“Hello, fellows! What’s up now?” asked a new voice. “Talking secrets that you don’t want me to hear?”
The four boys, gathered under the willow tree, looked up quickly. Looks of welcome accompanied by smiles greeted the newcomer.
“Hello, Joe!” shouted Charlie Ford.
“Say, you’re looking good!” added Tom.
“I’m feeling good,” was the response. “What’s up?”
“Oh, we’re just talking about the show last night. You were there, weren’t you?”
“Yes, I saw the great Professor Alonzo Rosello give his world-mystifying exhibition of black and allied arts,” and Joe smiled as he quoted from the circulars that had been scattered broadcast over the town of Bedford, advertising the exhibition given in the Opera House the previous evening.
“What did you think of him?” asked Henry Blake.
“Why, he was pretty fair in some things,” said Joe, slowly.
“Pretty fair? Why, say! he was great!” cried Tom Simpson. “I’d like to see you do even the simplest trick that he did!”