This plan was finally decided upon, although Roger did think he would like to stay for “just a little while” to hear “Daddy” say “something about something.”

They found the major anxiously expecting them.  He feared something had happened—­the press might break down, or the paper supply give out, Many things might occur when the man who ran the business was not there to keep ends straight.  To say that the major was pleased was not half telling it—­he was delighted.  To think that they could get out a paper like that!  And that his Little Captain should write up the parade.  It really was well described.

Perhaps what astonished him most was Tavia’s part in the issue.  He laughed when Dorothy told how jolly Tavia was.  Of course, there was no mention of the encounter with the strange man.

But that night Dorothy could not sleep.  The excitement perhaps, or was it fear?

Oh, if that horrid man had never come to Dalton!

CHAPTER IV

A CLEW

As the druggist had anticipated, a citizens’ committee was formed to run down the assailant of Dorothy and Tavia.  The hat bore the mark of a Rochester house, so that was something of a clew.  A hatless man ought to be easy enough to identify, but of course, he had managed to get a head covering somewhere; stole it, perhaps, from an open hallway.

But, after an exhaustive search, and much questioning of persons who might have seen the man, no news of importance was turned in at the committee meeting.

Mr. Travers had what he considered a tangible clew.  Miles Burlock had told him that a man from Rochester had been hounding him for weeks, and that he pretended to know something of Burlock’s business.

“Burlock, it seems,” Mr. Travers said at the meeting, “was, in some way, connected with the Douglass family.  There is money in the affair, however it may concern Burlock and Mrs. Douglass, and this stranger is after the cash.”

“But what in the world has these children to do with that?” asked the chairman.

Ralph Willoby stood up.

“It seems, Mr. Chairman,” he said, “that the first time the man gave us trouble was when we sent to learn something about Mrs. Douglass’ death.  He secured the notes to prevent us from publishing anything about the lady.  Then he threatened to blow up the Bugle office if we did print an obituary.  This did not intimidate us, and when the paper was out he waited for the little boys, sons of Major Dale, to harm them possibly.  It was then that one of the girls saw and recognized him, and he, being sure of this, made off.  A few minutes later he intercepted both girls on the stairs, tried to frighten them with some drug, took the papers from Miss Dorothy Dale, and again made his escape.”

This was by far the most intelligent account of the affair yet given, and after its recital many of the men thought they could see a solution of the mystery.