omotive, and knew
that the north-bound train had stopped at the station and gone on.

"There is the station!" cried Dave, pointing up the railroad tracks.
They continued to run and did not stop until they gained the platform.
Here they met the ticket agent.

"The train just went, didn't it?" asked Dave, and as the agent
nodded, he went on: "Did three young fellows like ourselves get on?"

"If they did, I didn't see 'em," answered the man.

"Oh!" cried Roger, "maybe they didn't take the train, after all."

"Let us hope so."

Somewhat out of breath, the two boys tramped around Barrelton, looking
for Phil and the others, and asking about them. But nobody appeared to
have seen the runaways, and not a trace of them was to be found
anywhere.

"All we can do is to get something to eat and take the other train for
Oakdale," said Roger, after they had satisfied themselves that the
runaways were nowhere in that vicinity. The walking around had made
him hungry.

They procured some pie and milk at a little stand near the station,
and shortly after four o'clock took the way train for Oakdale and
walked to the school. They went directly to the doctor's office. The
master of Oak Hall listened patiently to what they had to tell.

"I am sorry you did not find them," he said, gravely. "It was very
foolish of them to run away, very. I trust they will come back of
their own accord soon."

"Will you see Mr. Sparr about the matter?" asked Dave.

"Yes, Porter. And I wish you and Morr to go with me."

The interview took place that evening, the boys and the doctor driving
down to the hotel after supper. Jason Sparr treated the master of the
Hall politely but said very little.

"When I make my next move I'll have a lawyer," he said. "I know
somebody tried to blow up my hotel, and I think it was some of your
boys--that Lawrence boy especially. But I ain't going to have 'em
arrested until I can prove it."

"Very well," answered Doctor Clay. "And in the meantime, you had
better keep quiet, or you may have a suit for damages on hand."

On the day following there was something of a sensation. The weekly
newspaper issued in a nearby town came out with a thrilling account of
the dynamiting of the dining-room of the hotel. In the account
appeared the following:

"There is strong evidence pointing to the fact that the outrageous
deed was perpetrated by some schoolboys who held a grudge against
Mr. Sparr. They are known to have