ADVENTURES OF THE CHUMS

Taranaki Daily News, 7 September 1935, Page 19 (Supplement)

ADVENTURES OF THE CHUMS

We saw last week how the Professor lost his hat by leaving it in the woods to mark the spot where he considered the bones of a mastodon were buried, and then forgetting where he had left it. Over breakfast the next morning Richard proposed to go and have a look for the missing hat. “We ought to try to help the Professor,” he said. “What do you say?” Gwen, however, did not seem very keen. “Um! Perhaps,” she replied.

Gwen refused to x join the search party for the Professor s hat. With a comfortable seat and a nice book, she decided that she would much prefer to be left out. “You won’t come?” asked Richard. “No!” said Gwen, decidedly. “Very well,” said Richard, “read your silly old book. We shall have all the fun.” . * -

When Richard and Ted reached the wood it was soon evident that there was little chance of finding the Professor’s hat unless they worked on some plan, so they decided to go in different directions, and then work round in a circle until they met again. “Right!” said Ted, “I’ll go this way.” “If one of' us comes across the hat,” said Richard, “don’t forget, give a yell.”

It seemed to'Richard that this was his lucky day, for he had not got very far in his search for the Professor’s hat when he saw a strange dog running along with one in his mouth. It certainly looked very much like the Professor’s. “Hi!” he yelled. " “Where did you get that hat?” But the strange dog had no intention to put the hat down while he replied, so a dull growl was all the answer Richard received.

When Richard realised that the strange dog had no intention of explaining his possession of the hat, he simply took a mouthful of the brim himself. “Gr-r-r, leave go,” growled the strange dog. “I won’t; it’s my hat,” growled Richard, and pulled all the harder. What a mess they made of that hat between them! At the height of the battle Ted came running up.

You may wonder why Richard ran so hard and inquired of Ted if “he” was coming. It is easily explained. The hat was not the Professor’s at all. The strange dog was carrying it for his master. Ted arrived just in time to tell Richard. So after the mess Richard had helped to make of the hat he was rather anxious to get away, and he was not happy until he reached home safely. I am afraid now neither the mastodon’s bones nor the Professor’s hat will ever be found.