“But the records of Mr. Stanhope’s business deals ought, to be clear,” said Sam.

“They are not as clear as one would wish, so father told me,” answered Dick.  He gave a long sigh.  “Too bad!  And just when we thought the Stanhopes and the Lanings could sit down and enjoy all that fortune.”

“I wonder if the girls know of this yet?” mused Tom.

“Most likely they have had word from home,” answered Dick.

“It will make them feel pretty sore,” said Sam.

“Yes, it would make anybody feel sore,” answered the oldest Rover.  “We’ll have to drive over and see, the first chance we get.”

When they met the girls the boys learned that they knew all about the affair.  All were worried, and showed it.

“This will upset mamma very much,” said Dora.  “I am afraid it will put her in bed.”

“It’s too bad, but it can’t be helped,” said Dick.

“Dick, do you think we ought to buy Sobber off?”

“No.  He doesn’t deserve a cent of that money.”

“Papa says the case will not come up for a long time, the courts are so crowded with cases,” remarked Nellie.  “He is about as worried as anybody, for he has already spent several thousand dollars, and if we lose he won’t know how to pay it back,”

“We’ll lend him the cash,” said Tom promptly, and for this Nellie gave him a grateful look.

The boys did their best to cheer up the girls, but their efforts were not entirely successful.  All felt that the coming legal contest would be a bitter one, and that Tad Sobber and the shyster lawyer who was aiding him would do all in their power to get possession of the fortune found on Treasure Isle.

The girls were coming to the football game with Sam, and all said they trusted Brill would win the contest.

“We are all going to carry Brill flags,” said Grace, “and I am going to root—­isn’t that what you call it?—­as hard as I can.”

“Then we’ll be sure to win!” cried Dick.

Yet the oldest Rover was by no means confident.  The Brill eleven had heard that their opponents were in the pink of condition.  They had played three games already, and won all of them.  Brill had played against the scrub only, which was hardly a test of what it could do.

The day for the contest dawned clear and bright, and early in the afternoon the visitors from Roxley, Hope, and other institutions of learning, as well as from Ashton and other towns, commenced to pour in.  They came on foot, in carriages and automobiles, and on bicycles, and soon the grandstand and the bleachers were filled to overflowing.  Flags and college colors were in evidence everywhere, and so were horns and rattles.

While Dick was waiting to catch sight of the carriage containing Sam and the girls from Hope he saw another turnout approaching.  In it were Mr. Sanderson and his daughter Minnie.

“Why, how do you do, Mr. Rover!” cried the girl pleasantly.