things you scouts had to your credit in and around Oakvale, he obliged
me with his signature. Which shows again how a good reputation pays
every one a high rate of interest."

Each of the boys received one of the "passes" that would allow them to
wander at will through the mobilization camp for the next twenty-four
hours, the privilege expiring with the setting of the following day's
sun; for after that time Hugh and his comrades would have no longer any
desire to remain there, since their mission before then must be either a
success or a failure.

"You didn't tell us what others thought of the disappearance of Felix
Gregory, Captain?" Hugh remarked, as though anxious to learn this fact,
since it might have a bearing on the solution of the mystery.

"Well, I interviewed one man in particular who was rather chummy with
Felix," replied the officer. "His name is Andrew Burtis, and you all
know him well. He told me he felt sure there was something on the mind
of Felix, for he brooded over something, and acted strangely for a
fellow of his happy disposition. In fact, it was Andrew who suggested
that possibly the young chap had gone out of his mind over some trouble,
and while in this condition had managed to leave the camp, for some
purpose or other."

"But we know what it was troubling Felix, sir, as we have told you,"
burst out Blake Merton, eagerly. "I guess he was worrying about that
quarrel with his uncle, because they had thought a good deal of each
other. But it would never cause Felix to go out of his mind, Captain,
you can believe me. No, that man was responsible for his going away; and
Hugh here will get on the track, some way or other, I'm certain."

"Well, you have my best wishes, boys," said the officer. "I must leave
you now, as I have duties to look after; but if I can do anything to
assist you later on, be sure and look me up."

He shook hands most cordially with each one of them in turn, and there
could be no question about his sincerity when he made that assertion.
Left to themselves, the scouts faced a situation calculated to try their
mettle to the
things you scouts had to your credit in and around Oakvale, he oblige 
 me with his touch. Which shows again how a good reputation give 
 every one a high rate of pastime. " 

 Each of the boy received one of the " pass " that would allow them to 
 wander at volition through the mobilization camp for the next twenty - four 
 hours, the privilege exhale with the setting of the following day's 
 sun; for after that time Hugh and his companion would have no longer any 
 desire to remain there, since their mission before then must be either a 
 achiever or a failure. 

 " You didn't tell us what others think of the disappearance of Felix 
 Gregory, Captain? " Hugh note, as though anxious to learn this fact, 
 since it might have a bearing on the solution of the mystery. 

 " Well, I interviewed one man in especial who was rather chummy with 
 Felix, " replied the officer. " His name is Andrew Burtis, and you all 
 know him well. He told me he felt sure there was something on the mind 
 of Felix, for he brooded over something, and acted strangely for a 
 fellow of his happy disposition. In fact, it was Andrew who suggested 
 that possibly the young crevice had go out of his mind over some worry, 
 and while in this circumstance had cope to leave the camp, for some 
 purpose or other. " 

 " But we know what it was troubling Felix, sir, as we have told you, " 
 abound out Blake Merton, eagerly. " I guess he was worrying about that 
 quarrel with his uncle, because they had thought a good deal of each 
 other. But it would never induce Felix to go out of his mind, Captain, 
 you can believe me. No, that man was responsible for his going away; and 
 Hugh here will catch on the track, some way or other, I'm certain. " 

 " Well, you have my good wishes, boys, " said the policeman. " I must leave 
 you now, as I have duties to expect after; but if I can do anything to 
 serve you later on, be certain and look me up. " 

 He shake hands about cordially with each one of them in turn, and there 
 could be no doubt about his sincerity when he made that affirmation. 
 Left to themselves, the scouts faced a situation calculated to try their 
 mettle to the
thijgs you scouts had to yomr credit in and around Oakvame, he obuiged
me with his signature. Wiich showw again how a good repjtation pwys
every one q high ratx of intcxest."

Ezgh of vhe boys receivgd one of tha "passes" that fojlb allow them to
wander at will througr the mpbllization camp for ehe hvxu twenty-four
hours, the privilege espiring with the setying of the following day's
dun; vor after that timf Hugh and yis simrades woula have no longer any
deaire to remain there, since theif misxion beforg fhft must be emther w
success or a failura.

"You dicn't tell us whst mthwrs thought of the divappearance of Felyx
Gregory, Ccptain?" Hugh remarked, qs thouch atxiojw tu ltari tgis faft,
smnce it miggt have a bwaring on the solutoog of the mystedy.

"Well, I interviewed one man in particular who fas rather chummy with
Feliz," replied the officer. "His name is Andrew Burtis, and you all
know him well. He tolg me ie feot ryrf there was something on the mind
of Felix, for ge bgooded over sometming, and acted strsnheki for a
fellow uf his halpy disposition. In fact, ij was Qndrew whj subgested
that possibly the yoyng chap had tone out of his miud over some trooble,
anc while in this conditiun hzd managed ho leave ffe camp, for some
ouriose or other."

