ome
plan up their sleeve."

"I believe you, Dave. I wish I knew what to do. Shall we go to Doctor
Clay?"

"I've been thinking of that, Roger. But I hate to do it. I'd rather
fight my own battles."

"So would I."

"Let us wait until to-morrow and see if things don't take a turn for
the better."

"All right, just as you say. But it's a shame, the way old Haskers
treats us," grumbled the senator's son.

In the meantime Phil and Ben had gone on ahead. Both were exceeding
angry and consequently not in a frame of mind to use their best
judgment.

"It's an outrage!" burst out the shipowner's son. "An outrage, Ben! I
am not going to stand for it!"

"Well, I am with you, Phil," returned Ben. "But what can we do?"

"You know what I spoke about last evening?"

"Yes."

"How about doing that?"

"I am with you, if you are game."

"Of course we may make old Haskers tearing mad."

"We'll only face him with the truth, won't we?"

"Yes."

"Then, let us do it. And the sooner the better."

"Yes, but we must see him alone."

"Of course. I think we can manage it just before supper--when he goes
up to his room to fix up for the evening."

The two chums talked the affair over for a long time.

"I don't suppose Dave will like this," ventured Ben, presently. "What
do you think?"

"He isn't hit as hard as we are," answered Phil, lamely. "If he
was--well, he might look at things in a different light."

"That's so," answered Ben. But deep down in his heart he was afraid
that our hero would not altogether approve of what he and Phil
proposed to do.

The boys took a walk, and purposely kept out of the way of Dave and
Roger. They did not return to the Hall until fifteen minutes before
the first bell for supper. Then they came in by a side entrance and
passed swiftly up the stairs and along the hallway to the room
occupied by Job Haskers.

"Who is it?" asked the teacher, sharply, when Phil had knocked.

"Mr. Haskers, it is Phil Lawrence," was the reply. "Ben Basswood is
with me. We wish to see you."

"Ah, indeed!" said the teacher, coldly. "You come to me at an unusual
hour. You may see me to-morrow, before class."

"Mr. Haskers, we wish very much to see you now," put in Ben.

"We have got to see you," added Phil, warmly.

There was no immediate reply to this. The boys heard Job Haskers
moving around the room and heard him shut a bureau. Then the door was
flung open.

"You insist upon seeing me, eh?" demanded