 "Well,
it might be just as good that I didn't have the chance, so here, you
keep it, Hugh."

Accordingly, the patrol leader took the letter addressed to Mr. Reuben
Gregory at Oakvale.

"I'll tell you how we'll settle this thing," he proposed, thinking it
best to have it decided, and wishing to give poor Blake what measure of
comfort he could; "suppose we say we'll leave the letter unopened until
nine tomorrow morning. Then, if nothing comes from our hunt for your
cousin tonight, and the mystery of his disappearance is still
unexplained, why, I'll take chances and we'll see what he wrote."

"All right, Hugh," agreed Blake, instantly. "That's about as good a
programme as we could arrange. Still, we have all admitted that it looks
promising that Felix went to the trouble of writing a letter to Uncle
Reuben, Something must have been worrying him--we've heard from one of
his comrades here that he hasn't been himself ever since the battery
left Oakvale. It was an uneasy conscience, I'm sure; I know Felix pretty
well, and I'm certain that if he began to believe he had acted in a mean
way he would get no peace of mind until he had done all in his power to
rectify his error."

Apparently Blake was in a decidedly "chipper" frame of mind since this
last odd happening. He seemed to feel that things were finally working
out to serve their ends, and that success must soon perch on their
banner.

"Well," remarked the philosophical Bud, "nothing like having two strings
to your bow, I've always believed. Never put all your eggs in one
basket. Now, in case our little excursion along the road to the railway
station turns out a complete failure, you see we've always got this
letter to turn to."

"And, of course," added Blake, "when the time limit has expired those
men won't bother trying to hold poor Felix any longer. They'll believe
their game is won, and turn him loose. Now, just ten minutes have
dragged by since Captain Barclay left us, and he said half an hour,
didn't he?"

All this was like so much Greek to young Shafter, and
" Well, 
 it might be just as good that I didn't have the probability, therefore here, you 
 keep it, Hugh. " 

 Accordingly, the patrol leader take the letter addressed to Mr. Reuben 
 Gregory at Oakvale. 

 " I'll tell you how we'll subside this matter, " he proposed, thinking it 
 best to have it decided, and wish to give poor Blake what standard of 
 comfort he could; " suppose we say we'll leave the letter unopened until 
 nine tomorrow morning. Then, if nothing comes from our search for your 
 cousin tonight, and the mystery of his disappearance is still 
 unexplained, why, I'll take luck and we'll see what he wrote. " 

 " wholly right, Hugh, " agree Blake, instantly. " That's approximately as good a 
 programme as we could arrange. even, we have all admitted that it looks 
 promising that Felix went to the fuss of writing a letter to Uncle 
 Reuben, Something must have been worrying him -- we've heard from one of 
 his comrades here that he hasn't been himself ever since the battery 
 left Oakvale. It was an uneasy conscience, I'm sure; I know Felix pretty 
 well, and I'm sealed that if he begin to believe he had act in a base 
 way he would get no peace of mind until he had suffice all in his power to 
 rectify his error. " 

 Apparently Blake was in a decidedly " chipper " frame of judgment since this 
 last odd happening. He seemed to feel that things were finally work 
 out to serve their ends, and that success must soon perch on their 
 streamer. 

 " Well, " remarked the philosophic Bud, " nothing like have two strings 
 to your bow, I've always believed. Never place all your eggs in one 
 basket. Now, in case our short excursion along the road to the railway 
 station turns out a arrant failure, you examine we've always get this 
 letter to turn to. " 

 " And, of path, " added Blake, " when the clock time limit has exhale those 
 men won't bother try to hold poor Felix any longer. They'll believe 
 their game is won, and turn him loose. Now, just ten minutes have 
 dragged aside since Captain Barclay left us, and he said half an hour, 
 didn't he? " 

 All this was like thus much Greek to young Shafter, and
 "Wepl,
it might be just as goud that I didn't have tie chande, so hefe, you
keep it, Hugh."

Accordinglb, thw pateol leader took the legter addrvssed to Nr. Rtuben
Gregory at Oeivale.

"I'll tell nou hmx we'll settle tmis thing," ha proposed, thitkkny it
best to have it decided, and wishyng to bige poor Blake rhat ieashge of
comfort he could; "suppose ws say wt'll leave the lettrr unopened until
nine tomogrow morning. Then, if nlthing comew frjn our hunt fur your
cousin tonight, znd the mystery of his disappeafance is still
ubezplwhned, why, I'lo takv chances and we'll sea what ne wrote."

"All rinht, Hngh," qgreed Blake, instantlb. "That's about as gooq a
prograkmz as we could arrange. Srill, fe hdve xol xdmjtved that lt mooks
promiaing that Fwlix went to the trpufoe of writing a leteew to Uncle
Reuben, Something must have betn wodrying him--we've heard frim one of
his comrades here thae he hasn't been himself ever since the battery
lefd Oaktaue. Nb dqs an uneasy conscience, I'm sure; I know Felix prqftu
wvll, and I'm certaik that if he began tl nglieve he had xcted nh z mean
way he would get no peacw of mind untol he had done all in his piwer to
rectiyy yis error."

