Make yourselves at home. This is an unexpected honor. I am
sorry I was absent when you called."

The boys exchanged startled glances. There was an unpleasant ring to the
stranger's voice that boded no good intentions.

"If you own this mill we are much obliged to you for the use of it,"
said Ned. "We got wet in the storm and came here to dry ourselves. We
took the liberty of making a fire in the stove up stairs."

As he spoke he moved toward the door with Randy at his heels.

"Not so fast," muttered the man, pushing the boys forcibly back. "You
can stay a while and keep me company. I've taken a fancy to you chaps,
and want to get better acquainted with you. Over there is the portion
of this domicile that I occupy at present. It ain't very palatial, but I
reckon I can give you a log to sit on."

There was no choice but to obey, and the boys reluctantly crossed the
rickety floor to the lower corner of the mill. Here was a great heap of
sawdust, and two or three logs. The man sat down on the former--between
the boys and the door--and motioned his companions to one of the logs.

It was now fully daylight, and the stranger's position, facing one of
the broad windows on the creek side of the mill, gave the boys an
opportunity to examine him closely.

He wore a dirty, greasy suit of tweed, patched here and there with
different colored cloth. His shoes gaped at the toes, and his coat
collar was buttoned tightly about his throat--no doubt in default of a
shirt.

His face might have been handsome at one time, but it was now marred and
brutalized by a life of dissipation. His nose and cheeks were purple,
his eyes bloodshot, and a matted growth of brown hair strayed from
beneath a ragged slouch hat.

Little wonder that Ned and Randy cowered fearfully before the gaze of
this evil looking ruffian. They knew now that he was a tramp, and never
before had they seen a worse specimen.

It suddenly occurred to Ned that this was the same man who had passed
the camp in a boat on the previous night, and the knowledge by no means
added to his peace of mind.

Immediately on sitting down the stranger had taken a short black pipe
from his pocket, and filled and lighted it. But during the performance
of this operation he was not oblivious to the keen scrutiny of his
companions.

"I hope you chaps will know me again," he said in a sarcastic tone. "Or
were you just admiring my beauty? Dude Moxley is what my friends all
call me, becaus