, partner?" whispered Perk, eagerly.

"Just who it must be, Perk," came the cautious reply. "Be careful about
making any sort of little move that might catch his attention, and keep
your eyes fastened on him. Whatever under the sun is he doing, I
wonder?"

"Looks to me he's got some sorter bird there--I c'n see red
feathers--yep, that's what it is for a fact, Jack!"

"Working over a bird with red feathers," said Jack, as if to himself, so
low was his voice. "Now, that makes me remember something I was told
only a short time back--something connected with that wonderful place he
owns over on the East Coast--about birds too--stuffed birds, in fact!"

"Do you mean he's got a collection there, Jack?" breathed the intently
watching assistant in his companion's ear.

"Just that," came the ready reply, "a mighty fine collection too, from
all accounts, of native Florida birds and filling a number of glass
cases. We already know this party is a man of contradictory habits,
being one thing among society people and just the opposite when he gets
in a different atmosphere. Chances are he's a pretty fine amateur
taxidermist--those birds have all been secured by himself and mounted in
the bargain--that when he drops out of sight around Miami it's to come
over here to do some hunting in the swamps and the Everglades, eager to
run across some rare bird that he needs to make his collection
complete."

"Now wouldn't that jar you?" he gasped, vastly astonished at hearing
Jack air his conviction.

"I'm not much of an authority on rare birds," Jack admitted softly as he
continued to use his eyes to advantage, "but I've got a hunch that skin
he's handling right now might be a roseate spoonbill--I'm sure it isn't
a red ibis, for the bill seems different."

"Whee! sounds queer to me, I must say Jack--such a man, such a man--to
play so many different parts! Say, d'ye know I kinder guess he ain't
such a tough guy under all the varnish--must have a heap o' human natur'
under it all to fall for such a decent game as taxidecentry or whatever
you call this pluggin' dead birds an' makin' 'em sit up on boughs like
they might be all to the good!"

"Put it mostly on that war experience he went through, Perk--they say
once a man was gassed pretty badly over there, he'd always prove to be a
queer fish--changeable, nervous and apt to do all manner of strange
things."

"But see here, partner," whispered Perk, uneasily, "that ain't a'goin to
mak