Pep burst in upon his friends filled to the brim with excitement. His impetuous nature anticipated a great welcome as he felt that he had done a big thing. As he crossed the threshold of the living room he found that his friends had apparently just returned from the scene of the fire. Frank and Randy were at the sink washing the grime from their faces. As Pep learned later, they and Jolly and Vincent had been busy saving what goods they could from the burning building. Jolly was brushing the cinders from his coat with a whisk broom. Vincent was applying some court plaster to a burn on the back of his hand. “There!” exclaimed Pep, planking the package down upon the table with a flourish. “It’s been some trouble, but I got it.” “Hello, Pep,” said Jolly. “Got what, may I ask?” Pep felt rather hurt at the cool way in which his return was greeted. He did not realize that his friends were in ignorance of the burglarious event of the hour, and his own sensational experiences. He had just been missed and all hands supposed that he was lingering at the scene of the fire. “Why, the box, of course,” almost snapped Pep. “What box?” questioned Randy. Pep gave the wetted pillow case a jerk, freeing it of its enclosure, and the little cash box was disclosed. “That box, of course,” he announced. “What’s the matter with you fellows? I guess you’ve been asleep while people have been stealing from you!” Frank advanced to the table, curiosity dawning in his expression as he recognized the box. “I don’t quite understand,” he remarked. “Don’t?” resented Pep. “Well, you ought to. Look at that,” and he exhibited the bump on his head, received when one of the robbers had knocked him across the room and against the wall. “And that, too,” and Pep held up his chin so the red marks on his throat showed. “Then, too,” he continued, “half an hour ducking and diving in the cold waters of a creek at midnight is no grand fun, I can tell you!” “Why, it looks as if our Pep has been up to something,” observed Jolly, coming to the table. “I’ve been down in front of the seat of an automobile and half choked to death,” replied Pep tartly. “I say, Frank, it was a good thing that I didn’t run off and leave the place unprotected, as you fellows did when that fire broke out. Open the box and see if everything is all right.” The appearance of the box and Pep’s story made Frank and the others grasp that he was discussing something of importance not yet fully explained. “You had better commence at the beginning all over again, Pep,” Frank advised, “and let us know the whole story.” It did not take Pep long to recite his recent adventures. He had an interested audience. Frank drew the key of the tin box from his pocket when Pep had concluded his story. He applied it to the lock.