“Such was my first idea, of course,” replied the professor, “but I make it an invariable rule to investigate all these newspaper stories. Nine-tenths of them, of course, turn out to be fakes, but as it happens in this case that this fellow Izard is in our employ and we know him to be a most faithful man and entirely a sober person, I felt all the more interest in the matter, so I at once wrote him and received this reply.” Here the professor unfolded the letter and read as follows: CHEYENNE, Wyo., March 10. DEAR SIR:--That story about the monster is true i swar it is as I hope for hiven i didn’t rite it to you bekos i tought you wood think me line but its true jest the same and if you don’t believe me ask Doc Dan who will tell you that we seen it up to the lake say jest fer satisfaction i am goin’ to take my oath before a notary publick the thing was there i never seen nothing like it in all my life you couldn’t ketch it and there would be no use trying don’t believe a yoke of steers could drag the carcass down to Node Ranch even if you could get the steers up the mountain which you couldn’t. Mebbe it would pay you to send a feller out to get a snap shot at it. Yrs trooly, IKE IZARD. P. S.--You can bet your bottom dollar it’s no lye. IKE. Accompanying the letter was the affidavit duly signed before a notary public. There was also one from Doctor Dan, who Professor Poynter explained was an Indian guide, who usually accompanied Ike Izard on his expeditions after fossil bones. “There,” said Professor Poynter. “There’s the story, Dick. It is extremely unlikely that it is true, but still it may be, and we have determined to send you out to the Bad Lands of Wyoming to investigate. When will you be ready to start?” “To-morrow morning,” replied Dick, promptly, “but let me ask one question, have the fossil remains of the P. Dolichodeirus been found in that part of the Bad Lands?” “Many times, my boy.” “Then it is possible that one or two specimens may have survived?” “Just possible, but no more. As you are well aware, this creature belongs to an entirely different period of the earth’s history from the one in which we are at present living. On the other hand, it is a fact that the lakes of eastern Wyoming are the remains of an old prehistoric sea which once covered all this section. The Great Salt Lake is another remnant of it and there are others still. The chances of the story being true, however, are exceedingly remote.” “It would be an immense discovery if it was, sir.”