Jasniff
and Merwell."

"Oh, Jasniff and Merwell were thoroughly bad eggs," announced Luke.
"I'll never forget, Dave, how Jasniff once tried to brain you with an
Indian club."

"Say, speaking about bad eggs, puts me in mind of another story,"
cried Shadow. "A lady went into a store and asked the store-keeper's
clerk how much the eggs were. The clerk--Now don't interrupt me,
because this isn't a very long story," pleaded the would-be story
teller. "The clerk was only a small boy, and he hadn't been in the
business very long, so he told the lady, 'The really fresh eggs are
fifty cents, and the almost fresh eggs are forty cents, and those that
ain't so fresh are thirty-five cents, and the rotten eggs are thirty
cents.'"

"Oh, Shadow! what a story!"

"Haven't you got any fresher than that?"

"You can't make anybody believe any such yarn as that."

"That story is absolutely true," returned the story teller, soberly.
"If you don't believe it, you come down to the town of Necopopec,
Maine, and on the principal street of the town I'll show you the town
pump where that boy used to get a drink three times a day," and at
this sally there was a general laugh.

At last the train rolled into the Grand Central Terminal at
Forty-Second Street, New York City, and, alighting, the lads made
their way through the spacious depot to the crowded thoroughfare
beyond. Here taxicabs were numerous, and the youths piled into one,
leaving the driver to look after their suit-cases. Dave's trunk had
been checked through to Washington.

Luke's family lived in the vicinity of Central Park, and it did not
take the chums long to reach the home. Here they were greeted by Mrs.
Watson, Luke's father being away on business. Then Luke took the lads
up to his own room, where all proceeded to make themselves at home.

At a little after five Mr. Watson came in to greet them, and about an
hour later all sat down to a sumptuous dinner, to which it is needless
to say each of the boys applied himself diligently.

"I see by the papers that they are showing a very fine war spectacle
at one of the photo-play houses," announced Luke. "How would you
fellows like to go and see it?"

This was agreeable to all, and a little later the chums left the
Watson house to go to the theater, which was about ten blocks farther
downtown.

"If we get there by half-past seven, we can take in the first show of
the evening," announced Luke. "That will give us a chance to d