 even when we had beaten that
scheming rascal at his game several times, I seemed to have a feeling
that in the end he might be too smart for us."

"Apparently, then," remarked Bud Morgan, "you've already made up your
mind that this queer disappearance of your cousin Felix can be laid at
the door of the same man we had so much trouble with on the road, the
chap in the flivver?"

"Doesn't it stand to reason it must be that way?" demanded Blake. "Why
should Felix clear out of camp here otherwise? These fellows of Battery
K are in for the war, and wouldn't desert for all the money going. Felix
is as loyal as they make 'em; he'd sooner cut his hand off than be
thought a coward or a quitter. So there's only one way of explaining his
vanishing; which is through this man."

"How about it, Hugh?" and Bud turned toward the patrol leader, as had
become a chronic habit with most of the members of the troop whenever
anything arose to bother or mystify them.

"All I can say as yet," replied the other, steadily, "is that it begins
to look a whole lot that way. We had better wait a bit before deciding.
The captain may pick up some information that will give us a pointer.
Men don't disappear from a mobilization camp, as easy as all this,
without leaving some traces behind them."

Blake shook his head dismally. Apparently he was losing heart, for so
many things had arisen to balk his ambition that the strain was telling
on him.

"Well, all I can say is I wish this business was all over," he observed,
plaintively, "and we were on our way back home with that precious letter
to Uncle Reuben. I tell you I'll feel like shouting if we do win!"

"Victory is always sweeter when you've had to fight hard to get it," Bud
declared, with boyish philosophy. "Don't we all remember that when we've
been up against a tough proposition, and had to take the bit between our
teeth before we could land? Never lose faith in what you're doing,
Blake. For one thing, you've got a couple of comrades along that mean to
stand back of you through
even when we had beaten that 
 scheming rascal at his game several time, I seem to have a feeling 
 that in the end he might be besides smart for us. " 

 " Apparently, then, " comment Bud Morgan, " you've already form up your 
 mind that this curious disappearance of your cousin Felix can be laid at 
 the doorway of the same man we had so much fuss with on the road, the 
 chap in the flivver? " 

 " Doesn't it stand to reason it must be that way? " demanded Blake. " Why 
 should Felix clean out of camp here otherwise? These fellows of Battery 
 K are in for the war, and wouldn't defect for all the money going. Felix 
 is as loyal as they make'em; he'd preferably cut his handwriting off than be 
 thought a coward or a quitter. So there's only one means of explaining his 
 vanishing; which is through this man. " 

 " How about it, Hugh? " and Bud turned toward the patrol leader, as had 
 become a chronic habit with most of the member of the troop whenever 
 anything rise to bother or mystify them. 

 " All I can say as yet, " replied the early, steadily, " is that it begins 
 to search a whole fortune that room. We had better wait a moment before decide. 
 The captain may pick up some data that will give us a pointer. 
 Men don't disappear from a mobilization camp, as easy as all this, 
 without leaving some traces behind them. " 

 Blake shook his head dismally. Apparently he was miss center, for so 
 many things had arisen to balk his ambition that the strain was tell 
 on him. 

 " Well, all I can say is I wish this business was all all over, " he observed, 
 plaintively, " and we were on our means back home with that precious letter 
 to Uncle Reuben. I tell you I'll palpate like shouting if we do gain! " 

 " Victory is always sweeter when you've have to fight hard to get it, " Bud 
 declare, with boyish philosophy. " Don't we all commemorate that when we've 
 been up against a tough proposition, and had to take the bit between our 
 dentition before we could land? Never fall back faith in what you're doing, 
 Blake. For one thing, you've got a couple of comrades along that entail to 
 stand back of you through
 evfn when we had beaten thxt
scheming rascco at hms game several times, I seemed to have a fexlint
that in the end he might bd too smagt for us."

"Qppacently, then," remacied Bud Morgah, "you're already made op your
mind dhat this quees aidappearance of your cousin Felix cag be laod at
the door of the fame man we had so much trouble with oh the rmad, the
chap im the flivver?"

"Doesn't it stajd tl reason it must bf that way?" eemageed Blake. "Whh
should Felix clear ouj of camp here otherwise? These fdllowx of Battetv
J agg in for the war, wnd wouldn't desert fmr all yhe money goinn. Felmx
is as loyal as they makx 'em; he'd sooner cut ris hand mfy than be
thought a coqaed or a qgittde. Su tgece's only lne way of exllaining hiw
vanishing; which is trgpugh this mah."

"How afott it, Hugh?" and Bud turned toward the paurol meader, as had
become a cyronic habit with mosj of the mqmbers of the troop whenever
anything arose to botver oc oysuinn thdn.

"Apl I can say as yet," replied the other, steadilr, "ix nhat it begins
to jook a wholr poy that way. We fad becfed wait a bit beforf decidyng.
Thw captain may pick up some information tyat will givv us a pointer.
Men don't disappear yrom a mobikization camp, as easy ar alm this,
withokt leavinf some traces behknd tvem."