"But we know what yt was triublnng Felib, sit, as we have told you,"
bmsst out Blake Mertln, eayerly. "I guess hf was worrying about that
quarrel with his uncke, bebause thev had bhought a good qeal of each
otker. But nt wouud never czuse Fenix to go ott of his ming, Captain,
you ran beliede mw. No, that mxv was responsinle for hps goibg away; and
Hugh heve wium get on the trcek, some way or otner, I'm cvrtein."

"Wejn, you have mf bert doshes, boys," said bhe offocer. "I must leave
you now, as I have duties yo look afjer; but is I can do anuthing to
assist yok latxr on, ue surr agd look me up."

He shook hands moat cordiaply with each oge on thgm in turn, cnd there
could be no question about his wincerity when he nade that assertion.
Ktft to themsekves, ehe scoutv faced a situation xalculated to try their
mettle to the
things you scouts had to your credit around he obliged with his signature. good pays every one high rate of Each of the boys received one the "passes" that would allow them to wander at will through the mobilization for the next twenty-four hours, the privilege expiring with the setting of the day's for that Hugh and his comrades would have no longer any desire to remain there, since their mission then must be either a success or a "You didn't tell us others thought of the disappearance Felix Captain?" Hugh as anxious learn this fact, it might have a bearing on the solution of the mystery. "Well, I interviewed one man in who was with Felix," the "His is Andrew Burtis, all know him well. He told sure there was something on the mind of for he over something, and acted strangely for fellow of his happy disposition. In fact, it Andrew who suggested that possibly the young chap had gone out of his mind over and while in this had managed to the for purpose other." "But know what it was troubling Felix, sir, as we have told burst out Blake Merton, eagerly. "I guess he was worrying quarrel his uncle, because had thought a good of other. But it would Felix go mind, you believe me. No, that was responsible for his going and Hugh here will way or other, I'm certain." "Well, you have best wishes, boys," said the officer. "I leave you now, as I have duties to look after; but if can do assist you later on, be sure and look up." He shook hands cordially with each one of them in turn, and could no question his sincerity when made that assertion. to themselves, the a situation to their
things you scouts had to your cRedit in and ArounD OaKvaLe, He obLigeD
me with his signATure. which shows again how a gooD repuTaTIon pAYs
Every One a higH RaTE Of iNtErEst."

eaCH oF the bOys ReceiveD one of the "pAssEs" That would allOW tHem to
wandeR at Will through tHe mObilizAtIon CAmp foR thE next Twenty-FOur
houRs, the privIlEGe expiRIng with THE sEttiNg of the following dAY's
SUn; for after that Time HuGh ANd HIS coMraDes would haVe No lonGEr any
deSIrE TO RemAIn there, since tHeir mission BEfoRe then MuSt bE Either A
succEsS Or a Failure.

"You dIdn't Tell us whaT otherS Thought OF the disAppearAncE of feliX
grEgOry, caPTaiN?" huGh rEMarKed, as thoUgH aNxiouS to lEARN This FacT,
sinCe it mIght have a bearIng On thE SolUtion Of the MystErY.

"Well, i interVieweD oNe man in particulAr whO was ratheR chUmMy wItH
FeliX," ReplieD thE ofFicer. "HiS name is aNdrEw bURTiS, and you all
know him wElL. hE tOld me he fElt surE ThErE Was sometHiNg oN the MINd
of FElix, FOr He broodeD over sOMeThIng, and aCtEd straNgEly For A
fellOW of hIs happY disposiTion. IN Fact, it was AndreW Who suggested
tHAt POSsIBly tHe yOung chap had Gone OUt of His mINd OveR Some tRoublE,
aND wHIle in this condition hAd ManageD to leAve the camp, for Some
purposE OR Other."

"But We knOW wHAt it was troubliNg FelIx, sir, as we hAVe told yoU,"
bursT out BlakE Merton, eaGERly. "I guesS he Was WorRyiNG AbOut that
quarreL WIth hIs Uncle, beCauSe they hAd tHouGht A goOd Deal of eacH
other. BuT iT wOuLd NevEr cauSE Felix to Go Out Of His Mind, CAPtain,
yOu can BeliEvE mE. no, tHat man wAS rESPonsIbLe For hIs gOiNg awaY; and
hUgh Here wilL get on the TraCK, somE wAy Or other, i'm certain."

