assistant to arrive.
But he never once hinted at such a thing as our visiting him in his
camp; or suggesting that he'd like to drop in on us here during our
stay.

"He asked a whole lot of questions about Chester folks and what was
going on down there; so thinking to interest him I told him about the
new spirit that had been aroused in Chester boys, and how we were going
to have a new gymnasium erected this coming fall; also how we licked
Harmony at baseball, and hoped to wipe their big eleven up on the
gridiron when the football season opened.

"Would you believe it, that solemn-looking man never cracked a single
smile all the time I was giving him such a glowing description of sport
events down Chester way. And I want to go on record as saying that the
man who has no love for baseball or football in his system is fit for
treason, stratagems and spoils.

"Then finally he said goodbye, just as short as if he was biting it off
from a plug of tobacco, turned on his heel, and walked away as cool as
you please. Anyhow, I did make a face after him when I could see that
his back was turned. And, believe me, fellows, that man isn't all right;
he's got something crooked about his make-up as sure as two and two make
four."

Steve heaved a great sigh.

"I want to say again I'm sorry I wasn't along when you met him, Toby,"
he observed, disconsolately. "Not that I don't give you credit for being
as smart as they make 'em, but two heads are better than one, even if
one of them is a cabbage head."

"Which one?" demanded Toby, suspiciously.

"I'm not committing myself," grinned Steve. "But all the same I agree
with you in saying that man must be crooked, though just what his game
could be up here I'm not able to even guess."

He gave Jack a quick, almost imploring look as he said this, as though
begging him to lift the veil and let them see a little light; but Jack
only turned to Toby and commenced to quiz him, asking numerous pointed
questions, all concerning the appearance of the dark-visaged stranger
who had bobbed up so unexpectedly to interrupt his sport with rod and
reel.

It could be seen that Jack took especial pains to inquire into the
personal looks of the man. He even startled Toby once by asking
suddenly:

"If you scrutinized his face as closely as you say you did, Toby,
perhaps you can tell me if he had a scar under his left eye, a sort of
mark like a small crescent moon, and which like most scars turns
fur