Page:Ralph on the Railroad.djvu/515

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A CLEW!
217

"Did they do so?"

"I told them where the ladder was. Of course, confined helpless to my invalid chair, I couldn't go out with them. They came back inside in about ten minutes, and said they had found everything in shipshape order."

"Those are the persons who robbed the trunk," declared Ralph in a tone of conviction.

"Do you think so?" cried the old woman. "Do you know them?"

"I don't know—yet. Do you remember how they were dressed?"

"They were well-dressed, I remember that."

"Young men, I believe you said?"

"Yes, boys, almost—a little older than you. One wore a pearl-gray derby hat. The other wore a kind of automobile cap."

"Thank you," said Ralph, showing the value of this information in manner and face.

"Do you know them?" inquired the old woman eagerly.

"I think I do," said Ralph.

"Can you find them?"

"They will not be hard to locate," answered Ralph definitely. "Do not worry, ma'am. You have given me a very clever clew as to the robbers. I think I know who has got the papers that were in that little tin box."