. Crowninshield's cause dwindled and died. They
weren't disguised at all; and if they had pistols they must have had
them well concealed for the only suspicious articles produced from
their pockets were notebooks and pencils. He had expected to be quite
awed by their presence but on the contrary he found, when he started
out to show them the kennels and the place where he had seen the
automobile tracks, that he was chattering away to both of them quite
as if he had known them all his life.

Mr. Dacie was particularly friendly, and as they walked along he
talked much of sports, dogs, and fishing. Furthermore he was intensely
interested in Bob and listened attentively to all that was told him
about this remarkable big brother. He had a bully brother himself, he
said. In short, before a half hour had passed His Highness had not
only decided to become a detective but to become one exactly like Mr.
Dacie.

And yet as he thought it over afterward the hero of his sudden
adoration had not uttered one syllable about jails, criminals,
robberies, or crimes of any sort. In fact he had talked really very
little. What he had done had been to smile, nod, and let the other
fellow babble. It had, to be sure, been a delightful experience to
find yourself a lion, and everything you did of interest to your
listener; but you did not learn much about the business of being a
detective, reflected Walter, a bit mortified by his discovery. Well,
the next time he was with Mr. Dacie he would ask him some questions
and let him relate everything about his mysterious calling.

Strange to say, however, the moment for such disclosures never
appeared to come right. There was always so much else to talk of. Mr.
Dacie wanted most terribly to catch some flounders and wondered if
there were any to be found; and of course as Walter knew of three
secret places where flounders were sure to lurk he eagerly told his
new friend about them. And then he had to talk swimming and
school--and how he hated it! Why, there were endless things to tell
Mr. Dacie. The visit of the two men was, moreover, surprisingly short.
They remained at Surfside only one night and the next morning,
together with Mr. Crowninshield, who led the way in his car, they
disappeared leaving His Highness none the wiser and regretfully
mourning his lost opportunity to be initiated into the gruesome
mysteries of a detective's career.

The realization that in exchange for telling everything he