“For the simple reason that Uncle Elk has bound him to secrecy. No; what we find out must be done without the help of either.”
“And we’ll doot!” exclaimed Mike, “or we’ll break a trace trying.”
“How shall we go about it?” asked Alvin. “Whatever we do must be done without either of them, especially Uncle Elk, knowing it.”
“And there’s the rub.”
Bring three bright-witted boys together and let them concentrate their mental energies upon the solution of a problem, and even if they don’t succeed, they are sure to evolve something worth while.
“It is useless to apply to Mr. Hall,” said Alvin, “for nothing could induce him to violate the confidence of another. But Uncle Elk holds the master key and can speak when he chooses.”
“Which the same is the rule with most folks,” commented Mike.
“Now, see here,” put in Chester; “he has shown a fondness for you——”
“Can ye name any one of me acquaintances that hasn’t?” interrupted the wag.
“Why can’t you set to work and coax it out of him?”