Joe was concerned with something besides his legs now, and that was his stomach. He had suddenly remembered that he hadn’t had anything to eat, except a couple of sandwiches and a banana, since morning. Perhaps he actually did sleep for a few moments, for he certainly didn’t hear the telephone bell ring, and here was the filling station man saying excitedly: “Got ’em, kid! They’re pinched and you were dead right! The chief says the car’s plum full of bicycles! Hey, wake up and listen! They’ll be along pretty soon and take you home. He says there’s a reward out and he guesses you’ll get it!” “I wish,” muttered Joe sleepily, “it was a dish of soup and a hunk of toast and I had it now!” * * * * * “Hey, Joe! Joe Kenton!” Joe turned his bicycle across the street and drew up in front of Sam Sawyer. “Hello,” he said. “What’s it?” “Want to see you a minute. How’s it feel to be a hero and have your picture in the papers and everything?” Joe grinned embarrassedly. Then he glanced at the bundles in the carrier and frowned. “I’ve got to hurry,” he said. “I――” “Well, wait a minute, can’t you? Have you got that reward yet?” “No, but they said they would send a check to-day. I dare say it’s over at the house now.” “What are you going to do with it?” asked Sam, a bit enviously. Joe smiled. “Put it in the bank for the present,” he answered. “It’s going to come in mighty handy later. Help a lot with school expenses, you know.” “Yes,” agreed Sam. “Say, have you seen Warren to-day?” “Warren? No.” Joe glanced impatiently at the city hall clock and from thence to the bundles. “Then you haven’t heard?” exclaimed Sam. “Guess not. What’s it?” “Why, about the Vigilantes! About being a member!” “Who?” “You! Warren called a special meeting last evening and you were elected to membership, Joe! Unanimously!” Joe looked back unemotionally. “That so?” he asked. “Mean that I’m a Vigilante now?” “Sure!” “In good standing? All my dues paid in full?” “Of course, only there aren’t any――” “Well, then,” interrupted Joe, spurning the curb with his left foot and settling in the saddle, “you tell ’em I’ve resigned.” “Resigned!” gasped Sam. Joe nodded as he rolled away. “Yes, you tell ’em I’ve got me a society of my own, Sam. It’s called the――the Go Get ’Em Society. So long!” CHAPTER IX GUS BILLINGS NARRATES