that there had been the slightest unpleasantness. He was polite and affable to every one upon the buckboard, and whe

ime, indeed, before the naturally curious boys learned from him that he was a native of New York, but that, on account of his mother's health, his parents had removed to California some years before, where his father had suddenly

Robert Percival, Earl of Harcourt. Little by little at various times he let drop a few words which, pieced together, told of the banishing of a younger son of Lord Percival, who had brought upon his

sdain for ancestry, although his stationery bore a crest, and those chaps who were favored by i

en induced to take him in through what was said to be a surprisingly liberal money consideration. In Mrs. Chester's house he had a sitting-room and a bedroom with an

ice of many chaps who were inclined at the outset to regard him with disfavor. His staunchest friend, however, was Charley Shultz, with whom he had taken up almost immediately, and who seemed so remarkably different from him in every way that wondermen

and polite, he rarely attempted to play the gallant. He seemed to prefer fellows of his own age and with similar tastes in sports to the

pplied with coin feel small or mean on that account. In short, he was generally sized up as "a jolly good fellow," and, although they had not ventured to say as much, several members of the nine had thought that Nelson was rath

o say, and he endeavored in saying them to give the impression that he, like Ned, had dismissed the incident of the game which had so

olled up the main street toward Hyde's livery stable. At the stable they piled out with their bats and bags, shi

d a moment, and, Springer, Hooker and

do a thing to Mrs. Chester's grub to-night." Carrying the bag that contained his u

o left behind, after which they disper

in the action of these fellows; Sleuth Piper's eyes and ears were

but I'd really like to know what's in th

Rodney; "but I opine i

s Piper noiselessly

id Sleuth, his voice discreetly lowered, "of

ows. "The great detective is on the job. I

to get it I'll not be balked. Once I take up a cas

a case worthy of your attention?"

sons whose movements are secretive and mysterious deserve to be watch

ted Jack. "We're li

s invitation, "certain fellows have been meeting regu

I suppose, as Osgood happens to be such a popular

tantly. "If you were going to drop round to see Osgood for a little pleasant chat of a Saturday evening would you take pains to pre

be covering up my t

ccasions two or three of these fellows who were on their way to call upon Osgood, and when I asked them where they were going they either lied or begged the q

an; "but I'll allow I don't see what those fellows cou

as thoughtful, fro

atisfied that he had been in the right and that I was a chump to call for the sacrifice. As a matter between us three, there's a feeling of dissension on the team as well as in the school, and I'm sure that Osgood and Shultz are behind it. When I benched Osgood it wouldn't have surprised me in the least if some

you sure hit the nail on the head, Nelson, when you said that he does his work well in the class room and therefore makes a good principal. But

ing that Osgood is the more dangerous man. If there's t

ere was any brewing, I think you nipped it in the bud, captain. I've got to hike home, o

in thinking there's trouble brewing-there's something going on beneath the surface. I'm going to investigate. I'm going to

son. "As far as I'm concerned you have free