w Brassy Bangs leap a side hedge and start
toward the school. At the same time they saw a tall man wearing a slouch
hat hurrying off in the opposite direction.

"Hello! there is that fellow Brassy had trouble with in town," exclaimed
Randy.

"Just look at Brassy!" whispered Fred, after the youth had passed them
and gone into the Hall. "Why, he's as pale as a ghost!"

"It certainly is a mystery about Brassy and that strange man," was Jack's
comment. "Just as much of a mystery as about Professor Duke's doings."

Soon the boys were busy packing up, getting ready to leave. Then came the
usual jolly times just previous to saying good-bye to their fellow-cadets
and the teachers. The students were to scatter in all directions and the
majority of them expected to have a glorious time during the summer
vacation. Phil Franklin was to go back to the oil fields, to visit his
father.

At the railroad station the Rovers met Mary and Martha and also some of
the other girls, and here many good-byes were said.

"I hope you get a chance to get out to Big Horn Ranch," said Jack to
Ruth.

"So do I, Jack. But I haven't received permission to go yet. If I don't
get there you must write to me."

"I certainly will, Ruth. And you must write also. But come out if you
possibly can."

The home-coming of the Rovers was, as usual, made a gala event. The three
mothers had come down to meet their children and there was a happy
reunion at the Grand Central Terminal, and then the three families drove
off in their automobiles to their homes on Riverside Drive. A little
later the fathers of the young folks came in from downtown, and that
night there was a grand dinner spread for all in Tom Rover's house.

"Gosh, it's good to be home once more, Mother!" cried Andy, and hugged
his parent from one side while his twin hugged her from the other.

"And it's mighty good to think that we can all be together," came from
Jack. "It's so different from what it was when the war was going on."

"Oh, please don't speak of the war! I never want to hear of it again!"
put in Martha.

"And to think we're all going out to Big Horn Ranch!" burst out Fred.
"Isn't that just the grandest ever?"

CHAPTER XVIII

ON THE WAY WEST

"Well, we're off for Big Horn Ranch at last!"

"It certainly is a grand prospect, eh, Jack? We ought to have barrels of
fun on the ranch."

"Yes, Randy, it certainly ought to make a dandy vacation."

"I'm fairly itching to