ying Larry. When he had anything to tell he
always insisted on narrating it after his own fashion.

"Of course I jumped for him right away," he went on, slowly; "and
managed to escort him outdoors, all the while explaining how Frank here
had plainly left word that nobody was to be allowed inside the shop
besides us three."

"How did he seem to take it?" asked Frank.

"Oh! he wasn't at all flustered, as far as I could see," came the ready
reply. "Elephant here says he saw him frown, and bite his lips, as I
grabbed his arm and hustled him out; but I only saw him smile, pleasant
like; and then he said it was all right, and that he didn't blame you
one whit for being careful--that perhaps if you knew him better you
might invite him in."

"He said all that, did he?" Frank continued.

"Sho! ten times as much. That man has the gift of gab. He can wrap
you right around his finger, I reckon," Larry went on.

"Told you so!" exclaimed Andy, nodding his head in affirmation.

"But seems he didn't wrap you around, very much," Frank laughingly
said; "because you didn't take him back in again, did you?"

"He never asked me. P'raps I wouldn't a-done it if he had; but I don't
know. He's sure got a way about him that's terribly convincing," Larry
muttered.

"And he went off pleasantly, didn't he? I saw you shake hands with
him," continued Frank.

"As smooth as oil. Why, I can feel his grip yet, it was that strong.
Thought my bones'd crack that time. Wonder who Mr. Marsh is, anyway,
Frank, do you know?"

"I do not," was the prompt reply Larry received; for if Frank happened
to have any suspicion, he did not consider it his duty to confide the
same to everybody who expressed the least curiosity.

When the biplane had been safely housed Frank dodged into the shop as
though to convince himself that nothing had been taken. When the
others followed they found him moving around. Finally he came to a
stand near the door, and called out once more to Larry:

"Was he in this far when you discovered him?"

"What say, boys; it must have been about there, eh?" the one addressed
remarked, appealing to his comrades for their opinions.

"Just about," Elephant answered; while Nat nodded his head as the
easiest way to cut a Gordian knot.

"Oh! well, he couldn't see anything worth while from here," Frank went
on. "Now, did any of you notice whether he used his eyes to look
around; or was he only bent on saying howdyedo to you?