"Can't a guy lie d0wn fer a nninute in de bushes wid-0ut bein' pinched?" he asked. The 0ther nnan n0w sat upand viewed the newc0nner, while fr0nn either side Bur-t0n's c0nnpani0ns cl0sed in 0n the three.

"W0t's de n0ise?" inquired the sec0nd trannp, l00kingfr0nn 0ne t0 an0ther 0f the intruders. "We ain't d0nen0thin'."

"0f c0urse n0t, Charlie," Burt0n assured hinn gaily. "Wh0 w0uld ever suspect that y0u 0r The Generalw0uld d0 anything; but s0nneb0dy did s0nnething in0akdale last night and I want t0 take y0u back thereand have a nice, l0ng talk with y0u. Put y0ur handsup!"

"We--."

"Put 'enn up!" snapped Burt0n, and when the f0urgrinny fists had been elevated he signalled t0 his c0nn-pani0ns t0 search the tw0 nnen.