“What is that?”

“To watch Parwick, and follow him when I think he is going to meet Koswell and the others.  I may be able to overhear their talk.”

“Good!”

After that Dick and Sam told Tom of what had occurred at the college since their brother had left.  Sam was just relating the particulars of a stormy interview with Professor Sharp when Dick uttered a cry.

“Look!  Here comes Dora, and she is running!”

One after another the brothers ran down to the ground floor of the hotel and hurried outside.

“Oh, I am so glad I found you all together!” cried Dora, panting for breath.  “Come quick!”

“Where to?” queried Dick.

“Down the road about half a mile.  We just saw that Jerry Koswell and Bart Larkspur, and they are having a quarrel with a man who acts as if he was half intoxicated.”

“It must be Henry Parwick!” ejaculated Tom.

“Yes, his name is Parwick,” said Dora.  “We heard Koswell mention it.”

“Where are they?” asked Sam as the whole party hurried down the main street and out of Ashton, Dora leading the way.

“They are at a cottage where an old woman named Brice lives.  We were going to stop for a drink of water when we heard voices, and saw the young men.  Then Nellie and Grace heard them mention you, and they asked me to come here and get you just as quickly as possible.  They said they would remain, and, if possible, hear what it was all about.”

“I think we are on the right track!” cried Dick joyfully.  “Maybe matters will come to a head quicker than we imagined.”

“Dick, you stay with Dora!” cried Tom.  “Come on, Sam!” And off the two brothers sped at top speed, leaving Dick and Dora to follow as rapidly as the strength of the girl would permit.

Curiosity lent strength to the legs of the two Rovers, and they covered the distance to the Brice cottage in an incredibly short space of time.  As they came into view they beheld Grace watching for them.  She held up her hand for caution.  She was standing in among some bushes by the roadside.

“Be careful, or those wicked boys will see you!” she cried in a low voice.  “They are back of the cottage, near the barn.”

“Where is Nellie?” asked Tom.

“She is watching them.”

“Have you learned anything?” asked Sam.

“Yes, indeed.  We have learned that Koswell, Larkspur and Flockley were guilty of this plot against you, and that a man named Parwick aided them by getting a strange powder for them, the powder that made you dizzy and sick,” were Grace’s words, and they filled the Rovers with much satisfaction.

CHAPTER XXX

A BEGINNING AND AN ENDING

“It was Allan Charter’s coming that clinched matters,” said Tom.  “Doctor Wallington might not have believed us, but he had to believe Charter.”