“If I had a nose like that,” yelled Ben, “I’d go off and sit in the dark and let it rest.” “Do you know these fresh boys, Mr. Gilmore?” asked the deputy. “They came from New York with Louis Havens,” was the reply. “I don’t believe that man we’ve got in jail is Louis Havens at all!” yelled the deputy. “Who is in jail with him?” asked Ben. “Stroup the garage man,” was the reply. “He’s got four cases of assault and battery against him, and the man you call Havens is charged with stealing this machine.” Just then a muscular, determined-looking man, trousers in boots and wearing a cowboy hat, approached the group, now continually increasing in size. “Hello Sheriff Chase!” exclaimed Gilmore stepping forward. “The sight of you sure is good for sore eyes!” returned the sheriff shaking Gilmore warmly by the hand. After the two officers had exchanged greetings and talked for a few moments in low tones, the sheriff turned to his deputy. “Pass over your badge and gun!” he said. “I acted entirely within my rights,” whined the other, doing as requested. “You acted like a fool!” replied the sheriff. “You’ve rendered your bondsmen and myself liable to heavy damages for your fool actions this morning. How much did the Japs give you for what you did for them?” The deputy mumbled out some indistinct reply and turned away, followed by the jeers of the crowd. “That settles that part of the case,” said Sheriff Chase with a smile. “Now I’ll deputize half a dozen trusty men to look after the machines while we go and have a talk with Havens.” Half an hour later Havens and Stroup, trying to make the best of prison life by repeating their experiences of the morning, saw Ben and Carl come running toward the grated window. “Ah, there!” Ben shouted seizing an upright bar in each hand and pressing his nose in between the two. “I always had my suspicions about you, Mr. Havens!” “Doesn’t he look handsome in there!” shouted Carl, putting his hands on Ben’s shoulders and leaping up so as to get a better view. “Glad to see you, you little rascals,” said Havens. “Have you got a ship I can ride in?” he asked. “I’ve gone and lost the _Ann_!” “And we’ve found it!” yelled Ben. “And here’s Sheriff Chase and Ranger Gilmore who’ll have you out of there in about a minute.” In less than half an hour the details of release were all completed, although Havens found it necessary to pay three pretty stiff fines for Stroup. However, the sheriff immediately appointed the garage man as deputy in place of the one removed, so his standing in the community was not at all injured by the experiences of the morning. “And now,” Ben said as they walked away toward the _Ann_, “we’ve still got troubles of our own! Jimmie and Kit are lost in the air somewhere, and the outlaws are after them—hot blocks.” CHAPTER XX. STEALING AN AEROPLANE.