative, but with a streak of hard horse-sense beneath.

“Well,” observed Rand, when Jack at last rose from his box with a sigh of satisfaction, “what is the exciting thing you have got to tell us this morning?  Whose barn is being painted now?”

“Judge Taylor’s office was robbed last night,” replied Jack laconically.

“What’s that!” cried Rand.

“Judge Taylor’s office was robbed last night,” repeated Jack, enjoying the sensation his news had made.

“W-w-what!” stammered Pepper.  “Who did it?”

“That’s what we all want to know,” answered Jack.

“What did they get?” asked Donald.

“How did they get in?” went on Pepper.

“One at a time, boys,” put in Rand.  “Come, Jack, tell us the whole story.”

“Well, all I know is, Officer Dugan found a window open this morning and the place all upside down.  The judge hadn’t come down yet, so they don’t know what’s missing.  From the tracks around it looks as if some boys were mixed up in it.”

“That’s queer,” commented Rand.  “I wonder who it could have been, and what they were after?”

“Money, of course,” said Pepper.

“I don’t think so,” returned Jack.  “If it was money I think they would have picked out a more likely place.  I guess it must have been papers, or something like that.”

“Pooh!” criticized Donald, “what would anybody in their senses want to steal papers for?”

“There are more unlikely things than that,” replied Jack.  “I have read of such things.”

“Pshaw!” retorted Donald, “that’s nothing.  I’ve read of robbers’ caves and all that sort of thing, but I’ve never seen any.”