I tell you
Spuds is a lucky fellow to know such a beauty. He's gone up a peg in
my estimation since I saw him with her. You should have seen her eyes,
especially when she smiled at something her father was saying."

"Her father, did you say?" Lois asked. It was somewhat of a relief for
her to know that there was a father present and that she was not alone
with Jasper.

"Well, I suppose he was her father," Dick replied, "though I am not
positive. He was a fine looking man, anyway. I'd like to get
acquainted with him, for it's worth knowing such a chap who has a
daughter like that. I wonder how Spuds happened to meet him. By
jingo! I've got it," and Dick brought his fist down upon the table with
such a bang that the dishes rattled. "I'll bet you anything that he
has something to do with that Break Neck Falls affair, for old Tim
Parkin, the big lumber merchant, was along, too. He owns some fine
timber tracts up this way, and no doubt there was a deal on. That
confounded mysterious company will need a great amount of lumber, if
rumours are correct."

As Dick uttered these words his father looked up. His interest had
been suddenly aroused, and for the first time he joined in the
conversation.

"Did you say that Tim Parkin was at the Sign of the Maple?" he growled.

"Yes, Dad," the young man replied. "He was looking bigger and more
prosperous than ever. He seemed mighty pleased over something."

"Did you near what they were talking about?"

"No, I couldn't make out anything as we were on the opposite side of
the room."

"But you could see the girl, though. If your ears had been half as
good as your eyes you would have heard what was being said."

"But any one can see much farther than he can hear," Dick protested.
"You surely don't expect the impossible from me, do you?"

"I don't expect anything from you, sir," and Mr. Sinclair glared at his
son. "I have long since given up expecting. All you care for is to
have a good time riding around in the car, attending parties, and
looking for the prettiest girls. If you were as much interested in
business as you are in pleasure you would be of some use to me. But I
guess you'll have to get a hustle on mighty goon, though, from the look
of things. I won't be able to indulge you in your idleness much
longer."

"Why, Dad, what do you mean?" Dick enquired. "You're not going to
throw me overboard, are you?"

"Oh, no, I won't do it. But there are others