w you ladies have discovered something about the 'specs' and I'd
like pretty well to hear what it is."

"You are wrong in one way, Mr. Grubb. These goggles do tell us who
dropped them, if our surmises are correct."

"You don't say?"

"Yes. Do you recall the little experience we had on the station
platform at Compton on the evening of our arrival?"

"You mean about the fellow who tried to make you believe he was I?"

"Yes. But perhaps you have forgotten our telling you that the man wore
goggles?"

"Well, I swum!" Janus stroked his whiskers nervously.

"Yeth. Tho did Harriet. And thhe got wet," observed Tommy flippantly.

"Later on that same evening," continued Miss Elting, "we saw the man
again on the porch at the post-office. You remember how you and
Harriet hurried down the steps after him. As he stood with his back to
the window she had discovered that the goggles were green. These may
or may not be the identical goggles, but I believe they are."

"I haven't the least doubt of it," interjected Harriet. "These have a
white cord on them, as you can see. So did those worn by the man that
night."

"I saw the fellow you mean," interposed Jim. "I wondered who he was.
I was at the station to see if your party had come in. This fellow was
keeping out of sight a good deal, but I plainly saw the specs on him.
Then I didn't see him any more. He must have hit the trail up the
mountain."

"Well, I swum!" repeated Janus.

"I think you ought to compel the authorities to do something when you
get back to Compton," said the guardian. "I believe this man of the
goggles is determined to wreak vengeance on us, and for some reason
that we know nothing about."

"I have it!" cried Harriet excitedly. "Now I know who that man who
called on you reminded me of. Collins was the man of the green
goggles. Oh, why didn't I think of it before?"

"But Mr. Collins wore a beard; the other man did not," objected Miss
Elting.

"I can't help it. They were one and the same. Does that help you any,
Mr. Grubb?"

The guide shook his head.

"Tell them all about it when you get back, Jim. The sheriff'll run the
fellow down. I shouldn't be surprised if the sheriff came out here.
You tell him where we are going. You better get started now. No need
to wait till morning. You young ladies turn in. I shall keep watch
during the rest of the night. I take no more chances. It is time for
something to be done, rather tha