you dismiss the troop here, Paul?"

"Yes. The boys must be pretty tired after last night's work, and this
hike; as well as the many stunts they went through with," and the
temporary master scout presently gave the order to break ranks, and head
for home.

"Drop in at my house so I can tell my folks not to expect me to dinner,"
said Paul, as they approached his home.

There was not the slightest objection to the programme as arranged. His
parents trusted Paul fully, knowing that, while as fond of fun as the
next lad, he never did things likely to get him into trouble.

"Now, first of all," remarked Paul, after they were indoors again; "let's
go up, and make sure that anything has happened."

The door to Jack's den stood wide open, inviting any one to enter.

Jack had a match lighted in his hand, and with this he quickly touched
the wick of a lamp. Paul heard him draw a long breath as he approached
the spot where the little box lay upon the table desk at which stood the
chair used by the owner of the den when taking his leisure here.

He bent over, and seemed to be counting the coins. They dropped back into
the receptacle one by one, and with such a ringing sound that even Paul
was able to keep tally. Then Jack turned an anxious and white face
around.

"Paul, there are only four here. Two more have gone!" he said.

"Yet you came up here and counted them; you are positive of that?"
demanded Paul.

"I counted them, and there were six. Five times I did it, to be sure; yet
you saw that there were only four just now?"

"You came up here after you saw Karl off on the train?" persisted his
chum.

"Yes, after I returned from the station. But what makes you ask that?
Tell me why you are grinning so, Paul? I know I'm awfully dull just now,
but who could blame me under the circumstances? Please speak up!" Jack
insisted.

"Why, don't you see, this clears Karl completely. Six here while he was
riding away on the train this morning; and two taken when he is fifty
miles away! Don't that satisfy you it wasn't your brother, after all,
Jack?"

And Jack dropped down in that chair, letting his head fall in his hands,
while a great joy overspread his face.

CHAPTER XVIII

CARLO DOES HIS TURN

"Paul, you're a wizard, I do believe!" said Jack, after a bit, as he
looked up at his chum.

"Well, I hardly think so. This thing was easy; and ten to one you'd have
thought of it sooner or later. For how could Karl have a