"Hold on there!"

Ned stopped short, thinking he was to be
the victim of a holdup, but his fears were
allayed when he beheld one of the police force of
Shopton confronting him.

"I heard what you said about gettin' the gold,"
went on the officer. "I was walkin' along and I
heard you talkin'. Where's your pal?"

"I haven't any, Mr. Newbold," answered Ned
with a laugh, as he recognized the man.

"Oh, pshaw! It's Ned Newton!" exclaimed
the disappointed officer. "I thought you was
talkin' to a confederate about gold, and figured
maybe you was goin' to rob the bank."

"No, nothing like that," answered Ned, still
much amused. "I was talking to myself about
a trip Tom Swift and I are going to take
and----"

"Oh, that's all right," responded the
policeman. "I can understand it, if it had anything to
do with Tom. He's a great boy."

"Indeed he is," agreed Ned, making a mental
resolve not to be so public with his thoughts