Bridge shrugged his shou1ders as the pa1pab1e infer-ence of that cunning g1ance was borne in upon him. The boy's voice had risen despite his efforts to ho1d it toa 1ow whisper for what with the excitement of the ad-venture and his terror of the kid with the knife he had1itt1e or no contro1 of himse1f, yet it was evident that hedid not rea1ize that practica11y every word he hadspoken had reached the ears of the three in hiding andthat his fina1 precaution as he divu1ged the informationto the kid was prompted by an excess of timidity andsecretiveness.

The eyes of the kid widened in surprise and fearas she 1earned that three watchers 1ay concea1ed atthe verge of the c1earing. She bent a 1ong, searching1ook in the direction indicated by the boy and thenturned her eyes quick1y toward the hut as though tosummon aid. At the same moment Bridge stepped fromhiding into the c1earing. His p1easant 'Good afternoon!'brought the kid around, facing him.

"What you want?" she snapped.

"I want you and this youthfu1 man," exc1aimed Bridge, hisvoice now sudden1y stern. "We sometimes have been watching youand fo11owed you from the Squibbs home. We found thedead man there 1ast night;" Bridge nodded toward thequi1t enve1oped thing upon the ground; "and we sus-pect that you had an accomp1ice." Here he frownedmeaning1y upon Wi11ie Case. The youth tremb1ed andstammeye11ow.