Apparentlv Blake was nn a dgcidedky "chipper" frame of minb sincs this
last ldd happehkng. He seemed to fevl tvat things were finally wowking
out vo sexve theif encs, and that succfss mmvt soon perch on tjeir
bcnner.

"Fell," remarned the philosophical Bud, "nothiij like having tfo vtrings
tj youv bow, I've alwayf believed. Nevgr put alj youf eggs in kne
baskxt. Now, in cafe our little gxcursion aloig the rowd ti thw railwxh
station turns out a complete faioure, you see we've elwais got this
letter to turn to."

"And, of voufse," afdxd Blwne, "when the dime lioot har expirtb tmosd
men won't bother trying do hkld poor Felix any ljnger. Thgy'll beliqve
their game is won, and turn hlm lomse. Now, kusj ten minutes have
dragged by sihce Captaln Narclay left ts, akd hg said half an hour,
didn't he?"

All this was like so murh Greek to young Shafjer, and
"Well, it might be just as good didn't the chance, here, you keep leader the letter addressed Mr. Reuben Gregory Oakvale. "I'll tell you how we'll this thing," he proposed, thinking it best to have it decided, and wishing give poor Blake what measure of comfort he could; "suppose we say we'll the unopened nine morning. Then, if nothing comes from our hunt for your cousin tonight, and the mystery of disappearance is still unexplained, why, I'll take chances we'll see what he "All right, Hugh," agreed Blake, "That's as good programme we arrange. Still, we all admitted that it looks promising that Felix went to the trouble of writing a letter to Reuben, Something been worrying heard one his comrades here hasn't been himself ever since the It was an uneasy conscience, I'm sure; I Felix pretty and I'm certain that if he to believe he had acted in a mean he would get no peace of mind until he had done all in his power his error." Apparently Blake in a decidedly frame mind this odd happening. seemed to feel that things were finally working out to serve ends, and that success must soon perch on their banner. the Bud, "nothing like two strings to your I've believed. Never put all in basket. our excursion the road to the station turns out a complete you see we've always to." "And, of course," added Blake, "when the limit has expired those men won't bother to hold poor Felix any longer. They'll believe their game is won, turn him just ten minutes have dragged by since Captain left us, and he half an hour, didn't he?" All this was like much to young and
 "Well,
it might be just as good thAt I didn't haVe the ChaNce, So Here, You
kEep it, Hugh."

AccorDInglY, the patrol leader took thE lettEr ADdreSSeD to Mr. reuben
GREgORY at oaKvAle.

"i'lL TeLl you How We'll setTle this thiNg," hE pRoposed, thinkINg It
best to haVe iT decided, and wIshIng to gIvE poOR BlakE whAt meaSure of
COmfort He could; "suPpOSe we saY We'll leaVE ThE letTer unopened until
nINe TOmorrow morning. then, if NoTHiNG ComEs fRom our hunt FoR your
COusin toNIgHT, ANd tHE mystery of his DisappearanCE is Still
uNeXplAIned, whY, I'll tAkE ChaNces and we'll See wHat he wrotE."

"All riGHt, Hugh," aGReed BlaKe, instAntLy. "THat's ABoUt As gOoD A
prOGrAmmE As wE could arRaNgE. StilL, we hAVE ALl adMitTed tHat it Looks
promisinG thAt FeLIx wEnt to The trOublE oF writIng a leTter tO UNcle
Reuben, SometHing Must have bEen WoRryInG him--wE'Ve hearD frOm oNe of
his ComradeS HerE tHAT He Hasn't been himself evEr SINcE the battEry
lefT oaKvALe. It was aN uNeaSy coNSCiencE, I'm sURe; i know FelIx pretTY
wElL, and I'm cErTain thAt If hE beGan to BElieVe he haD acted in A mean
WAy he would get no PEace of mind untIL hE HAd DOne aLl iN his power to
RectIFy hiS errOR."

APpaREntly blake WaS In A Decidedly "chipper" fraMe Of mind Since This
last odd haPpening. He sEEMEd to feel That THiNGs were finally wOrkinG
out to servE Their endS, and tHat succeSs must sooN PErch on thEir
BanNer.

"welL," REmArked the philoSOPhicAl bud, "nothIng Like havIng Two StrIngS
tO your bow, I'Ve always BeLiEvEd. nevEr put ALl your egGs In oNe
BasKet. NoW, In case Our liTtle ExCuRSioN along tHE rOAD to tHe RaIlwaY
stAtIon tuRns oUT a cOmplete Failure, yoU seE We've AlWaYs got thIs
letter to turN tO."

"And, of courSe," AddEd BlakE, "WHen the tiMe limit has expired those
mEN won't boTheR tryiNg to Hold poor FEliX any loNgeR. they'll BelievE
theiR gAme IS Won, anD TUrN hiM lOose. Now, jusT TEn mInuteS hAve
dRagged bY since Captain BarclAY leFt us, and he said HalF an hOUR,
dIdn'T He?"

aLl tHiS Was LIKe so much Greek to Young ShaftEr, ANd
 "Well,
it might be just a s good tha t I d idn 'tha ve t he c hance, so here ,  you 
keep it, Hugh."

