e! he! he!"

The turtle was a monster in size.

"But--I don't see!" said Merriwell. "This doesn't explain."

The landlord hopped into the pen and flipped the huge turtle over on its
back against the wall. Thereupon it began to kick out with its great
flippers, striking them against the corridor wall and making the sounds
which had seemed to be footsteps. Merriwell looked round.

"I see!" he admitted. "The light from the lighted corridor came through
that transom."

"Jest so!" said the landlord. "Whenever your light shined in here it
scart the turtle, and it quit kickin'. It's always trying to climb out
of the pen and falling over on its back; and when it tips over near the
wall and strikes with them flippers, it makes that sound. If it ain't
near the wall, of course it don't strike nothin' to make the sound. And,
of course, soon's it can turn itself back--which it can't sometimes for
hours--it quits kickin' out."

"And yez tuk me for thot thing and thot thing for me, and aitch av us
knew nothing about it, and it wasn't ayther av us!" chuckled Barney.

"Just so!" said Merriwell. "And right glad I am to understand it, and to
know that you are living!"

"And Oi niver wor gladder to see anybody in my loife! The soight av yez
makes me well. And Bart, me jewel! Yez are as foine a laddie as iver
lived! Give me the touch av yer hand ag'in!"

And so the mystery was solved, and Barney escaped, be it said,
heartwhole and body free--while Frank and his friends returned to the
city.

THE END.

"BEST OF ALL BOYS' BOOKS"

THE FAMOUS Frank Merriwell Stories

By BURT L. STANDISH

No modern series of tales for boys and youths has met with anything like
the cordial reception and popularity accorded to the Frank Merriwell
Stories.

There must be a reason for this and there is. Frank Merriwell, as
portrayed by the author, is a jolly, whole-souled, honest, courageous
American lad, who appeals to the hearts of the boys. He has no bad
habits, and his manliness inculcates the idea that it is not necessary
for a boy to indulge in petty vices to be a hero. Frank Merriwell's
example is a shining light for every ambitious lad to follow.

_Twenty-four volumes ready_

Frank Merriwell's School Days Frank Merriwell's Skill
Frank Merriwell's Chums Frank Merriwell's Champions
Frank Merriwell's Foes Frank Merriwell's Return to Yale
Frank Merriwell's Trip West Frank Merriwell's Secret
Frank Merriwe