perhaps I'll have some; news that'll surprise you.
Now let's talk about the race that's going to be pulled off pretty
soon. Have you had a line about what Mechanicsburg's doing?"

In this way, then, he closed his chum's mouth. Bristles was puzzled to
account for the actions of his friend; but at the same time he had so
much confidence in Fred Fenton that he accepted his explanation, and
even began to take on a more cheerful appearance.

That afternoon the boys had the benefit of a coach; for Corney's
father, the old college grad. and oarsman, gave them an hour of his
time. He corrected numerous little faults that, as amateurs, they had
naturally fallen into, and when finally Brad took his crew for a
three-mile working-out spin, he was tremendously pleased at hearing the
compliments bestowed upon them by Mr. Shays.

"You are doing finely, boys," declared the coach, in a tone as though
he meant all he said. "The improvement in your style of rowing is
decidedly worth seconds to you; and they count big in a race, you know.
I shall come out again the next time you want me, and show you some
more little faults in the way you recover after giving the stroke. I
can save several of you more or less unnecessary exertion, which in
turn means a concentration of energy for the final spurt that
accompanies every boat race."

The boys thoroughly enjoyed having so pleasant a coach, and went home
that evening convinced that their chances for victory in the coming
struggle had been increased fully twenty per cent.

"Don't forget your promise, Fred," said Bristles, rather pathetically,
as he parted from his chum where their ways separated.

"Depend on it, I just won't, Bristles," answered the other, positively.

It seemed a very long time until eleven o'clock the next morning; and
Fred kept around the house, for he did not want to run upon Bristles,
and have the other look at him in that eager way.

When he reached the place appointed for the meeting with Miss Muster he
found her there, a heavy veil hiding her face. Together they made their
way along the path that Gabe was accustomed to take as a short cut
home.

"Do you think he took another of the opals, ma'am?" Fred asked, as
they drew near the big hollow oak.

"I really had not the heart to look," she replied. "I gave him all the
opportunity he could ask; and when he talked with me later on, I
thought the boy looked confused; but I felt so sorry to think he had a
mother wh