 to see
Captain Barclay, with whom he was, of course, well acquainted. In
another minute the captain himself came forth.

He shook hands with Hugh and the other two scouts. Then the story was
briefly told, particular emphasis being laid on the numerous attempts
that had been made to keep them from meeting Felix Gregory. The officer
was, of course, deeply interested. To lose such a fortune as Uncle
Reuben owned would, he felt sure, be a calamity for any young fellow.

"You deserve every encouragement, boys, after what you've done to save
Felix from the folly of his quick temper," he told them at the close of
the recital. "I'm sure he must have been sorry long before. I know his
generous nature well. I'll send out and have him come here to you. Then
Blake can talk with him aside, and, if my influence is worth anything,
you can depend on it I'll only too gladly say a good word."

So he gave an order, and the soldier to whom it was delivered hastened
away. While he was gone the boys continued their chat with the captain.
Finally the messenger returned, made his salute to his superior officer,
and said something. Hugh was watching and saw the other look grave.
Blake clutched the arm of his chum when the captain of Battery K,
advancing slowly toward them, went on to explain.

"Strange to say, boys, so far no one can be found who has seen Private
Gregory inside of half an hour. He seems to have mysteriously
disappeared; but, of course, he can be found, and if you will wait for
me here I'll go the rounds myself and rout him out. Don't worry while
I'm gone, for it'll be all right."




                               CHAPTER IX
                       THE DISAPPEARANCE OF FELIX


When the captain turned and left them again, the three scouts exchanged
uneasy glances. Blake suffered more than either of his chums, for his
heart had been wrapped up in his task. It meant much to him whether he
failed or won out in his self-imposed mission to the camp.

"Hugh, do you know I expected something like this would happen," was the
way he expressed himself. "Somehow,
to see 
 Captain Barclay, with whom he was, of course, well acquainted. In 
 another minute the master himself come forth. 

 He shook hired hand with Hugh and the early two scouts. Then the story was 
 briefly tell, particular emphasis being put on the numerous attempts 
 that had been made to observe them from meeting Felix Gregory. The officer 
 was, of course, deeply interested. To lose such a luck as Uncle 
 Reuben owned would, he felt sure, be a calamity for any unseasoned fellow. 

 " You deserve every encouragement, boys, after what you've make to save 
 Felix from the folly of his quick temper, " he told them at the finale of 
 the recital. " I'm sure he must have been sorry long before. I know his 
 generous nature well. I'll send out and have him come here to you. Then 
 Blake can talk with him aside, and, if my influence is worth anything, 
 you can depend on it I'll only too gladly say a good word. " 

 thus he gave an order, and the soldier to whom it was deliver expedite 
 away. While he was gone the boys continue their chat with the captain. 
 Finally the messenger returned, lay down his salute to his superior officer, 
 and said something. Hugh was watching and saw the other look grave. 
 Blake clutched the arm of his chum when the master of Battery K, 
 advancing lento toward them, went on to explain. 

 " Strange to say, boys, so far no one can be determine who has seen Private 
 Gregory inside of half an hour. He seems to have mysteriously 
 vanish; but, of course, he can be found, and if you will wait for 
 me here I'll go the round myself and rout him out. Don't concern while 
 I'm gone, for it'll be all right. " 




                                CHAPTER IX 
                        THE DISAPPEARANCE OF FELIX 


 When the captain turned and entrust them again, the three scouts substitute 
 uneasy glance. Blake suffered more than either of his chums, for his 
 heart had been wrap up in his task. It mean much to him whether he 
 failed or acquire out in his self - imposed mission to the camp. 

 " Hugh, do you know I expected something like this would find, " was the 
 way he expressed himself. " Somehow,
 to see
Captain Barclay, with whom he was, of course, well zcquaintdd. In
another minute the captein yimseof came forth.

He shook fands witj Hugh abd tie other two sconfs. Then the sflry caw
briefly told, karticular ekphasis being nakd on the numerous attempts
that had bqen madr ho keep them ftom mtetyng Rvllx Gregory. The officer
was, of coudse, deekly interested. To kose such a fortune as Uncpe
Rekben owned would, hf felt sure, be w calamity fof any young fellow.

"You seserve every encouragement, boyr, aftzr what you'ce dojg to save
Felmx froi the folly of his qgick tekper," he told tmem av thw close of
the recital. "I'm sure he must hwve been voxry long before. I knoq yis
geterogs nxrurd wtll. I'ml senf ont and have him come hwre to you. Then
Blakt cwb talk with hjm asiqe, and, if my influence is worth anything,
ymu dan depend on it I'll onoy too gladly say a glod word."

Sj he gave an order, and the soldier to whom it was delitefed hwrrejed
away. While he was gone the boys continued egeor chat with the captain.
Finslpy jhe messenger teturneb, mzde his salute to jis supgrior ifficer,
anq saod something. Hugh was watchung and saw nhe ither look grave.
Blcke clutched the arm pf his chum when the ca'tain kf Battery N,
advancinf slowly toward tfem, want on to explain.

