roused the wonder of his comrade, who could not
imagine what Thad had in mind. Hugh went home, and picking up a book
he was reading, proceeded to renew his interest in the story. Half an
hour slipped away in this fashion. Then he heard a jolly whistle down
on the street, which he knew full well. Sure enough, it was Thad
coming hurriedly toward the Morgan home.

He discovered Hugh at the window and waved his hand. Even at that
distance Hugh saw his face was flushed, just as his manner was buoyant.

"Now I wonder what that boy has been up to," Hugh said to himself, as
he awaited the coming of Thad; but cudgel his brain as he might, Hugh
never once suspected the errand of his chum could have anything to do
with the solving of the puzzle that was assuming all the
characteristics of a heavy burden on his, Hugh's, shoulders.

Thad presently burst in upon him, for he knew the way to Hugh's den,
and thought nothing of going in and out of the Morgan house as though
he belonged there. Hugh motioned to a chair.

"Sit down and cool off," he told Thad. "You look all heated up, as if
you'd been running fast."

"Well, so I have, part of the way," gasped the other; "and it's quite
some distance out to the Rookery, you must remember."

"What's that?" exclaimed Hugh; "do you mean to say your appointment was
with Owen Dugdale after all?"

"Shucks! no, but with his old grandfather," snickered Thad. "Owen's
gone off for the afternoon with Mr. Leonard in the athletic
instructor's flivver, and paying a visit to Barton. I knew about that
when I called Mr. Dugdale up around noon today, for he has a telephone,
it happens, and told him I'd accept his invitation to drop in again to
chat with him, and would be over by about four. Well, in the language
of Alexander, or some other old worthy of ancient times, it was _veni,
vidi, vici_ with me; I came, I saw, I conquered! What do you think of
that, Hugh?"

With the words he suddenly drew something from a pocket and held it in
front of his companion's nose. It was a souvenir spoon, one of unique
pattern, Hugh saw, and he had a thrill as he comprehended just what it
might mean.

CHAPTER XVIII

A STRAIGHT DRIVE FOR THE TRUTH

"So, you stole Owen's spoon, did you?" Hugh said, reprovingly.

Thad made a gesture as though he thought his chum was putting it hard.

"I simply borrowed it, that's all, Hugh," he hastened to explain. "Of
course I haven't any use for souvenir spoo