Page:Ned Wilding's Disappearance.djvu/23

Rh "Reminds you of what?" asked Ned. "There you go again, beginning a thing and not finishing it."

"I guess I'll not say it. Doesn't make any difference," and Frank turned aside and gazed out of the window.

Bart and Ned looked at each other. It was a peculiarity of Frank's to begin to say something, and then seem to recollect a matter that made him change his mind. But his chums were now used to his strangeness.

"Where'd you get that gun, Bart?" asked Fenn as he came in with the cake.

"Saw it advertised in a catalog, and sent to New York for it."

"How much?"

"Eighteen dollars. It was the first money I used of the thousand I got from the "King of Paprica"—for such was the assumed name of the principal man in the mystery the boys had cleared up.

"From New York, eh?" spoke Ned. "That reminds me I have an invitation to visit my uncle and aunt there."

"That's so. You asked us to come and see you," added Bart. "Wish we could go around Christmas time."