"That's it!" came from Ben. "Why, if we had been caught in some out-of-the-way place, we might be frozen to death trying to find some shelter." The two rooms which the chums occupied on the third floor of the hotel were connected, and before they went to bed the youths all drifted into the one which was to be occupied by Dave and Ben, for here it was slightly warmer than in the other room, and the lamp gave a better light. It seemed good to be together like this, especially on a night when the elements were raging so furiously outside. The former school chums talked of many things--of days at Oak Hall, of bitter rivalries on the diamond, the gridiron, and on the boating course, and of the various friends and enemies they had made. "The only one of our enemies who seems to have made a man of himself is Gus Plum," remarked Dave. "He has settled down to business and I understand he is doing very well." "Well, Nat Poole is doing fairly well," returned Ben. "I understand his father owns stock in that bank, so they'll probably boost Nat along as rapidly as his capabilities will permit." "Nat was never the enemy that Plum and Jasniff and Merwell were!" cried Phil. "He was one of the weak-minded kind who thought it was smart to follow the others in their doings." "This storm is going to interfere with our studies, Dave," announced Roger. "Not but what I'm willing enough to take a few days' rest," he added with a grin. "We'll have to make up for it somehow, Roger," returned our hero. "We've got to pass that examination with flying colors." "I'm afraid this storm will interfere with the art critics who were to look at those miniatures," put in Ben. "Oh, dear! I wish we knew just what those little paintings were worth." "I hope they prove to be worth at least a hundred thousand dollars," said Phil. "That will be a nice sum of money for you folks, Ben." "Right you are!" answered the son of the real estate dealer. The youths were tremendously interested in the miniatures, and a discussion of them ensued which lasted the best part of half an hour. Ben described some of the pictures as well as he was able, and told of how they were packed, and of how they had been placed in the Basswood safe, waiting for the critics that Mr. Wadsworth had promised to bring from the city to his home to inspect them. "Well, I suppose we might as well turn in," said Roger, presently, as he gave a yawn. "I must confess I'm tired." "Come ahead, I'm willing," announced Phil; and then he and the senator's son retired to the next room. "O pshaw! what do you suppose I did?" exclaimed Dave to Ben, while the pair were undressing. "I left my overcoat and my cap on the rack in the lower hallway. I should have brought them up here." "I did the same thing," answered his chum. "I guess they'll be safe enough. All the folks in this hotel seem to be pretty nice people."