"Well, Toney, I thought that I knew something, but you are a long way ahead of me, my boy, in useful knowledge. Let me see." And he looked over his notes. "The Mystic Order of Seven Sweethearts. An order founded on principles of benevolence. Its object the welfare of women. To prevent marriages. Single women much happier than those who are married. A grand idea of M. T. Pate. Toney, this organization must flourish. It will soon get far ahead of the Order of Seven Wise Men. But it must have leaders. Who are its officers?"
"I have a list of them here," said Toney, drawing a paper from his pocket-book.
"What is this?" said the Professor, taking the paper in his hand and glancing over it. It read as follows:
M. O. O. S. S. N. G. G. . . . . . . M. T. Pate. M. W. D. . . . . . . Wm. Wiggins. P. O. P. F. . . . . . Edward Botts. G. G. G. . . . . . . Samuel Perch. D. A. . . . . . . . Lucius Love. N. N. . . . . . . . Altamont Dove. W. W. . . . . . . . Marmaduke Bliss.
"What do those letters signify?" said the Professor.
"I have been puzzling my held over them for a long while," said Toney. "Suppose you and Tom Seddon now aid me in deciphering them."
"N. G. G.," said the Professor. "What does that mean?"
"Good!" said Toney. "Tom, you are an Oedipus!"
"M. T. Pate is the Noble Grand Gander of the organization," said the Professor, making an entry in his book. "M. W. D. What does that signify?"
"Hurrah!" said Toney,--"that's it, I am certain. Tom, you should open a guessing school,--you would make your fortune."
"P. O. P. F.," said the Professor. "What's that?"
"Botts?" said the Professor. "Is he the handsome man who was chasing the negroes?"
"Prince Of Pretty Fellows," suggested the Professor.
"Perch is the Great Green Gosling," said the Professor, making an entry in his book. "And now for Love. What is the signification of D. A.?"
"Dainty Adorer," said Toney; and the Professor made a note, and then inquired the meaning of N. N.
"That completes the list," said the Professor, looking over his note-book and making another entry.
"Bliss is the Winsome Wooer. Toney, how did you procure this curious document?"
"It came into my possession under very extraordinary circumstances," said Toney. "Would you like to hear the story?"