es eagerly. 'If only I could pay off this man and
have done with him, I would never bet again. I see now what a silly fool
I have been. Tell me your plan, Barton.'

'Go and tell Mr. Arundel all about it. I don't believe bookmakers have
any right to tempt boys like us to lay money on horses, and---- '

'Mr. Arundel! one of the masters! He would go and tell the Head straight
off, and I should be expelled,' said Lopes bitterly. 'I thought you had
some better plan than that!'

'Mr. Arundel is a gentleman,' said Barton quietly, 'and what you tell
him in confidence will go no further, you may be sure of that; I believe
he could help you.'

'I wish I could think so,' sighed Lopes. 'I can think of nothing, and
settle to nothing with this debt on my mind.'

'Go to Mr. Arundel,' urged Barton. 'I know you will not regret it.'

'Well, I will,' at last said Lopes. 'I will go at once before my courage
fails me.'

'I will come with you,' said Barton, taking his friend's arm.

'You are a good chap, Barton; you don't desert a fellow when he is
down!' said Lopes gratefully. 'I wish I had taken your advice at first,
and thrown the bookmaker's letter on the fire.'

* * * * *

There is no space here to tell of all Mr. Arundel said and did to help
Lopes out of his ugly betting scrape. Though the master did not fail to
show Lopes how wrongly he had acted, he had a real pity for the boy who
had been so tempted by the bookmaker's letter, and he determined to let
that gentleman know what he knew of him.

So a very strong letter was sent off by Mr. Arundel, telling the man
that unless he released the schoolboy from all his so-called debts, he
would have him publicly shown up and prosecuted for dealing with a
minor.

[Illustration: "In his despair he clenched his fist."]

By return of post came the desired release from the bookmaker, and Mr.
Arundel handed it to the boy with a pleasant smile. 'You are free,
Lopes; you will hear no more of this man, I can promise you, and you
must promise me never to bet again.'

'I will--I do, sir! and thank you most deeply,' said Lopes earnestly. If
this had reached my father's ears, it would have broken his heart. Oh,
thank you so very much! You do not know how miserable I have been.'

[Illustration: "'Who's that that dares to serve me so?'"]

Lopes kept his word, and that bet was his last one. He had learnt that
honesty and straightforwardness get rid of any dif