if I do say it myself.
Only for us he and Hank would have toppled down into that
ravine."

"That's right," assented Blake.

"But what struck me as queer," resumed Joe, "was that he seemed
put out because it was we who saved him. He acted--I mean the
Spaniard did--as though he would have been glad if someone else
had saved his life."

"Just how it struck me!" cried Blake. "I wondered if you felt the
same. But perhaps it was only because he was unduly excited. We
might have misjudged him."

"Possibly," admitted Joe. "But, even if we didn't, and he really
is sorry it was we who saved him, I don't see that it need matter.
He is probably so polite that the reason he objects is because he
didn't want to put us to so much trouble."

"Perhaps," agreed Blake. "As you say, it doesn't much matter. I
rather like him."

"So do I," assented Joe. "But he sure is queer, in some ways.
Quite dramatic. Why, you'd think he was on the stage the way he
went on after he learned that we two, who had saved him, were the
moving picture boys to whom he had a letter of introduction."

"Yes. I wonder what it all meant?" observed Blake.

The time was to come when he and Joe were to learn, in a most
sensational manner, the reason for the decidedly queer actions of
Mr. Alcando.

For some time longer the chums sat and talked. But as the day
waned, and the supper hour approached, they were no nearer a
decision than before.

"Let's let it go until morning," suggested Blake.

"I'm with you," agreed Joe. "We can think better after we have
'slept on it.'"

Joe was later than Blake getting up next morning, and when he saw
his chum sitting out in a hammock under a tree in the farmyard,
Joe noticed that Blake was reading a book.

"You're the regular early worm this morning; aren't you?" called
Joe. "It's a wonder some bird hasn't flown off with you."

"I'm too tough a morsel," Blake answered with a laugh. "Besides,
I've been on the jump too much to allow an ordinary bird the
chance. What's the matter with you--oversleep?"

"No, I did it on purpose. I was tired. But what's that you're
reading; and what do you mean about being on the jump?"

"Oh, I just took a little run into the village after breakfast, on
the motor cycle."

"You did! To tell that Spaniard he could, or could not, go with
us?"

"Oh, I didn't see him. I just went into the town library. You know
they've got a fairly decent one at Central Falls."

"Yes, so I heard; but