CHAPTER XXI
A CHASE
The unknown interloper pursued his usual tactics. That is, he turned
and fled as soon as he saw Paul coming toward him. And he went
surprisingly fast for a lame man. Alice was the first to notice this.
"Look!" she cried. "That man limps hardly at all now."
"That's so," agreed Ruth. "Perhaps he only did that as a disguise."
"Excuse me!" called Russ. "I've got to get in on this chase," and he
left the two girls, and ran after Paul, who had started ahead of him.
"Oh, please be careful!" cried Ruth, nervously.
"Does that mean Paul--or Russ?" asked Alice, mischievously.
"Both!" said Ruth, with decision. "That man may be a desperate
character."
"He doesn't act so," declared Alice, with a laugh. "See, he is
running away."
"Yes, but if the boys catch him he may turn on them--and he may--he
may have a weapon, Alice."
"Don't be silly, Ruth. Paul and Russ are able to look out for
themselves. But how fast that man can run!"
The stranger was indeed making good time across the fields, and Russ
and Paul did not seem to be catching up to him very fast. He had had
a good start.
The other members of the company had gone in a different direction,
and as the chase had started behind the old barn, neither Mr. Pertell
nor any of the others could see what was taking place.
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