little harder your skull might have been broken."

"Well, I don't think Arnold Baxter would have cared if he had broken my
skull," answered Anderson Rover. "He is a thoroughly bad man."

It was broad daylight before a complete examination of the house was
made, and then it was learned that Baxter had run away with some silver
knives, forks, and spoons, some gold napkin rings, a silver and gold
water pitcher, and half a dozen similar articles. From the desk he had
taken a pocketbook containing three hundred dollars in cash, and from
Anderson Rover's person his watch and chain, and a diamond stud. He
had also tried to rob the unconscious man of his diamond ring, but as
the ring would not come off had pried out the stone and taken that.

"He is at his old tricks again," said Dick. "Evidently his term in
prison has done him no good."

"Guess it has made him worse," added Sam. "Oh, how I would like to lay
my hands on him!" And Tom said the same.

The authorities were notified, including the sheriff of the county, and
later still Anderson Rover hired a New York detective to take up the
case. But it was of no avail. Arnold Baxter did not show himself, and
not a trace of him was to be found anywhere.

"I shouldn't be surprised if he disguised himself as soon as he got
away from here," remarked Tom. "He could easily put on a false
mustache, and a wig would fit capitally over that almost bald pate of
his."