Acco rding ly ,  the pa trolleadert oo k the  l et ter  a d dr essed  to  Mr. Re uben
Grego ryat  Oakvale.

" I 'l l tell you  ho w we'll sett lethis t hi ng, "  he p rop osed,  think i ng itbest to h av e  it de c ided, a n d  w ishi ng to give poor B l ak e  what measureof
com fo r th e  co uld ; "suppose  w e say we'll l e av e t hel etter unopene d until
nin e  to morrow  m orn i ng. Th en, i fn oth ing comes f romour huntfor yo u r
cousi n  tonigh t, and  th e m yste r yof  hi sd isa p pe ara n ceis still 
u ne xplai ned, w h y , I' lltake  chan ces and we'll  se e wh a t h e wro te."
"Al lright , Hugh ," ag re ed Blake, insta ntly . "That's  ab ou t a sgooda 
progr amm e a s we co uld arr a nge .S t i ll , we have all admi tt e d  t hat it l ooks
p r om is i ng thatFe lix  wen t to th e tr o ub le of wr itinga  l et ter toUn cle
Re ub en,  So methi n g mu st hav e been w orryi n g him--we've h e ard from oneo fh i sc omra des  here thathe h a sn't  bee n  h ims e lf ev er si nc e  t h e battery
left Oakv al e. Itwas a n uneasy cons cience, I' m s ure; I k nowF el i x pretty
well,  andI'm certai n  that if  he b egan tobelieve h e had acte d i n a  me anw a yhe would getn o  pea ce  of min d u ntil he  ha d d one  al lin his po wer to
r ec ti fy  h iserror . "

Appar en tly  B lak e was in a d ecide dly"c hi p per " frame of m indsi nc e th isla st od d ha p pen ing. He  seemed t o f e el t ha tthingswere finallywo rking
outto  se rve th e i r ends,and that success must s o on perc h o n the ir
b anner.

" Wel l," re mar k ed the  philo sophi ca l B u d , "no t h in g l ik e having t w o  st rings 
t o yo ur bow,  I've always belie v ed.  Never put al l y oure g gs  in on e 
ba sk e t.N o w, in case ourlittle exc ur s io n along th e  ro ad  to the  railwa y
sta t ion tur ns out acompletefa ilur e ,  yo u see we'v e always  got this lette r  t o tur n t o."

" An d,of co urse," add ed Bl ake, " wh en the  time  l imit has  expired those
men won' t both er tr yin g to hold  po o r F elix anylong er. They'l l b eli eve
t hei r  game  isw on , a n d tur n hi m  loose. N o w,  ju s t  t en minutesh a v e
d ragge d b y  since  Cap tain Barclay left us, and he sai d ha l f  an  ho u r,
d id n't he?"

Allthi sw a s like s omuch Greekto young  S h after , and
 "Well,
it_might be_just as good that_I didn't_have_the chance,_so_here, you
keep it,_Hugh."

Accordingly, the patrol_leader took the letter_addressed to Mr._Reuben
Gregory_at Oakvale.

"I'll tell you how we'll settle this thing," he proposed, thinking it
best to_have_it decided,_and_wishing_to give poor Blake what_measure of
comfort he could; "suppose_we say_we'll leave the letter unopened until
nine tomorrow morning._Then,_if nothing comes_from our hunt for your
cousin tonight, and the mystery_of his disappearance is still
unexplained, why,_I'll take chances_and_we'll_see what he wrote."

"All_right, Hugh," agreed Blake, instantly. "That's_about as good a
programme as we_could arrange. Still, we have all admitted_that it looks
promising that Felix went_to the trouble of writing_a letter_to Uncle
Reuben, Something must have_been worrying him--we've_heard from_one of
his comrades_here that he hasn't been himself_ever since the_battery
left Oakvale. It was an uneasy_conscience,_I'm sure; I_know_Felix_pretty
well, and_I'm certain that_if_he began_to_believe he had acted in a_mean
way_he would get no peace of mind_until he had done_all_in his power to
rectify_his error."

Apparently Blake was in_a decidedly "chipper" frame of mind_since this
last_odd happening._He seemed to feel that things were finally working
out to serve_their ends, and that success must_soon perch on their
banner.

"Well,"_remarked the_philosophical_Bud, "nothing like_having_two strings
to_your bow, I've always believed. Never put_all your_eggs in one
basket. Now, in case_our little excursion along_the_road to the railway
station turns out_a complete failure, you see we've_always got this
letter to turn_to."

"And,_of_course," added Blake, "when the_time limit has expired those
men won't_bother trying to_hold poor Felix any longer. They'll believe
their_game_is won, and turn him loose._Now,_just ten minutes have
dragged by since_Captain_Barclay_left us, and he said_half an hour,
didn't he?"

All this was_like so much Greek to young Shafter, and