rtled the boys and piqued their curiosity. The

and felt for something. That he had found it was evident

pocketbook in your tumble

f you said reminded me of some valuable papers that I had stowed away and

ong even teeth, "and this is about the first chance I've had to tell you what my name is and where I hail from.

e introduction and gave

anch of the service that has always appealed to me more than any othe

f the world that I haven't been in at some time or other. I've seen all sorts of people and been mixed up in all kinds of adventures. There's plenty of hard work, but take it

great work in the war.

t then all our American boys did well in every branch of the service. Since the war things haven't been quite so lively with the marines, though we haven't had much chance to get rusty dow

at after a little vacation I suppos

unconsciously his hand agai

adventure, and adventure is the breath of life to me. But just at present I'm planning an adventure on my own

well for the benefit of those who have not read the preceding volumes of this series to tell m

e. He was now in his nineteenth year, stalwart, six feet tall and as straight as an arrow, He was of fair complexion, brown-haired, and had merry blue eyes that could gleam with laughter or grow hard and cold as steel at anything

they had been the closest of chums. Dick was impulsive and oftener needed the brake than the spur. He had less initiative than Phil, but could always be

assert and maintain. He was of a different type physically from the others, being rotund and stocky, while they wer

hen they got together. Steve was freckle-faced and red-headed, and had the hair-trigger temper that often goes with that combination. Like Kipling's Fuzzy-Wuzzy, he was full of "'ot sand and ginger

nowledge of its countless marvels, and they had become expert in both receiving and sending. So absorbed did they become that they had gained the name of the "Radio Boys," and soon it became a matter of course for Castleton

e hazardous work of the Secret Service; how their work led them into the Everglades of Florida, where they encountered danger from beasts and reptiles and still more deadly criminals; how often they came with

ion with the Texas Rangers, who were patrolling the troubled Mexican border. The opportunity for more adventure, combined with the chance that they might get on the trail of the robber leader, proved too strong an allurement to be resisted, and they were soon in the thick of the fighting with guerillas along the Rio Grande. How narrowly they escaped death on the la

ho had declared that adventure was the breath of life to him. To all of them had come the impression that this was more than a chance meeting, and that in some way yet t

f. Then caution seemed to gain the upper hand, and he look

groggy just now to tell you clearly just what I have in my mind.

get to town, have a doctor look you over and then settle down for a good night's rest. Then tomorrow perhaps we

is feet. "In fact, I think Castleton will be the end of my presen

estioning and busied themselves with harnessing up the horse, whic

s arranged that Phil should drive with Benton to

sician in. He gave Benton a thorough examination and found that, outside of bruises and a general sha

ing a little shy about his "bunged-up condition," as he expressed it, but promised to come up to Phil's house the following night.

g in with the string of fish that, in the pressure

ey plunged at once into a discussion o

n front of Phil's home before separating from his comrades

horse as an old pirate. Nothing particular in that. But