CHAPTER XXV THE MISSING WATCH Andy was "boning" on his German, with which he had had considerable difficulty. The dusk was settling down that early December day, and he was thinking of lighting a lamp to continue work on his books, when he heard a familiar step, and a whistle down the corridor. Then a voice broke into a college refrain. "Dunk!" murmured Andy. "It sounds good to hear him, and to know that there's not much more danger of our getting on the outs. He sure was worth saving--that is, what little I did toward it. He did the most himself, I fancy." "Hello, old top, hard at it?" greeted Dunk, as he entered. "Have to be," replied Andy. "You've no idea how tough this German is." "Oh, haven't I? Didn't I flunk in it the other day? And on something I ought to have known as well as I do my first reader lesson? It's no cinch--this being at Yale. Wonder if I've got time to slip down town before we feed our faces?" and he began fumbling for his watch. "What's on?" asked Andy, rather idly. Then, as he saw Dunk giving his shoes a hasty rub, and delving among a confused mass of ties in a drawer, Andy added: "The witness need not answer. It's a skirt." "A which?" asked Dunk in pretended ignorance. "A lady. I didn't know you knew any here, Dunk!" "Huh! Think you've got the preserves all to yourself, eh? Well, I'll show you that you haven't." "Who is she?" asked Andy. "Friend of a friend of mine. I think I'll take a chance and go down just for a little while. Save some grub for me. I won't be long. May make a date for to-night. Want to fill in?" "If there's room." "Sure, we'll make room, and I'll get you a girl. Some of us are going to the Hyperion. Nice little play there," and Dunk went on "dolling up," until he was at least partly satisfied with himself. Dunk was about to leave when a messenger came to announce that he was wanted on the 'phone in the public booth in Dwight Hall, where the Y. M. C. A. of Yale has headquarters. "I guess that's her now," said Dunk, as he hurried out. "I told her to call up," and he rushed down the corridor. Andy heard him call back: "I say, old man, look out for my watch, will you? I must have left it somewhere around there." "The old fusser," murmured Andy, as he rose from the easy chair. "When Dunk goes in for anything he forgets everything else. He'd leave his head if it wasn't fastened on, or if I didn't remind him of it," and Andy felt quite a righteous glow as he began to look about for the valuable timepiece belonging to his roommate. "He must have it on him," went on Andy, as a hasty search about the room did not reveal it. "Probably he's stuck it in his trousers' pocket with his keys and loose change. He oughtn't to have a good watch the way he uses it. Well, it isn't here--that's sure." Andy, a little later, turned on the electric light, but no glow followed the snapping of the button.