ng;
"so we can go on a hunt for that man first thing in the morning."

"And I'll drive over, if Captain Putnam will let me," answered Dick.

The appearance of Merrick had put a damper on the breaking up of the
party, and the Rovers were rather silent as they went back to the
school. It was too late to speak to Captain Putnam that night, but Dick
was up early and saw the master of the Hall before breakfast.

"I trust you had a good time last night," said Captain Putnam, smiling.

"We did have, sir," said Dick. "But our party broke up in a way we
didn't anticipate," and then he told of what had occurred.

The captain had heard of the missing traction company bonds, and he
readily allowed Dick to go back to the cottage, using a horse and buggy
for that purpose. Sam and Tom wanted to go, too, but to this Captain
Putnam demurred.

"I think one is enough, especially as Mr. Laning is there, too," he
said.

With a good horse and a light buggy, it did not take long for the eldest
Rover boy to reach the Stanhope cottage. The family had just had
breakfast and were surprised to see him so early.

"Didn't you have anything to eat?" questioned Dora. "If you didn't, come
right in, and I'll make you an omelet and some coffee."

"No, thank you, Dora," he whispered. "I'll have to wait for that until
we're keeping house together. Then----"

"Oh, Dick!" she cried and blushed like a rose.

"I had breakfast while driving over,--an orange and some sandwiches,"
went on the youth. "Mrs. Green got them ready for me. Is there anything
new?"

"No. Uncle John is waiting for you. He is in the woodshed, trying on
some old rubber boots. He says one ought to have rubber boots to go into
the swamp with."

Dick hurried to the woodshed and there found that Mr. Laning had
unearthed two pairs of boots, and he donned one pair while the farmer
put on the other. A little later both got in the buggy and drove up the
road they had traveled the night previous. Then they tied the horse to a
tree, and followed the path leading to the edge of the swamp.

"Hullo, the hat is gone!" exclaimed Dick, as he came close to the black
pool.

"Maybe it dropped to the ground," suggested John Laning.

Both looked around, but could see nothing of the missing head covering.
Then Dick caught sight of a slip of paper pinned to the tree.

"Here is a message of some kind," he said, and read it. The message ran
as follows:

"I reckon I fooled you this trip.