Tom Fairfield's Pluck and Luck; Or, Working to Clear His Name

s a ride in your

to the other sid

small boathouse, on the edge of a rather wide river. The youth to whom they

of the river for, Dick Jones?" asked Tom Fair

it's too far to walk away around by

can get this

of Briartown. Tom, whose parents were quite well off, had recently bought a motorboat, not very large, but of sufficient size to enable him to take out several of

ylinder is flooded with oil, that's what's the matter, and I don't know how many m

um watched Tom trying to drain some of the

the oil cups. But it's like everything else he does-he's too lazy, almost, to breathe. He didn't turn off the oil, and all that was

," spoke Will s

went on Tom. "I ought to have seen to the oil cups

to a lad crossing a field some distance away.

alk down here. But I'll talk to him like a Dutch Uncle when I do see him. Now

though the engine coughed, wheezed and spluttered, as tho

ward switch on!" suddenly excl

k when I was cleaning the spark plug, I shut it off. Then I forgot to put it on again. Hop in,

d remained near the motor, again turned over the flywheel. This time there was an explosion, and the eng

!" chee

exclaimed Will, at t

e engine by pulling out a switch near it, and added: "Wait unti

he saw, coming along the road that ran near the river, a young man in a small auto runabout. The youth was well dressed,

ned Tom, as he opened the boathouse door. The runabout came nearer, and

ere where I can hire a boat

here," r

s rested on Tom's o

ire?" he asked, n

bjections. I've got a motorboat, and, if you like, I'll take yo

worry over my troubles," and the newcomer l

the other had given him an opening. "

he piper. A man is trying to make trouble for me, and I guess he'll succeed, all rig

me?" asked Tom. "I'm going to take

it, and will lend me your boat, I'll go for a row alone. I was out on a little country run-I live in Camden-and when

" went on Tom, looking at the other,

n-Bruce Bennington. I haven't

ld," spoke our hero, a

s the newcomer started toward w

Elmwood Hall. I'm a senio

that place of learning. "That's quite a school,

Bennington. "And we have a pretty fair c

are some stiff currents in the river. You're welcome to come

e got to go back to school as soon as the fall term opens, which will be in about

to form a strange and sudden liking for this lad. Tom looked into the

row, and a rest in the cool shadows, will calm me down, maybe, and I'll try to make

t Bruce knew how to handle the craft. The auto runabout had been left n

ked Tom's chums, a

he and the two lads were puffing across the river in the motorbo

t much trouble me if I went to a cracker-jack schoo

er," add

the senior's face-a look that had returned several times during the ta

t his trouble w

some man had it in for him. Look

Dick, who had requested Tom to l

wner of the motorboat. "I must mark it with a buoy, or

r, and the boys rode on

'll go to school this f

the Academy

duated from t

ear. Going to take up first year college work, and dad talks of sending

I!" cri

e!" affirmed Dick, with ene

ssage to a lumberman, started off on his errand, Will and Tom promising to wait for him in the motorboat. Whe

have something to d

pens, that's all. And it will do the engine good to run

about two hours, and, on nearing the

low's aut

Tom, who was tinkering w

ed Will, who

red of rowing, or maybe he thought of

to see if it was in good condition. He saw a piece of paper on one

el better, though I'm as much up a tree as ever. I hope to see yo

Benni

" remarked Will, as To

amage your boat

d Hall crew," said Tom. "Well, so long, fellows. I'm

they c

for, when he reached his home, not far from the river, he he

had evidently been reading to his wife, and discussing with her. Ther

?" asked Tom, quic

s father. "But it is news, and it's going t

t is

lia, Tom, which was left to me by an

e had often heard the inherita

trouble has arisen, and I've got to go there to straighten it out. I tried to do it by correspondence, but I have j

oke in Mrs. Fairfield, anxious to get the worst over. "Oh, Tom,

ou two going to Australia, and le

going to leave you alone, exactly. Besides, there is your

say-" began

oice, "we have it all planned out for you. You

n to sparkle. After all, this migh

father, "and we

. Fairfield, unable to let h

hinking of the note in his p

er go to some other place it may be arranged. But

u going? When can I start for Elmwood? Have you got a catalog from there? Say, I've got something to tell

aimed Tom again. "Th