The Essential Edward Stratemeyer Collection. Stratemeyer Edward

this matter," remarked Senator Morr. "I don't propose to have my garage burnt down, with two automobiles worth five thousand dollars,--not to say anything about the danger to the rest of the place. If I find----"

      Bang! It was an explosion like a cannon and made everybody jump. As Dave looked, he saw a corner of a distant fence fly apart, and bits of fire seemed to fill the midnight air. Then followed utter silence.

      "The cannon cracker!" gasped Phil.

      "What could have made it go off?" asked Roger.

      "Some sparks from this fire--or else it was lit when Phil took it out," answered Dave.

      "What are you talking about?" asked Senator Morr, and when he had been told he shook his head and smiled, grimly.

      "Well, I'm glad it didn't go off in the garage," he said. "But after this you must keep your explosives in a safer place. Jake, James, bring some buckets of water and put out that fire from the explosion. It isn't much, but we want no more sparks flying around here."

      The water was brought, and soon every spark had been extinguished. Then the crowd went back to the garage, to make sure that no more fire lingered in that vicinity.

      "It certainly looks as if somebody had set this fire," mused Senator Morr. "Perhaps a tramp. Have you seen any such fellows around here?" he asked, looking at the others.

      The boys had seen no tramps at all, and James said he had seen none for over a week.

      "I saw one day before yesterday," said the chauffeur, "but I know he left town that night--I saw him board a freight train."

      "Well, it is strange. Keep your eyes open," said Senator Morr, and then he returned to the house, to quiet his wife and retire once more.

      "It's mighty queer about that fire," remarked Luke, when the boys were undressing. "It certainly does look as if it was set."

      "Dave, do you think Merwell and Haskers would do it?" questioned Roger.

      "Yes, if they were in this neighborhood. But have they been here?"

      The boys looked at each other. Nobody had seen Merwell or the former teacher of Oak Hall in that vicinity.

      "Let us make some inquiries down at the railroad station in the morning," suggested Dave. "If those two stopped off here somebody must have seen them."

      "Phew! what a noise that cannon cracker did make!" murmured Phil. "If we had set that off in the morning--as we intended--I reckon it would have woke up the neighborhood pretty well."

      "It did wake some folks up," answered Roger, for quite a few boys and men had come up to find out what the flames and noise meant.

      "It was certainly some firecracker," was Luke's comment.

      "Say, speaking of firecrackers puts me in mind of a story!" burst out Shadow.

      "Wow! A story this time of night!" murmured Buster. "I'm going to bed."

      "This is a short one," pleaded the would-be story-teller. "A man was giving a celebration one Fourth of July to a lot of children. He had ordered a lot of firecrackers, but they didn't come. So he sent a telegram to the wholesale house in the city. 'Send big and little crackers as ordered at once.' About an hour afterwards he got a return telegram which said, 'Our grocery department is closed to-day. Your order for crackers will be filled to-morrow.'"

      "Call that a crackerjack joke?" asked Roger, with a grin.

      "Don't crack any more like that, Shadow," added Dave.

      "You might get fired if you do," contributed Phil; and then a general laugh went up, after which all of the boys again retired.

      In the morning the lads inspected the vicinity of the fire once more, and spent some time in shooting off a pistol and a shotgun which Roger possessed. Then, acting on a suggestion from Dave, they took a walk to the railroad station.

      Here an interesting bit of news awaited them, which was to the effect that, owing to some trouble with a bridge about a mile outside of Hemson, two passenger trains and a freight had been held up at the station for several hours.

      "Most of the passengers remained in the trains," said the station agent. "But some of 'em got restless and they went over to the hotel, and some walked down to where the bridge was being repaired."

      "Did you notice two people in particular?" asked Roger, and described Merwell and Job Haskers as well as he could.

      "No, I don't remember seeing those fellows," said the agent.

      From the railroad station the boys went to the hotel, and then walked along the country road leading to the Morr place. Presently they met a man driving a milk wagon.

      "Say, you had a fire last night, didn't you?" asked the driver of Roger, as he reined up.

      "Yes, Mr. Platt," answered the senator's son. "But it didn't amount to anything."

      "How did it catch, do you know?" went on the driver of the milk wagon, curiously.

      "No, we are trying to find out."

      "Maybe it was set. I see two fellers sneakin' around your place last evening," went on Mr. Platt.

      CHAPTER IX

      WHAT NAT POOLE HAD TO TELL

      "You saw two fellows sneaking around our place last evening?" cried Roger, with interest.

      "I certainly did."

      "What did they look like?" asked Dave.

      "I see 'em plainly an' I was wonderin' what they was up to," said the driver of the milk wagon, and then he described the two persons quite minutely.

      "Haskers and Merwell, beyond a doubt!" exclaimed Phil. "Now what do you know about that!"

      "It certainly is the limit!" murmured Luke.

      "Wonder if they are still around?" came from Shadow. "Say, this puts me in mind of a sto----But never mind, I'll tell it another time," he broke off, hastily, as he saw a look of disgust on the others' faces.

      "I don't believe they are around," said Dave. "They probably boarded the first train that went over the bridge."

      "Just what I think," returned the senator's son.

      "Think them fellers set the fire?" asked Mr. Platt, curiously.

      "We feel certain of it," replied Roger. "They are old school enemies of ours," he added. "It's only one more score we've got to settle with them," he continued, to his chums, and shut his teeth with a snap.

      Nothing further could be learned concerning the mysterious visitors, and finally the boys went back to the Morr mansion, to get ready for the evening celebration. This came off as scheduled and proved a big success. Fully a hundred town folk were present, besides some from the lake and elsewhere. There were rockets and Roman candles and wheels galore, as well as several set pieces. Some fire balloons were also liberated. Senator Morr had engaged a local band of eight pieces, and if the music was not of a high order it was certainly patriotic, and that counted for a good deal.

      Of course the other boys had to hear all about the proposed trip West and, incidentally, about the lost Landslide Mine. From his father and mother Roger got some more details concerning the missing property. A map was produced, and also some papers, and the son was advised to hunt up an old miner and prospector named Abe Blower.

      "Abe Blower knew your Uncle Maurice well," said Mrs. Morr, to her son. "They were friends for years. I am sure if you can find Mr. Blower he will do all he can for you, and for me, too."

      "Then I'll do what I can to find