This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
196
THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS

want you fellows to give me the ha-ha! if nothing came of it."

"But lots did come of it!" declared Frank. "We can clear ourselves of the faint suspicion that I believe Boxer Hall thinks hangs over us, and we can get them back their trophy cups, and the other people their jewelry."

"Yes, I suppose the pawnbroker can be made to give up stolen stuff," said Tom. He was puzzling his brains to think of some reason why Ruth's brooch was not pawned with the other things. Recalling the list of missing articles, given out when the jeweler offered the reward, it was seen that all were representd by the pawn tickets, save Ruth's trinket.

"They're made out in the name 'A. Smith,'" said Phil, as he scrutinized the bits of paper. "Might be a blacksmith for all you can tell—probably a fake name. And the pawnbroker's place is in Monroe," he went on, naming a town about twenty-five miles away.

"Well," spoke Tom, "I suppose the thing to do is to go there, see the police, get the stuff, and return it to the jeweler. Then he can do as he likes with it."

"Incidentally we'll collect the reward," declared Sid.

"We'll donate it to the new racing association!," suggested Frank. "Wouldn't it be a joke, if we