up the hotel?"

"No, he didn't connect the two."

"Hum! What do you think of doing about it?"

"I hardly know. I wish we could round up the wild man."

"Plenty of folks wish that."

"I think he hangs out somewhere along the river, or on one of the
islands."

"Maybe Nat Poole knows."

"I hardly think so--although I am sure Nat wants to find the
fellow--why, I can't imagine."

During those trying days, Job Haskers was as harsh and dictatorial to
Dave and Roger as ever, and several times he passed sneering remarks
about those who were missing.

"You may think as you please, Doctor Clay," said he to the master of
the Hall. "I feel sure in my mind that Lawrence and those other boys
are guilty. I do not think Mr. Sparr would accuse them if he was not
pretty sure of his ground."

"Well, he has not dared to have those warrants served," replied the
doctor, dryly.

"Because he is afraid there will be a great deal of money used in the
case to fight him."

"Mr. Haskers, do you stand up for Mr. Sparr? I thought you had had
some difficulty yourself with him once?"

"That was but a small affair. I think he is perfectly honest and that
he wants to do what is right."

"Possibly. But he did not treat Lawrence very fairly in the matter of
that dinner that was ordered."

"That was a mistake, and Mr. Sparr lost as much as he got. Yes, I
think those boys guilty, and in the end you will find out that I am
right," added Job Haskers as he went off, smiling grimly to himself,
as if it was a pleasure to him to have the boys thus accused.

The next morning came another surprise. On getting up Dave noticed
that something was missing from the dormitory. Phil's suit-case was
gone, likewise a portion of his clothing, and also the valises of Ben
and Buster, and part of their outfits.

"Well, this beats the Dutch!" exclaimed Roger, on learning the news.
"Who took them, do you suppose?"

"Don't ask me, Roger."

"Maybe they came themselves and got them," suggested Sam.

"If they did, wouldn't we hear them?" asked Gus.

"Talk about a mysterious disappearance," cried Shadow. "Say, this puts
me in mind of a story. Once some fellows----"

"Oh, stow it, Shadow!" cried the senator's son. "Let's get busy and
try to find out what this means. Maybe they are back at the school."

All of the boys dressed hastily and took a look around. But they could
find no trace of the runaways. Yet the traveling-bags and the clothing
were certainl