" returned his twin.

As soon as the repast was at an end, Fred sought out Professor Brice
and asked him if anything had been learned concerning the missing
suitcase.

"I am sorry to say I haven't learned anything," answered the professor,
a troubled look coming over his face. "I really must say, Rover, I
don't know what to make of it. Do you suspect anyone in particular of
having taken it?"

Fred was on the point of mentioning Nappy Martell's name, but suddenly
held himself in check.

"I wouldn't like to say anything about that, Professor," he answered
slowly. "I might be accusing a fellow cadet unfairly. If the suitcase
isn't returned by to-morrow I may have something to say about it."

"Very well. I think I understand how you feel about it," and the young
professor looked knowingly at the boy. "Did you have much in the
suitcase?"

"Yes, sir. It was well packed. You see, I wasn't sure whether my trunk
would come right along, so I carried all I could in my handbaggage."

When Fred joined the others, all of the crowd, led by Spouter, walked
down to the gymnasium. Here the Rovers were introduced to a number of
other pupils, including Ned Lowe, who was quite a mandolin player and
also a good singer, and a tall, studious youth named Dan Soppinger.

"Ned is our great singer," announced Spouter. "We expect some day that
he'll be singing in grand opera on the Metropolitan stage."

"Did you say grand opera or grand uproar?" questioned Andy, slyly.

"Opera, my boy! Opera!" repeated Spouter. "I expect some day that he
will thrill great audiences with exquisite renderings of the famous
solos by Wagner, Beethoven, Mozart, Donizetti----"

"Great mackerel, Spouter! what are you giving us--a musical directory?"
interrupted Randy.

"No. I was only giving you a list of the things I expect to hear Ned
sing sooner or later. Now, as for Dan here--he is the human
encyclopedia."

"If there is anything you don't want to know, ask Dan and he'll be sure
to tell you all about it," put in Fatty with a grin. "How about it,
Dan?"

"Say! that's a fine way to introduce a fellow," cried Dan Soppinger,
with a doubtful grin on his studious face. "Of course, I'm trying to
learn as much as possible, but there are a whole lot of things that I
don't know, and I'm not ashamed to acknowledge it. But say! by the way,
can any of you tell me what the date was when Jefferson was inaugurated
president?"

At this question there came a sudden gr