"Strange tj say, boyw, so far no one can bq found whl has seen Private
Gregorj insnde ox half an jour. He seems to have mysteriously
disappeared; bgt, mf coursz, he csn be found, agd if you will wait fjr
me fere I'll gk the rmunds mysels and rout hik out. Don't wocry while
Y'm gine, dor it'lu be all right."




                               CHAPTER IX
                       THE DISAPPESRAVCE OV HELIX


Rven the captdin gurvrd ana left ukem xgaim, the three scouts efchahged
uneasy glances. Bjake sufdered mowe than eithet of his chums, for his
hxart hed beem wtapped up in his task. It meant juch to hlm rhether he
fayled or won out nn his self-imposed mission to the camp.

"Hujh, do you know I expecjed something like thns would happxn," was the
way ha expressed himself. "Womehow,
to see Captain Barclay, with whom he course, acquainted. In minute the captain hands Hugh and the two scouts. Then story was briefly told, particular emphasis laid on the numerous attempts that had been made to keep them from Felix Gregory. The officer was, of course, deeply interested. To lose such a as Reuben would, felt sure, be a calamity for any young fellow. "You deserve every encouragement, boys, after what done to save Felix from the folly of quick temper," he told at the close of the "I'm he must been long I know his nature well. I'll send out and have him come here to you. Then Blake can talk with aside, and, influence is anything, can on it I'll gladly say a good word." So order, and the soldier to whom it was hastened away. he was gone the boys continued chat with the captain. Finally the messenger returned, his salute to his superior officer, and said something. Hugh was watching and saw the grave. Blake clutched the of his chum the of K, slowly toward went on to explain. "Strange to say, boys, so far no can be found who has seen Private Gregory inside of hour. seems to have disappeared; but, of course, can found, and if you for here rounds and him out. Don't worry I'm gone, for it'll be right." CHAPTER IX THE captain turned and left them again, the three exchanged uneasy glances. Blake suffered more than of his chums, for his heart had been wrapped up in his It meant him whether he failed or won out in self-imposed mission to the "Hugh, do you know I expected something like this happen," the way expressed himself. "Somehow,
 to see
Captain Barclay, with whOm he was, of cOurse, WelL acQuAintEd. In
Another minute tHE capTain himself came forth.

He Shook HaNDs wiTH HUgh anD the othER tWO ScoUtS. THen ThE StOry waS
brIefly toLd, particulAr eMpHasis being laID oN the numeroUs aTtempts
that hAd bEen madE tO keEP them FroM meetIng FelIX GregoRy. The offiCeR
Was, of cOUrse, deePLY iNterEsted. To lose such a fORtUNe as Uncle
ReubeN owned WoULd, HE FelT suRe, be a calamItY for aNY young fELlOW.

"yOu dEServe every encOuragement, bOYs, aFter whAt You'VE done tO save
feLIx fRom the folly Of hiS quick temPer," he tOLd them aT The closE of
the RecItaL. "I'm sURe He MusT hAVe bEEn SorRY loNg before. i kNoW his
gEnerOUS NAturE weLl. I'lL send Out and have him ComE herE To yOu. TheN
BlakE can TaLk witH him asIde, anD, iF my influence is wOrth Anything,
yOu cAn DepEnD on it i'Ll only Too GlaDly say a Good worD."

so hE gAVE An Order, and the soldier To WHOm It was delIvered HAsTeNEd
away. WhIlE he Was gONE the bOys cONtInued theIr chat WItH tHe captaIn.
finallY tHe mEssEnger REturNed, madE his saluTe to hIS superior officER,
and said sometHInG. hUgH Was wAtcHing and saw tHe otHEr loOk grAVe.
blaKE clutChed tHe ARm OF his chum when the captAiN of BatTery K,
Advancing slowLy toward thEM, WEnt on to eXplaIN.

"STRange to say, boys, So far No one can be FOund who hAs seeN Private
gregory inSIDe of half An hOur. he sEemS TO hAve mysteriousLY
DisaPpEared; buT, of Course, hE caN be FouNd, aNd If you will Wait for
mE hErE I'Ll Go tHe rouNDs myself AnD roUt Him Out. DoN'T worry While
i'm goNe, FoR It'lL be all rIGhT."




                               chAPTeR iX
                       tHE DiSApPeARANcE OF feLIx


When thE captain tUrnED and LeFt Them agaIn, the three scoUtS exchanged
UnEasY glancES. blake sufFered more than either of hiS Chums, foR hiS
hearT had Been wrappEd uP in his TasK. it meanT much tO him wHeTheR HE
failED Or Won OuT in his self-IMPosEd misSiOn to The camp.

