not usually so reticent, and his chum noticed it.

"There isn't much to tell," was the response. "I went to the old house,
and I was looking around when I happened to tumble down stairs. I must
have been knocked unconscious, but when I came to I crawled outside. A
farmer was driving past, and I asked him to take me to a hospital."

"Why didn't you come home?" asked Mr. Henderson.

"Oh, I didn't want to make any trouble and delay work on the
projectile. I figured that I could be with you in a few hours, and you
wouldn't worry. But they insisted that I must stay in the hospital when
they got me there. Then I lost consciousness again, and couldn't manage
to let you know where I was. But I'm all right now."

"Why didn't you wait for me at the barn, when I went to send the
telegram, as you promised you would?" asked Jack, who felt a little
hurt at his chum's neglect.

"Did I promise to wait for you at some barn?"

"Yes; don't you remember?" and Jack gazed at the bandaged figure in
surprise.

"Oh, yes--I--I guess I do. But I want to go to bed now," and pulling
the cloths closer about his face the injured one started from the
apartment.

"Here. That's not the way up to your room. The stairs are over here,"
called Jack, for he saw the newcomer taking the wrong direction.