lf an hour, easy enough, and the old man need never know
the difference in the gas supply."

They all got in, "old man" and all, for the car had supplementary
seats to be used in emergencies, being built for seven passengers.
Thad and Hugh were trying hard to keep from exhibiting broad grins
on their faces; though, for that matter, neither of those simple,
guileless souls would have suspected the least thing had the boys
laughed outright in their happiness.

They had a splendid ride, and must have covered many miles while
that wonderful half-hour was being used up. Matilda looked supremely
happy. Now and then Hugh saw her glance rest admiringly on Brother
Lu. She must have begun to believe that after all the coming of
this poor sick brother of hers, who had appeared so forlorn, and
with such a dreadful and alarming cough, was gradually emerging from
his chrysalis stage, and becoming a full-fledged magician.

Greatly to the amusement of the boys, Brother Lu would every little
while ask Matilda how she liked such a car, and seemed to chuckle
softly to himself when she rolled up her eyes in an expressive fashion,
and declared that it surely must be getting pretty close to Paradise
to be able to go about the beautiful country in such a palatial
conveyance; poor Matilda had evidently been accustomed to considering
it an event when she managed by great good luck to get an invitation
to take a ride in an ordinary country buggy or farm wagon.

Then finally they passed in through the gate of the Hoover estate.
This estate had a reputation in Scranton as being the prettiest
little country place around. It had belonged to a wealthy gentleman
who had lately died in New York City. There were rumors that it
had changed hands, though no one seemed to have heard the name of
the new owner. Thad and Hugh could easily understand now why this
secrecy had been maintained. They caught many a sly wink from the
wizard, who sat back there with his sister and her husband, whenever
they looked around.

"Let's get out here," announced Brother Lu, with an air of importance
that must have further awed both Matilda and Andrew. "There's my
friend Billings, coming over to see who we are. I told him I wanted
to show you all around this elegant place, and he agreed to pilot
us about. Now, to look at him, managing this property, you'd never
think that Malcolm Billings was once down and out, and the worst-looking
tramp that ever took to the