Part 15 (1/2)

Marjorie's eyes encountered those of the guests, and she looked at Allan and Reggie

'Are you going to let theht as well, you know; for they are sure to hear of it before long'

Allan put his hands in his pockets and reflected; then he consulted Reggie with a look, after which he turned to Haht as well tell them,' he said, and the others consented

'Well, Grahaan, to the boys aiting expectantly; 'we are very much bothered about a friend of ours;' and he told theht, while the boys listened ide-openexclamations of interest

'You say that you are quite sure he couldn't have taken the letters?'

asked Harry, drawing hiht position on the heather

'Perfectly certain,' replied Allan 'He would no more have done it than you or I No one who knows hi of Neil'

'Oh!' interposed Tricksy, in a shocked tone, 'I think Dr MacGregor believed it'

Hahtened

'And he's so awfully, awfully jolly,' pursued Harry

'One of the very jolliest people we know,' answered Marjorie 'Father doesn't really believe it of hi for us, and was up to all kinds of inventions We don't seem to have any fun at all without him'

'It's ahimself into a fresh attitude; and both the new boys sat and pondered

'What do you say to letting theie

Marjorie's eyes said yes; and Haave a nod

'What's that; a Coreement that we've all made,' said Allan, 'that we'll back Neil up, and show that he didn't comaht let Gerald join too,' cried Tricksy froht sort, and he only wants to learn a thing or two to be equal to any of us'

Gerald wriggled, and blushed to the roots of his golden hair

'Well, then, you must do all you can to help us,' said Allan, 'and see whether you can find out who really did it'

'All right,' said Harry; 'I'll help you to catch the thief'

'And you reement like the rest of us, and you can each have a copy to carry about with you always, as we do See, this is the principal copy, that I have to take care of'

'You can write it out noith Allan's new fountain pen,' cried Tricksy; 'this flat stone will do for a desk, and I've got so in ht find any new people to join our Coravity soes

'All right,' said Allan, 'this is the agreement; ”We hereby promise never to rest until we show that Neil is innocent and have hiie held the papers down to keep the ahile Allan reenature of Harry, rote his name with much ceremony and handed the pen to Gerald