"hugh, do you know I expeCTed Something like ThiS wouLD HaPpeN," WaS The
WaY He eXPRessed himself. "SoMehow,
 to see
Captain Barclay, w ith whom h e was , o f c ou rse,  wel l acquainted.I n
an other minute the capta in hi ms e lf c a me  fort h.

Hes ho o k  ha nd swit hH ug h and  th e other  two scout s.Th en the story wa s
brieflytol d, particula r e mphasi sbei n g lai d o n the  numer o us att empts
tha th ad bee n  made t o ke ep t hem from meetingF el i x Gregory. The  offic er wa s ,  of  co urse, deep ly  inte r ested.T ol o s e s u ch a fortuneas Uncle
Re u ben  owned  w oul d , he f elt s ur e , b e a calamit y fo r any you ng fel l ow.

"Y o u deser ve eve ryenc oura g em en t,bo y s,a ft erw hat  you'vedo ne  to s aveF e l i x fr omthefolly  of his quick  te mper , " h e tol d the m at  t he cl ose of 
there cital. "I'm sur e he  must hav e b ee n s or ry lo n g befo re.  Iknow hi s
gener o usna t u r ewell. I'll send ou ta n dhave him  comeh er et o you. T he n
B lake c an ta lk w i th  him asi de, an d ,if  my inf lu ence i swor thanyth i ng,you ca n depend  on i t  I'll only too gladly say ag oo d wo r d."
So  he gave an  ord e r, a nd t h esol d ier t o who mi tw as delivered hasten ed 
away.  Whil e he was gone  the boysc o n tinued t heir ch a t with the cap tain. 
Finally t h e messen ger r eturned,  made his s alute to  hi s s upe rio r of ficer,
and sa i d  som et hing. H ugh  was wa tch ing  an d s aw  the othe r look g ra ve .Bl ake  clut c hed thear m o fhis  chum when t he ca ptai nof Bat tery K, ad v a ncin gsl owly  to wa rd th em,w ent  on toexplain.
"S t rang eto  say, b oys, so far n oone can be  f oun d whoh a s seen P rivate
Gregory inside o f  half a n h our.He s eems to h ave  myste rio u sly
di sappea red;bu t,o f  cour s e ,heca n be found , and  if y ou  wil l waitfor
me here I'll g o  th e rounds myse lfandr o ut  hi m  o u t.Do n 'tw o rry while
I'm g one, for i t' l lbe all rig h t." 



                          CH APTER IX                 THE DI SAPPEARAN C E OFF EL IX

Whe n theca pta in tu rned a n d l eft t hem ag ai n, the  thre escouts e xchanged
uneasy glances . Blak e suf fer ed more t han eit her of hi s ch ums, for h ishea rt ha d b e en wr appe d  u p i n  histask .  It meant mu cht o  h im whetherh e fai led o r w o n outin h is self-imposed m i ssion to the c amp. "Hu gh, do y ou  know I expect edso m e thing li ke  this would  happen, "w as th e
wayhe exp ressedh i ms e lf. "S omeh ow, 
 to_see
Captain Barclay,_with whom he was,_of course,_well_acquainted. In
another_minute_the captain himself_came forth.

He shook_hands with Hugh and_the other two_scouts._Then the story was
briefly told, particular emphasis being laid on the numerous attempts
that had_been_made to_keep_them_from meeting Felix Gregory. The_officer
was, of course, deeply interested._To lose_such a fortune as Uncle
Reuben owned would, he_felt_sure, be a_calamity for any young fellow.

"You deserve every encouragement, boys,_after what you've done to save
Felix_from the folly_of_his_quick temper," he told_them at the close of
the recital._"I'm sure he must have been_sorry long before. I know his
generous nature_well. I'll send out and have_him come here to you._Then
Blake can_talk with him aside, and,_if my influence_is worth_anything,
you can depend_on it I'll only too gladly_say a good_word."

So he gave an order, and_the_soldier to whom_it_was_delivered hastened
away._While he was_gone_the boys_continued_their chat with the captain.
Finally the_messenger_returned, made his salute to his superior_officer,
and said something. Hugh_was_watching and saw the_other look grave.
Blake clutched the_arm of his chum when the_captain of_Battery K,
advancing_slowly toward them, went on to explain.

"Strange to say, boys, so_far no one can be found_who has seen Private
Gregory_inside of_half_an hour. He_seems_to have_mysteriously
disappeared; but, of course, he can be_found, and_if you will wait for
me here_I'll go the rounds_myself_and rout him out. Don't worry_while
I'm gone, for it'll be all_right."




    ___    _     _  _      __  CHAPTER IX
  __     ___    _     _THE DISAPPEARANCE OF FELIX


When the captain turned and left_them again, the_three scouts exchanged
uneasy glances. Blake_suffered_more_than either of his chums, for his
heart had been wrapped_up in_his task. It_meant much to him whether he
failed or won out in_his self-imposed mission to the camp.

"Hugh, do_you know I expected something like this would happen," was the
way_he expressed himself. "Somehow,