Prescott answered truthfully.

"Oh, well, it doesn't matter, at any rate," the lawyer assured them.
"The whole camp is worth nothing in these days, and the shack was the
least valuable part of all. If it's burned down, then it's gone. Mrs.
Dexter wouldn't want any of you boys made uncomfortable over the affair
for a moment, so you needn't tell me another word about it. But the
cabin is still standing, and you may want to use it again. As Mrs.
Dexter's attorney and agent, I offer you the use of it at any time when
you please. You needn't even come to ask my permission. The use of the
cabin belongs solely to you boys, and it's yours at any time without
asking."

Dick & Co. took their leave promptly, and Fred escaped, for the time
being, an investigation by his stern father.

"I hear that word is going around to the wealthy people in town to look
out for Mr. Fits to-night," remarked Tom, as the trio of Grammar School
boys returned to the street.

"That lets our families out," laughed Dick.

"Are you so very sure of that?" Dave inquired. "Fits might pay one of
our homes a visit by way of revenge--yours, for instance, Dick."

"I don't believe he'll do it, just for revenge," Prescott replied, with
a shake of his head. "Fits is probably superstitious, and he has most
likely come to the conclusion that he runs to bad luck in pursuing our
crowd. All of his ill luck, and that of his confederates, now in jail,
has come through bothering us."

"Don't be too sure that you won't have another visit from the rascal,"
warned Tom. "Dick, Mr. Fits knows you're the leader of our crowd, and
that's why he'll single out your house, if any, for a visit of revenge."

"I'd like to stay awake and see," smiled Dick. "Yet I'm almost certain
that I'd fall into a sound doze before midnight."

During the day there were a lot of the Central Grammar School boys to be
met, and each one had to have some account of the wonderful snowbound
days. By evening Dick had very nearly forgotten the possible danger from
Mr. Fits.

After supper Dave sauntered into the Prescott store.

"Dan wasn't out to-day," Dave announced. "At least, if he was, he failed
to see any of us. Let's walk down to his house and see if anything is
wrong with him."

Dick agreeing, the two chums turned down a dark side street on their way
to Dalzell's.

At the darkest point on the street the two boys had to pass a collection
of shanty like buildings, which contained a contra