"He asked me a question. It was: `Is there any chance to-night?' "

"What did you tell him?"

"Well, I was so surprised that I didn't know what to say, and, before
I could get my wits together the man had seen his mistake and hurried
on. He joined the man I had collided with, and the two skipped off in
the darkness. But not before a third man had come across the street,
from in front of the bank, and hurried off with them."

"Well?" asked Tom, as his chum paused.

"I don't know what to think," resumed Ned. "These men were certainly
acting suspiciously, and, now that you tell me the Anson Morse gang is
not locked up-well, it makes me feel that these must be some of their
crowd."

"Of course they are!" declared Tom positively. "That blue ring proves
it!"

"I wouldn't go so far as to say that," declared Ned. "The man
certainly had a blue ring tattooed on his finger-the same finger where
you say Happy Harry had his. But what would the men be doing in this
neighborhood? They certainly have had a lesson not to meddle with any
of your things."

"No, I don't believe they are after any of dad's inventions this time.
But I tell you what I do believe."