ince he was
relieved from executing a most disagreeable duty.

Mr. Dennison told the officer to come outside with him, and Gilbert
added that he would join his uncle in a minute.

Left in the company of the four chums Gilbert's first act was to offer
Frank his hand. It was done with such a boyish freedom that the other
eagerly grasped the outstretched hand, and squeezed it in return.

"Of course it goes without saying," began the college boy, "that I do
not believe any one of you could do such a thing as steal my cup.
There's a queer mystery about its being found under this floor, and I
intend to discover the truth before long. In the meantime I hope
you'll stay here and enjoy yourselves the best way you know how."

"And we'd like to see more of you, if you expect to stay around here
longer," spoke up Jerry, impulsively.

"I promise that you shall," assented Gilbert; "because I, too, am fond
of camping, fishing, and all such things; and I can see how my stay up
here might be prolonged indefinitely, if such a jolly set could be
found to help kill time."

"Did you win in the golf tournament?" asked Bluff, as though to show
that they knew about his ambition in that sport.

"I'm sorry to say that I came in a poor second this time," laughed the
other; "and I really believe it was because I didn't have the kind of
balls I'm in the habit of using."

This was the opportunity poor anxious Will had been waiting for.

"We've got your bag safe and sound here, Gilbert!" he exclaimed,
springing forward to pick the leather receptacle up, for it, too, had
been closely examined by the constable, acting under Mr. Dennison's
orders; "and I certainly hope my precious Maine films are in the same
condition."

"Make your mind easy on that score, my boy," he was told by the other;
"although I was terribly provoked when first I opened the bag and saw
them, I understood that the mistake was all mine. So I took good care
of your films, though I had a photographer make me a print from the
whole bunch. I must say they are some of the most interesting pictures
I've ever seen. I wanted Uncle to admire them, for he, too, is devoted
to photographic work."

Of course this news caused Will to lose the anxious expression that
his chums had noticed on his face at times.

"The bag I left up at the house," continued Gilbert, "but you shall
have it in a short time. There's uncle calling me, so I'll have to
move along; but you can expect me agai