now me to attempt a dirty
trick? Haven't I always played the game for all it was worth, but square
through and through?"

"That's right, Felix, you have," assented Sid, heartily.

Even Bristles found himself compelled to nod his head, as if ready to
say the same thing if asked.

"All right then," Wagner went on, "I give you fellows my sacred word of
honor that I never dreamed such a thing had been thought of or
attempted, until Mr. Ketcham told me, a little while ago."

"But what are you doing away out here, Wagner?" asked Corney.

"Not taking a practice spin, because you haven't got on your running
clothes," Semi-Colon declared, meaningly.

"Sure I haven't, because I promised my mother I'd only run this
afternoon. She's afraid I'm going it too strong, and that I'll break
down under the strain to-morrow. And besides, I'm in apple-pie shape for
the race right now. As to my being here, why I went over early this
morning to Tenafly with my father's lawyer, Mr. Goodenough, to attend to
some business for my dad. Ask him if it isn't so?"

"Oh! was that it?" remarked Bristles; "why, didn't he go himself, Felix;
tell us that?"

"We had to have the doctor over last night to see dad; he had another
attack of lumbago, and can't move this morning. And, as this matter had
to be looked into to-day, he asked me to go with his lawyer, and bring
back the papers. I've got 'em right here."

Wagner flourished some legal-looking documents as he said this. They
settled the matter, so far as Fred was concerned.

"Wagner, you'll have to excuse the way we jumped out on you," he said,
smilingly. "You couldn't blame us. We've tracked that covered wagon
right up here. We happen to know that it belonged to Farmer Toby; and a
woman heard the struggle on the road when Colon was captured. And you
see, some of the boys are dead sure our chum is being kept hidden in
what they call the old haunted mill, right beyond us."

"Whew!" ejaculated Felix, apparently now deeply interested. "Where could
a better hiding place be found for keeping a fellow, I'd like to know?
And boys, if you're going to rescue Colon, count me in the game. Now
don't say a word, because I won't take no for an answer."

"That's mighty nice of you, Wagner," said Sid, thrusting out his hand
with his usual impulsiveness; "but perhaps you'd better think twice
before you make up your mind to join in with us."

"Say, why should I hold back?" demanded the other, aggressively; "