ay so!" declared Jack. "Why, my cousin Fred here is
named after Gif Garrison's father. His father and my father were school
chums."

"Oh! Why then we know a lot of the same people, don't we? How nice!"
returned Ruth Stevenson, and smiled frankly at Jack.

After that the talk between the boys and the girls became general, and
each crowd told the other of how matters were going at their own
particular school.

"Yes, I've been up to Colby Hall several times to see the baseball and
the football games," said Ruth to Jack in answer to his question. "It's
certainly a splendid place."

"Some day, if you don't mind, I'll come over and take a look at
Clearwater Hall," he answered.

"Clearwater Hall! Say, that must be a fine place to get a drink!" piped
in Andy; and at this little joke all of the girls giggled.

CHAPTER XVII

THE GIRLS FROM CLEARWATER HALL

The Rover boys remained with the girls from Clearwater Hall for the
best part of half an hour after the scare at the moving picture
theater, and during that time the young folks became quite well
acquainted.

"We'll have to be getting back to our school now," said Ruth Stevenson,
presently.

"Oh, what's your hurry?" pleaded Jack. "Weren't you going to stay to
the pictures?"

"No. We were going to leave immediately after that reel they were
showing when the explosion occurred," the girl replied.

"Well, we've got to get back to Colby Hall in time for supper; but we
can make that easily enough--we are all good walkers."

"I should think you would ride in your auto-stage," put in Alice
Strobell. "I'd ride if we had a stage handy."

"The stage isn't down here now," answered Randy. "It only comes on
order."

The four boys walked with the girls to the end of a side street of the
town, and there the pupils from Clearwater Hall stopped to say
good-bye.

"We are very thankful for what you did for us at the theater," said
Ruth Stevenson. "You were very kind, indeed."

"You are regular heroes!" burst out May Powell, who by her merry eyes
showed that she was almost as full of fun as were the Rover twins. "I'm
going to write to Spouter and let him know all about it."

"And don't forget to mention the rescue of my hat," added Alice
Strobell with a giggle.

"I hope I have the pleasure of meeting you again, Miss Stevenson," said
Jack, in an aside to the oldest girl of the party.

"Well, maybe," she returned, looking at him frankly.

"I've enjoyed this afte