l buildings.

"They certainly mean business," remarked Jack, as they came to a halt
near the bank of the little brook which flowed through one of the
corners of the property. "You've got to give them credit--they didn't
let the grass grow under their feet."

"I wonder if they are using their own money or whether they got some
outsiders to invest," mused Fred.

Not wishing to get into any altercation with the workers, the Rovers
kept at a distance. They saw Tate and Jackson among the men. Each was
giving orders, and both seemed to be in charge of the operations. Carson
Davenport was not visible.

One small building was already complete, and this was being used as an
office. The door stood open, and presently a young fellow came out,
lighting a cigarette as he did so.

"Hello, there is Nappy Martell!" exclaimed Andy.

Martell stood leaning against the corner of the building, smoking his
cigarette and gazing idly at the workmen. Then he chanced to glance
around and caught sight of the Rovers. He at once poked his head back
into the building and said something to someone inside.

"He's coming this way," announced Fred.

"Yes, and there is Slugger Brown behind him," added Randy.

"They've got their nerve with them, after the way they treated us!"
growled Jack.

"What do you fellows want around here?" demanded Nappy coolly, as he
came closer.

"I'll bet they want to see how we are getting along," put in Slugger
Brown. He was puffing away at a briar-root pipe, trying his best to look
mannish.

"See here, you fellows, what did you mean by your actions the night you
got us to walk out to that storehouse?" demanded Jack.

"That wasn't our fault," broke out Nappy hastily. "We weren't
responsible for what Gabe Werner did."

"I don't believe Gabe was in it at all!" cried Fred.

"He was too. He got us to go after you, exactly as I told you,"
protested Nappy.

"But he wasn't there," said Fred. "And it wasn't a boarding house
either."

"I don't care. He was there when we left him to find you. And he wanted
to see all of you the worst way." Nappy turned to Slugger. "Isn't that
right, Slug?"

"It certainly is. He said he would wait there until we got back. In
fact, he said his leg hurt him so he couldn't go a step further, and he
said he knew the old folks who lived there very well. We didn't know
anything more than what he told us."

"I don't believe a word of your story, Nappy. I believe it's made up
from end