g the boy said, for his manner was convincing; but
apparently there was some unknown reason for Mr. Dennison's being
unusually suspicious.

He shut his teeth hard together as though repressing some sign of
weakening.

"Whether you are telling the truth or not, boy," he said sternly, "I
want you to understand once for all that you must not come up here
again. I shall instruct my men to keep a constant watch for
trespassers, and deal severely with them. This place is posted, and
any one who dares to enter does so at his own risk. I hope you
understand that, for I should not like to have anything unpleasant
happen to boys."

"Yes, sir, we understand what you say," replied Frank, "and I give you
my word of honor again that none of us will trespass on your grounds.
If ever we enter there again it will have to be on invitation from the
owner. I can safely speak for my chums as well as myself."

This last was really meant for impulsive Jerry, just to notify him
that under no conditions must he dream of making Frank's promise void.

"Then see to it that you keep away from here," said Mr. Dennison, as
unyielding as ever. "Even now you are camping on my property, and I
could order you away if I chose to be harsh. But I have not forgotten
that I too was once a boy. You can stay at Cabin Point unmolested by
my men, but only on condition that you avoid this region up here."

With that he stepped suddenly back and closed the gap in the board
fence by pulling the door shut after him. The boys walked on, Jerry
looking disappointed.

"Course I'm glad to say I've actually seen the queer old hermit," he
remarked, "but even there I'm away behind the rest, for all of you
have been inside the dead line, and glimpsed his odd house. Oh, well,
don't look at me that way, Frank; you know mighty well I don't mean to
make you out a liar by sneaking up here and poking my nose into his
private business."

"Huh!" grunted Bluff presently, as though he had been thinking deeply
over the whole matter, "what's he got in there, anyway, he's so afraid
that people should see, I'd like to know! It's all mighty mysterious,
take my word for it, fellows. But then, like as not none of us will
ever know the truth."

Again did Frank and Will exchange that sudden glance and nod, showing
that the little secret they shared in common must have some
connection with the subject Bluff was even then harping upon.

On the way home the talk of course reverted sev