for it and sent it back with a swift underhand
drive, and a rally began right at the start. The game promised to
be a good one and it drew many interested watchers, though most of
the boys had followed Rawson and the two patrol leaders over to
the hotel.

Cooper won the first game, and the second was in progress, when the
attention of some of their companions was drawn to a horse and
buggy driven by two boys, appearing on the brow of the hill and
coming along the road which skirted the tennis courts. The occupants
of the buggy were Tom Sherwood and Art Cameron, and as they drew
near they were hailed with shouts of delight.

"Oh, you farmer!"

"Hayseed, where've you been planted?"

"Welcome to our city!"

"Come over here and get next to this game."

They did so, after tying Keno to a post and giving him his noonday
rations which they had brought with them from the farm. The story
of the championship match that had just been played was related to
them in full detail; they in turn stated the errand on which they
had come.

"You know we've been staying at Ralph Kenyon's farm, having a
great time," Tom, explained. "Well, last night, after Art and
I had gone to bed, some mean cuss, a thief, got into the house,
attacked Ralph---who's one of the best fellows on earth, boys---and
stole some money Ralph had been saving. In the tussle we managed
to grab a piece of his coat and his tie, and we've come over to
put them in the hands of the Oakvale constable, to see if he can
identify them."

"Good for you, Tom! Tell us about the fight!"

"Oh, it wasn't much of a fight," Tom evaded. "But first I want
to know how many of you fellows would like to make up some surveying
parties---four in each crew---and offer your services to the B.N.
and C. Railroad to help survey Ralph's land. We can do it, you
know, as assistants to the railroad's regular surveyors, and perhaps
we can show them that it would be better to buy part of Ralph's
property for their loop line than to buy any of his neighbor's, old
Silas Perkins. And, if we can do this, why, it'll be the greatest
thing ever for Ralph, because he's a good sort, and he wants to go
to college, and he'll-----"

Tom paused for breath. Enthusiasm for his friend and interest in
Ralph's ambition to get an education had carried him beyond the
limit of his usual brief remarks. Such a long speech was a surprise
to himself as well as to his auditors. They listened attentively,