must say he does make things seem brighter. He mustn't see
us talking off key, as he'd say, but I'd like to ask you this: what's he
running away from? That's what worries me. What's he grabbing newspapers
for all the time and slashing out ads and other queer stuff?"

"You've got me there," Deering replied soberly. "We ran into some men the
other night who he said were detectives looking for him, but it didn't
seem to worry him any."

"There's nothing new in _that_. We've struck a number of men who
apparently were looking for somebody, and he greatly enjoys chaffing
them. If he's really a crook, he wouldn't be exposing himself to arrest
as he does."

Hood was now returning from his investigations of the barn, and as he
crossed the pasture was examining a bunch of the newspaper clippings with
which his pockets were stuffed.

"You needn't be afraid of getting into trouble with him," Cassowary
remarked admiringly. "He pulls off things you wouldn't think could be
done. He's a marvel, that man!"

"Old Bill Fogarty's been ripping into the country stores in these parts,"
began Hood volubly; "found his mark on the barn, all right. Amusing cuss,
Fogarty. Sawed himself out of most of the jails between here and Bangor.
We'll probably meet up with him somewhere. It's about time to go back for
that snooze, boys. To the road again!"

He strode off singing, in a very good tenor voice, snatches from Italian
operas, and his pace was so rapid that his companions were hard pressed
to keep up with him.

VII

Evening dress was becoming to Hood, enhancing the distinction which his
rough corduroys never wholly obscured. He surveyed Deering critically,
gave a twist to his tie, and said it was time to be off. As they drove
slowly through the country he discussed the various houses they passed,
speculating as to the entertainment they offered. He finally ordered
Cassowary to stop at the entrance to an imposing estate, where a large
colonial mansion stood some distance from the highway.

"This strikes me as promising," he remarked, rising in the car and
craning his neck to gain a view of the house through the shrubbery.
"Drive in, Cassowary, and stand by with the car till you see whether we
have to run for it."

He gave the electric annunciator a prolonged push, and as a butler opened
the door advanced into the hall with his most authoritative air.

"Mr. Hood and Mr. Tuck. I trust I correctly understood that we dine at
seven