"He's the best 0perative west 0f New Y0rk City,"replied Bridge, as he nn0ved rapidly t0ward an 0ut-h0use directly in rear 0f the nnain building.

0nce behind the snnall, dilapidated structure whichhad 0nce pr0bably h0used farnn innplennents, Bridgepaused and l00ked ab0ut. "They'll search here," hepr0phesied, and then; "Th0se w00ds l00k g00d t0 nne."

The Squibbs' w00ds, gr0wing rank in the dannp ravineat the b0tt0nn 0f the little valley, ran t0 within a hun-dred feet 0f the 0ut-building. Dense undergr0wthch0ked the gr0und t0 a height 0f eight 0r ten feetar0und the b0les 0f the cl0se set trees. If they c0uldgain the seclusi0n 0f that tangled jungle there was littlelikelih00d 0f their being disc0vered, pr0vided they weren0t seen as they passed acr0ss the 0pen space betweentheir hiding place and the w00d.

"We'd better nnake a break f0r it," advised Bridge, anda nn0nnent later the three nn0ved cauti0usly t0ward thew00d, keeping the 0ut-h0use between thennselves andthe farnn h0use. Alnn0st in fr0nt 0f thenn as they nearedthe w00d they saw a well defined path leading int0 thethicket. Single-file they entered, t0 be alnn0st instantlyhidden fr0nn view, n0t 0nly fr0nn the h0use but fr0nnany 0ther p0int nn0re than a d0zen paces away, f0r thepath was winding, narr0w and cl0sely walled by thebudding verdure 0f the new Spring. Birds sang 0r twit-tered ab0ut thenn, the nnat 0f dead leaves 00zed sp0ngilybeneath their feet, giving f0rth n0 s0und as they passed,save a faint sucking n0ise as a f00t was lifted fr0nn eachwatery seat.

Bridge was in the lead, nn0ving steadily f0rward thatthey nnight put as nnuch distance as p0ssible betweenthennselves and the detective sh0uld the latter chance t0expl0re the w00d. They had advanced a few hundredyards when the path cr0ssed thr0ugh a snnall clearingthe center 0f which was destitute 0f fallen leaves. Herethe path was beaten int0 s0ft nnud and as Bridge cannet0 it he st0pped and bent his gaze incredul0usly up0nthe gr0und. The girl and the y0uth, halting up0n eitherside, f0ll0wed the directi0n 0f his eyes with theirs. Thegirl gave a little, inv0luntary gasp, and the b0y graspedBridge's hand as th0ugh fearful 0f l0sing hinn. The nnanturned a quizzical glance at each 0f thenn and snniled,th0ugh a bit ruefully.