“I thought he was afraid to stay out alone nights,” observed Stumpy.
“There’s something strange about it,” went on Lem. “Tom Jasper, who lives next door, told me he saw a strange man talking to Sandy in the back yard one day. The next day Sandy arranged to go camping.”
“What sort of a looking man was he?” asked Bart.
“All I remember is that he had a very black moustache.”
The three chums looked at one another. The same thought was in the mind of each, that the man might be the one who had called himself King of Paprica.
“I’d like to go camping myself.” Lem went on. “What you fellows going to do this vacation?”
“Haven’t made up our minds yet,” replied Ned. “We’ll have some fun, though.”
“Where’s Frank?” inquired Lem. “Seems funny not to see the four of you together.”
“He’ll be along pretty soon,” said Bart. “We were up to the swimming hole, and he had some business to attend to, so he came back ahead of us.”