"Well, I don't know him very well," she said, with a little blush.

"He's worse!" declared Nettie Shay. "I wish you'd take him out
somewhere, boys, and find him a good nature. He's a positive
bear!"

"Oh, come now, not as bad as that!" cried Mr. Piper. "I am glad to
see you boys, though," and really he seemed quite delighted.
"What's on?" he asked. "Are you going with us to California? We're
going to do a series of stunts there, I hear."

"Sorry, but we're not booked to go," said Blake. "I guess it's
Panama and the Canal for us."

Mr. Piper seemed to undergo a quick and curious change. His face,
that had been lighted by a genial smile, became dull and careworn.
His manner lost its joyousness.

"That's too bad!" he exclaimed. "Panama! You're almost sure to be
buried alive under one of the big Culebra slides, and we'll never
see you again!"




CHAPTER VIII


OFF FOR PANAMA