well-to-do mine owner of the West and Dan might be a leading cadet
here. But instead they both threw themselves away -- and now they
must take what comes."

"My father used to say it took all kind of people to make a
world," went on Larry. "But I reckon we could do without the
Baxter and the Buddy Girk kind."

"And the Josiah Crabtree kind," added Sam. "Don't forget that
miserable sneak."

"Perhaps Crabtree has reformed, like Mumps."

"It wasn't in him to reform, Larry," came from Tom. "Oh, how I
detested him, with his slick, oily tongue! I wish they had caught
him and placed him where he deserved to be, with the Baxters."

"Yes, and then we could -" began Sam, when he stopped. "Hullo,
Frank, what are, you running so fast about?" he cried.

"Just got a letter from my father!" burst out Frank Harrington,
as he came up out of breath. "I knew you would want to hear the
news. Dan Baxter has escaped from jail and the authorities don't
know where to look for him."





CHAPTER II