inutes of riding, after leaving the center of the town, brought
them within sight of the Wadsworth residence, a fine mansion set back
from the roadway, with beautiful trees and shrubbery surrounding it.
Down at the great gateway stood Professor Potts, now white-haired and
somewhat bent, but with a kindly smile of welcome on his face. Dave
waved his hat and the old gentleman bowed with old-fashioned courtesy.
Then the touring-car swept up to the broad front piazza and Mrs.
Wadsworth showed herself.

"Home again, are you, Dave," she said, pleasantly. "I am glad to see
you." And then she allowed him to kiss her. There had been a time when
Dave had been somewhat afraid of this stately lady of society, but that
time was past now, and Mrs. Wadsworth looked on Dave almost as a
son,--indeed, it had been this affection for the youth which had caused
the two families to live under the same roof.

Dave was soon up in his room, putting away his things and getting ready
for dinner, which would be served in half an hour. He was almost ready
to go below when he saw Caspar Potts pass through the hallway.

"Well, Professor, how have you been?" he asked, pleasantly.

"Very well, David, very well," was the somewhat slow reply. "It is a
very pleasant life here, very pleasant!" And the eyes of the old college
professor glistened.

"Got the library in shape now, I suppose?" went on Dave, for he knew
that was the old gentleman's hobby.

"Yes, David, we have every book and pamphlet catalogued. And I am adding
something new," continued the professor. "I am getting the autographs of
many of the writers and pasting them on the fly-leaves. And where a
writer dies and I get a printed obituary notice I paste that in the back
of the book. I think it adds something to a volume to know about the
writer and to have his or her autograph."

"Fine, Professor!" cried Dave, and tapped him on the shoulder. "My, but
it is nice here! Much better than the old farm, eh, and the poor-house
that I came from!"

The old gentleman nodded several times, and the tears stood in his eyes.

"Yes! yes! It is very, very nice. I have found real friends, and I am
thankful, very thankful!" And he continued on his way down the hall,
wiping his eyes with his handkerchief.

On the stairs Dave met Jessie. She was in a fresh dress of white, and
had a rose in her hair.

"How pretty you look!" he whispered, as he took her arm. "Just like a--a
picture!" And then Jessie blu