ked the other with a laugh, whisking off his
beard and restoring it again in a flash but revealing for a brief moment
a large white mustache. "Besides, no one would suppose that I would stay
in this neighborhood."

"Why do you?"

"To get what I left behind," with a laugh. "They say lightning does not
strike twice in the same place but I do and with profit. You know the
bank, don't you? Give me a little idea of the location of things. I am a
little hazy on some points. Of course I could fix that but time is an
item with me. Where is the----"

"I shall tell you nothing!" said Jack, firmly, "and it is useless to
prolong this interview."

"Ain't I your father, Mr. John Shelden, alias----"

"No, you are not!" said Jack, fiercely.

He was retreating when the man said with a laugh and a sneer:

"You won't get people to believe that. Help me and I will keep quiet;
refuse and I will see that your term here is a very short one. Ha! I
still use the old word. Familiar, of course."

"I care nothing for your threats," said Jack, hurrying away and looking
around sharply, the sound he had before heard coming again to his ears.

"The fellow has some confederate hidden in the woods," he thought, and
made his way as rapidly as possible to the road and then went on up the
hill toward the Academy.

The strange man disappeared in the woods but Jack did not look back to
see where he went but kept straight on to the Academy.

Reaching the building he went to the telephone which the boys were
allowed to use on occasion and called up Mr. Brooke.

"Hello! Mr. Brooke? I may have news for you about something. I will
communicate with you as previously arranged in case there is anything to
tell you. Good-bye."

No one hearing this message could guess what it meant and Jack was
purposely cautious and guarded, knowing that some of the operators in
the exchange had told things which they had heard over the wires.

Having sent his message to the editor, he hung up the receiver and went
to find Percival or some other of the boys.

A few minutes after the strange man with whom Jack had had his strange
interview had disappeared in the woods, Peter Herring crept cautiously
out of the bushes and whistled softly to some one.

In a moment he was joined by Merritt and the two hurried toward the road
and took their way down hill.

"You heard the whole business?" asked Herring.

"Yes. That's a nice mix-up."

"I guess it is. Now we've got a