t was the telephone in the hall. With a start Walter
came back to earth and the present. He went to answer the call. Picking
up the receiver he called, "Hello." For a moment there was no response,
but he caught a sound as of voices and something that sounded like a
laugh. Then over the wire came a rich brogue that caused Walter to
nearly drop the 'phone.

"Hello, Misther Leader. I have to reporrt the discovery av the city av
Noo Yor-r-k and the losing av mesilf entoirely."

"Pat! You big red headed son of Erin! Are you really in New York? When
did you get in? Where are you? Are you----"

"Aisy, aisy now. Have ye not learned thot ye can make but wan bull's-eye
at a shot? Shure I be in Noo Yor-r-k, an' 'tis proud the city ought to
be av the honor I be doin' ut."

"Quit your kidding, Pat, and tell me where you are and when you came and
all about it," interrupted Walter.

"Shure, wasn't I afther telling ye thot I be in Noo Yor-r-k?" protested
Pat in a grieved tone. "'Tis at the illigant home av an illigant
gintleman thot I be, but begorra I forgot entoirely to blaze the trail
and I don't know how I got here at all, at all."

There was a sound of a scuffle and a smothered laugh, then another voice
broke in:

"Hello, old Scout!"

There was no mistaking that voice, and Upton grinned more broadly than
before as he replied:

"Hello, Hal. It sure does me good to hear your voice. I might have known
whose illigant home Pat is honoring. Where did you find him, and why
didn't you tell me? Didn't expect you home until the end of next week.
Funny thing, but I was thinking of you two fellows when the 'phone rang.
Same old Pat, isn't he? Gee, but it's good to hear the voices of you two
fellows! Now when do I see you and where?"

"Right after dinner. We'll drive around and pick you up and then give
Pat a glimpse of the Great White Way," replied Hal, answering the last
questions first. "I've had this all planned for a month by way of a
surprise. I have a week more vacation than you do, and I got in just in
time to meet Pat's train. Had hard work to persuade him to come, but I
got him at last. Say, got any plans made for your vacation?"

"Nary a plan. Been waiting to hear from you," replied Walter.

"Good! I've got the greatest little stunt you ever heard of to tell you
about to-night. Pat suggested it, and I had to promise to try to put it
through before he would agree to come down here. We've got to go clean
up for dinner n