Part 16 (1/2)

”And, after all, let's hope it won't be quite so bad as all that,” said Rob

They sought the stable It was in the rear of the inn, and a rather decent looking structure in the bargain

”Why, this isn't half bad,” admitted Tubby, as they entered and found that the kind proprietor of the house had hung up a lighted lantern, by means of which it was possible for the boys to see the stack of hay

”It slad to find so to commend when surrounded by such dismal prospects

”And so far as I can see we're the only barn guests,” Tubby announced jubilantly as he started to burrow in the hay

He had hardlyout in a hurry

”There's a great big dog sleeping in there!” he declared excitedly

”What makes you think so?” asked Rob, who could hardly believe it possible

”I tell you he tried to bite ht hand, and on which a tiny speck of blood was visible

”Shucks! you only stuck it on a thorn, that's all!” protested the unbelieving Merritt, ”and I'll prove it by crawling in the same hole”

”Look out, noarned Tubby, anxious, and yet with soerness, for he hoped to have his words proved in a fashi+on even Merritt could not doubt

Immediately there was more or less excite of a setting hen Merritt backed out, laughing

”There's your ferocious bulldog!” he told Tubby; ”but we'll leave old Biddy to her eggs, and try another place Plenty of roouests out of their nests”

After a while theyin, had prowled around a little He told the others that as a true scout he was only taking an inventory of his surroundings, so that if there should happen to coht alarm he at least would knohat to do in order to lead the way out of the barn by a rear exit

”Smart boy, Tubby,” Merritt told him, when he heard him say this; and it always pleased the fat scout to receive a word of praise, possibly because the occasions when he deserved any were few and far between

They lay in the sweet hay, and talked in low tones No one else seemed to be pushed so hard for a place to sleep as to come to the barn, for which all of the churateful

In the course of the conversation, which had e mission abroad, the subject of the precious paper came to the front Perhaps it was Merritt himself who hts, and he see more and more anxious, the nearer they drew to the place where he anticipated finding Steven Meredith

”You've never really told us who thisaround the world with a paper belonging to your grandfather hidden away under the lining of the case containing his field-glasses,” Rob re, sat up and seeain

”That's a fact, Merritt,” he chimed in ”If you don't object, e'd like to be told”

”The fact of the reat deal more than you do, come to think of it Grandfather Crawford coentle you about the way he treated ainst the wishes of his parents, because that you already know It's about the paper, also of Steven Meredith you're curious to hear?”

”Yes, go along, please,” begged Tubby

”The paper is a little scrap, he told me, on which are old mine out in our Southwest country Grandfather has one-half his paper, and the other half is lodged in the cover of that field-glass case--if the etsas though he could not untangle the knot that was presented to him

”Yes, if anybody had told it to ht away he was trying to pull the wool over my eyes with a silly yarn And yet there was Grandfather Crawford just as sober as you ever saw anyone, and vouching for every word of it as true”

”Well, how on earth did the half of the lass case, without Steven Meredith, who carries the sa about it?” asked Rob