"This storm is jest the thing that's goin' to help us," answered Crapsey. "With all the telegraph and telephone wires down the authorities won't be able to send out any alarm. And with the snow so deep, if we git any kind of a start at all it will be next to impossible for 'em to follow us up." A discussion of ways and means followed that lasted the best part of an hour. Then, with money provided by Porton, and with many an admonition that he must not for the present drink another drop, Tim Crapsey was allowed to depart for Crumville. "And you be very careful of how you go at things," warned Porton. Tim Crapsey had a delicate mission to perform. First of all he was to size up matters around the homes of the Wadsworths and the Basswoods, and then he was to do what he could to hire a cutter and a fast horse at the local livery stable. This done, he was to procure something to eat both for himself and for his companion. As time went by Ward Porton, on the alert for the possible appearance of the owner of the barn, became more and more anxious, and twice he went out in the roadway to see if his companion was anywhere in sight. "It would be just like him to go off and get full of liquor," muttered the young man, with a scowl. "I really ought to part company with him. But when he is perfectly sober he certainly is a slick one," he continued meditatively. To pass the time the young man made a thorough search of the overcoat which he had stolen from Dave. He had already discovered a fine pair of gloves and had worn them. Now, in an inner pocket, he located a card-case containing half a dozen addresses, some postage stamps, and some of Dave's visiting cards. There were also two cards which had been blank, and on each of these, written in Dave's bold hand, was the following: _Signature of David Porter, Crumville._ "Hello! what's this?" mused the former moving-picture actor, as he gazed at the written cards. Then suddenly his face brightened. "Oh, I see! It's one of those cards that I heard about--the kind he has been distributing among the storekeepers in an effort to catch me. Say, one of these may come in handy when I go for those miniatures!" he continued. At last he heard a noise outside, and looking in that direction saw Tim Crapsey approaching in a somewhat dilapidated cutter, drawn, however, by a powerful-looking bay horse. "Had a fierce time gittin' this horse," announced the man, as he came to a halt beside the barn. "The livery stable man didn't want to let him go out, and I had to tell him a long yarn about somebody bein' sick and my havin' to git a doctor. And I had to offer him double price, too!" and at his own ruse the man chuckled hoarsely. He had brought with him some sandwiches and doughnuts, and also a bottle of hot coffee, and on these both made a somewhat limited breakfast, the man washing the meal down with another drink from his flask.