While Dave was busy at the wire Dick and the news editor talked over the affair in low tones. "With the horse you can cover a lot of ground," suggested Bradley. "And you're right about taking up the trail where it started. In half an hour, if you don't strike something big, you can drive back here on the jump for further orders. And don't forget the use of the 'phone, if you're at a distance. Also, if you strike something, and want to follow it further, you can have Darrin drive in with anything that you've struck up to the minute. Hustle, both of you. And, Darrin, we'll pay you for your trouble tonight." Horse and buggy were soon at the door. Dick sprang in, picking up the reins. Dave leaped in at the other side. The horse started away at a steady trot. "I hope those boys have brains enough not to go right past the story," mused Bradley, gazing after the buggy before he went back to his desk. "But I guess Prescott always has his head squarely on his shoulders. He does, in school athletics, anyway. Len Spencer is the man for this job, so of course Len had to be laid up with a cold and fever that would make it murder to send him out tonight." Horse and buggy were soon at the door. Dick sprang in, picking up the reins. Dave leaped in at the other side. The horse started away at a steady trot. "I hope those boys have brains enough not to go right past the story," mused Bradley, gazing after the buggy before he went back to his desk. "But I guess Prescott always has his head squarely on his shoulders. He does, in school athletics, anyway. Len Spencer is the man for this job, so of course Len had to be laid up with a cold and fever that would make it murder to send him out to-night." "Dick," muttered Dave excitedly, "you've simply got to make good. This isn't simply a little paragraph to be scribbled. It's a mystery and is going to be the sensation of the day. This is the kind of story that full-fledged reporters on the great dailies have to handle." "Yes," laughed Dick, "and those reporters never get flurried. I'm not going to allow myself any excitement, either." "No, but you want to get the story---all of it." "Of course I do," Prescott agreed quietly. "If you do this in bang-up shape," Dave went on enthusiastically, "it's likely to be the making of you!" "How?" queried Dick, turning around to his chum. "Why, success on a big story would fairly launch you in journalism. It would provide your career as soon as you're through High School." "I don't want a career at the end of the High School course," Dick returned. "I'm going further, and try to fare better in life." "Wouldn't you like to be a newspaper man for good?" demanded Dave.