d his nephew to crowd into the driver's seat.

The run to the town in the vicinity of which Oak Hall was located had
been made without further incident. On the way the party had talked
over Mrs. Breen's affairs, and Dunston Porter had promised to take the
matter up, through his lawyer.

"I think it best that our names don't appear in the case," said he.
"Otherwise, Mr. Haskers might not treat you so well during the term."

"He never treats us well, anyway," grumbled Phil. "But you are right,
don't mention our names."

On this late winter day the town looked rather dreary, but the young
folks were in high spirits, and Dave, with a grand flourish, ran the
car up to one of the best hotels the place afforded. As before, word
had been sent ahead that they were coming, and the host of the resort
came out to meet them.

"We'll have dinner ready inside of quarter of an hour," he said. "Come
in and make yourselves at home."

The repast was fully as good as the dinner served at Ryeport, and
everybody enjoyed it greatly.

"And now for the Hall!" cried Dave.

"Glad to leave us?" asked Jessie, half-reproachfully.

"You know better than to ask such a question," he replied. "But if we
have got to get back to the grind, why, we might as well do it."

"And I'm a bit anxious to see how the old place looks," added the
senator's son.

"Dave, you can run the car to the Hall, if you wish," said Mr. Porter,
feeling sure the youth would like to do that very thing.

"All right."

The touring automobile was brought around, and they were just getting
in when there came a sudden hail from across the way.

"Hello, there, everybody!"

"It's Dave Porter, and Roger, and Phil!" said somebody else.

"Why, how are you, Shadow!" cried our hero. "And how are you, Buster?"
he added, as Maurice Hamilton and Buster Beggs came across the road to
greet them.

"Fine!" puffed Buster, who was very fat and jolly. "Only Shadow has
been walking the feet off of me!" And then the stout youth shook hands
all around.

"Now, just to hear that!" cried Shadow, as he, too, shook hands. "Why,
all we did was to walk from the Hall to here."

"And up one street and down another for half an hour," burst in
Buster.

"Say, that puts me in mind of a story!" cried Shadow, who was noted
for his yarn-spinning weakness. "Once two men started to walk----"

"Stow it!" came from three of the other lads in concert.

"It's too early yet to tell stories, Shadow,"