talk with him. Of course, he told me
that he never wanted to hear your father's name mentioned; but if I got
a good chance I might be able to get him to open up and tell me his side
of the story. And after he had done that, he might be more willing to
listen to what I had to say."

"Oh, Jack! if you ever do get the chance, try to talk to him, by all
means, and do what you can to impress it on his mind that my father had
nothing to do with the loss of his money, and that my folks would have
gone to Mrs. Stevenson's funeral had they been able to do so. And tell
him, too, that my father and my mother, and also myself, would be very
glad to become friends once more, and that our house will be open to him
at any time."

The others of the sleighing party were now coming up, so there was no
chance of saying anything further regarding the strange affair.

"Let's return to Haven Point by some other route," suggested Spouter.

"We'll have to ask the driver about the roads first," said Gif.

The driver had gone out to look after his horses. When questioned, he
stated that they might return by a roundabout way through the village of
Neckbury, but that it might take half an hour or so longer.

"Oh, I guess we've got time enough," said Fred, consulting his watch.
"The girls haven't got to get back to Clearwater Hall until supper time,
and we can get from one school to the other in a jiffy in the sleigh."

The liveryman was anxious to please the boys and girls, being desirous
of getting more business from them in the future, and he readily agreed
to take them home by the way of Neckbury, and he also agreed to get them
back by the required time.

Once more all bundled into the turnout, and then, with a crack of the
whip and a loud tooting of the horns, they started on the return.

"Another song now!" cried Andy, and commenced one of the ditties which
at that time was popular at Colby Hall. In this the girls joined, most
of them having heard it; and thus the crowd continued to enjoy
themselves.

So far, they had met but few turnouts on the road, but now they found
that the other route toward Haven Point was more popular, and they
passed several farm sleds, and also a number of cutters, and even two
automobiles, the latter ploughing along through the snow, using their
heavy chains for that purpose.

They were soon mounting a small hill, and the driver allowed the horses
to drop to a walk. From the top of the hill they could s