"We're exceedin' the speed limit, Sheriff! Don't you think I'd better hop out an' arrest the bunch ?" "'Necessity knows no law,'" quoted the county official.

"Just the same, young man, don't you land us head up in a ditch!" he added, to Dick.
The boys were on the watch, and presently saw the field from which they had come and steered into it.

Then they ran into the woods and brought the car to a standstill just where it had been before.
"Now, I think you had better be as quiet as possible," said Dick.
"Right you are," returned the sheriff, and gave orders to his men to that effect.
As silently as so many ghosts the posse and Dick and Sam hurried along the woodland trail in the direction of the old stone mansion.

Soon they came in sight of the place.

As they did so Tom came to meet them.
"Anything new ?" questioned Dick, in a whisper.
"The men folks are in the sitting room of the place," answered Tom.
"In the sitting room?
As late as this?
Wouldn't you think they'd retire," said Sam.
"They are quarrelling," went on Tom, and now he was chuckling.
"Quarrelling?
Over what ?" "Over the way they are going to divide the money they squeeze out of dad and Mrs.Stanhope and Mrs.Laning.