s necessary that they obtain a
meal on the train.

"Let me go into the dining car and have a look around first," remarked
Fred, when it came time to eat.

"What's the matter--afraid we won't be able to get seats?" inquired
Randy.

"I want to see if Slugger and Nappy are around. I don't want to eat
when they do."

"Right you are!" answered Jack.

He and Fred hurried through the train and into the diner. Neither
Brown nor Martell were present, for which they were thankful. They
found a table for four on one side of the car, with a table for two
directly opposite, and at once engaged both. Then, while Jack held the
tables, Fred hurried back and brought the girls and the twins.

"I never eat in a dining car but what I think of that fun we had with
Asa Lemm when we first came to the Hall," remarked Andy, as they sat
down. "My, what a pickle we did get that professor in!" he chuckled,
referring to a series of incidents, the particulars of which were
related in "The Rover Boys at Colby Hall."

"I wonder if we'll ever meet old Asa Lemm again?" remarked Fred.

"Sure!" returned Randy. "He's like a bad penny--bound to turn up some
time."

The young folks ordered soup for a first course, and this was quickly
served. Mary and Martha sat at the larger table with Andy and Randy
opposite, while Fred and Jack occupied the smaller table on the other
side of the car.

The soup was finished and the young folks were waiting to be served
with the more substantial portion of the meal, when suddenly Fred, who
was looking toward the far end of the dining car, pressed his foot
down on that of his cousin.

"What is it?" questioned Jack quickly.

"Here come Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell," was the low reply.

CHAPTER XI

TOM ROVER'S DILEMMA

Andy and Randy were facing the same way as Fred, and they, too,
noticed the approach of Brown and Martell. Randy whispered something
in a low tone of voice to Martha and Mary, and the two girls pursed up
their lips, but said nothing, nor did they look around.

The dining car was almost full, and the only table vacant was a small
one directly behind where Fred was sitting. Slugger and Nappy were
conducted to this by the head waiter, thus passing the Rovers. They
did not, however, notice our friends until they had seated themselves
and given their order.

"Humph! what do you know about that?" murmured Nappy Martell to his
crony. He was seated where he could stare directly at the