now it, they
were destined to face many more perils in the pursuit of their chosen
calling.

The ride to Flagstaff from Big B ranch was without incident. It was
through a fairly well settled part of the country, as settlements go in
Arizona, and they made it in good time. Joe often talked about the
strange fate that had put him on the track of his father.

"I wonder what kind of a man he'll be?" he often said to his chum.

"The best ever!" Blake would answer; "that is, if he's anything like
you--and I think he must be."

"That's very nice of you, and I hope he does turn out to be what I wish
him to be. I can't even picture him in my mind, though."

"Well, I should think he'd be something like your uncle--even if they
were only half-brothers."

"If he is, I suppose it will be all right, though Uncle Bill is a little
too wild to suit me. I'd want my father to be more settled in life."

"Well, it won't be a great while before you know," consoled Blake.

The boys received a royal welcome from Mr. Hadley and the members of the
theatrical troupe.

"Oh, but it's good to see you back!" exclaimed Birdie Lee to Blake, as
she shook hands with him, and if he held her fingers a little longer
than was necessary I'm sure it's none of our affair.

"So you didn't get scalped, after all?" remarked C. C., gloomily, as he
surveyed the boys. "Well, you will next time, or else they will hold you
as captives."

"Oh, stop it, Gloomy!" called Miss Shay. "What do you want to spoil
their welcome for, just as we have a little spread arranged for them?"
for she had gotten one up on the spur of the moment, on sighting the
boys.

"A spread, eh? Humph, I know I'll get indigestion if I eat any of it.
Oh, life isn't worth living, anyhow!" and he sighed heavily and
proceeded to practice making new comical faces at himself in a
looking-glass.

"Well, I'm glad you boys are back," said Mr. Ringold a little later at
the impromptu feast, at which C. C. ate as much as anyone and with
seemingly as good an appetite. "Yes," went on the theatrical manager, "I
shall need you and Mr. Hadley right along, now. I am going to produce a
new kind of drama."

"I--er--I'm afraid I can't be with you," said Joe, hesitatingly. "I am
at last on the track of my father, and I must find him."

"Where is he?" asked Mr. Ringold, when the lad had told his story.

"Somewhere on the Southern California coast. In a lighthouse--just
where I can't say. But I am going