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Rh on. "I can't bring the fellows in—just yet. And I must tell Ruth not to admit that she has lost her brooch—at least, not yet. I may be able to get it back for her. The idea of Boswell having it—at least, I think it's the same one.

"And then by Jove! If Mendez had the brooch he has the other stuff that was in the jewelry box—the Boxer Hall cups and so on. Tom Parsons, you've stumbled on the solution of the mystery, I do believe. And you've got to work it out alone, for if you tell any of the fellows Ruth's secret will come out. Now, how are you going to do it?"

He pondered on the matter, and the first thing he decided on was that Ruth must be warned not to admit her loss.

"I'll attend to that right away," murmured the lad.

"Why, Tom, is anything the matter?" asked Ruth, when he saw her, a little later, at the Tyler cottage.

"Well, yes, something, but"

"Oh, is Phil hurt? " and she clasped her hands.

"No, nothing like that. What made you think something was up, Ruth?"

"Because your face told me. What is it?"

"Well, if I were you, I wouldn't tell—just yet—that you haven't your brooch."

"Oh, Tom! Do you mean you think you can get it back?"