I was up in the tree all the
time. By the time you get this I shall be miles away. Ta ta until
the next time."

"Humph!" muttered Dick. "What do you think of that?" And he passed the
message to his companion.

"He certainly fooled us," answered Mr. Laning. "I suppose those yells
were only to put us off our guard. It's a pity we didn't carry his hat
off for a souvenir of the occasion--as you youngsters put it." And the
farmer grinned.

"Perhaps he is still around," suggested Dick. "If he tried to fool us
once he might try to fool us again."

"That's so, too. It won't do any harm to take a good look around while
we are at it, Dick."

They spent the whole of the morning walking around the swamp and in
trying to trace the movements of Merrick, but without success. Nothing
concerning the rascal was to be found, and when they felt both tired out
and hungry they returned to the Stanhope cottage. Here the girls and the
ladies had a hot dinner awaiting them and served them liberally,
finishing up with apple pie that Dora had made for Dick's especial
benefit.

"It's fine!" he said to her, on the sly.

"Then you like it?" she answered, with a smile.

"Do I? Dora, when we're keeping house you shall make me a pie like this
twice a week," he added, earnestly.

"Dick, if you don't stop your joking----"

"Oh, I'm not joking, Dora. Of course, if you're not willing to make me a
pie now and then----"

"Oh, it isn't that--I'll make all the pies you want. But--but----" And
then Dora blushed so furiously that she had to run from the room. Dick
looked after her longingly and heaved a mountainous sigh. He wished that
all his academy days were over and that he was engaged in business and
settled down in life. He knew just what kind of a home he wanted, and
who he wanted in it besides himself--and perhaps Dora knew, too.

"But I can't think of those things yet," he mused, as he finished his
dinner. "I've got to go out into the world first, get into business, and
prove my worth."

The meal over, it was decided that Dick and Mr. Laning should drive to
Cedarville and get into communication with the local authorities and
also the authorities at Ithaca. This was done, and the following day
another hunt was made for Merrick. But he could not be found; and there,
for the time being, the affair rested.

"I think we'll hear from him again some day," said Dick, and he was
right; they did hear from the swindler, and when they l