as a great relief to do
away with suspicion and spying, which really had no part in such a
genuine woods outing.

They had plenty of little adventures during the remainder of their
camping experience, but nothing of great moment happened; and in due
time old Moses drew the party all the way back home again, browned from
their days in the sun and air, and with a renewed appetite for the home
cooking. Camp fare is all very fine for a spell, but oh! how delightful
do those doughnuts, cookies, apple pies and all similar dainties taste
to growing, healthy boys, after two weeks spent in the woods!

Maurice Dangerfield found himself balked in his designs, and was glad to
accept the really generous amount of money which his aunt offered him,
at the same time being told that she never wished to see him again after
his duplicity. She did this because she felt under certain obligations
to the man for having been the first to discover the presence of oil on
her vast holdings of property.

Before many weeks had gone by there were several wells being put down,
and the Pontico Hills region began to have a very oily smell, that
sometimes could be detected away down in Chester when the breeze was
favorable. And Miss Priscilla urged Jack and his chums to accept a
generous present from her, with more to follow as time developed the
value of the new discovery, which their timely assistance had saved from
falling into the hands of the unscrupulous Mr. Maurice.

During the balance of the summer vacation Jack and Toby and Steve
enjoyed many little outings that afforded them considerable profit in
the way of information, as well as pleasure. Like most of the other boys
of Chester, however, they were head and ears interested in the progress
of the new building that was being erected, and which when completed
would be used as a gymnasium, where they could have the time of their
lives amidst such appurtenances as go to make up a first-class physical
culture department.

With the first breath of Autumn, and the taking up of school duties came
the long anticipated season of outdoor Fall sports. The sound of the
"punk" of the football kicked hither and thither over the green sward
told what was in the wind. And the title of our next story will explain
how those boys of Chester were eager to win more victories for their
home town. You will find it all set down in the pages of "Jack Winters'
Gridiron Chums; or When the Halfback Saved the Day."