said that they had been placed in a safe deposit vault, being
packed in several plush-lined cases.

The paper went on to state that Mr. Basswood thought something of
bringing them to Crumville, where they might be judged by a committee
of experts in order to ascertain their real value. The real-estate
dealer was spoken of as a man well-known in the community, and the
article concluded by stating that all the good people of Crumville and
vicinity would undoubtedly congratulate him on his good fortune.

"They certainly piled it on a little thick," was Dave's comment, after
he and Roger had read the article. "Just the same, I agree with the
paper--the Basswoods richly deserve the fortune that has come to
them." Dave had not forgotten those days, now long gone by, when he
had been a boy just out of the poorhouse living with Caspar Potts, and
how Ben Basswood had been his one young friend during those trying
times.

As luck would have it, all the young visitors bound for the
Wadsworth mansion reached Crumville on the same train. Of course,
the others went down to the depot to meet them, and there was a
grand jollification lasting several minutes.

"My, Belle, how you have grown!" declared Laura, after the numerous
kisses and handshakes had come to an end. "Isn't she growing tall,
Dave?"

"She certainly is," returned the brother. And what they said was
true--Belle Endicott was now tall and willowy, and exceedingly pretty
to look at,--so much so in fact, that Phil Lawrence could hardly take
his eyes from her.

"It was mighty good of your folks to invite me down," said the
shipowner's son, when the whole crowd was making its way over to where
the Wadsworth automobile and sleigh were standing. "I appreciate it, I
assure you."

"Oh, my! you don't suppose we could leave you out, Phil, with Belle
here," returned Dave, as he gave his chum a nudge in the ribs.

"Good for you, Dave!" Phil blushed a little, and then winked one eye.
"How are matters going between you and Jessie?"

"Very well."

"Glad to hear it. And I suppose Roger has that same old eagle eye of
his on your sister Laura?"

"Well, you don't find him talking very much to anybody else when Laura
is around," was Dave's dry comment.

"Oh, we had a perfectly splendid journey!" cried Belle Endicott. "And
wasn't it the strangest thing that we should run into Phil at the
junction where we had to change cars to get here?"

"Must be some sort of mutual attractio