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 skunk; besides there was no skunk smell. Then Bud pulled out the spindle at the back of the trap and kneeling down peeked into the trap. To his great surprise and joy he was looking straight into the yellow eyes of a fox, and judging from his size it was the Phantom Fox. Yes, he had caught the sly old chap, but it was not because of any cleverness on his part. It was the fox charm that had done the trick.

Bud started slowly down the mountain with the trap on his shoulder. If the trap had been heavy when he brought it up, it was doubly heavy now, but Bud took his time. In fact, he did not want to appear in the valley carrying the box trap on his shoulder until after dark. He was afraid some one would see him and want to know what he had caught. The capture of the Phantom Fox was to be his secret. He would tell Kitty, but no one else must ever know. It would add even more to the mystery surrounding the celebrated fox if he simply "faded" from sight.

Bud made the trip home without encoun-