of honest admiration showing in his eyes. "I only hope you'll stand by
me as well, in case I ever get into any trouble, that's all."

"I'd stand by you to the last ditch, and then some," Hugh told him,
with an affectionate smile; "for we're chums, and what's the use of
having a pal unless he '11 go through thick and thin for you. But I'm
a little surprised about one thing, Thad."

"Do you mean about my actions in that house, Hugh?"

"I should have thought you'd been quick to say something about the
spoon, so as to draw the old gentleman out," continued the other.

"Oh! I didn't dare do such a thing as that, Hugh. It would have been
pretty bold in me, you know."

"There might be ways to do it without seeming rude, Thad. For
instance, what was to hinder you from picking it up and expressing your
admiration for such a thing. Then by using your eyes, you could have
told whether Mr. Dugdale was surprised at seeing the spoon there, or
not. His actions more than anything he might say would have given you
a pointer, don't you see?"

"Yes, I can understand that all right, now you've mentioned it, Hugh,"
chuckled the other. "It's so easy to grip a thing after some one has
shown you how. Remember those envious Spanish courtiers who tried to
take Columbus down a peg by saying it was a simple thing to discover
America, since all you had to do was to set sail, and heading into the
west keep going on till you bumped up against the islands that at that
time they thought were the East Indies. Then, you remember, Columbus