, and the conversation became
general.

CHAPTER IV

MR. JOB HASKERS'S DOINGS

"And now for Oak Hall!"

It was Dave who uttered the words, the next morning, after a good
night's rest and an early breakfast. The big touring car had been
brought around by Dunston Porter, and the young folks had climbed in
and stowed away the limited baggage they carried. All felt in
excellent spirits, and Dave was particularly gay. What Jessie had said
the evening before, and the way she had said it, still hung in his
mind. She was a splendid girl, and if it was in him to do it, he was
going to make himself worthy of her. He was still young, so he did not
dwell long over these things, but his regard for her was entirely
proper, and likely to make him do his best in his endeavors.

Phil had asked for permission to run the car for a while and took the
wheel as soon as Ryeport was left behind. The shipowner's son knew how
to handle an automobile almost as well as any of them, but he had one
fault, which was, that he did not steer out of the way of sharp
stones and like things calculated to bring on punctures and
blow-outs.

"My, what a glorious morning!" exclaimed Laura, as they bowled along
over the smooth roads.

"Couldn't be better," answered Roger. "Wish we were going on all day!"
he added.

"So do I," added Dave. They expected to reach Oakdale by noon, get
dinner there, and then run up to the school.

"Not too fast, Phil," warned Mr. Porter, as the shipowner's son "let
her out a bit," as he expressed it. "You don't know what sort of a
road you've got beyond the turn."

"We'll soon be coming to some roads we know," answered Phil. "Those we
used to travel on our bicycles."

They passed through several towns and villages. Then they reached a
crossroads, and here some men and a steam roller were at work, and the
road was closed. One of the workmen motioned for them to take the road
on the left.

"Must be a road around," said Dunston Porter. "It doesn't look very
good, but you can try it. Shall I take the wheel?"

"Oh, I can run the car easily enough," answered Phil.

For half a mile they went on without trouble, through a rolling
country where the scenery was very fine. Then they reached a point
where the road was full of loose stones.

"Be careful!" cried Mr. Porter.

They rolled on, past a pretty farmhouse and some barns. They were just
on the point of making another turn when there came a sudden bang!
from