you boys are such experts by this time I can't tell
you very much. What have you been doing with yourselves since we last
met?"

The boys told him something of their experiences, in which he showed
intense interest, and in return he told them some interesting things
that had happened to him.

And when he spoke of catching mysterious messages in the stuttering
voice of Dan Cassey, Bob broke in upon him eagerly.

"We've caught a good many such messages too," he said. "Have you managed
to make anything of them?"

"Not a thing," said Mr. Brandon, shaking his head. "If it is a criminal
code, and I am about assured that it is, then it is a remarkably clever
one and one that it is almost impossible to decipher without a key. I've
just about given up trying."

Then the boys told of their encounter with Cassey in the woods and their
adventure in the old barn, and Frank Brandon was immensely excited.

"By Jove," he said, "the man is up to his old tricks again! I'd like to
get hold of him before he does any serious harm. That sort of criminal
is a menace to the community.

"The funny part of it," he continued, as they turned the corner into
Bob's block, "is that these messages are not all in Cassey's voice. Have
you noticed that?"

It was the boys' turn to be surprised.

"That's a new one on us," Bob confessed. "The only messages we have
caught so far have been in Cassey's voice."

Frank Brandon slowly shook his head.

"No," he said, "I have caught a couple in a strange voice, a voice I
never heard before."

"The same kind of message?" asked Herb eagerly.

"The same kind of message," Brandon affirmed. "I have taken it for
granted that the owner of the strange voice is a confederate of
Cassey's."

"Maybe one of the fellows who was with him in the woods," said Jimmy,
and Mr. Brandon nodded gravely.

"It's possible," he said. "I don't know, of course, but I imagine that
there are several in Cassey's gang."

By this time they had reached Bob's home, and as it was nearly lunch
time, Mrs. Layton insisted that they all stay to lunch. The boys, not
liking to make her trouble, said they would go home and come back later,
but the lady of the house would have none of it.

"Sit down, all of you," she commanded, in her cheerful, hospitable way.
"I know you're starved--all but Jimmy--" this last with a smile, "and
there's plenty to eat."

Frank Brandon was very entertaining all during the meal and kept them in
gales of