as there not his pay envelope to
compensate him? He was not at Surfside to have a good time; he was
there to earn his daily bread and very fortunate was he to have so
good a place. Having read himself this lecture he was wont to turn to
his duties with lighter heart, closing his ears to the laughter and
his eyes to the merriment that made up the days of the idle. But what
he never could get used to was the fact that he must not ask questions
or voice his opinions. In a free country where one man was as good as
another the mandate seemed absurd. But it wasn't done. That was all
there was about it. Jerry said so and so did Tim.

Instead of piping, "Hi, Mr. Crowninshield, did you find out anything?"
one awaited the information until it was voluntarily imparted.

In this particular case, as good fortune would have it, His Highness's
impatience had seethed and bubbled only a half hour before who should
come strolling down to the kennels but the very gentleman the lad was
feverish to interrogate.

Arrayed in a cool Palm Beach suit and a soft hat of white felt he
sauntered up as indifferently as if the boy's curiosity were not at
the boiling point and said, "Good evening," in a perfectly calm,
self-possessed tone.

"Good evening, sir," Walter replied.

"Dogs all right?"

"Yes, sir."

"No more of them missing?"

"Not on your--no, sir."

The great man turned away to conceal a smile.

"I've been seeing your brother to-day," remarked he.

"_Bob?_"

Mr. Crowninshield nodded.

"Yes. We went over to the Seaver Bay wireless station."

The lad waited.

"You have a very fine brother, youngster, and one whom you may well be
proud of."

"Yes, sir."

(What was the use of telling him that? His Highness knew what a corker
Bob was without being told. Much better tell him what had happened at
Seaver Bay, what the detectives said, and whether Lola had been
found!)

"We had, in fact, quite a talk with your brother."

"Yes, sir." The reply came automatically.

"He was able to furnish us with much information regarding the man we
are chasing up."

"Yes, sir."

"Yes," ruminated Mr. Crowninshield with evident satisfaction, "we have
the thief sketched in quite clearly."

"Yes, sir."

"With the details your brother gave us Dacie and Lyman have a most
encouraging foundation on which to work."

"Have they found out anything yet, sir?"

The question would out despite all Walter could do to stop it. He knew
the insta