t gloomily upon the porch steps. Ruth kept an eye on him from the doorway. Mr. Cam

ts to leave

field scowled at the dry-goods m

apart and a smile upon his ruddy face, "now, young man, let's get to the bottom of this. Y

s all," muttered Fred

on'

her and brothers and sisters find you a sore trial; perhaps they are glad you are not at home. But until

told me," said the light-haired youth, nodd

ou with us. We'll see whether

ing, sir!" gasped Fred Hatfiel

now what I am doing,"

ault, not mine. If

e boy, shaking as t

ng, young man," com

it and started to run. But Tom had got out of the automobile and seem

ried. "Put on this ol

's going to be cold ri

h us. Aw, come on! Wh

going to

got into the coat Tom offered him, and entered the ca

he returned the kiss; Uncle Jabez looked as though he had never kissed anybody since he was born! But A

s. "Go and have the best of times with your young friends. We'll be thinki

lared, happily, with no suspicion of what was

ran down to the car, leaped aboard, and the chauffeur started immediately. Ben, the hired man, had gone on to Cheslow w

hered at the station to meet the Camerons and Ruth Fielding. Nobody noticed Fred Hatfield, saving Mr. Cameron and Ruth herself; but

eing Bob Steele and his sister, with Isadore Phe

d, but not a little bashful. As Madge, his sister, was a year and a h

his nice clean clothes. Be careful he doesn't get into anything

little distance, he looked as though he wore a brown mask. Isadore seldom spoke without asking a question. He was a walking interrogati

way, Bob?" he cried. "I'd shake her, i

ed Madge Steele quite a young lady. "Sh

e Stone (who rejoiced in the nickname of "Heavy" because of her plumpness) and Madge Steele. Mr. Cameron had gone to the ticket window

en's brother, and he tu

some disgust. "There's that chap sneaking

way. Busy Izzy was at

at's he been doing? Is he trying to get ab

deafen one." Then he shouted to Hatfield: "Hold

ack with a scowl. Tom grinned

easy. Dad says you're

you to st

dog," said Bob, in an un

in the same low tone. "But we're going to take him with

home?" demanded Isad

nded Tom. "He wouldn't tell you, anyway; he

te car attached to it, and in that car the Cameron party were to travel. One of the railroad offic

oon after the train started odors from the tiny kitchen assured

"Riding through the country on this fast train and being serv

nnie Stone!" whispered Madge Steele, who heard this. "I

wishes my reports were better at Briarwood; but he can't expect me to put on flesh and

en they reached Snow Camp was the principal topic of conversation. As the train swept northward the snow appeared. It was pi

ompanion most of the time, while Tom and his two chums had a gay time by themselves. They tried t

y whispered to Ruth that she never did see a boy before who was so dreadfully solemn. "And he gro

he had gained from the newspaper clipping that she carried hidden in the bottom of her pocket. Should she tell Mr. Cameron about it? Should she sp

n was hanging low above the tree-tops when Mr. Cameron announced that the second stop of the train would be their destination. The party-at least, Mr. Cameron,

door. The flagman was on the rear platform, however, and he could not get down without bei

on again and they slowed down with

oro yet, surely?" c

ing from some other cause-why, this is merely a

were two or three houses in sight and a big ge

VILLE

growing dusk and the lamps had been lighted the length of the train. The general interest of the party drew their attention forward. Rut

ack to speak to the runaway boy. When she reached the door, Fred had already descended th