other old chums. Spud hailed him with delight and even Stanley smiled
warmly as he shook hands.

"Stanley, I want to ask you to bear with poor Tom," said Dick, as he
continued to hold the other's hand. "He isn't himself at all, and you
ought to be able to see it. Sam and I want him to go home and consult
a specialist, but he won't do it. I don't know what to make of him.
What he did was terrible, and I am sure he wouldn't have done it if he
was in his right mind."

"Maybe," returned Stanley, hesitatingly. "I've been talking it over
with Spud and maybe I was a little harsh. But to be tumbled in that
well hole, in the mud and water, made me mad clean through."

"It would make anybody mad, and I wouldn't stand for it either, if Tom
was in his right mind. But you can see how it is. Sam and I feel
terrible over it. I want you to forgive him, and I want you and Spud
and Songbird to help Sam watch him."

"Why, do you think he'll do something desperate?" asked Stanley,
curiously.

"I don't know what to think. If a fellow is out of his head he is
liable to do almost anything. I want him watched, and what is more,
I'd like you fellows to keep this to yourselves. I don't want the
whole college to know it."

"You can trust me to keep mum," said Spud, promptly.

"I shan't say a word," added Songbird. "I think too much of Tom. Why,
he is one of the finest fellows in the world when he is all right!"

"All right, I'll keep quiet too," said Stanley. "And I won't hold
anything against him. But you had better watch him pretty closely,"
was the warning.

Of course Tom wanted to know all about his father's business and Dick
told him as much as he thought was necessary. He did not want to worry
his sick brother and so kept back a good deal of what he had related to
Sam.

"Don't you worry about me, Dick!" cried Tom, on parting. "I'll be all
right!" And he waved his hand gaily, and so did Sam, as the big
touring car moved away in the direction of Ashton.

Fortunately for the boys, the lessons that day were not hard and Tom
and Sam came through without missing. Then followed a settling down to
the work of the term; and thus a week slipped by.

Day by day Sam watched Tom closely. He made his brother take his pills
regularly and also made him take outdoor exercise, and aided him as
much as possible in his studies and with his themes. All the others
were very friendly, and even Stanley came up and told Tom tha