sappearing opals.

"And remember, Kate," Fred went on, shaking his linger at his younger
sister; "you must never, under any circumstances, mention a single word
of all this to even one girl. Just forget you ever heard it I'm going
to make poor Bristles mighty happy this afternoon; and the thought of
it gives me so much delight that I guess I'll be off now to find him."

He hurried out of the room, followed by the admiring glances of those
who knew only too well what pleasure It gave Fred to be of value to a
chum.

Bristles was not at home, it turned out, having gone down to the river
to hang around the boat-house, and wait for Fred to join him; because
something seemed to tell him the other was going to bring good news.

But Fred did see Miss Muster coming down the road as he turned away;
and from what she had said, he understood that the determined old maid
meant to "eat humble pie," as Fred called it, by asking Bristles'
mother to forgive her mistake.

None of the other boys happened to be around when Fred came upon
Bristles. The latter was sitting on a pile of boards which were going
to form part of the new house being erected for the Riverport Boat
Club. As he heard the sound of approaching footsteps Bristles looked
up, and smiled broadly to see Fred.

"Now tell me what's on the bills, Fred," he entreated. "I just feel it
in my bones that you've got news for me. Have you found out where the
opals went?"

"That's right," replied Fred, promptly.

"Say, you don't mean to tell me you've got 'em back for Aunt Alicia?"
gasped Bristles, turning red, and then pale, by rapid turns, and
leaning weakly against the pile of boards.

"Every one," declared the other; "your aunt says there isn't a single
opal missing."

"And was it that cunning old bunch of feathers, Black Joe, after all;
was my guess good, and did you find out where the old bird was hiding
them?" continued Bristles, possibly pluming himself a little on having
conceived a very brilliant idea.

"'Not for Joseph, not for Joe,'" sang Fred, merrily. "Fact is, when I
told what you had in your mind to Miss Muster she said it was a fine
thought, but she was sorry to say in this case no raven need apply.
'Cause why--well, she'd chained Joe to his perch for a week because he
got sassy, and wouldn't mind; and so you see, if he had to stay there
all the time he couldn't hop or fly into the other room and get away
with the opals every other day or so."

"Shucks