"Merrick must have dropped this," he said. "It's wet, and here is a dead hornet stuck fast to it. Guess the hornets made him forget that he had it."
Slipping the pocketbook into his pocket, Dick ran out on the roadway and looked up and down. But Merrick and Sobber were gone, and what had become of them the boys did not learn until the next day, and then it was too late.
"What's in that pocketbook?" asked Sam, after the hunt had come to an end for the time being.
"We'll soon learn," said his big brother, and opened up the still wet leather. Inside were several bank bills and a fat envelope.
"Uncle Randolph's missing traction company bonds!" cried Dick, bringing them forth. "This is the best ever!"
"Are they all there?" asked Tom.
Dick counted them over rapidly.
"Yes—ten for one thousand dollars each."
"Hurrah!" shouted Sam. "Won't Uncle Randolph be glad when he hears of this!"
The boys were highly elated over the find, and now they had the bonds they concluded that a further search for Sid Merrick could wait. They did not care whether Tad Sobber was captured or not, as they did not think the bully was much of a criminal.
When they got back to the sloop they found
