"Ten Thousand Dollars reward! Great Scott, Cora, wouldn't I like to catch those fellows?
Great, eh?
But it's a desperate gang! The worst ever!" Just then both became conscious of the fact that some one was scrutinising them intently from behind.

They turned and beheld Anderson Crow, his badges glistening.
"How are you, officer ?" said Jackie cheerily.

Miss Marmaduke, in her happiness, beamed a smile upon the austere man with the chin whiskers.
Anderson was past seventy, but that smile caused the intake of his breath to almost lift him from the ground.
"First rate, thanks; how's yourself?
Readin' the reward notice?
Lemme tell you something.

There's goin' to be somethin' happen tarnation soon that will astonish them fellers ef--" but here Anderson pulled up with a jerk, realising that he was on the point of betraying a great secret.
Afraid to trust himself in continued conversation, he abruptly said: "Good afternoon," and started off down the street, his ears tingling.
"Queer old chap, isn't he ?" observed Jackie, and immediately forgot him as they strolled onward.
That evening Tinkletown swarmed with strangers.

The weather was fine, and scores of the summer dwellers in the hills across the river came over to see the performance, as the advance agent had predicted.