“More trouble!” came from Mrs. Stanhope, as she also greeted them.  “I was hoping all our troubles were a thing of the past.”

“This isn’t any trouble for you,” answered Dick.  “Excepting that it brings trouble through your giving us shelter for the night.”

“If that’s the case, then let it bring trouble,” put in Dora promptly.  “But what is it all about.”

“I’ll tell you presently, Dora.  But in the meantime can you give Sam some supper?  He hasn’t had a mouthful since dinner time.”

“You poor boy!” came from Mrs. Stanhope.  “To be sure he shall have his supper.  I’ll tell Mary to prepare it at once,” and she bustled from the room to give the servant the necessary directions, and returned at once.

Sitting down in front of the fire the three boys told their tale, Mrs. Stanhope and Dora listening with keen attention.  When Dick got to the point where Jasper Grinder had wanted to thrash him Dora gave a scream.

“Oh, Dick, the idea!  Why, he really must be crazy!”

“I believe his passion got the best of him,” said the eldest Rover.

“I’m glad Tom took the cane away,” went on Dora.

“It is really too bad,” observed Mrs. Stanhope, when their story was finished.  “I quite agree with you that Captain Putnam will not uphold Mr. Grinder in his inhuman course.  Of course you must stay here to-night, and as long after that as you please.”

It was not long before supper was ready for Sam, and when he entered the dining room Mrs. Stanhope went along, to see that he got all he desired.

“I am awfully glad you came,” said Dora, in a low voice, when she was alone with Dick and Tom.  “I have something important to tell you, something I didn’t wish to mention in front of mamma, for it will only worry her without doing any good.”

“And what is it?” asked Tom and Dick, in a breath.

“I was down to Cedarville yesterday to do some shopping, and I am almost certain that I saw Dan Baxter hanging around the hotel there.”

“Dan Baxter!” ejaculated Dick.

“Hush, Dick! not so loud.  Yes, Dan Baxter.  He was on the hotel stoop, but the minute he saw me he went inside.”

“Perhaps you are mistaken,” said Tom.  “I hardly think he’d dare to show himself here.”

“At first I was uncertain about it.  But when I came back that way I looked again, and I caught him peeping out at me from one of the bar-room windows.  As soon as he saw me look he dodged out of sight.”

“If Dan Baxter is in this neighborhood, he is here for no good,” was Dick’s blunt comment.  “Evidently he has not forgiven us for helping to put his father back in jail.”

“Dan Baxter is not of a forgiving nature, Dick.  You must be careful, or he will make trouble for all three of you.”

“We can take care of ourselves, Dora.  If only he doesn’t annoy you and your mother.”

“I don’t think he’ll do that—­now Mr. Crabtree is out of it,” answered Dora, and then, as Mrs. Stanhope re-entered the room, the subject was dropped.