e the
lead in every kind of sport known to boys. Baseball, football, hockey,
athletics--tell me a single thing where you've had to play second
fiddle to any other fellow. And it isn't because you want to push
yourself either, but because you can go ahead."

"Well," said Tom, slowly and musingly, "it's mighty nice to know that
the other boys like you, and if the fellows are bound to make me take
the office of patrol leader I suppose I'll have to accept it."

"No one so well able to do the work as you are, Tom. But this has been
a terribly long three weeks to me, I tell you."

"Now you're thinking that we haven't made a bit of progress about
finding that stolen paper," suggested Tom, looking a little
crest-fallen. "Both of us have tried from time to time to watch Dock
after nights, but somehow we haven't had much success up to now."

"No," added Carl, with one of his heavy sighs, "if he has that paper
hidden somewhere he's smart enough to keep away from his cache, so far
as we've been able to find out."

"I don't believe he's come to any settlement with Amasa Culpepper as
yet," Tom observed, with considerable positiveness.

"We think that, but we don't know for sure," ventured the less
confident Carl. "If only I could glimpse the paper I'd have a big load
lifted from my mind. And it cuts me to the quick to see poor mother
trying to look cheerful when I come indoors, though I've noticed signs
of tears on her cheeks several times."

"I've been thinking of some sort of scheme," began Tom, slowly.

"Good for you!" burst out Carl, delightedly. "Tell me what it is then;
and can we start in to try it right away?"

"That depends on several conditions," explained the other. "First of
all do you remember what that receipt made out by Mr. Culpepper looked
like, Carl?"

"Do I? Why, it seems to me it must have been burned on my memory as
though you'd take a red hot poker and make marks on the clean kitchen
floor. When I shut my eyes nights and try to go to sleep it keeps
dancing in front of me. Before I know what I'm doing I find myself
grabbing out for it, and then I want to kick myself for being so
foolish, when I know it's all just a silly bit of imagination."

"I'm glad you remember so well how it looked," remarked Tom, somewhat
to the mystification of his companion.

"What has that got to do with your scheme?" he demanded, in perplexity.

"A whole lot," came the swift answer; "because I want you to get me up
as cl