were just entering the town hall of Oakvale, where there was
about to be given a select entertainment consisting of the most part
of educational motion pictures. It was intended for the benefit of
the local orphan asylum, so that every seat in the big building was
being rapidly filled.

A number of the other members of the scout organization were gathered
near by, as a special section of the chairs had been reserved for
the troupe, for certain reasons which no one seemed exactly to understand.
It was only known that Hugh and Lieutenant Denmead, the regular scout
master, had made some arrangement with those who were, responsible for
getting up the benefit performance.

"Oh! I had a letter from my Aunt Susan in this afternoon's mail,"
replied Alec, as he nodded to several acquaintances near by, girls
belonging to Oakvale High School.

"About that place up in the country where we spent our last week-end
outing, and had such a lively time---eh, Alec?" suggested Billy,
with a wide grin.

"Yes, and the meanness of you fellows keeping the whole business to
yourselves all this time," commented Blake Merton, severely.

"We just know there was something _remarkable_ happened to you up
there," spoke up Don Miller, the leader of the Fox Patrol, "but no
matter what we hinted, never a word could we get any of you to explain
about it. What's it all mean, Hugh?"

"Wait and see," was the mysterious answer that again baffled the
curiosity of the eager listeners, some of whom had really begun to hope
that Hugh might think it time to remove the seal of absolute secrecy
with which the outing had been enveloped so long. "And Alec, suppose you
tell us what your aunt said in her letter. You don't look as if it
held good news, that's certain."

Alec laughed good-naturedly.

"Oh! she complimented me like everything because of those grand pictures
I sent her, and said that the account I gave of the thrilling happenings
up there made her satisfied with the little investment she had incurred.
I was welcome to the camera, and she also meant to send me another
present soon, because she found herself quite interested in scout
work. But she couldn't think of putting the deal through for
that---er---place. She says after what happened there, it's likely
to be a shrine for curious-minded folks for a long time to come, and
as she wants absolute quiet, that would not suit her. So you see, just
as I expected, that deal's off."

All this s