Mr. Conne tilted his cigar up in the corner of his mouth and looked at Skippy quizzically. "Now I might consider that job, kid," he said, half smiling, "if you'll promise to keep that smudge off your face when you come into my office. I notice it's dirty--and so early in the morning!" "Aw, that's mud from yesterday--we put it on for the mosquitoes! Anyway, will you do one thing more, huh, Mr. Conne?" "What?" "Nickie's promised to be awful good so will you go his probation 'cause any judge would do that for a feller if _you_ went his probation--gee whiz!" "I think the answer to that will be _yes_, kid. But suppose we get away from here now, eh? It's getting a little too hot even for me. I haven't had my breakfast and I suppose you kids haven't either. We'll stop at a nice lunch-wagon I noticed down on the highway and we'll have fried eggs and...." "Gee whiz, Mr. Conne!" Skippy interrupted. "If you're gonna say we'll have bacon, please don't say it!" "No? Why not?" Carlton Conne had started the car and was waiting, expectantly. "I thought all kids loved bacon." "Sure, we did," Skippy answered. "Nickie an' me loved it like you say, but not now. Let's go an' eat, huh?" "Yeah," Nickie said eagerly, "let's scram. Sometime we'll tell about that bacon, Mr. Conne." Skippy nodded, took a long, last look at the burning house and turned to Mr. Conne. "It's a sad story." "What is?" the detective asked. "The bacon," Skippy answered simply. THE END ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HAL KEEN MYSTERY STORIES By HUGH LLOYD Boys! Meet Hal Keen, that lanky, nonchalant, red-headed youth whose guiding star is the star that points to adventure, excitement and mystery. Follow him in his hunts for clues and criminals. There are plenty of thrills and shivers in these stories to keep you on your toes. THE SMUGGLER'S SECRET Hal Keen sets out to get to the bottom of a mystery that threatens the safety of a whole community. THE MYSTERIOUS ARAB Mystery, excitement, murder in a scientist's camp in the jungles of Africa, where hate, revenge, and suspicion lead to tragedy. THE HERMIT OF GORDON'S CREEK The disappearance of two airmail pilots leads to a mystery that centers about an abandoned mine and a strange old man. KIDNAPPED IN THE JUNGLE A hint of buried treasure in the ruins of an old French mission leads Hal deep into the Central American jungle. THE COPPERHEAD TRAIL MYSTERY Baffling and blood-curdling events center about the ranch where Hal Keen and his friends had gone in search of gold. THE LONESOME SWAMP MYSTERY The lonely and mysterious swamp gave up its secret only after a series of terrifying events taxed Hal's courage and ability. THE CLUE AT SKELETON ROCKS