in the woods on the north branch of the River.

Just before he unloaded the boards and planks back by the barn, the
Toyman picked out a few of the finest and carried them into his shop.
That did look mysterious and suspicious--very pleasantly suspicious.

"I'll bet that's for us," declared Marmaduke.

"You just bet it is!" said his brother.

So each day for almost a week, they lingered around the shop, after
school was out. But the Toyman never appeared until long after five.
He had his cornhusking to do, and he wanted to get all the fall jobs
finished before cold weather.

One week went by, then another. It was very provoking, thought the
boys, to have to wait so long for that secret.

Jehosophat did try once to find out about it. He stopped the Toyman as
he was coming from the barn with a pail full of bubbly milk.

"Say, Toyman, what are those boards for?"

"What boards?" asked the Toyman--just as if he didn't know.

"Those boards you put in your workshop," both the boys answered
together. It sounded like some chorus they had learned for
Commencement.

"Ho ho!" laughed the Toyman, "ask me no questions and I'll tell you no