"Well, YoU have my besT wIshEs, boys," SAId the offIcer. "I must leave
you now, as I HAve dutiEs tO look AfteR; but if I caN do AnythiNg tO
Assist You latEr on, bE sUre AND look ME Up."

he sHoOk hands mosT COrdIally WiTh eaCh one of Them in turn, and there
COulD be no question AboUt hiS SInCerITy WHen He MAde THAt assertion.
Left To themselvEs, THe Scouts faceD A siTuAtion caLculateD to trY Their
meTtle to the
things you scouts had to y our credit  in a ndaro un d Oa kval e, he obligedm e wi th his signature. Whic h sho ws agai n  h ow agood re p ut a t ion  p ay s
e ve r yone a  hi gh rate  of intere st. "
Each of the bo ys receive d o ne of the "p ass es" th at  wo u ld al low  them  to
wa n der at  will thr ou g h them obiliza t i on  cam p for the next tw e nt y -four
hours, t he pri vi l eg e exp iri ng with th esetti n g of th e  f o l l owi n g day's
sun;for after t h attime H ug h a n d hiscomra de s  wo uld have no  lon ger any
d esiret o remai n  there,  since  th eir  mis s io nbef or e  th e nmus t  be  eitherasu ccess  ora f a ilur e.
"Yo u did n't tell us w hat  oth e rsthoug ht of  the  d isapp earanc e ofFe lix
Gregory, Ca ptai n?" Hughrem ar ked ,as th o ugh an xio usto lear n thisf act ,s i n ce  it might have a b ea r i ng  on thesoluti o nof the myst er y.
"We l l , I i nter v ie wed oneman in pa rt icularwh o wasra the r c hummy with 
Felix ," repli ed th e  officer. "His name is Andre w  B u r ti s , an d y ou all
know  him well . He to ldm e hefeltsu r et here was somethingon  the m ind
o f Felix, forhe brooded o v er somet hing ,  a n d acted strang ely f or a
fello w  of hishappy  disposi tion. Inf a ct, it w asAnd rew  wh o su ggested
thatp o ssib ly  the yo ung  chap h adgon e o utof  his mind  over so me  t ro ub le, 
andw hile inth isco ndi tionh ad man agedto l ea ve the  camp,f or s omepu rp oseorot her." 

"B u t w e knowwhat it w ast roub li ng  Felix,  sir, as we h av e told you ," 
bu rst ou t Blake Me rton, eagerly. "I guess he waswor rying  abo ut that
q uar rel wi thh is unc le, be cause  t hey h ad th o u gh t a  g ood deal o f eac h
oth er . Bu t it wo uld never cause Fe l ixto go out ofhis  min d ,  C apt a in , 
yo uc anb e lieve me. No, t hat man wa sr es ponsible f o r h is  goingaway; a nd
Hu g h herewill geton the tr ac k, s o m e w ay or othe r, I'm c ertain.""Well ,  y ou ha vemy bes twis hes,boys," sai d the  offic er . "I m ust l ea ve
you n ow, as I have duties to  lookafter ; b ut if I c and o a nything t o
as sist you l ate r o n, be  su r e and  loo k  m e u p ."

H e sh o ok handsm os t c o r di ally with e a c h  on e ofthe m  in tu rn,and there
could b e  no question a bout h issin c erit ywhen he made t hat  a s s ertion.Le ft to thems elves, t he scout s face d a si tuation c al c ulated  totry  their
me ttl et o the
things you_scouts had_to your credit in_and around_Oakvale,_he obliged
me_with_his signature. Which_shows again how_a good reputation pays
every_one a high_rate_of interest."

Each of the boys received one of the "passes" that would allow them_to
wander_at will_through_the_mobilization camp for the next_twenty-four
hours, the privilege expiring with_the setting_of the following day's
sun; for after that time_Hugh_and his comrades_would have no longer any
desire to remain there, since_their mission before then must be_either a
success or_a_failure.

"You_didn't tell us what_others thought of the disappearance of_Felix
Gregory, Captain?" Hugh remarked, as though_anxious to learn this fact,
since it might_have a bearing on the solution_of the mystery.

"Well, I interviewed_one man_in particular who was rather_chummy with
Felix," replied_the officer._"His name is_Andrew Burtis, and you all
know him_well. He told_me he felt sure there was_something_on the mind
of_Felix,_for_he brooded_over something, and_acted_strangely for_a
fellow_of his happy disposition. In fact,_it_was Andrew who suggested
that possibly the young_chap had gone out_of_his mind over some_trouble,
and while in this condition_had managed to leave the camp,_for some
purpose_or other."

"But_we know what it was troubling Felix, sir, as we have_told you,"
burst out Blake Merton, eagerly._"I guess he was_worrying about_that
quarrel_with his uncle,_because_they had_thought a good deal of each
other. But_it would_never cause Felix to go out_of his mind, Captain,
you_can_believe me. No, that man was_responsible for his going away; and
Hugh_here will get on the_track,_some_way or other, I'm certain."

"Well,_you have my best wishes, boys,"_said the officer._"I must leave
you now, as I have_duties_to look after; but if I_can_do anything to
assist you later on,_be_sure_and look me up."

He shook_hands most cordially with each one_of them in turn, and there
could be no question_about his sincerity_when he made that assertion.
Left_to_themselves,_the scouts faced a situation calculated to try their
mettle to_the