In his talk with him Sydney sought to draw out all the facts he could about the Morriseys.

“That boy you had the fight with, Miles,” he said—­ “Jimmy, I think you told Rex his name was—­ did you never ask him any questions about what he overheard that night?”

“No.  Mr. Morrisey seemed not to want me to talk about it, and besides, I never would have asked Jimmy after what had happened.”

“But you’d ask him now, wouldn’t you?” went on Sydney.  “You say that you heard his mother was dead.  He seems to be the only person left from whom you can get a clew.”

“Yes, I’d ask him now if I had the chance,” Miles admitted “But I don’t know just where he is.  You see, I’ve lost track of the Morriseys lately.”

“But you could find it again couldn’t you?  Write to the place where you heard they were last.  Where was that?”

“Bismarck.”

“Very good.  Do that, and when you have found out all you can from Jimmy, let me know.”

Miles promised to attend to this, but since he had fallen in with Rex, his desire to hunt up his parents seemed not as strong as it had been.  He went back to the Raynors enthusiastic over his visit, and talked of it for weeks afterward.

Meanwhile Roy and Rex settled down to their school life.  The change made in Rex by his New York experience was quite noticeable.  While retaining all his dignity of manner, he was more thoughtful of the feelings of others than he had been.

He worried a good deal at first about the opinion Scott Bowman must have of him, and truth to tell Scott did feel a little sore over the way he had been treated.

The two boys did not write or see each other till they met accidentally in the street at Christmas time.

Rex saw Scott coming and grew red in spite of himself.  There was a chance, he felt, that the other might go by without speaking to him.  But Scott halted and put out his hand.

“Hello, Rex,” he said, “you are a stranger.”

And at these words a great burden was lifted from Reginald’s mind.

The truth of the matter was, it was very difficult to keep at odds with a fellow with the fascinating personality of Rex Pell, and now since the recent change in him he was more attractive than ever.  He took Scott home to lunch with him, and related in detail his adventures on his memorable trip.

“Where the fun in being ‘tough’ comes in,” he concluded, “I don’t see.”

At Christmas time Mrs. Pell had Mrs. Raynor and Florence in for a visit.

“Has Miles heard from Jimmy Morrisey yet?” Rex inquired.

“No,” Florence replied.  “He didn’t write till about three weeks ago.”

“You’ll let him come in and see us New Year’s, won’t you?” Rex went on.

“Yes indeed, if you would like to have him.”

Miles came for New Year’s and brought the information that he had heard from Jimmy Morrisey at last.  He was a hall boy in a New York hotel, and said that as near as he could remember the name he had heard his father mention that night in his talk with his mother was Darley.