ed
the summons of the distracted wife.

As a result of the lawyer's visit the reward of a thousand dollars
had been offered.

The house was quiet again. Dr. Bentley, having been called for
the third time, had administered an opiate, and Mrs. Dodge was
sleeping. The other members of the family tip-toed restlessly
about.

Bert Dodge felt in a peculiarly "mean" frame of mind that morning.
The young man simply could not remain in one spot. The more
he had thought, through and through the night, the more he had
become convinced that his father had killed himself because of
some entanglement in the bank's affairs.

"And I'll be pointed out as the defaulter's son," thought Bert
bitterly. "Oh, why couldn't the guv'nor think of some one besides
himself! We'll have to move away from Gridley, of course. But
the disgrace will follow us anywhere we may go. Oh, it's
awful---awful! Of course, I'm not in any way to blame. But, oh!
What a disgrace!"

It was well along in the forenoon when Bayliss, returning homeward
in sweater and running togs, espied Bert's white, wan face near
the front door. Bayliss signaled cordially to young Dodge, who,
glad of this kindliness at such a time, went down the walk to
the gate.

"No news of your father yet, I suppose?" asked Bayliss.

"No," sighed Bert.

"Too bad, old fellow!"

"Yes; the uncertainty is pretty tough on us all," Dodge replied.

"Oh, you'll hear before the day is out, and the news will be all
right, too," declared Bayliss, with well-meant cheeriness. "Then
you'll be with us on the morning cross-countries again. We missed
you a whole lot this morning, Bert."

"Did you?" asked young Dodge, brightening.

"Yes; and, by the way, we've decided on our course---for our set, you
know. We're going to ignore the football call next week. If Coach
Morton asks us any questions, then we'll let him know how the
land lies. We won't try to make the High School team if the muckers
are allowed the same show. We'll have a select crowd on the eleven,
this year, or else all of our set will stay off."

"The muckers have some good football men among them, too," grumbled
Bert. "Of course for that gang that call themselves Dick & Co
we can't any more than make guesses. But some of them would be
handy on an eleven I guess."

"Yes; if they were not muckers," agreed Bayliss loftily. "But
there are enough of our own kind to make as good an eleven as
Gridley High School ever ha