throngs were mainly given.

But no one cared much what Buck Lemington thought. Surely Fred Fenton
was of a mind that the Lemingtons, father and son, were soon to be
routed, horse, foot and artillery, when the long missing Hiram
Masterson returned, as he had promised to do in that letter from far
away Hong Kong, and tell all that he knew about the scheme of those in
the syndicate to cheat Mr. Fenton out of his just rights.

And Bristles, too, was a happy fellow those days. He had known what it
was to taste of the bitterness of having unfounded suspicion cast upon
him. The pleasure of feeling that his name was fully cleared made him
secretly resolve that if he knew it, his mother would never have to
experience the sorrow that was evidently in store for Gabe Larkins'
parent, unless that tricky boy changed his ways.

Nor was Bristles apt to forget that he owed most of his present
condition of satisfaction to the earnest efforts of his good chum, Fred
Fenton. Who but Fred would have taken it upon himself to interview Miss
Muster, and get acquainted with the facts in the case? And who but he
could have guessed the identity of the guilty party; which he later on
proved so wonderfully well, in the presence of the old maid who had met
with the loss of her precious jewels?

Bristles never told what a siege of suspense he had passed through. And
if there were any curious ones among his mates, who took it upon
themselves to wonder why their usually lively, wide-awake comrade
moped, as he had done for a time, they had to take it out in guessing.

Fred did have one very pleasant little surprise sprung upon him, and
which made him feel more drawn to the old maid than ever.

On the very night of the boat race, when the atmosphere of all
Riverport was vibrating with parading crowds, and bonfires were already
springing up, to celebrate the great victory of the young oarsmen,
Fred, returning home about supper time, found a little packet beside
his plate.

It had not come by mail, and undoubtedly his mother knew something
about who sent or brought it; for there was a glow in her eyes as she
watched him handle it, with a questioning look in his own.

"Suppose you open it, Fred, instead of trying to guess," proposed his
sister Kate.

"Well," he replied, laughingly, "that does seem like a sensible thing
for you to say, Kate. Perhaps I am a little dazed or rattled; who
wouldn't be after taking part in such a grand race as that? You