“Well, who’d ever have thought of a thing like that but Tom Reade?” gasped Dick gratefully.

“It’s mighty good of you, old chum,” declared Darrin fervently.

“Now, then,"`resumed Reade, uncrossing his legs, “as I’m on the job to look after you, allow me to remind you that that is your train whistling at this moment.”

Three very jolly boys, therefore, piled out of the station building and boarded the train.

Tom spoke to the conductor a moment before following the others to seats.

“You see,” spoke Reade, “I’m even going to the trouble to make sure that this is the right train, and not a belated express.”

“I never though of that,” muttered Darrin, turning a bit pale.

“Great Scott!” gasped Dick.  “I can feel the cold sweat oozing out at the bare thought.  Suppose we had been harebrained enough to get on the wrong train, and be carried so far past that we couldn’t get back to Wilburville by nine o’clock!”

“Drop all worry.  Don’t think of anything alarming, or even disconcerting,” chuckled Tom.  “I’ve taken charge of the whole job, and I guarantee everything.  One of the little things I guarantee is that you’ll both win out to-day.”

“In algebra,” muttered Darrin, “I hope they won’t go too deeply
into quadratic equations-----”

“Cut it!” ordered Reade severely.  “Likewise forget it!  Say, I heard a rattling good story last night.  It carries a Dutchman, a poodle, a dude and an old maid.  Let me see if I can remember just how it runs.”

With that Reade got started.  He soon had his two friends started as well.  They laughed until the brakeman at last thrust his head in and called: 

“Next station, Wilburville!”

“Stop and get out, young man!” called Tom.  “Do you think we don’t know our way?”

Then into another story plunged Tom Reade.  He spun it out, purposely, until the train slowed up at Wilburville.

“’Bus right up to the town hall!” cried a driver, sizing the trio up shrewdly.

“Thank you; that’s our auto over there,” nodded Tom, pointing to a lunch wagon.  Reade started the chums at a brisk walk.  Of the first native they met they inquired the way.

Tom was still talking at forty horse-power when they came to the town hall.

“That building holds our fate!” muttered Dave, as they drew near.

“Stop that!” ordered Tom.  “Anyone would think that Annapolis was all the candy in the land.  What are you worrying about, anyway?  Haven’t I taken all the responsibility for this thing upon myself?  Haven’t I promised you both that you shall find your little toy appointments in your Christmas stockings?  Do you think I’m lying?”

“But the exams!” groaned Dave.

“Well, they’re competitive,” quoted Tom cheerily.

“That’s just what ails ’em!” argued Dave.