atisfy me," said John. "When three fellows run away from
you and leave you high and dry in a city like Poughkeepsie why all I
can say is that--"

"That's enough to say, Johnnie. That will do," interrupted George,
waving his right hand at his friend.

"You are simply mistaken," said John, the grin appearing on his face
once more. "I want to tell you that whether you want it or not you are
going to hear from me and in more ways than one."

"'Threatened people live long,'" spoke up Fred. "At the same time,
String, you'll have to own up that we waited for you as long as we
thought we could before we started for Albany. I didn't want to be out
after dark in the Black Growler."

"I appreciate all your kind feelings," laughed John. "Now I want you to
sympathize with me. I had gone to half a dozen different places doing
my best to select certain good things for our luncheon. I had a choice
assortment too, let me tell you. Why Pop's eyes would have popped out
if he had seen what I had obtained, but alas when I came down to the
dock I saw the Growler running up the river as if she was trying to get
away from me."

"Did you come up by train?" inquired Fred.

"I did not come up by train," retorted John, speaking deliberately.

"How did you come?" asked George, interested now in spite of his effort
to appear indifferent.

"Didn't you see the aeroplane?" asked John.

"Aeroplane? No, we didn't see any," said Grant quickly.

"Well, I didn't either," said John, "so that's one way that I didn't
come."

"Oh, leave him alone," said George, "he is just bursting with his
story. He wants to tell us and we shan't be able to stop him, so let's
have our dinner and you may rest easy that before we are done you'll
know all of John's story and some beside. To-morrow it will grow big
and fast. It's like the pumpkins out in South Dakota. They say that a
man has to be on horseback when he plants them."

"How's that?" laughed John.

"Why the vines grow so fast that the only way he can escape is to put
his horse into his best paces. Even then they don't always escape."

"What happens if they are overtaken?" asked John.

"Oh, the pumpkin vines grow right around them and cover them up and
choke off their wind and do other various stunts."

"Fine! Fine," laughed John, "My story isn't growing like that though
let me tell you. This story is true. It's a complete narrative of
truthful John. I was about to turn back and make inquiries when