some time amused themselves in guessing its nature. When he took off the
paper it stood revealed as a lantern, ready for lighting.

"Show us the way inside, Bluff. Then we'll have a little light on the
subject," remarked the leader, with a last anxious searching look around;
as though he still entertained suspicions that their march to the old
barn might have been observed by some of the hostile Slavin crowd.

Ted Slavin had long been known as the bully of Stanhope; for it seems
that there never yet existed a village or town without some big chap
exercising that privilege. He was a fighter, too, and able to hold his
own against the best. Besides, Ted had shown some of the qualities that
indicate a natural leader; though he held the allegiance of those who
trailed after him mostly through fear, rather than any respect for his
manly qualities.

His leading crony for the past year had been Ward Kenwood, son of the
wealthy banker who was also a leading real estate owner in the place.
Once upon a time Ward would have scorned the thought of associating with
Slavin and his crowd; but an occasion had arisen whereby he had need of
a strong arm to even up a score, and once he found himself indebted to
Ted he kept on in the bully's company.

His rivalry in many fields with Paul had much to do with his throwing his
fortunes in with the other fellows. And nothing pleased him more than to
be able to upset any calculations the latter entertained. That explained
why Paul was anxious to avoid a meeting with the Slavin crowd on this
particular night, when he was brimming over with a great idea.

Once the boys had entered the barn, Bluff secured the door, after which