"What did you do with the card?" asked Dave.

"Tossed it into the ditch with the coat."

"Do you remember where?"

"Sure, I do."

"I'll give you another dollar to take me to the spot."

"Say, you're a gold mine to me, Cap. Come ahead."

Dave was doing a good deal of active thinking. More than once, as
his companion led way around the high board fence enclosing the
Interstate plant, Dave took out the badge he had bought and
scrutinized the scratches on its back closely.

'The tramp guided the way across a bleak prairie stretch. Then he
followed the dry ditch, until they came to a spot where thick clumps
of weeds directly lining the fence suggested a cozy resting and
hiding place for any stray wayfarer.

"There's where I was asleep, as I told you," spoke Dave's companion,
pointing to a spot where the weeds were somewhat trodden down. "And
there's the place where the coat caught. See, there's one or two
pieces of the cloth of the coat hanging in the barbs yet."

"Yes, I see," assented Dave. "Now, where did you throw the coat and
the things you found In it?"