cientists were at work over the ruined motor. They looked

, what's t

the lad, and there was that in his

Mr. Roumann, laying aside som

one!" gas

" exclaimed M

house, where we thought the mysterious man

ken, and the outcome of it; how his chum had failed to meet him at the re

Henderson, when he had listened to the story. "We

ht?" exclaim

eave Mark there all alone. H

e had only waited for me, perhaps this would never have happened, and if I hadn't stopped at the dog-fight maybe Mark

he carried lanterns, while Andy Sudds had his trusty rifle, and the two professors brought up in the rear, armed with

ice?" suggested Andy. "A couple o

only two in Bayside, and it's hard to locate either

t notify the police if

sor He

terns flashed from side to side, but they had no hope of getting any trace of Mark until they came to the old

of it, the two scientists went up to the house of the man who owned it and enlisted hi

was a lad, that my brother fell off the hay mow and lay unconscious in a manger for five hours before we fou

Jack, when the farmer and his man had reached the barn,

volunteered to accompany the party on to the old Preakness house. His offer was received with thanks, an

wer. And good reason, for in the secret room, with his captive, the mysterious man heard the first a

but to leave, and it w

eparted, their search

me, which they reache

g dist

ight, and in the morning pale and wan faces looked at e

ne could

ing party to scour the surrounding country. The two scientists were too old for such work, and, as

damaged motor, which did not need as much repairing as at first was thought to

g very much discouraged at dusk, sayi

, they had been friends so long, and had shared so many pleasures and dangers together, that they we

entist. "The special tools came to-day, and the motor has been repaired. We have t

soon as Mark is foun

ctile, and all that remains is to haul it out of t

eaning, and get ready. There may be good

ng chum, but before he went to bed he wanted to go out and take a lo

er the door, he was startled by seeing a figure coming to

Can I be mistak

Jack, who had come to

yously. "Oh, you've come

e was all bandaged up, so that scarcely any of his features showed. Had it not been for the clothes, and

t with an accident? Where have you been? In a hospit

thought Mark's voice was curiously muffled and hoarse, entirely unlike

definable, strange air about his chum which cooled Jack's first i

cident, and I've been in a hospital. That's why I couldn't send

here. But tell me more abo

head an

ere did the ac

e where I went to-to

him?" asked

s not th

m. Come on to the house. My, but I'm glad t

again Jack wanted to hug him. He appr

Don't come

e you caught

might hurt my

? That's tough lu

d house. I fel

went on Jack, trying to peer into his f

rned the other. "You might jostle against

eeth, the reason your voice

few when I tumbled. Bu

. Let's go in the hous

ent, Mark," insisted Jack. "My, but we've been all worked

couldn't let you know where I was. But never mind the details. I'm anxi

ou need rest. But come

d, calling: "Mark's

eve the good news, but soon Jack and the new arrival came in sight. As Jack had been, the t

n stairs," e

of the bandages have slipped off since you came from the hospital. Why did you come alone? Why did

" explained the bundled-up figure

sisted Mr. Henderson. "I know something ab

ss I'll go to bed, so as to be all ready to start in the mor

er. But are you sure you are well enough to go wi

answer. "I'd start to-night if I

ant supper?"

just before I le

udds. "I was in one once, and I didn't

ce," came the reply. "I can't

his eyes, and appeared restless and ill at ease. With the hand th

ned?" asked Jack, for Mark was not usual

und when I happened to tumble down stairs. I must have been knocked unconscious, but when I c

come home?" aske

n a few hours, and you wouldn't worry. But they insisted that I must stay in the hospital when they got me th

to send the telegram, as you promised you would?" ask

to wait for you

" and Jack gazed at the b

d now," and pulling the cloths closer about his

he stairs are over here," called Jack, for h

the injured one turned about. They heard him going up stairs, and a l

are you?" he call

and the voice came fro

re in the w

head can't be right," and with that the other came

l. He looked at the door that had

in a low voice. "How strange Mark a