one leader.

During decorations Henty seemed to think that the girls required
watching.

"I should think, A. P.," said Nelson, aside, "that when you survived
Nova Scotia you ought to stand a few Toronto beauties."

"Believe me," replied Henty, "these are hard to beat. By the way, we
ought to have a reception committee for girls. A good many of the
fellows will bring their friends along."

"A good idea," laughed Evan; "you look after it, will you?"

"You bet. I wouldn't mind being that committee myself."

A. P. did look after it, and not vicariously.

Time sped. Every train brought in a bunch of town clerks. They came
from far and near; from every city and almost every hamlet in Ontario.

Nelson and Henty themselves went down to the Montreal train. Two
hundred and fifty boys came in on it. They hailed from Quebec,
Montreal, Kingston, Peterborough, and points along the line. When they
recognized X. Bankclerk, whose common-looking face had been reproduced
in most of the big Canadian dailies, they cheered and shouted until
holiday travellers stood aghast.

The Windsor train came in about eleven o'clock, shortly after the
Montreal, bringing a delegation larger than the Eastern. Union Station
was crammed with bankclerks, and a band was waiting for them on Front
Street. After a fair display of noise and confusion the boys formed in
quadruple line and marched up town. Two men in the van carried a
gigantic streamer bearing the inscription: "The A.B.C.'s."

As they marched up Yonge Street Evan saw a figure with a pointed beard
and a hand-bag disappear around the corner of Temperance Street, as
though afraid to face the music. It is hardly probable the Big Eye was
going to the Moon Theatre to buy tickets for an afternoon performance.
Nelson would not have been at all surprised at that, but he thought it
more likely that Castle would forego the pleasure of a burlesque
performance, on that day of his defeat, and crawl into the gallery of
Massey Hall.

By noon seven hundred bankclerks were assembled. Henty drew Evan's
attention to the fact that it was chiefly the country chaps who brought
their lady-friends; the city fellows probably had had a strenuous time
of it paying their own fares. Nevertheless, there was present a good
representation of the fair sex.

A. P. and Evan had lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Nelson and Lou, from
Hometon. It was a happy reunion.

Mrs. Nelson cried with joy; Lou blushed at the lo