Tom, and extended both hands.

"I heard the machine first," declared Dora, and came straight to Dick,
who did not hesitate to give her the hearty kiss to which he thought
his engagement entitled him.

"We have been to Plankville," came from Tom and Sam, in a breath.

"Have you heard the news?" questioned their big brother, and he looked
anxiously from Dora to her cousins.

"What news?" cried Dora, quickly. "We have heard nothing unusual."

"Josiah Crabtree broke out of the Plankville jail and ran away."

"Oh, Dick!" and Dora grew suddenly pale. "Do you really mean it?"

"When was this?" demanded Nellie.

"Tell us all about it," supplemented Grace.

"We can't tell you any more than what we have heard," answered Sam.
"We just got word ourselves this morning."

Then the boys told their story and answered innumerable questions
which the girls put to them.

"This will be bad news for mother," said Dora, to Dick. "She is afraid
of Josiah Crabtree, and always has been-- because of his strange
hypnotic power."