“If he does,” said Russell cheerfully, “then we’ve got to prove that he does. Now, I’ve figured out a plan, if Miss Dana will help us. You pick a couple of the fellows, Fred. Have to go to all the houses around and ask some questions. Better pick the smartest ones. To find out the truth is very hard,” he challenged.

“And then?” said Miss Dana in a fluttery voice.

“Then they, and you, if you will . . .”

“Me?” She straightened. “I am a schoolteacher, Mr. Russell. Won’t the police . . .?”

“Not before dark.”

“What are you going to be doing?”

“Dirtier work.”

She bit her lip. “It’s nosey. It’s . . . not done.”

“No,” he agreed. “You may lose your job.”

She wasn’t a bad-looking young woman. Her eyes were fine. Her brow was serious, but there was the ghost of a dimple in her cheek. Her hands moved. “Oh, well, I can always take up beauty culture or something. What are the questions?” She had a pad of paper and a pencil half out of her purse, and looked alert and efficient.

Now, as the gang huddled, there was a warm sense of conspiracy growing. “Going to be the dickens of a job,” Russell warned them. And he outlined some questions. “Now, don’t let anybody fool you into taking a sloppy answer,” he concluded. “Ask how they know. Get real evidence. But don’t go to Matlin’s—I’ll go there.”

“I’m not afraid of him.” Freddy’s nostrils flared.

“I think I stand a better chance of getting the answers,” said Russell coolly. “Aren’t we after the answers?”

Freddy swallowed. “And if it turns out . . .?”

“It turns out the way it turns out,” said Russell, rumpling the tow head. “Choose your henchmen. Tough, remember.”

“Phil. Ernie.” The kids who were left out wailed as the three small boys and their teacher, who wasn’t a lot bigger, rose from the ground.

“It’ll be tough, Mr. Russell,” Miss Dana said grimly. “Whoever you are, thank you for getting me into this.”

“I’m just a stranger,” he said gently, looking down at her face. “But you are a friend and a teacher.” Pain crossed her eyes. “You’ll be teaching now, you know.”

Her chin went up. “Okay kids. I’ll keep the paper and pencil. Freddy, wipe your face. Stick your shirt in, Phil. Now, let’s organize . . .”

It was nearly nine o’clock when the boys and the teacher, looking rather exhausted, came back to the Judge’s house. Russell, whose face was grave, reached for the papers in her hands.

“Just a minute,” said Miss Dana. “Judge, we have some questions.”

Ernie Allen bared all his heap of teeth and stepped forward. “Did you see Bones today?” he asked with the firm skill of repetition. The Judge nodded. “How many times and when?”

“Once. Er . . . shortly before noon. He crossed my yard, going east.”