"Talk about queer coincidences, here's one!

claimed Frank, as a nois

r and a blacker moustache, came around the corner

hispered Bart, but not so low as

e," replied the

laugh or run. It was certainly a very strange aff

n Fenn, when the man h

"I am here for a certain purpose. Have you seen an

elf," said Ned, but i

xcited over the sight of the man with the gilt crow

er. "It's very unfortunate. I beg of you not t

s wondered whether he knew more about the queer

he end," went on the man with th

in this directio

King of Paprica. "I must bid you farewell now," and wit

ng at the silent cabin with it's odd

t thing you know we'll be getting cra

ugh the woods and

make of it?

is keeper. He's brought him out here into the woods to cure him, and he probably has to humo

ond of reading about

an on such cases. It

Ned. "I'd rather hav

said Frank earnestly. In his eyes there glowed a strange light, and his chums,

'll be held up again by the King of Paprica's guard

o you

are crazy. It's a puzzle t

ldn't want to meet either one of them

is the easiest person in the world to get alo

f he feels so dispo

, and he asks you to let him sh

un, eh, Frank

for a successful killing, or that the hour has not yet arrived, or that you have nine lives like a cat and that he

observed Fenn, "and I'll give the lunatics

d that's the be

exclaimed Ned. "Let's talk

got off the path and had to spend some minutes finding it

to his chums, as he took the ro

eek, I guess," came from Bart.

d Frank was off

that hut," observed Ned as he a

t, eh?" asked Fenn. "

w?" asked Bart, as he and Fenn strolled through the shopping

o t

ice, of

any of their affair.

re lunatic

keeper. We'd better mind our own affairs. Beside

better. But maybe s

for ins

ht murder

reading any five-cen

, b

d, bowing to a pretty girl who passed them. "Excuse me,

good once he gets girls on the brain," and he w

k and forth? 'All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players.' I think that's just grand! Oh I wish I could thrill la

h a fat man in front of her. He t

ger, though I'd like to get th

little embarrassed. Soon after

was a buzz of excitement among those gathered on th

called some one. "We

e saw the crowd of boys hurry

d Lem Gordon, pitcher of the scho

om?" as

hool. It's for Thursday

chool," paraphrased Frank. "Why not?"

ost a game this year, and they're way ahead of u

the white feather," said Fenn

e game two weeks ago," spoke Bart. "That cer

do with it," put in Lem, "

t," added Bart. "I say let's give 'em a

crowd of boys. "Thr

I'm a political candidate? We'll