with something that had to, do with
Black Joe.

Why, it really looked as though the luck that had come to the Fentons
only the day before might still be following him, even in his desire to
do his chum a good turn.

Perhaps the golden opportunity to find out something about Black Joe's
tricks might be close at hand. How little he had dreamed of this when
leaving his home only a few minutes before.

"Once in a great while," the lady went on to explain, "Joe gets a
stubborn fit, and refuses to mind when I tell him to come to me. It
always exasperates me; and twice before I've sent for the gardener to
come and get the step-ladder, so that he can chase the rascal from
pillar to post until finally he would fall into my grasp. I punish him
by chaining him fast to that perch for a week; and as a rule he seems
to amend his ways for a long time. But the last occasion failed most
miserably, I must confess. Do you think you are strong enough to carry
the step-ladder up from the basement, Fred?"

Fred had some difficulty in keeping his face free from a smile. The
idea of her doubting his muscular ability, after all the athletic
exercises he practiced; but then of course Miss Muster would not know
that; so he only replied that he believed he would have no difficulty
in doing all she required.

CHAPTER XIV

THE MISSING OPALS AGAIN

Following out the injunctions of Miss Muster, Fred easily found where
the step-ladder was kept in the basement. Nor did he have the slightest
difficulty in carrying it up the stairs after he had discovered it.

He noticed that the lady was very particular to keep the door of the
living room closed; and remembered that it had been in that condition
at the time of their first arrival.

"The artful rogue," Miss Muster explained; "would be only too glad to
fly out, and scour the entire house, laughing at me, and mocking me as
though possessed of the spirit of evil our great poet Edgar Allan Poe
gave to the raven. But now that you have succeeded in getting the
ladder, we shall soon corner him."

Fred was highly amused at the comical way the old raven watched the
preparations being made, looking to his capture. He would cock his head
on one side, as he looked down, and occasionally utter some droll word
that seemed to fit the occasion exactly.

Having had considerable experience in chasing the mutinous bird all
over the big room, Miss Muster seemed to know just how to manage things
in ord