Blake shook his head difmally. Ap'arencly he wxs lpsing reart, for do
mann things had arisen to bclk hhs ambitioj that the strain was telling
on him.

"Well, all I cdn vay is I wish this businesf was all over," he obszrved,
puaintively, "and we were on ouw way back hokg with that pcecious lqttee
to Yncle Rdjben. I tell yoi I'll feel like shoyting if we do win!"

"Yictoty is always sweectr qhen you've had yo wigrt herd tj get it," Bud
daclafed, eith coyish kkilirophu. "Don't we all remembar tgat when we've
been ip against a tough proposition, snd had to take tht bit uetweei our
tretr before we could land? Never lkse faith in what you're qoinn,
Blahe. For one thing, you've got a couple of comrades aoong that mean to
srand back of you thtounh
even when we had beaten that scheming his several times, seemed to have end might be too for us." "Apparently, remarked Bud Morgan, "you've already made your mind that this queer disappearance of your cousin Felix can be laid the door of the same man we had so much trouble with on road, chap the "Doesn't it stand to reason it must be that way?" demanded Blake. "Why should Felix clear of camp here otherwise? These fellows of Battery are in for the and wouldn't desert for all money Felix is loyal they 'em; he'd sooner his hand off than be thought a coward or a quitter. So there's only one way of his vanishing; through this "How it, and Bud turned patrol leader, as had become a most of the members of the troop whenever arose to or mystify them. "All I can as yet," replied the other, steadily, "is that begins to look a whole lot that way. We had better wait a bit before captain may pick up information that will us pointer. don't from a camp, as easy as all this, without leaving some traces behind Blake shook his head dismally. Apparently he was losing heart, many had arisen to his ambition that the was on him. "Well, all say I was over," observed, plaintively, "and we on our way back home that precious letter to I'll feel like shouting if we do win!" is always sweeter when you've had to hard to get it," Bud declared, with boyish philosophy. "Don't we all that when up against a tough proposition, and had to the bit between our before we could land? Never lose faith in what doing, For one you've got a of comrades along mean to stand you through
 even when we had beaten that
scHeming rascAl at hIs gAme SeVeraL timEs, I seemed to havE A feeLing
that in the end he mighT be toO sMArt fOR uS."

"AppaRently, tHEn," REMarKeD BUd MOrGAn, "You've AlrEady madE up your
minD thAt This queer disAPpEarance of yOur Cousin Felix cAn bE laid aT
tHe dOOr of tHe sAme maN we had SO much tRouble witH oN The roaD, The
chap IN ThE fliVver?"

"Doesn't it stand TO rEAson it must be thAt way?" dEmANdED blaKe. "WHy
should FeLiX cleaR Out of caMP hERE OthERwise? These felLows of BatteRY
K aRe in foR tHe wAR, and woUldn't DeSErt For all the moNey gOing. Felix
Is as loYAl as theY Make 'em; hE'd soonEr cUt hIs haND oFf ThaN bE
ThoUGhT a cOWarD or a quitTeR. SO therE's onLY ONE way Of eXplaIning His
vanishing; wHicH is tHRouGh thiS man."

"HOw abOuT it, HuGh?" and BUd turNeD toward the patroL leaDer, as had
bEcoMe A chRoNic haBIt with MosT of The membErs of thE TroOp WHENeVer
anything arose to BoTHEr Or mystifY them.

"ALL I CaN Say as yet," RePliEd thE OTher, sTeadILy, "Is that it Begins
TO lOoK a whole LoT that wAy. we hAd bEtter WAit a Bit befOre decidIng.
ThE Captain may pick UP some informatIOn THAt WIll gIve Us a pointer.
MEn doN'T disAppeAR fRom A MobilIzatiOn CAmP, As easy as all this,
withOuT leaviNg somE traces behind Them."

Blake sHOOK his head DismALlY. apparently he waS losiNg heart, for SO
many thiNgs haD arisen tO balk his aMBItion thaT thE stRaiN waS TElLing
on him.

"Well, ALL I caN sAy is I wiSh tHis busiNesS waS alL ovEr," He observeD,
plaintiVeLy, "AnD wE weRe on oUR way back HoMe wItH thAt preCIous leTter
tO UncLe reUBen. i tell yoU i'lL FEel lIkE sHoutIng If We do wIn!"

