Dan Baxter had heard something about their search for the fortune on Treasure Isle, and as they walked over to the hotel for lunch the Rovers gave him some of the details.  In return he told them of some of his experiences on the road while representing a carpet house and another concern, as well as the jewelry manufacturers.  He told them of several of the former pupils of Putnam Hall, including Fenwick better known as Mumps, who he said was now working in a Chicago hotel.

“You boys can rest assured of one thing,” said Dan Baxter during the course of the conversation, “if I can ever do you a good turn I’ll do it, no matter what it costs me.”

“That is very kind to say, Dan,” answered

Dick.  “And let me say, if we can do anything more for you we’ll do it.”

The three youths spent several hours together and then Sam and Dick said they would have to get back to college.  Secretly they were worried about Tom.

“Well, please give the pin to Tom,” said Baxter, “and if you feel like it, write me a letter some day,” and he told them of the cities he expected to visit during his next selling tour.  Then the Rovers and their one-time enemy separated.

“Not at all like the old Dan Baxter,” was Sam’s comment,

“He is going to make a fine business man, after all,” returned Dick.  “Well, I am glad of it, and glad, too, that he and his father are reconciled to each other.”

Sam and Dick had covered about half the distance back to Brill when they saw a figure striding along the country road at a rapid gait.

“Why, say, that looks like Tom!” cried Sam.

“It is Tom,” returned his big brother.

“Do you suppose he has run away?”

“I don’t know.  Perhaps the doctor has suspended him.”

“Hello!” called Tom as he came closer.  “Thought I’d find you in town yet.  Come on back and have some fun.”

“What does this mean, Tom?” demanded Dick, coming to a halt in front of his brother.  He saw at a glance that Tom looked rather happy.

“What does what mean, my dear Richard?” asked the fun-loving Rover in a sweet, girlish voice.

“You know well enough.  Did you run away?”

“No.  Walked away.”

“Without permission?” asked Sam.

“My dear Samuel, you shock me!” cried Tom in that same girlish voice.

“See here, let us in on the ground floor of the Sphinx,” cried Dick impatiently.

“I will, kind sirs,” answered Tom, this time in a deep bass voice.  “I went to the room and remained there about an hour.  Songbird went out on a still hunt, Max with him.  The two overheard Jerry Koswell and his cronies talking, learned Jerry did the trick, came back and told me, and—­”

“You told the president,” finished Sam.

“Not on your collar button,” answered Tom.  “I waited.  The president sent for me.  I went.  He tried to get me to confess, and then the telephone rang, and that did the biz.”