It was our leader’s scheme for two of us to go [[184]]with the soap man while the other pair tore up the puzzle room floor. It would be exciting to find the murdered man’s hidden fortune. And, of course, we all wanted to stay in town. So, to be fair, we drew cuts. In this way it was decided that Tom and I were to go into the country while Scoop and Peg went to the mill. I was disappointed, but I didn’t say anything. For a fellow can’t expect to have things his own way all the time.
But I soon lost my depression. For on the way to school I got a sudden idea. I told the other fellows about it. If we could work it, it was very probable that Tom and I could get back to town in time to help with the treasure hunting, leaving the soap man in the country.
By running, I had time, before the last bell rang, to go to Dad’s brickyard office. He wasn’t there. But I told his stenographer to ask him for me to take my bicycle along with him in the auto when he drove to the east clay pit that afternoon, leaving the wheel at the Crandon farm. I was intending to go to the Crandon farm in a buggy, I explained to Miss Tubbs, and wanted the bicycle to ride home on. She promised to deliver my message. I have a fine pa. We do things for each other. I knew I could depend on him. [[185]]
When I was passing into the school room that noon, Bid Stricker stopped me.
“Did you know,” he grinned, “that William S. Hart is trying to get Miss Prindle to break her contract with Douglas Fairbanks and sign up with him?”
“Chase yourself,” I scowled.
“Honest. He was in town this morning.”
“And I heard,” Jimmy Stricker spoke up, poking his nose into the conversation, “that Tom Mix is due in town to-morrow.”
Bid sort of rolled his eyes at the ceiling.
“Isn’t it wonderful,” he sighed, “what a little soap will do?”