"Now KEEP your word, Frank, and tell us the news " "Yes, you got us to come to your house tonight under a promise, remember. What wonderful thing has happened to make you look so tickled?" "Talk to me about the Sphinx Frank has the old relic beaten to a frazzle " Three boys gathered eagerly around the fourth as they bombarded him after this fashion. Frank Langdon looked at the faces of his chums and laughed again. "Well, it would be a shame to keep you squirming on the anxious seat any longer, boys, and I'm going to take you into my confidence just as fast as I can. Sit down and hold your oars. Jerry, pull that stool up; Will, the settee must do for you and Bluff. Now, are you ready?" he asked, tantalizingly.