except when aroused, when his energy knew no limit. He was slow
in speech, having the soft Southern drawl with a tendency to slur
his r's, and was a natural leader among his companions, both in
their sports and their studies.

Donald Graeme, sometimes nicknamed Old Solomon, was the son of the
chief engineer of the Creston Paper Mills, and one of a considerable
family of boys and girls. He was of Scotch descent and inherited
many of the characteristics of his ancestry as well as many of their
superstitions. Something of the burr clung to his tongue, and he
was given to the occasional use of a Scotch word or phrase. He had
also the Scotch canniness and never committed himself by a positive
opinion. Although not as quick as Rand, he was more persistent and
usually carried out, to the end, anything that he entered upon.

Jack Blake was the oldest son of Mr. Blake, editor and publisher of
the Crest, the newspaper of the town. Brought up in the newspaper
atmosphere, Jack had early developed a nose for news and was the
best reporter, although unofficial, on the paper. He was always
on the lookout for items and always putting two and two together,
sometimes with most surprising results.

Lastly, Pepper Blake, Jack's younger brother, who was of a quicker,
more nervous, disposition than the others and given to stammering
when excited. Impetuous and quick-tempered, he was always getting
into difficulties, but always finding a way out. Romantic and
imaginative, but with a streak of hard horse-sense beneath.

"Well," observed Rand, when Jack at last rose from his box with a
sigh of satisfaction, "what is the exciting thing you have got to