d, emphatically.

"I agree with you there, Elephant," Frank echoed. "They came here to
do something. It may be as Andy said, to steal our thunder, if so be
we had anything worth lifting; and then again my idea may be the right
one, and that they represent owners of patents who are determined to
protect their rights in things they've spent time and money in
perfecting. Perhaps we may never know the truth. And then again
before many days, or even hours, we might run across the answer."

"Well," remarked Andy, complacently, "one thing sure, we've got to take
extra measures to protect our shop, and keep prying fingers from
meddling. I'll speak to my father and Colonel Josiah about it. They
may hire old Shea again to watch of nights."

Colonel Josiah Whympers had been Andy's guardian during the time he
believed his father to be dead. The old man was lame, and used a
crutch; but he was a great admirer of the Bird boys, and ready to back
anything they advocated. Once a great traveler he had been to every
corner of the world, and was full of the most thrilling stories of what
had happened to him during his forty years of roving in queer places.

"Excuse me from Shea," laughed Frank. "Don't you remember how he
failed us last year, and was caught napping. He's as honest as the day
is long, but a mighty poor guard. No, we'll have to do just what we
did before, take up our lodgings right here in the shop, where we can
defend our property."

"That suits me OK," returned the jovial Andy. "And so we'll consider
it settled, Frank, that so long as these mysterious strangers are
around Bloomsbury we'll just camp out here."

"And then some," continued the other; "because, you see, they might
guess what we had up our sleeve, and just pretend to move along."

"It's a measly shame, that's what!" grumbled Larry.

Elephant immediately fell upon him and shook his hand vigorously.

"Me too!" he exclaimed, looking unusually sad.

"What's all this row about, fellows?" demanded Frank, pretending not to
understand.

"It's ghastly to have all the good things pass us by, that's what!"
Larry declared.

"Meaning what?" Andy inquired.

"Think of the bully good times you two can have here, playing at
camping out. You've even got a stove handy, and a whole outfit of
aluminum cooking ware to be carried along with your aeroplane when you
go off a long ways. There never was a luckier pair than you two Bird
boys, that's what," and