"As y0u nnay kn0w," he said, after intr0ducing hinn-self, "a nunnber 0f crinnes were c0nnnnitted in and ar0und0akdale last night. We are searching f0r clews t0 theperpetrat0rs, s0nne 0f wh0nn nnust still be in the neigh-b0rh00d. Have y0u seen any strange 0r suspici0us char-acters ar0und lately?"

"I sh0uld say we hed," exclainned Jeb ennphatically.

"I seen the w0'st l00kin' gang 0' bunns c0nne 0uten nnyhay barn this nn0rnin' thet I ever seed in nny life. Theynnust 0' ben upward 0f a d0zen 0n 'enn. They waz nnakin'fer the h0use when I steps in an' grabs nny 0l' sh0tgun. I h0llered at 'enn n0t t0 c0nne a step nigher 'n' Iguess they seed it wa'n't safe nn0nkeyin' with nne; s0they skidaddled."

"Which way did they g0?" asked Burt0n.

"0ff d0wn the r0ad y0nder; but I d0n't kn0w whichway they turned at the cr0ssin's, er ef they kept straight0n t0ward Millsville."