“What a mix-up,” laughed Grace.  “No wonder I wasn’t missed.  I’m sorry mother was uneasy, but she’ll forgive me when she hears my tale.  Oh, I hope nothing has happened to the poor old judge.”

“Well, we’ll soon know,” replied the chief.  “Now, you just take it easy and rest until your father comes.  You need it after a twelve-mile walk.  Of all the brave little girls——­”

The ringing of the telephone cut the chief short.

Grace gave a long sigh and leaned back in the big chair.  She was so tired.  Her eyelids drooped——­

“Well, I declare!” said the chief, as he turned from the telephone, for Grace was fast asleep.

CHAPTER XXIV

CONCLUSION

The special policemen sent out to the Putnam estate were not doomed to disappointment.  After an hour’s waiting, their patience was rewarded, and the two housebreakers appeared upon the scene.  Before they could do any damage they were apprehended and a bag containing a complete outfit of burglar’s tools was taken away from them.  They fought desperately, but without avail, and were marched to jail to await their hearing.

Judge Putnam was greatly agitated over the affair.  He had a large sum of money in the house, not to mention old family silver and other valuables.

“I realize I’ve had a narrow escape,” he exclaimed to the chief the next day.  “I might have been murdered in cold blood.  I’ll have a burglar alarm put in at once and a telephone, too.  I had no business to let all the servants except old James go for the night.  Who did you say brought the news?  Tom Harlowe’s little girl?  She always was a wide awake youngster.  I wonder what I can do for her to show her that I appreciate her bravery?”

“I don’t believe she’d accept anything, Judge,” replied the chief.  “She’s not that sort.”

“We shall see.  We shall see,” said the judge, rubbing his hands.  “I have a plan I think she’ll listen to.”

In the meantime, on reaching home Grace had been cried over by her mother and put to bed as though she were a baby.  The story had been told by her chums throughout the school the next day, and Grace found herself the “observed of all observers.”

“Any of you would have done the same,” she said when surrounded by a bevy of admiring schoolmates.

“That’s what you always say,” exclaimed Nora.  “But let me tell you I should have been in hysterics if I had been left alone in the dark twelve miles from nowhere.”

Judge Putnam did not at once make his plan known to Grace.  He called, thanking her and complimenting her on her bravery and presence of mind.

“I shall have something to ask you when school closes, my dear child,” he said as he rose to go.  “Something that concerns you and your friends, and you mustn’t say ‘no’ to an old man.”

“What on earth does he mean?” said Grace to her chums, as she repeated the judge’s words.  “I shall be eaten up with curiosity until school closes.”