“No time to spare!” sang out Tom, as he ran the automobile up to the college steps.

“I am ready,” said Sam, who had a dresssuit case with Tom’s uniform and his own in it.

“Where is Songbird?”

“I don’t know, I thought he was with you.”

“Here I am!” came the cry, and the would-be poet of the college came rushing across the campus.  He was dressed in his very best suit, and wore a rose in his buttonhole.

“Wait!  I almost forgot the horns!” cried Sam, and he darted back into the building, to reappear a few seconds later with several long tin horns.  Into the automobile piled the boys, and then, with a loud sounding of the horn, Tom turned on the power, and the machine started off in the direction of Hope, soon reaching the spot where the automobile had gone into the river.

“That poor chap didn’t hurt his machine much. so I have heard,” remarked Sam, as they bowled along over the bridge.  “But, I think it might have been better if he had come out of it scott free, and the auto had gone to pieces.”

“We ought to call on him, Sam,” returned Tom.  “I would like to find out whether or not he is related to Jesse Pelter.”

“Oh, don’t bother about that to-day.  Let your, mind rest on the game—­ and the girls,” and Sam grinned faintly.

The run to the seminary did not take long.  The Laning girls stood waiting on the porch, and once they were in the car, the machine was headed in the direction of the Sanderson cottage.

Nellie occupied the front seat with Tom, while Sam was in the tonneau with Grace and Songbird.  The younger girl was in her usual happy mood, but Nellie’s face showed worriment.

“Have you heard anything more about the missing ring?” questioned Tom, while on the way to the Sanderson farmhouse.

“Not a thing, Tom,” answered Nellie, soberly.

“Of course they have questioned the hired help?”

“Yes.  And they have also questioned a number of the teachers and the students.”

“Has Miss Harrow said anything more about it to you?”

“No, but every time we meet, she gives me such a cold look that it fairly makes me shiver.  Oh, Tom, sometimes I don’t know how I am going to stand it!” And now the girl showed signs of breaking down.

“There, there!  Don’t think about it any more, Nellie—­ at least, for to-day.  Think of the jolly good time we are going to have and how we are going to defeat Roxley.”

“Do you think Brill will win, Tom?  I heard some of the girls at Hope say that they were sure Roxley would come out ahead.  They said they have an unusually strong nine this year, and that they have already won some games from the strongest nines around here.”

“Well, that is true.  Nevertheless, we hope to come out ahead.”

“Sure we’ll come out ahead!” cried Songbird.  “With Tom in the box it’s a cinch.”

“Just what I say,” broke in Sam.  “Tom has got some curves that are bound to fool them.”