mebody interrupted with a song, and there was much laughter. Mortimer
alone seemed to be the sinister influence at work, and he hovered near
Dunk as if to counteract the good intentions of Andy.

"Here you are, waiter!" cried Dunk. "Everybody have something--ginger
ale, soda water, pop, anything they like. Cigars, too." He pulled out a
bill--a yellow-back--and Andy saw Mortimer take it from his shaking
fingers.

"Don't be so foolish!" exclaimed the sophomore. "You don't want to spend
all that. Here, I'll hand out a fiver and keep this for you until
morning. You can settle with me later," and Gaffington slipped the big
bill into his own pocket, and produced one of his own--of smaller
denomination.

"That's good," murmured Dunk. "You're my friend and protector--same as
I'm Andy's protector. We're all protectors. Come on, fellows, another
song!"

Andy was beginning to wonder how he would get his chum home. It was
getting very late and to enter Wright Hall at an unseemly hour meant
trouble.

"Come on, Dunk--let's light out," said Andy again, making his way to
his roommate's side.

"No, you don't!"

"That game won't go!"

"Let Dunk alone, he can look out for himself."

Laughing and expostulating, the others got between Andy and his friend.
It was all in good-natured fun, for most of the boys, beyond perhaps
smoking a little more than was good for them, were not at all reckless.
But the spirit of the night seemed to have laid hold of all.

"Come on, Dunk," appealed Andy.

"He's going to stay!" declared Mortimer, thrusting himself between Andy
and Dunk, and sticking out his chin in aggressive fashion. "I tell you
he's going to stay! We don't want any of your goody-goody methods here,
Blair!"

Andy ignored the affront.

"Are you coming, Dunk?" he repeated softly.

Dunk raised his head and flashed a look at his roommate. Something in
Dunk's better nature must have awakened. And yet he was all good nature,
so it is difficult to speak of the "better" side. The trouble was that
he was too good-natured. Yet at that instant he must have had an
understanding of what Andy's plan was--to save him from himself.

"You want me to come with you?" he asked slowly.

"Yes, Dunk."

"Then I'm coming."

Mortimer put his arm around Dunk and whispered in his ear.

"You don't want to go," he insisted.

"Yes, he does," said Andy, firmly.

For a moment he and the other youth faced each other. It was a struggle
of wills fo