CHAPTER XIII
AN EXCITING HOUR
"Do you suppose that man is one of the robbers?" asked Sammy.
"I don't know about that," replied Bob. "But he doesn't act right."
"No, he isn't any more lame than I am," declared Frank.
"Just look at him," spoke Bob, quickly.
Some one was coming down the street. The minute the man saw the boys were following him, he began to act like a weak old man. He spoke to the other man in a whining kind of a tone. Bob cut across a yard to head off the man the stranger had spoken to. He found him to be Mr. Dale, the village postmaster.
"Oh, Mr. Dale," spoke Bob, "will you please tell me what that man who stopped you just now said to you?"
"Oh, is that you. Bob? Why, yes, he is a beggar and he asked me for a nickel. He says he is trying to get to Bartonville. Was hurt in an accident, he told me, and his eyesight is nearly gone. Do you know him?"
"No, sir, I was just curious about him. Thank you, Mr. Dale."
Bob bolted ofif and got back to his friends. He told them what Mr. Dale had said. Then he added:
"Now, then, fellows, we're going to follow that man. I feel sure he isn't honest."
"I don't think so, either," said Frank.
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