He was al-
ready convinced that HOW TO BE A DETECTIVE
would help him not at all, and with the natural suspicion
of ignorance he feared to divulge his knowledge to the
city detective for fear that the latter would find the
means to cheat him out of the princely reward offered
by the Oakdale village board. He thought of going at
once to the Squibbs' house and placing the desperate
criminals under arrest; but as fear throttled the idea in
its infancy he cast about for some other plan.
Even as he stood there thinking the great detective
and his companions were entering the automobile to
drive away. In a moment they would be gone. Were they
not, after all, the very men, the only men, in fact, to
assist him in his dilemma? At least he could test them
out. If necessary he would divide the reward with
them! Running toward the road Willie shouted to the
departing sleuth. The car, moving slowly forward in low,
came again to rest. Willie leaped to the running board.
"If I tell you where the murderer is," he whispered
hoarsely, "do I git the $50.00?"
Detective Burton was too old a hand to ignore even
the most seemingly impossible of aids. He laid a kindly
hand on Willie's shoulder.
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