About three o’clock, as they were leaving the field, Dave Duncan came up to them.

“Hi, you fellows,” he sang out in his usual lively fashion, “our crowd is in for a picnic to-night.”

“Is that so?” asked Frank.

“Yes, we’re to meet at the Cove at seven o’clock.”

“A boating party, eh?” inquired Bob.

“No, we call it a clam bake, but, of course, there won’t be many clams. We’ll have a big bonfire, and some of the fellows are going to bring a lunch.”

“Jolly,” said Sammy. “I’ll be there.”

“So will I,” added Bob.

“Count me in, Dave,” said Frank.

He and Bob and Sammy started homewards. They were all thinking of the broken watch.

“I think I’ll go around to the store and tell my uncle about that watch,” said Frank.

“I’ll go, too,” said Sammy.

“I’ve got to go home for a bit,” said Bob. “But I’ll come around to your house in about half an hour.”

“All right.”

Bob went home. His mother at noon had asked him to call some time during the afternoon, to take a note to a lady living some distance from them. Bob got the note and delivered it. Then he started on his way to look for his chums.

As he came to the street where Miss Simmons lived, Bob continued down it.

“It’s only a block out of my way,” he said. “Maybe[42] something new has turned up about those letters. I’m curious to know.”

[42]

Just as Bob got near the Simmons place, he paused and drew back in the shelter of a big oak tree.

“That’s queer,” he could not help saying, and he peered curiously at the gateway of the place. A man was just passing through it.

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