At last Bradley was satisfied, but he was not destined to be left in peace. One after another the boys came round to him with a watch, asking him to point out the cistern in it. Those who had no watch borrowed one in order to put the question. Finally Billy became indignant. “Hi ham no blamed watchmaker, don’t y’ ’now!” he shouted. “Get haway from me, the ’ole hof you!” All through the evening Doris gave Dick scarcely a look or a word. Once he spoke to her and tried to enter into conversation with her, but she quickly excused herself and left him. On the other hand, she had nothing but smiles for Darrell. At first Hal remained reserved, but beneath her sunniness he gradually thawed. Zona Desmond improved the first opportunity to speak privately with Arlington. They were standing in a little alcove, and she observed that Chet was watching Doris closely. “You have something to thank me for, Mr. Arlington,” she declared. “Indeed,” he said, lifting his eyebrows. “How’s that?” “I have saved you from a lot of trouble.” “Have you?” “Yes.” “Then be sure of my thanks. But I am certain I do not understand what you mean. How have you saved me a lot of trouble?” “You know what you told Doris on the bridge this afternoon?” Chet shrugged his shoulders. “Yes.” “Well, do you know what she was going to do?” “I am sure I do not.” “Well, she was just determined to go straight to Dick Merriwell and demand to know if it was the truth. What if she had done that? You would have found yourself in a fix.” “I knew well enough that she wouldn’t.” “How did you know?” “Well, if I’m not mistaken, she has a little pride of her own. She could not do that without humbling her own pride.” “Still, Chester, she was just angry enough to do it. And it was I who stopped her. If it hadn’t been for me you never would have known of those things you told her. You know you fibbed when you said it was the gossip of the school.” He laughed easily. “There is such a thing as lying in a good cause,” he said. “Merriwell doesn’t care a snap for her, and any one can see that. Look at him now. There he is in the corner, talking to my sister.” “At least,” said Zona, watching her companion slyly, “you have done a good thing for Hal Darrell.” Instantly a cloud came to Arlington’s face. “I am not spending any time doing that fellow good turns!” he muttered. “But see how Doris is taking up with him to-night.” “I see!” Inwardly Zona was laughing. Things were occurring to satisfy her. She knew well enough that Chester had sought to break the friendship between Doris and Dick, with the object of placing himself in favor with Doris. In this he had failed completely. “It was a shame for Dick Merriwell to come between them,” asserted Zona. “And your fib will be pardonable if Doris and Hal again become friendly as of old.” “Oh, yes!” he grated. “It will be a fine thing, won’t it!” “Why not?” she innocently asked. “Never mind!” he growled. “Let it go!”