end of that time he rang for a copy-boy. "Ring for a messenger boy," he
said, "and when he arrives come for a note which I want him to take to
Mr. Pultzer's house." Archie stared with amazement at Mr. Jennings, and
waited for further information. He wondered what was going to be done.
He knew that Mr. Pultzer owned the newspaper, and he knew that it must
be something important that Mr. Jennings wanted to write him about. He
wasn't long left in the dark, and he felt very proud that Mr. Jennings
should have confidence enough in him to tell him about his plans. "I
think you have discovered something which will prove very important to
the paper and the public," he said to Archie. "We have suspected for a
long time that gambling dens have been flourishing in Coney Island, but
up to now we have not been able to locate any of them. Now that you have
found one, we hope to arouse public opinion to the danger there is in
such places, and we hope to inspire a reform movement which will be
strong enough to wipe them out entirely. I will hear from Mr. Pultzer
in a short time, and then I want you to go down to the Island with
some plain-clothes detectives and two other reporters. And I don't
mind telling you now that there will be a good sum in it for you if you
succeed in arresting any of the leaders of this gang. You can be excused
for an hour now, if there's anything you want to do."

Full of enthusiasm over the coming adventure and his part in it, Archie
hurried out to a quick-lunch counter and bought himself a light meal,
for he feared that he would have to remain at Coney Island through
the evening. Then, when he had finished, he returned to the newspaper
office, where he spent some time in getting acquainted with some of the
reporters who were working on the Morning Enterprise. He found them all
very pleasant to meet, and he learned a great many helpful things from
their conversation. The older men were able to give him many pointers
concerning things that he should, and should not, do. While he was in
the office of the Morning Enterprise Mr. Jennings came in, and, taking
him along into the private room of the managing editor, introduced him
to Mr. Van Bunting, who was the editorial head of the morning edition.
Then Mr. Jennings told of the new scheme, and Mr. Van Bunting entered
into it so thoroughly that before an hour three detectives, two
reporters, and Archie were on their way to the Island.

Once arrived in the resort,