ow, but we'll be around about eight o'clock. So long
until then."

"So long," replied Walter, and hanging up the receiver he whooped
joyously and proceeded to execute a war dance that ended with a crash as
a rug slipped under his feet and he came down in a heap. It happened
that at that very instant his father, just home from the office, opened
the hall door briskly and a second later landed on Walter with a force
that brought a grunt from each. He had tripped over one of the boy's
sprawling legs. As quickly as he could disentangle himself Walter
scrambled to his feet. Concern was written in every line of his face as
he extended a helping hand to Mr. Upton.

"Oh, Dad, are you hurt?" he cried anxiously.

Mr. Upton's eyes twinkled good-humoredly as he replied: "Only in my
dignity. But tell me, son, why all this hilarity that led to the utter
downfall of the house of Upton? I heard you break loose, and was
hurrying to share in it."

"It's a shame," declared Walter contritely as he brushed off his
father's coat. "I ought to know better than to be acting like a wild
Indian in the house. Fact is, I had just got some mighty good news over
the 'phone. Guess what."

"Hal is coming home for the vacation," hazarded Mr. Upton promptly, for
these two, father and son, were chums, and he knew just how eagerly
Walter had hoped for Hal's homecoming.

"Right and wrong, both!" whooped Walter. "You're a good little guesser,
Dad, but you didn't guess enough this time. He's home already, and Pat's
with him!"

"Pat! Pat who?" A puzzled frown wrinkled Mr. Upton's forehead.

"Pat Malone, of course! As if there was more than one Pat! They got in
half an hour ago, and they're coming around here after dinner to get
me."

Mr. Upton's face lighted with a smile of pleasure. "That's splendid," he
declared. "It's news worth getting upset for. How ever did Hal lure
that young giant out of his beloved woods?"

"I don't know," replied Walter. "All I know is that he is here, and the
rest we'll find out when they get here. Hope he's going to stay through
vacation. It'll be no end of fun showing Pat around. Wish you could be
with us."

"I wish I could," replied Mr. Upton, smiling. "Suppose we eat dinner now
so that you will be ready for them when they arrive."

Promptly at eight o'clock a big touring car drew up in front of the
house, and Walter was down the steps before the two figures in the
tonneau could disentangle themselves from the rob