awled out on it. I
guess it was kind o' crazy me, but I was goin' to find out what was what
if I broke my neck. There was a rope tied to it, and some big thing up
above pullin' and jerkin' at it, tryin' to get away. Pretty soon, Mr.
and Mrs. Farley came almost under me. He says: 'Is Tuxall all ready?'
and she says: 'He thinks we ought to wait half an hour. The street'll
be full of folks then. Then he says: 'Well, I hate to risk it, but maybe
it's better.' just then, the rope gave a twist and came swingin' over on
me, and knocked me right off the limb. I gave a yell and then I landed.
Next I knew I was in bed. And that's all."

"Now I'll take up the wondrous tale," said Average Jones. "The Farleys,
naturally discomfited by Bailey's abrupt and informal arrival, were in a
quandary. Here was an inert boy on their hands. He might be dead, which
would be bad. Or, he might be alive, which would be worse, if they left
him."

"How so?" asked the Reverend Mr. Prentice.

"Why, you see," explained Average Jones, "they couldn't tell how much
he might have seen and heard before he made his hasty descent. He might
have enough information to spoil their whole careful and elaborate
plan."

"But what in the world was their plan?" demanded the minister.

"That comes later. They took off Bailey's coat and waistcoat, perhaps
to see if his back was broken (Farley nodded), and finding him alive,
tossed his clothes into the buggy, where Farley had left his own, and
completed their necessary work. Of course, there was danger that Bailey
might come to at any moment and ruin everything. So they worked at top
speed, and left the final performance to Tuxall. In their excitement
they forgot to find out from their accomplice who Bailey was.
Consequently, they found themselves presently driving across country
with an unknown and undesired white elephant of a boy on their hands.
One of them conceived the idea of tossing his clothes upon the sea-beach
to establish a false clue of drowning, until they could decide what was
to be done with him. In carrying this out they made the mistake which
lighted up the whole trail."

"Well, I don't see it at all," said Farley glumly. "How did you ever get
to us?"

Average Jones mildly contemplated the mathematical center of his
questioner.

"New waistcoat?" he asked.

Farley glanced down at the outrageous pattern with pride.

"Yep. Got it last week."

"Lost the one that came with the pepper-and-salt su