“No, we’re on business,” went on Jerry, who had been elected spokesman. “Have you seen a man around these parts with a very crooked nose?”
The farmer started, and looked closely at the boys.
“Yes,” interjected Bob, “a _very_ crooked nose. It’s spread all over one side of his face.”
“Why, that must be Jim Waydell! At least that’s what he called himself when he came to work for me,” said the farmer, who had given his name as Thomas Martin to the boys, when they told him who they were.
“Well, not very much, no. He came along, asked for work, and, as I was short-handed, I gave it to him. Why do you ask?”
“We’re not sure whether he’s the man we want to see or not,” answered Jerry, determined to be a bit cautious. “If we could have a look at him close by----”
“He’s out in the barn now,” interrupted the farmer. “Go talk to him, if you like.”
He waved his hand toward a ramshackle red building, and the three boys started toward it. As they entered they heard some one moving around, and then they caught sight of the very man they were looking for standing in the opened rear door. The last rays of the setting sun streamed full in on him from behind, and illuminated his face. His crooked nose was very much in evidence.
And as if the words were a warning the man, with a cry, gave a jump up into the haymow and disappeared from sight.
The three motor boys sprang to the pursuit, scrambling over the hay. It was a noiseless chase, for the hay deadened all sounds. They could not see the man, but it was evident that he was either going to hide, or was making toward some unseen door by which he could escape.
“We’ll get him!” exclaimed Bob. “Come on!”
“Slipped and stuck my hand into a hen’s nest in the hay,” was the answer. “Broke about half a dozen eggs, I guess! Too bad! We might have taken ’em back to camp to fry for breakfast.”
Hardly had Ned uttered the words than the boys were startled by hearing a voice they knew--the voice of Pug Kennedy. It said:
“There they are now, Mister, stealing your eggs! I told you that’s what they were after--robbing hens’ nests. Better look out for your eggs!”
“I will!” exclaimed the voice of the farmer, in answer to this accusation. “I wondered at their story of the crooked-nosed man! They just wanted to get into my barn! I’ll fix ’em!”