Harper's Round Table, June 30, 1896

Copyright, 1896, by Harper & Brothers. All Rights Reserved.

The only way to prove whether this story is true or not is to find the Professor (who could tell you all about it) and the Quartermaster (who claims to have been an eyewitness), and ask them; or to believe the tale that Billy Schreiber, Jun., and his cousin, Gibson Peters, II., tell, without any proof at all. But the two young gentlemen say they really and truly had this adventure, and that it honestly happened on the Fourth of July.
The Professor had rented the old Hope farm because it was the loneliest place on Long Island; and although he had lots of business on hand, for some reason he did not wish to be caught working at it. Perhaps he was bashful, and did not wish anybody to see him in his shirt sleeves. At all events, he took great precautions.
Now the way that Billy Schreiber and Gibb Peters found out that the Hope farm (it had been deserted for years) was rented was this: They went over there one day, and saw from Trotters Hill that the Hope barn had been reshingled, that the house was evidently occupied, and some men were at work building a road through the apple orchard. It was quite half a mile away, but they could make all this out very plainly.
What's going on? said Gibb to Bill.
Something on the Q. T., was the answer, or father would have known about it, you can be sure of that!
Mr. Schreiber senior was the station agent at the only railroad that came to that part of the country, and he knew the why and wherefore of every parcel that came into the village of Centreport. The boys looked off to the right, and saw piles of new lumber and boxes stored near the barn-yard, and crawling along the lower road a heavy-laden team that kicked up no small amount of dust.
Those things never came by rail, said Gibb.
Perhaps they brought them in from the south shore by boat, answered Billy, wisely. 'Tain't more 'an fifteen miles.
Well, the easiest way to settle it, said Billy, is to go in and ask them what they're doing.