ing of a square building built of logs, and half a dozen wings, running to the rear and to

d lodge will fall down," remark

ts day," returned Joe. "What a pity

d on this side now, Joe;

heir chance, between the downpours, they ran

er here," observed Joe, as he

d for the time being, and they heard a murmur of

be here!" ejaculated

nswered the hermit's boy. "Wa

uestioned the rich

are to meet, Ned. You know there are som

t's

s of which had long since been broken out. Moving

, sat two men. Both were well dressed, and Joe rightfully surmised that they were

bled one, as he stirred the fire. "Go

he better educated of the two. "As we had to make ourselves s

nk they'll loo

arp enough not to leave any

s just as sh

bed." Gaff Caven chuckled to himself. "We outwit

t of the deal," went on Pat Malone, for suc

ever mind, my boy, fortune will f

conversation following, and Joe hur

who they are?" demanded th

t I am sure

is t

re two

es you th

of the city, and one spoke about being nabb

Ned Talmadge whistl

?" he asked, with a look of conc

ged his s

know wh

to say. Maybe we'll strike some c

fair-to play th

body who has done wrong ought to be l

and Ned looked in as Joe had done. The backs of the two men w

an called Malone ask, after a peal of thu

iner with some valuable stocks

u got th

Blue Bell Mine, of Montana, said to b

ing high, Gaff!"

so long as I s

d they c

y thousand dollars," and Gaff C

e than likely they didn't

antly engraved s

dollar," came from Pat Malone. "But that isn't here nor there. I

ird, Pat, and that's

t make

find a victim." And Gaff Caven laughed broadly. He had a good-

a third then. But how soon

ve got the advertisement

n New

s time. Perhaps I'll land

s may be slow but they genera

d when it was resumed the two men talked in such low tones

arked Ned, in a whisper. "I'm half

nswered Joe. "Besides, we haven't

ce they did not deem it wise to enter the lodge so long as the two men were inside. They waited in the shed for fully half an

"But for my part, I'd like to stay and se

y all means," answe

y look into the window of the lodge once more. The hermit's boy

shment the two stran

make of that?" cri

one of the other ro

into one room after another. Every apartment was vacant, and th

while we were in th

an down to the water's edge, followed by his companion. But though th

er, consequently they must have l

ce time in getting through. All the bushes are so

ootprints of the two strangers. They led through the bush

this any further," said Joe. "You'll get

d Ned. "Just the same, I should lik

had seen t

get a better look at them.

ked to where the boat had been left, and Joe turned the craft over so th

he direction of Riverside. As they passed along the lake shore the

dn't strike the lodge whil

le it lasted, Joe. By the way, shall

do any harm to tel

ll, I'll

dge walked in the direction of his residence. Joe shoved off from the tiny dock an