lace to make it?" asked Tom, looking
around the room, which was paneled in mahogany. "We might take up a
board in the floor."

"But some one might get at it from underneath," objected Jo.

"No danger of that," replied Tom. "Who is going to look for it?"

"Well, if there is no danger of anyone looking for it, what is the use
of hiding it?" demanded Jo.

"That's right," agreed Jim. "If we are going to do it at all, let's do
it thoroughly. If we can take out one of the panels, we can make a dandy
place."

"That's the idea," chimed in Tom.

"I think we can take out one of these panels," continued Jim, examining
the wainscoating carefully, "but we must first get the professor's
permission."

"We will ask him the first thing after dinner," cried Tom.

"And there is dinner, now," said Jo, as the sound of a gong resounded
through the air.

The professor was an interesting dinner companion, and even though all
felt that serious business was ahead of them, no reference was made
thereto. At the conclusion of the meal Jo said:

"Professor Feather--"

"Ingstone," broke in Jim.

"Haughleigh," added Tom.

"I'm all broke up," laughed the professor.

"Can we make a hiding place in one of our staterooms?" asked Jo.

"Why, I suppose so," replied the professor. "What do you want to do,
play hide and go seek?"

"In a way," laughed Jim. "We want to make a secret place in which to
keep the chart."

"Oh, I see," interrupted the professor quickly. "By all means."

"You see, we can--"

"That will do," returned the professor with another laugh. "If you are
going to make a secret place the fewer who know of it the more it is of
a secret. Keep it to yourselves."

"Even from you?"

"From every one," said the professor emphatically. "If you need any
tools or anything get them quietly."

The brothers lost no time, but at once set about making a place of
concealment. Jim, who, of the three had the more genius for mechanics,
taking the initiative in the work, studying carefully the artistically
constructed paneling to settle upon a plan.

"Do you think it can be done so that it won't be seen?" asked Tom.

"Yes," decided Jim. "I think so. By taking off this moulding, we can saw
through the edge of the panel, put on leather hinges, and I can make a
spring catch. Then replace the moulding and it will never show."

"That will be easy," asserted Jo.

"Glad you think so," retorted Jim. "It will have to be done as nicely as