precious, so we'll have to give you an abbreviated account,
sir," said Garry. "Phil, here, was captured by LeBlanc, one of our most
vengeful enemies, and through the help of Miss Ruth here, we were able
to rescue him," and Garry briefly told how they had broken open the
window of the prison room, and released their chum.

"Now we have found out that something is going to take place at Lafe
Green's house sometime after midnight, and it is imperative to our
success that we go there immediately and see what can be done to find
out what is being plotted. I am sure that we can put every trust in you,
so I am going to confide in you. We are at present doing some work for
the Customs authorities of the State, and as you are a former Customs
agent, we are asking you for whatever aid you can give us," concluded
Garry.

"H'm," said Everett. "Seems to me you are pretty young to be engaged in
that kind of work. I suppose you have your credentials?"

"Indeed we have," and Garry drew from the cunningly made pocket in the
waistband of his trousers the little gold shield that stamped them as
members of the service.

"That is enough," said old Mr. Everett. "If it wasn't for my misfortune
in being laid up, I would be with you tonight and between us we would
have the goods on this outfit. As it is, you will have to take the
chance yourselves, for I believe I can tell you just what to do. Some
little time ago, I discovered a secret passage to Lafe Green's house. It
is unlikely that anyone else in the village outside of myself and Green
and his accomplices know about it. It wasn't built by Green, but by a
former owner of the farm, who was in the same nefarious business. It may
even be that Green does not know about it, although that is unlikely.
This passage leads from the barn to the house, and was used to store
contraband goods in. You see the stuff could be brought to the barn in a
load of hay, or wood, and no one be the wiser. Then it could be hidden
away in the secret passage, and a search party could look through the
house and barn till doomsday and never discover it. Then, too, if the
men were in danger of arrest, they could make their way to this passage,
and after nightfall escape by way of the barn, as the authorities would
of course have only the house under guard.

"This passage is entered by moving a feed box that stands at the end of
the barn. When the box is moved away, you will see what appears to be
nothing more nor l