hrough the night, and that
Dexter must have meant to drug the child into quietness."

"It ought not to have taken Dexter all that time just to get a bottle of
soothing syrup," suggested Prescott.

"It did, in this case," Reade declared. "The druggist thought there was
something queer in Dexter's manner, and so he questioned him sharply as
to what Dexter wanted to do with the stuff. Dexter got confused, next
angry, and the druggist had about made up his mind not to sell the
stuff."

"Well, I hope we've heard the last of that precious pair, Driggs and
Dexter," murmured Dalzell plaintively.

"Mrs. Dexter holds the key to that situation," remarked Dick
thoughtfully. "If she lets Dexter have money, from time to time, he'll
still hang around. If she won't let him have money, and has herself
guarded from him, then by and by he'll get tired. Then he'll clear out
for new scenes and try some other scheme of getting a living without
working. Mrs. Dexter----"

"Sh!" warned Harry Hazelton. "Speaking of angels, here she comes now."

"Boys, I've been looking for you," cried Mrs. Dexter, halting before
them. "We didn't come to an understanding last night about the uniforms
for your football team."

"How's Myra to-day?" asked Dick, anxious to shelve the other topic.

"She's all right to-day, except that the child is very nervous. That is
natural, of course, after her bad scare last night."

"Aren't you afraid to leave her alone?"

"Myra isn't alone. She has Jane to look after her, and Special Officer
Grimsby is in the house. I have hired Mr. Grimsby to live at my house
for the present. He's a brave man, and will stop any nonsense that may
be tried by certain people."

"Well, we must be getting along," urged Prescott. "It is very near our
supper time, and----"

"But about the uniforms?" persisted Mrs. Dexter.

"Mrs. Dexter, the fellows appreciate your offer very highly. It pleased
them all to know that you made it."

"I'm glad to hear that," smiled Mrs. Dexter.

"But, ma'am," Prescott continued just as earnestly, "while the fellows
all feel extremely grateful, they would rather you didn't think of doing
anything of the sort. The fellows feel that if they're smart enough to
wear football uniforms, they're smart enough to get 'em. It would take
all feeling of hustle out of the team if some one else smoothed the way
for them like that."

"I see," half assented Mrs. Dexter reluctantly.

"Therefore, ma'am, if you will ac