o-do business men who were conscious that the
years had dealt too generously by them in the matter of flesh,
hired a small hall and converted it into a private gym.

It was all the doings of Dick & Co., just the same.

The town was ripe, now, for performances in extraordinary athletics.
Fate willed it that there should be a chance.

Once a year an opera company of considerable prominence appeared
at Gridley for one evening.

Whenever this evening came around, it was made the occasion for
a big time in local society. The women of the well-to-do families
turned out in their most dazzling finery.

This year "Lohengrin" was to be sung at the local opera house.
Dick could have obtained, at "The Blade" office, free seats for
Dave and himself for this Friday night. But they were still in
close training, and there was a game on for the afternoon of the
day following. For that reason nine o'clock found both of the
young men in bed and asleep.

Near the opera house the street was thronged with carriages.
Carriage after carriage drove up and discharged its load of handsomely
dressed women and their more severely attired escorts. All of
Gridley that could attend the opera were in evening dress.

During the evening a half gale of wind sprang up. While all was
light and warmth inside, outside the wind howled harder and harder.
By the time that the music lovers began to pour out, the blast
was furious.

Leaning on the arm of her escort, as her carriage drove up to
the door, one beautifully gowned woman stepped out. Over her
hair was thrown a black, filmy scarf in which nestled a number
of handsome diamonds.

Just as she reached the curb, but before she could step into the
waiting carriage, this woman gave a shriek of dismay.

The gale had caught at her diamond-strewn head-covering. Like
a flash that costly creation was caught up from her hair and borne
on the wind.

Others standing by saw the costly thing whisked obliquely up into
the air. It was still ascending on the blast when it passed
out of the range of vision.

"O-o-o-oh! My beautiful jeweled scarf!" sobbed the woman hysterically.
The crowd quickly formed about her. She was recognized as Mrs.
Macey, the wife of a wealthy real estate operator.

"It was careless not to have it fastened more securely, but it's
no use to cry over what can't be helped now, my dear," replied
her husband. "Get into the carriage and I'll see if any trace
can be found of t