True to his promise Mr. Period called the next evening. He
found Tom, Ned and Mr. Swift in the library, talking over various
matters.

"Well, Tom, have you made up your mind?" asked the caller, when
Mrs. Baggert, the housekeeper, had shown him into the room. "I
hope you have, and I hope it is favorable to me."

"Yes," said Tom slowly, "I've thought it all over, and I have
decided that I will--"

At that moment there was a loud shouting outside the house, and
the sound of some one running rapidly through the garden that was
just outside the low library window--a garden now buried deep
under snow.

"What's that?" cried Ned, jumping to his feet.

"That was Koku's voice," replied Tom, "and I guess he was
chasing after some one."

"They'll need help if that giant gets hold of them," spoke Mr.
Period solemnly, while the noise outside increased in volume.




CHAPTER IV - HELD FAST