I wonder now, Hugh, if you've got tabs on all the fellows, so that you could tell who made any footprint in the mud ?" Hugh only laughed as he went on to say: "It was just a mere accident that I knew that about Tip's mended sole, and it might never happen again.

But when Owen here told us about a hidden cache I only gave you my opinion as to what would be the easiest way to discover its location.

But what will you do about it, Owen,--let the Chief know of your discovery, or keep mum ?" "Why, I look at it this way," said the other, with a line of perplexity marked upon his usually smooth forehead; "if it was only a _suspicion_ I might keep quiet, not wanting to injure Tip, though I've got little cause to love the brute.

But since I actually _know_ something that would prove a valuable clue to the officers, I'm afraid it would be what I've heard a lawyer call 'compounding a felony' if I refused to inform on Tip.

How about that, Hugh?
I want to do the right thing, even if I hate to be an informer." "It's up to you, Owen, and your duty is plain enough," said Hugh.
"Then I ought to see the Chief, you mean ?" asked the other.
"I'd advise you to do so, for your future peace of mind, if nothing else," Hugh told the hesitating boy, who thereupon drew a long breath, and remarked: "I'm more than half sorry now I went back to look for this cigarette; because only for my picking up such positive evidence I needn't get into this nasty game.