He was just leaving the Bugle office as they came along, and he
instantly detected a "story."

"Come on," said Alice, "you can be our counsel. We are under arrest."

"No need," objected the squire, "I am well able to attend to this case."

"But your office is public," answered Ralph, "and I guess I'll go along
and see what happens."

"But I say I don't want any interference," and the squire raised his
voice. "You newspaper scamps always get things wrong anyway."

"Probably because you do not give us a chance to get them right,"
retorted Ralph. "This time we will try to stick to facts."

"Well, when I'm ready to give them out you can have them, but not
before," insisted the angry squire.

"But I'm going along, just the same," declared Ralph, as Tavia stepped
back to walk with him, so that the squire was obliged to go on with
Alice, who really seemed to be enjoying the experience.

The office of the justice of the peace was a dingy, dirty little place.
It had served Dalton for the small needs of a public office for some
years, Squire Sanders, of course, collecting a good income for its
yearly rental.

An old bench was stretched in front of the desk.