“Want to buy some skates?” said the captain.  “Well, the money I am keeping is your own, and I presume every boy likes to skate.  Here are two dollars for each of you.  Show me your purchases when you get back.”

“We will,” replied the lads, and hurried off, for time was precious, with the smooth ice waiting for them.  They knew that a certain hardware dealer in Cedarville had a good quantity of skates on hand, and started to walk to the village without delay.

“Baxter is going to buy a pair of skates, too,” said Sam, on the way.  “I heard him telling Mumps about it.”

“Well, we don’t want Baxter for company,” answered Tom.  “He can go alone.”

It did not take the lads long to reach Cedarville, but once at the hardware store considerable time was lost in getting just the skates desired.

“It’s queer Baxter hasn’t shown up,” said Toni, when they were ready to leave.

“Perhaps he went elsewhere for his skates,” suggested Sam.

The hardware shop was at the end of the village street, and as they passed a number of places of business Tom suddenly caught his brother by the arm.

“There is Baxter now —­ just entering that tavern!” he exclaimed in a low voice.

“The tavern!” repeated Sam.  “Why, it’s against the regulations to enter a drinking place!”

“I don’t care —­ I saw Baxter go in,” returned Tom.  “He was with a tall man.”

“If Captain Putnam hears of this, Baxter will be sent away, or at least punished.”

“Perhaps, Sam; but I shan’t tell him.”

“No; we’re no tale-bearers.  Let us go up to the side windows of the tavern and see if we can see them.”

This was agreed to, and the two boys hurried up to first one window and then another.

They are not in the saloon part, that’s certain,” said Tom blankly.  “But I saw Baxter go in, and the tall man with him.”

“Here is a side room,” answered Sam.

“And there they are, at a corner table.  The man is giving Baxter some money!”

Tom peeped into the window over his brother’s shoulder.  “My gracious!”

“What’s up now, Tom?”

“That tall man is the same fellow I met in the woods.  The man that was with the tramp who stole the watch!”

“You don’t mean it!”

“But I do!  See the scar on his chin?”

“Yes.”

’He is that thief’s pal, as they call it.”

“And he just gave Baxter some bank bills!  What does it mean?”

“I give it up.  But I know one thing —­ that man ought to be arrested!”

“That’s true.  Oh! they have seen us!  If they —­ hi! what do you mean by that?”

For a burly bartender had suddenly come up behind both of the boys and hurled them backward.

“No spying around this place!” cried the dispenser of liquors roughly.  “Take yourselves off!”

“There is a man inside I want to see,” said Tom.