The Forest of Mystery

ief Tu

rd. It had apparently been dropped near the museum's truck, perha

, he's a wealthy sportsman. Practically everybody has heard of hi

her agree

dy is more resp

n, huh?" said Joe though

museum, merely as a hobby, I guess. Has a very wide collection of fauna from all

et his specimens

oked puzzled

he naturalist replied. "Goes aft

ul voice. "Then might it not be possible that he will bu

one of the rest of us thought of that now. Yes, it's quite possible for such a thing to happen.

ely," came from Mr. Lewis. "But I refuse t

red one of the leading citizens. But it's possible that the thief could di

do not interfere," Mr. Lewis said. "So I be

he way to his car. He desired to lose no time in calling on Mr. Jordan, who mus

dential section, which was at the very edge of the city. His

rhaps we can another," said Bob. "T

good a chance to see him fir

spacious home in an exclusive residential distr

g aside a moment later for them to go in. Then, afte

had barely taken the chairs offered them

dan?" asked Joe'

es

lost no time in getting to the point. He told of the thef

has been to see you about buying specimens from him. Of course, you probably did not in th

l moments, as if in deep thought

very man who stole

ied Joe im

ce. Perhaps it was the way he acted. At any rate, I didn't trust him. Appeared to be one of these, ah, slick, well-dressed rascals that you see so much of. I told him I desired nothing at present but rare specimens from Afric

e looking for," said Bob. "Possib

f course, though, he might wait till after the news of

on shook

ers," the naturalist said. "Perhaps he will pick today to do it. The sooner he gets t

mens, I mean," Mr. Jordan suggested. "Then, if the t

om his notebook and wrote down the names of each animal inc

the latter said. "If the thief comes,

ton said gratefully. "In doing this you will be

s he noticed the butl

you," the servant announ

ndered for several minutes before speaking. Finally h

, "I think the time is at hand. T

ise and astonishment on t

while you talk to this man," suggested Bob

e were talking about?" asked Mr. Lewis, hes

t he is a collector of wild animals. And

ested-hide in this room and listen in on us. If it happens

e next room and hid near the entrance. There was a curtain separating

mouths when a minute late

whispered Joe, as he noticed tha

h," returned Bob, also k

aid in the next room. They were delighted beyond expression when

. "No doubt you remember me. You told me to let you kn

me?" asked Mr. Jorda

what they are. The rarest of the rare. Mounted

d carried. After a few seconds of nervous f

list of specimens is here. Each is described carefully. All tol

pearing suddenly angered. "Why, there

e attorney broach

he asked casually. "Why, that is o

ated before speaking-"I might

looked up

t you can have them so readily. Of course"-he laughed to re

specimens faltered for a brief

who went on an expedition merely for the pleasure it

hiding like himself. "He got 'em from his 'colle

rinned Joe. "You migh

ining room was the thief. A few descriptions of the specimens, which Mr. Jordan purposely r

ough Bob and Joe, as well as the naturalists, were anxio

an, "what are you asking

a hundred dollar

ly a hundred dollars for what should

t room, Joe had decid

the thief, we are free to do almost anything

ooked at him

s," Joe continued

hing, I'm in it with

out to this man's car. It's

n a street car," s

t there, we'll look inside it and see if we can find anything that

nce. "We'll find something if

e way to get Jordan in here to have him detain the thief as long as

manner found the front door. One glance across the spacious lawn told them that a roadst

f course, this automobile might belong to someone else, but the cha

heir shoulders, the chums w