Part 24 (1/2)

But one little hint may be given now, which perhaps throws some light upon his future history. Some months after this momentous night Mrs.

Silas Archer, whose husband had a farm with a big apple orchard in the vicinity of Temple Camp, received a small box containing a little piece of junk and a letter in a sprawling hand. And this is what the letter said:

Dear Old Mudgie:

”Wish I was home to get in the fall russets. They don't have any decent apples over here at all. Stand this piece of wire on the whatnot in the sitting room and show it to the minister when he comes. It's part of a German barbed wire fence. I kept it for a souvenir when I escaped from Slops prison. You won't find that name on the map, but n.o.body can p.r.o.nounce the real name. You don't say it--you have to sneeze it. I had a bully time in the prison camp and met a feller that used to go to Temple Camp. We escaped together.

”Send your letters to the War Department for we're with Pers.h.i.+ng's boys now and they'll be forwarded. Can't tell you much on account of the censor. But don't worry, I'll be home for next Christmas.

Give my love to dad. And don't use all the sour apples when you're making cider.

”Down with the Kaiser! Lots of love.

”ARCHIE.”

THIS ISN'T ALL!

Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have made in this book?

Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures and experiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the same author?

On the _reverse side_ of the wrapper which comes with this book, you will find a wonderful list of stories which you can buy at the same store where you got this book.

_Don't throw away the Wrapper_

_Use it as a handy catalog of the books you want some day to have. But in case you do mislay it, write to the Publishers for a complete catalog._

THE TOM SLADE BOOKS

By PERCY KEESE FITZHUGH Author of ”Roy Blakeley,” ”Pee-wee Harris,” ”Westy Martin,” Etc.

Ill.u.s.trated. Individual Picture Wrappers in Colors. Every Volume Complete in Itself.

”Let your boy grow up with Tom Slade,” is a suggestion which thousands of parents have followed during the past, with the result that the TOM SLADE BOOKS are the most popular boys' books published today. They take Tom Slade through a series of typical boy adventures through his tenderfoot days as a scout, through his gallant days as an American doughboy in France, back to his old patrol and the old camp ground at Black Lake, and so on.