" inquired the master
grimly.

"Yes. I see what you mean."

Mr. Crowninshield heaved an exasperated sigh.

"The game's up now, I guess," he muttered.

"But my brother lives off by himself in a very lonely place," the lad
explained desperately. "Just he and another fellow have a house out on
a point of land a long way off from everywhere. They couldn't tell
anybody about Lola if they wanted to, especially if I call them right
up and ask them not to."

"Where is it?"

"Seaver Bay."

"Never heard of it--or, stop a minute, isn't there a wireless station
there or something?"

"Yes, sir. My brother----"

"Well, no matter about your brother now. You go into the house and
call him up. When you get the line let me know and I will speak with
him."

"Yes, sir." Nevertheless the lad lingered. "I'm--I'm awfully sorry,"
repeated he.

"There, there, go along. You meant no harm. You just blundered. But
blunders are expensive things sometimes and this one may prove so
unless we can prevent it."

Still His Highness did not go.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" asked his employer impatiently.

"My brother told me to tell you that Jerry had a telephone message
this afternoon."

"A telephone message? What has that got to do with it?" burst out Mr.
Crowninshield at the end of his patience.

"I don't know. Bob just said to tell you."

"Go ahead then."

Hurriedly the boy related the facts of the mysterious communication.

"So! Your brother has some brains if you haven't," said Mr.
Crowninshield on hearing the story, and Walter saw him smile. "That
was neat of them, very! They took the precaution to get Jerry, who is
unfailingly about, out of the way."

"They?"

"The thieves, youngster. It was a Brockton call, you say."

"That was what Jerry told me."

"Good! That gives us another clue."

It was evident the information had put the master in rare good humor.

"Trot along, now, and call up this brother of yours. I shall be glad
to talk with him, for he sounds as if he might be worth talking to. As
for you, son, cheer up! No milk is spilled yet and perhaps it won't be
if you have as wise a big brother as it appears. I might never have
known of Jerry's message but for him. Jerry himself would not have
placed enough importance on it to tell me, I am sure--or you, either,
for that matter. So perhaps, after all, you did a good thing to enlist
your brother in our behalf."

"I hope so, sir. I meant no harm; really