just received a letter I want you to read," he said. "It is from
Nick Jasniff, and he mentions you." And he handed over the
communication.

It was a long rambling epistle, upbraiding Plum roundly for "having gone
back on him," as Jasniff put it. The writer said he was now "doing
Europe" and having a good time generally. One portion of the letter read
as follows:

"The authorities needn't look for me, for they will never find me.
I struck a soft thing over here and am about seventy pounds to the
good. Tell Dave Porter I could tell him something he would like to
hear--about his folks--but I am not going to do it. I don't think
he'll meet that father of his just yet, or that pretty sister of
his either. She'd be all right if she didn't have such a lunkhead
of a brother. Tell him that some day I'll square up with him and
put him in a bigger hole than he got me into. If it wasn't for him
I wouldn't have to stay away as I'm doing--not but what I'm having
a good time--better than grinding away at Oak Hall."

As may be imagined, Dave read this letter with even greater interest
than had Gus Plum. What was said about his father and sister mystified
him.

"Can it be possible that Nick Jasniff has met them?" he said.

"To me the letter reads that way, Dave," answered Plum. "He mentions
your sister as being pretty and all right, and how could he do that if
he hadn't seen her? Yes, I think they must have met."

"Then perhaps my folks have been in London all this time--and I didn't
know it. Gus, I'd like to copy part of that letter and send it to my
uncle."

"Very well--and I am going to show the letter to Doctor Clay," answered
the former bully of Oak Hall.

Dave copied that portion of the letter which interested him and
forwarded it to Dunston Porter, along with a communication in which he
asked his uncle about taking a trip to London. He said he was tired of
waiting and would like to start on a hunt for his father and sister
without further delay. After sending the letter he talked the matter
over with Roger.

"You can't imagine how impatient I am to meet my father and sister," he
said. "Why, some days I get so I can hardly fasten my mind on my
studies, and I go in for fun just to help me forget what is on my mind."

"I can appreciate your feelings, Dave," answered his chum, kindly. "I'd
feel the same way if my folks were missing. If you go to London, do you
know I'd l