eir chaperon and signified that she had been
taken into the secret. Then Phil untied the piece of paper from the
tail of the deaf and dumb boy's kite.

The most impossible things in this world are the things that actually
happen. Nothing in fiction is so strange as the facts that take place
every day before our eyes. Miracles occur every hour and moment.

Phil opened the note slowly. She passed it to Miss Jenny Ann, but her
chaperon insisted that Phil read it first.

The note was written in a firm, bold hand.

"Boys, can't you help a fellow in distress?" the note began. "You must
mean to try to aid me, or you would not have sung outside my prison
house, or sent me this paper and pencil. I am afraid you are very
young. Your voices sounded so. I don't wish to get you into trouble,
but if you can think of any way to get me out of this hole, I will
defend you with my life against the men who are keeping me a prisoner.
I have done no wrong. I am perfectly sane. The people who have
imprisoned me wish to keep me out of the world until they have a chance
to steal my work. I have been kept here so long that I have been
growing desperate. But to know that there is some one interested in my
fate has cheered me. I will stick it out now. Can you let me know your
names, and where on the face of the earth I am kept a prisoner? If you
are not strong enough to get me out of this place, will you, in
Heaven's name, telegraph to the Navy Department in Washington for me?
Say that Lieutenant James Lawton is being held as a prisoner. Say that
he is not a traitor and that he has not run away from his country to
sell his invention to a foreign government. Tell the authorities to
send troops, or a battleship, if it is necessary, to get me away from
this place. Yours truly, Lieutenant James M. Lawton, U.S.N."

Phil turned white. She was sick and faint with surprise. One look at
her friend was enough. Madge ran for a dipper of cold water. Phil had
just handed her note to Miss Jenny Ann when Madge flung the water in
her face. Phil gasped and sputtered indignantly. But she could not
speak on the instant.

When Miss Jenny Ann read the note Madge wished she had saved half her
dipper of water for her chaperon. Miss Jenny Ann turned as red as Phil
did white. "It's quite impossible!" she ejaculated. "I can not believe
it is true."

"Have you both gone crazy?" demanded Madge excitedly. "Please let me
see the letter that has affected you both so dr