and met the stranger's quizzical glance
squarely. "Why, I suppose I have heard about as much of it as the
average citizen of Maine has. Why do you ask that question? Do you know
anything special about it?"

"No," answered the stranger, "I was just merely asking for the sake of
asking a question. Well, so long boys, I may see you at luncheon, just
now I want to finish an article I was reading in a newspaper about the
low price that furs are bringing this summer."

With that as a parting shot, he returned to his seat, leaving the three
boys wondering just who he might be.

"I am very suspicious about this man Fernald," Garry told his two
companions. "He seems very anxious to know all about our business, and
his two hints about smuggling and the low price of furs lead me to
believe that he was trying to pump us. Do you fellows think the same, or
am I unduly suspicious?"

Phil, who was naturally a solid-headed boy, thought for a moment, and
then agreed that there was something mighty peculiar about the actions
of their new acquaintance, while Dick claimed that he had been
suspicious of him from the moment that he had first come over to their
seat.

By this time the train drew into the station, and the boys hastened out
of the train and into the restaurant, where they were soon eating a
hearty meal. They were joined by Fernald, who took the vacant seat
opposite Garry. Fernald ordered a cup of coffee to be brought to him
immediately, and suddenly, to the amazement of the boys, he looked
straight at Garry, and gave his cup two sharp raps against the edge of
the saucer. He waited a moment, and followed this by three taps. Garry
waited for an instant, and then deciding to find out whether or not the
tapping was accidental, gave the same signal. The man called Fernald
smiled, and gave two soft taps of the cup before he replaced it on the
saucer. The man of whom they had been so suspicious during the last
hour, was unmistakably a customs officer!

CHAPTER VI.

THE NEW STATION.

"Listen, boys, not a word. Wait till we get back on the train, where the
rumbling of the wheels over the rails will help to cover our words. Even
if we could talk without danger of being overheard, we would not have
time, for this train stops barely long enough to allow one to eat."

The boys made haste to finish the meal. They had not recovered from
their surprise at finding the stranger was a customs agent even by the
time they were t