the boys sleepy, and all were glad to undress and
go to bed. Dave was tired out, having put in an extra-long day, and the
moment his head touched the pillow he sailed off into the land of dreams
and did not awaken until the morning bell was clanging in his ears.

The storm had passed away, and outside it was as clear as crystal. The
sun shone brightly, and this helped to put all the boys in good humor,
for a gray day at Oak Hall was not to their liking. All were soon
dressed, and Dave, Roger, and Phil started to go below together.

In the upper corridor they came face to face with Gus Plum, the former
bully. Plum looked rather pale and thin and his eyes were somewhat
sunken. That the exposure of his wrongdoings had caused him much worry
there could be no doubt.

"How do you do, Gus?" said Dave kindly, and stepping closer he shook a
hand that was almost as cold as ice. Phil and Roger merely nodded.

"Oh, I'm pretty well," answered Gus Plum. "How are you?"

"First-rate--that is, I would be if I could only get some word from my
father and sister."

"It's too bad that you don't get some kind of message." Plum lowered his
voice. "I'd like to see you alone this noon or to-night. I--er--want to
talk something over with you," he whispered.

"All right, Gus--I'll try to see you this noon," replied Dave, in a low
tone; and then all the students passed down to the dining-hall.

"Plum has certainly got something on his mind," was Roger's comment.

"Well, that exposure was a terrible thing for him," returned Phil. "Of
course what he did wasn't as bad as what was done by Nick Jasniff and
those two robbers, but it was bad enough. I'd hate to have such a black
mark against my name."

The Thanksgiving holidays had been rather short, and those pupils who
lived a long distance from Oak Hall had remained at that institution;
consequently the routine of studies was taken up that day without much
trouble. Fortunately Dave was now placed under Andrew Dale, the first
assistant, a teacher loved by all the scholars.

"I know I shall learn faster than ever," said Dave to Roger. "Mr. Dale
knows just how to bring out all there is in a fellow."

"I wish the doctor would get rid of old Haskers," returned the senator's
son. "I simply can't bear him."

"Haskers is under contract, so I've been told, Roger. Maybe he'll be
dropped when the contract runs out."

Just before the bell rang for the morning session Shadrach Mellick drove
off in