r and dark eyes."

"How was he dressed?" questioned Fred.

"He wore a dark grey overcoat and a slouch hat and fur gloves. He bought
a couple of my best cigars, and stood around awhile, talking about the
people who came to the store to trade. Then he asked about Cedar Lodge,
and he wanted to know all about who was staying there. When he heard the
name Rover he was very much interested, and when I told him you were a
bunch of cadets from Colby Hall he said he would have to look you up."

"Maybe he's a friend of ours!" cried Randy. "Too bad you didn't get the
name."

"I don't know as he was any particular friend. You see, he asked about
some of the other places around here too--about Jed Wallop's place, and
those shacks belonging to Tony Duval, and about the old Hunker cabin and
the deserted Parkingham house, and the old Crosby camp, and those shacks
down at Miller's saw mill, and a lot of places like that. I thought
maybe he had an idea of buying some place and locating here."

"He may have been nothing but a real estate agent," declared Andy.

"What did you tell him about the old Parkingham house?" questioned Jack
curiously.

"I told him a bunch of foreigners were staying up there--I thought
possibly they might be Germans trying to hide themselves so as to keep
out of the draft. Say! do you suppose he might be a Government agent
rounding up the slackers?" continued the storekeeper, with interest.

"I'm sure I don't know," answered Jack. "If he calls again ask him his
name, and if he is a friend of ours tell him we would be glad to see him
up at the lodge at any time."

"All right, I'll do that."

Had they not been hampered by so many bundles and packages, some of
which were quite heavy, the cadets would have remained out hunting for
the rest of the day. But as it was, they decided to skate directly home
and obtain a belated lunch at the Lodge, and then, if they felt like it,
go out later.

"We're up here just for the fun of it, so there is no necessity of being
too strenuous," said Gif. "We want to go back to Colby Hall feeling
really refreshed."

They had reached the river once more, and were busy putting on their
skates, when they heard a shout behind them. Turning, they beheld a man
who, as soon as he saw they were looking in his direction, waved his
hand at them.

"Excuse me, but are some of you the Rover boys?" he questioned, as he
came closer.

"Yes," answered Jack. "I am one of the Rovers, and th