ticking out of their hatbands?" queried
Fernald with a smile.

"Solid ivory," said Garry disgustedly, as he rapped his forehead sharply
with his knuckles.

"Nothing to be ashamed of at all, old fellow," said Fernald easily. "It
isn't to be expected that you should know all the tricks of the trade
that you have known about not much more than a day. I've been doing this
sort of work for twenty years now, and naturally many little bits of
knowledge such as that are second nature to me, as natural as breathing
or sleeping. Wait a minute while I go up and investigate."

Fernald got up, and acting as though his main idea was just to stretch
his legs, strolled up to the front of the car. Passing the men, he
stopped quite naturally to watch them play. When one of the men under
observance took a trick with an exceptionally good play, he commented
audibly on it. The man turned and smiled, showing his seat check as he
did.

The system on the railroad was to give different colors for different
stations. Fernald noticed that the checks of both men were of an
identical color, and had the same number of holes punched in them.

After carelessly watching a moment or two longer, he returned and
without stopping to speak to the boys, went past them and into the next
car.

Here he engaged a brakeman in conversation, and at last returned to the
boys, who were on tenterhooks to learn of his findings.

"I have found out that they are going to get off at the third station
from here. However, we do not come to that for nearly two hours, so we
have time enough to make any plans we need. I will follow them, and as
soon as possible will come on to Hobart. However, when I get there, do
not let on you know me, as we can be of infinitely more help to each
other if it is not known that we are working together or even know each
other. Whenever the need arises, I will find some way to communicate
with you."

For the next hour or so, the conversation switched from one topic to
another. Fernald was an interesting talker, and told the boys one or two
of his adventures in the custom work of the United States.

Suddenly Dick slapped his leg and exclaimed excitedly:

"By George, our old friend the Hermit has no idea where we have
disappeared to. I wish that we had had a chance at least to say goodbye
to him and explain that we have been sent to a new station."

"Why not write him a note?" suggested Garry. "You can enclose it in one
to Nate, aski