“Sit down, fellows, and make yourselves at home.  This is on me and Nick.  We’ll have a jolly time, and I’ll run you back in my car!”

Tom started.  “Sam Heller!” he exclaimed, half rising in his seat.

“Keep quiet,” advised Bruce.  “Of course it’s Sam.  This is part of my experiment.  Now you listen.”

There was some more talk and laughter, and then a waiter came to take the orders.  Sam called for a rather elaborate lunch, and while it was being gotten ready a voice, which Tom recognized as that of a Sophomore with whom he was slightly acquainted, asked: 

“You had great sport this summer, didn’t you, Sam?”

“I should say we did!  Nick and I helped find a treasure in an old mill.”

“Whew!” gasped Tom.  “So he found it, did he?”

“Keep quiet,” whispered Bruce.  “Listen!”

“And what’s this I hear about playing a joke on Tom Fairfield, and some of his friends?” asked another voice.

“A joke!” gasped Tom.

“Quiet!” warned his friend.

“Ha!  Ha!” laughed Sam.  “Yes, it was a joke all right.  You know those fellows happened to go camping near where Nick and I were.  We met old Skeel—­you know, the prof. who used to be here.  Well, he had some scheme of finding a hermit’s money hidden in the old mill, and we went in with him.  Then we found that Tom and his crowd were on the same trail.

“Nick and I decided to have some fun with ’em.  So one day we sneaked into their camp, when Tom was out, and just took Bert, Jack and a fellow named Dick something-or-other prisoners.  Say! but they did kick and struggle, but we managed ’em.

“We carted ’em off to the old mill, and there we put ’em in a secret room.  It was jolly fun, until Tom came, made quite a row, and got ’em out.  But it was all a joke.”

“By Jove! and a good one, too!” cried several laughing voices.

“Did you get the treasure?” someone wanted to know.

“Yes, it was there all right.  The old hermit got it.  I don’t know just how that was, for Nick and I left.  But I think Tom and the old chap had a row, and part of a wall fell down, showing a secret room.  Oh, but you should hear how indignant Jack and Bert got when they found we were standing guard over them!  It was as good as a hazing.”

“It must have been!” agreed his friends, laughing heartily.

“Aren’t they sore on you?” someone asked.

“Oh, well, maybe a bit,” admitted Sam, with a show of frankness.  “But if a fellow can’t take a joke what good is he?”

“That’s right!” came in a chorus.  “If they make any trouble for you, Sam, let us know.”

“I will, but I don’t think they will.  Ah! here comes the eats!  Pitch in, fellows!”

“You’re the stuff, Sam!” came from several.  “And that sure was a joke on Tom Fairfield and his crowd,” added a voice.  “A corking good joke!”