hat you've
done for me to-night. I was almost at the breaking-point."

Evan's eyes were turned up a side street, an unpaved street where the
mud was deep and slimy.

"For heaven's sake!" he whispered, "look who goes there! When I
whistle," he continued excitedly, "you fall back and watch for cops.
I'm going to spoil that blue coat and those flannel pants."

"I recognize him," said Robb; "go easy; remember you've been a farmer."

It was past midnight. The avenue was deserted. Large chestnuts
clothed the side street, down which the person designated walked, in
darkness.

Evan fairly panted as he trailed his quarry. Within a few rods of It
he began to run noiselessly upon the grass. Then he pounced upon it,
like a jaguar upon a fawn. Sam was a short distance behind.

Down in the mud went the blue coat and flannel pants, and there echoed
a cry much like that of a frightened girl. Smothering that cry with a
handful of mud, Evan proceeded to plaster every part of his victim,
except the ears, into one of which he facetiously whispered:

"Alfy dear, this is Evan."

All but howling, Castle scrambled out of the gutter and ran for his
life.

Sam tried several times to speak, as they walked up to his home, but
his eye fell on Evan's muddy raincoat and he failed. Through the night
Mrs. Robb was startled by certain silent convulsions.

"Sammy," she whispered, "are you ill?"

"Yes, Ede," he said jerkily, "a pain in the side."

CHAPTER XXII.

_SHE WAITS FOR US._

Early next morning Evan was at Henty's hotel.

"A. P.," he said, "all aboard for Hometon."

The old man looked up.

"Take him with you if you like, Mr. Nelson," he said; "but mind you
bring him back, and come along yourself. I've got a cook down home I
want you to taste."

Evan accepted the invitation and expressed hope that the cook was not
from Western Canada. A. P. jumped into his clothes.

"I'm ready," he said, soon; "have I time for breakfast?"

"No; get a banana on the way down town. Our folks will meet us at
Union Station."

They missed the Teeswater train, in spite of their hurrying, or,
perhaps, on account of their hurrying; and had to wait for the Owen
Sound.

"You couldn't guess who went out on the first train, Evan," whispered
Lou, looking wise.

"Frankie and Porter, I imagine," replied Evan, casually.

"How did you know?"

"Met Perry last night," answered the brother, briefly. "What are you
looking so queer abo