"That's who it is, all right," agreed his brother, after a glance. "And he's fishing, too." Lester was standing on the bank of the pool, a fishing rod in his hand. But he did not seem to be very enthusiastic about the sport, for there was little eagerness in his expression as he eyed the motionless float on top of the water. Frank and Joe came slowly down the bank toward him, and he looked up at their approach. He recognized them immediately and a smile came over his face. "Hello!" he said shyly. "Hello, Lester," they greeted him. "Any luck?" "None yet," admitted the lad. "I don't care for fishing, anyway." "There's supposed to be plenty of fish in this pool," Frank told him. Lester shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose so. I've caught quite a few. But when you haven't anything to do but fish all day long you don't care for it so much." "Is that all you do?" asked Joe. "That's all. It's mighty lonesome living at this old mill all the time." "Why don't you go down to the city once in a while?" "Uncle Dock won't let me." The boy was evidently lonely and glad to see them. He sat down on the bank and forgot his fishing in his delight at being able to talk to boys of his own age. "Do you go to school?" he asked wistfully. The Hardy boys nodded. "Every day?" "Every day but Saturdays and Sundays." "I wish I could go to school. You fellows are lucky." Joe and Frank looked at one another. This was the first time they had ever met any one who considered that they were fortunate in being able to go to school. "I suppose we are," admitted Frank, with a smile. "Although sometimes we don't think so." "Are there lots of other fellows at the school?" "Quite a few." Lester sighed. "Gee, I wish I could go," he said. "But Uncle Dock won't let me go anywhere." "Where did you come from?" asked Frank. "Washington. But even there I didn't know any of the boys. Uncle Dock keeps me with him all the time. But he says we'll be rich some day and then I can have all the friends I want." "What does your uncle do for a living?" inquired Joe. "Why, he runs the mill," answered the boy, evidently surprised by the question. "But what does he make? Breakfast food?" "I don't know. I don't know much about it. Uncle Dock never tells me anything." "Did he move any new machinery into the mill?" asked Frank. "Oh, when we first came here there was a lot of new machinery put in. It's all in a back room." "What does it look like?" Joe inquired lazily. "I've never seen it. It's in a stone room, and they keep the door locked all the time. Uncle Dock boxed my ears once when he saw me near the door." "Have you ever seen any of the breakfast food?" The boy shook his head. "I've never seen any yet." "Do they ship it all out?" Lester hesitated. "Once in a while Mr. Markel goes into the city with some packages. But they're never very large." "Is Mr. Markel related to you?" "No. I never saw the other two men before Uncle Dock brought me here."