of the incidents of the
afternoon to relate to Miss Prescott that evening.

"I never saw such children for adventures in all my born days," she
declared, "but I have a letter here which I must show you. I am afraid it
means that we shall have to leave the old home."

She drew an envelope from her handbag which lay on a table of the hotel
room and handed it to Roy. On opening it, he found that it contained a
formal notice from the Sandy Bay Bank, that unless the accumulated
interest and other moneys owing them were paid up within a week that
foreclosure proceedings would be taken. The boy gave a disconsolate
whistle as he finished reading the letter aloud and handed it back.

He had hardly done so when there came a rap on the door of the room. "I
wonder who that can be so late?" thought Roy, getting up and going to the
door.

A bellboy stood there with a note.

"A messenger just brought this from the aviation grounds," he said. "Any
answer?"

"Wait a minute," said Roy, skimming hastily through the note. It was
typewritten and signed:--James Jarvis, Superintendent of Arrangements.

"Dear sir: You are requested to report at the executive tent at once.
An important meeting will take place affecting the competitors in
the races to-morrow."

This was what Roy read. Then he turned to the bellboy and told the lad to
inform the messenger that he would be there as soon as possible.

"Queer though," he said to Peggy and his aunt. "I didn't know of any
meeting that was scheduled to take place to-night. I guess it's one
that's been called at the eleventh hour to make some arrangements."

"That must be it," agreed Peggy. "Shall I come with you?"

"No, thanks, sis," rejoined the boy; "you'd better get to bed. It's going
to be an exciting day to-morrow for us all."

The boy snatched up his cap and with a hasty good-bye, was off.

Downstairs in the lobby of the hotel he found the messenger awaiting
him,--a shifty-eyed man with a blue chin. It was, in fact, Jukes Dade,
who, in a different suit of clothes and with a clean shave and haircut,
looked a trifle more presentable than he had earlier in the day when he
made himself known to Fanning.

"This way, sir," he said, with a fawning sort of bow.

"Out of this door is the quickest," said Roy quickly, with a feeling that
he would rather walk to the grounds alone than with such a companion.

"But we're not going to walk, sir. The committee has sent an auto for
you."