rs.

"By the way, Fred," he continued, as he became conscious of a feeling of
emptiness. "Do you realize that we haven't had any supper?"

"Haven't thought a thing about it," laughed Fred. "The fact is; I've
been too excited to think of eating. I'll bet that's the first time I
ever forgot anything like that. But now that you speak of it, I
certainly could punish a good supper."

"It'll be way past supper time when we get to the Hall," mused Teddy.

"Right you are," was the answer. "But we won't be long in getting to
sleep, after a day like this, and when we wake up it will be time for
breakfast."

But fate had willed that they should not go to bed hungry, for when at
last they reached their dormitory, they found their mates indulging in a
spread that Slim had furnished to celebrate the downing of Andy Shanks.

They greeted Fred and Teddy with a frenzy of enthusiasm and pushed them
down in seats before the eatables. A volley of questions was hurled at
them, but Mel assumed command.

"Not a word," he said, "until we've filled these pilgrims up to the
brim."

"But think how long that'll take," joked Billy. "I've seen these fellows
eat before."

"Mel," said Fred, as he pitched in like a hungry wolf, ably seconded by
Teddy, "I always thought you were a good friend of mine, but now I know
it. You've saved my life."

They ate till they could eat no more. Then, to the eager crowd around
them, the Rushton boys went over all the events of that memorable day.
Their chums listened breathlessly as they told of the exciting pursuit
of the tramps and their rounding up in the road house. And when they had
finished, there was a tumult of applause and congratulation.

"Great stuff, old scouts!" was the way Melvin summed up the general
feeling. "You've both done yourselves proud this day."

"Of course I'm glad you got back those things for your uncle," said
Slim, "but the thing that tickles me to death is the way you polished
off Andy Shanks. I haven't enjoyed anything so much since I've been at
Rally Hall. Whatever happens now, I feel that I haven't lived in vain."

"I guess we all feel the same way," acquiesced Billy. "Andy has had that
coming to him for a long time. Mel trimmed him once, but that was a year
ago, and he's been aching for another licking ever since."

"Well, he got it all right," declared Lester, "and it was a most
artistic job."

"What gets me is how he ever had the nerve to come back here, after he'd