"And trust Dave to help us get away with them," sang out the senator's son, gaily. "There is only one time when those fellows can't eat," retorted Dave. "That is when they are asleep." At a small table not far away from where the young people were seated, sat an elderly man and a lady. "There is Doctor Renwick and his wife," said Laura, when the meal was finished. "They must have been sleighing, too. I am going to speak to them." For Dr. Renwick came from Crumville, and had often attended the Porter family, as well as the Wadsworths. "We are staying here for a few days," said Mrs. Renwick to Dave's sister, after they had shaken hands. "You see, the proprietor of this hotel and restaurant is my cousin." "Oh, I didn't know that," said Laura. "They certainly have a very nice place here, and the dinner we had was just too lovely for anything." "Are you folks calculating to drive back to Crumville now?" questioned Dr. Renwick. "That was our expectation," replied Dave, who had followed his sister; "but it looks pretty fierce outside, doesn't it?" "I should say so, Porter. Just listen to that wind, and see how it is driving the snow! I shouldn't like to face it for any great distance." The others came up, and all the strangers were introduced to the doctor and his wife, and then the entire party left the restaurant and entered the parlor of the hotel, from the windows of which they could watch the storm. "It certainly is fierce!" remarked Phil, as they gazed at the furious onslaught of the elements. The wind was blowing as hard as ever, rattling the windows and sending the snow against the panes as if it were so much hail. It was impossible to see across the street, and, although Lamont boasted of a limited electric light service, all the lights upon the street corners were out. "This storm is going to break down a lot of the wires," announced Roger. "What do you think about our trying to get back to Crumville?" questioned Dave. "To tell the truth, Dave, I don't see how we are going to make it. You don't want to face that wind, do you? And going back we'd have to head into it nearly all the way." "I think I'll go outside and have a talk with the driver," answered our hero, and went out accompanied by Roger and Ben. "I'd like to get home on account of my father's being sick," announced the real estate dealer's son. "Otherwise I would just as lief stay here until to-morrow." "That's all right enough for us boys," put in Roger, "but how about the girls?" "We can leave them in Mrs. Renwick's care if we have to," announced Dave. "Laura and Jessie know her very well, and I am sure she'll be only too glad to play the chaperon. She's a very nice lady, and the doctor is a very fine man." They found that Washington Bones had had his supper and had returned to the stable to feed his horses. When they questioned the colored man about getting back to Crumville he shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.