me. But on Saturday I'll show you the
finest troop of scouts this side of Mars. So kill the fatted calf
for we're coming.

Slade, as sure as I'm writing you this letter, I started east,
sumpty-sump days ago and was going to drop in on you and have a
little visit, just we two, before this noisy bunch got a chance to
interfere. We'll just have to sneak away from them and get off in
the woods alone and talk about old times in France.

Maybe you won't believe it, but I got as far as Columbus and there
was a telegram from my boss, "Come in, come in, wherever you are."
Can you beat that? So back I went on the next train. You'll have to
take the will for the deed, old man.

Don't you care; now I'm coming with my expeditionary forces, and you
and I'll foil them yet. One of our office men was taken sick, that
was the trouble. And I've been so busy doing his work and my own,
and getting this crew of wild Indians ready to invade Temple Camp,
that I haven't had time to write a letter, that's a fact. Even at
this very minute, one young tenderfoot is shouting in my ear that
he's crazy to see that fellow I bunked into in France. He says he
thinks the troop you're mixed up with must think you're a great
hero.

So bye bye, till I see you,

W. BARNARD.

Twice, three times, Tom read this letter through, in utter dismay. What
did it mean? He squinted his eyes and scrutinized the signature, as if
to make sure that he read it aright. There was the name, W. Barnard. The
handwriting was Barnard's, too. And the envelope had been postmarked in
Dansburg, Ohio, two days prior to the day of its arrival.

How could this be? What did it mean?

CHAPTER XXVI

LUCKY LUKE'S FRIEND

Tom returned through the woods in a kind of trance, pausing once to
glance through the letter again and to scrutinize the signature. He
found the patient up and about, with no reminder of his mishap save the
cut on his forehead. He was plainly agitated and expectant as he looked
through the woods and saw Tom coming. It was clear that he was in some
suspense, but Tom, who would have noticed the smallest insect or most
indistinct footprint in the path, did not observe this.

"H'lo, Slady," he said with a fine show of unconcern; "out for the early
worm?" He did not fail to give a sidelong glance at Tom's pocket.

"Is