n of Dan
Baxter, the man who made so much trouble for our fathers while at
Putnam Hall."

"I'll soon find out," returned Jack. "But please remember--Dan Baxter
reformed, and more than likely his son is a first-rate fellow."

As soon as Walter Baxter had gotten through with his exercise and had
dropped to the floor, Jack, followed by his cousins, went up to him.

"Are you Walt Baxter--the son of Mr. Daniel Baxter?" he questioned.

"Yes," returned the other, and looked at Jack and the others with him
curiously.

"I am Jack Rover--the son of Mr. Richard Rover. These are my cousins,"
and Jack introduced them.

"Oh! is that so?" answered Walt Baxter, and shook hands rather
doubtfully. "I--I--am glad to know you," he stammered.

"And we are real glad to know you, Baxter," answered Randy, readily.
"We heard you were at this school. We hope that we'll all be good
friends."

"If we are not, it won't be my fault," and now there was a ring of
relief in Walter Baxter's voice. He lowered his tone a trifle. "I know
your fathers did a lot for my father, and I am very thankful for it. If
I can do anything for you fellows here, I'll certainly do it."

"And we'll do what we can for you, Baxter," answered Jack, quickly.

After that the talk became general, and Walt Baxter told much about
himself and the doings of the cadets at Colby Hall. When Nappy
Martell's name was mentioned, he drew down the corners of his mouth.

"I never had any use for that chap," he declared. "Once or twice my hot
temper got the better of me and we came pretty near having a fight. But
after that Martell gave me a wide berth."

"I think I've got Martell to thank for something that is missing," said
Fred, and thereupon related the particulars regarding the lost
suitcase.

"Say! I think I know something about that!" cried Walter Baxter,
quickly. "Yes, I'm sure I do!"

"Did you see Martell take the suitcase?" demanded the youngest Rover,
quickly.

"I can't say as to that, exactly. But I did see Martell sneaking off
through the backyard, past the stable, with something under his arm--a
big package wrapped up in a couple of newspapers."

"When was this?" questioned Jack, quickly.

"About four o'clock this afternoon."

"Just after we arrived at the Hall!" burst out Randy.

"What did he do with what package?" asked Jack.

"I don't know exactly, excepting that he went down past the stable on
to the roadway that leads to the farm fields."

"Maybe