"Hello!" exclaimed Frank, surprised. "Just in time for what?" "They're gone!" "Who?" "Vida Melburn and that man." "Gone where?" "Taken the lake road. Something has caused them to hustle out on the jump. I do not believe they are coming back here." "Then we must follow." "Sure." "How----" "Here--in the stable. I have ordered a horse. We'll have two. They'll not slip us easily." "How did they travel?" "Horseback." "How much of a start?" "Twenty minutes." Together the boys ran back into the stable, and another horse was ordered saddled. "Look here," cried Frank, displaying his money. "We wish to overtake some people who have a start on us. Give us the best animal in the stable." The proprietor of the stable was on hand, and he looked the boys over doubtfully. "How do I know I'll ever see my critters again?" he asked. "We'll make a deposit," declared Frank. "We'll stick up a hundred dollars apiece on 'em. If they are worth more you can afford to take chances. If we're horse thieves you won't have much trouble in tracing us. Besides that, horse thieves do not work in this way. If they did they'd get the worst end most of the time, for they'd have to chance it on the horses being worth a hundred each." The proprietor was rather bewildered. He believed something was wrong, but still he did not wish to refuse to let the boys have the horses. The money was counted out and thrust into his hands. "Hustle!" cried Merriwell. "We can't afford to lose a moment." The stable-keeper roared out an order to his assistants. The horse that Bart had ordered was quickly brought out, ready for mounting, and then he was followed by another, onto which a saddle was flung. Frank looked the animals over with a critical eye. "They'll do," he said, approvingly. In a few seconds the lads were mounted and dashing away from the stable. The proprietor stood looking after them, doubt written on his face. "Gee whiz!" he muttered. "I never thought of that! Bet I've made a derned fool of myself! Well, I reckon I'll git the critters back." "What is it you did not think of?" he was asked. "Why, it's remarkable kids like them should be so flush with money. And they looked scared. They're runnin' away. I reckon they've been stealin' an' they wuz hustlin' to get away before they wus arrested." The boys disappeared down the street. Frank allowed Bart to take the lead. "I suppose you know the shortest cut to the lake road?" he asked. "I do," said Bart. "You follow close, that's all." As they rode, Frank related his adventure in the bank. Bart whistled in astonishment. "Bogus money?" he cried. "And you received it of the girl? That is strange." "It looks bad," said Frank. "I don't understand it. How do you suppose she happened to have it? It's not at all probable she knew what it was." "I am not so sure of that." The dark-eyed boy gave his companion a reproving look.