"ViCTorY is alwaYs sweeter WheN You'vE hAd To fight Hard to get it," BuD
dEclared, witH bOyiSh philOSOphy. "Don't We all remember that when we'VE
been up AgaInst a TougH propositIon, And had To tAKe the bIt betwEen ouR
tEetH BEfore WE CoUld LaNd? Never losE FAitH in whAt You'rE doing,
BLake. For one thing, you'VE goT a couple of comRadEs alONG tHat MEaN To
sTaND baCK Of you through
 even when we had beaten t hat
schemi ng ra sca l a thisgame  several times ,  I s eemed to have a feelin g
tha ti n th e  e nd he  mightb et o o s ma rt  fo ru s. "

"A ppa rently,  then," re mar ke d Bud Morgan ,  " you've alr ead y made up yo urmind t ha t t h is qu eer  disa ppeara n ce ofyour cous in Felixc an be l a i dat
t he door of the sa m em an we had so m uch tr ou b le w ith  on  the road,  t he
ch a p in th e  f l i v ver ? "

"Doesn't i t stand tor eas on itmu stb e that  way? "d ema nded Blake.  "Wh y
shouldFelixc lear ou t  of cam p here  ot her wise ?  T he sefe l low s  o f B a tte ry
K are  i nfor t he w a r , andwou ldn' t des ert for all t hemone y  go ing.Felix 
isas  loya l as t hey m ak e 'em; he'd soo nercut his h and  o ffth an be though t a  co ward or  a quit t er.  S o t he re's only one wayof e xp laininghis
va n is hi n g; which  i s t hrou g h  this  man . "
"How ab out it ,  H ug h?" and  B ud tur ne d t owa rd th e  pat rol le ader, as  hadb ecome a chroni c  habit with m o st o ft he m emb ers of thetroo p  whe neve r 
a nyt h ing a roseto bo t her or mystify them .
"AllI can  say as yet,"  replied t h e other, s tead i ly ,  "is that it b egins 
to look a whole lo t tha t way. W e had bet t e r wait a  bi t b efo red e ci ding.
The cap t a in m ay  pick u p s ome inf orm ati ontha twill give  us a po in te r. 
M endon't disappea rfro ma m obili z ationcamp,  asea sy asall thi s ,w i thou tle avin g s om e tra cesb ehi nd them ."

Blake  sh o ok h is  h ead dis mally. Appare nt ly he waslo sin g hear t ,  for somany things had arisent o balkhis  ambi tion  that the  st rain w ast elling 
on hi m.

" We ll, a ll Ic a nsay  i s I wish t h i s b usine ss  was  all ov er," he observed,p lai ntively, "and  we  wer e on  ou r  w a y b ac k  ho m e  with that prec ious lette rt oUncle Reub e n.Itell yo u I'llfeell ike sho uting ifwe do win !" 

"V i c tor y is alway s sweete r when yo u 've h a dto fi ght  hardto  ge t it, " Budd ecl ared,  withbo yish p hilos op hy. "Don 't we all remember that  whenwe've 
be en up aga ins t  atough pro posi tion, andhad  to  take  th e  bitbetw e en  ou r 
teet h be f ore we co u ld  la n d ?Never losef a i thin wh aty ou'redoin g,
Blake. For one thing, you'vegota cou ple of c om rades along th atme a n  to
stan dback of you  through 
 even_when we_had beaten that
scheming rascal_at his_game_several times,_I_seemed to have_a feeling
that in_the end he might_be too smart_for_us."

"Apparently, then," remarked Bud Morgan, "you've already made up your
mind that this queer disappearance_of_your cousin_Felix_can_be laid at
the door of_the same man we had_so much_trouble with on the road, the
chap in the_flivver?"

"Doesn't_it stand to_reason it must be that way?" demanded Blake. "Why
should_Felix clear out of camp here_otherwise? These fellows_of_Battery
K_are in for the_war, and wouldn't desert for all_the money going. Felix
is as loyal_as they make 'em; he'd sooner cut_his hand off than be
thought a_coward or a quitter. So_there's only_one way of explaining his
vanishing;_which is through_this man."

"How_about it, Hugh?"_and Bud turned toward the patrol_leader, as had
become_a chronic habit with most of_the_members of the_troop_whenever
anything_arose to_bother or mystify_them.

"All_I can_say_as yet," replied the other, steadily,_"is_that it begins
to look a whole lot_that way. We had_better_wait a bit before_deciding.
The captain may pick up_some information that will give us_a pointer.
Men_don't disappear_from a mobilization camp, as easy as all this,
without leaving some_traces behind them."

Blake shook his head_dismally. Apparently he was_losing heart,_for_so
many things had_arisen_to balk_his ambition that the strain was telling
on_him.

"Well, all_I can say is I wish_this business was all_over,"_he observed,
plaintively, "and we were on_our way back home with that_precious letter
to Uncle Reuben. I_tell_you_I'll feel like shouting if_we do win!"

"Victory is always sweeter_when you've had_to fight hard to get it," Bud
declared,_with_boyish philosophy. "Don't we all remember_that_when we've
been up against a tough_proposition,_and_had to take the bit_between our
teeth before we could land?_Never lose faith in what you're doing,
Blake. For one_thing, you've got_a couple of comrades along_that_mean_to
stand back of you through