Calling to the boys, he directed them to bring up the marines and station them around the house.
"I want to know that I'll not be disturbed," he said.
"Found somethin'?" asked Jimmie.
"Look at the books," Ned replied.
Jimmie read half a dozen titles and cast the volumes aside.
"They don't look good to me," he said. "All about international law and treaties!"
"Exactly!" Ned said, and then Jimmie opened his eyes.
"I'll bet there's been some of them statesmen livin' here!" the little fellow almost whispered. "Say, do you think you have run 'em down at last?"
"I don't know, son," was the reply. "Look on that table and see what you discover."
"Bits of torn paper an' some red wax."