Before long they reached Garry's home. Garry pressed his friend to come in and have dinner with the family, but Cal had another engagement and could not accept the invitation at that time, though he promised to do so before long. "Now what about Mr. Allen?" asked Cal, as he prepared to depart. "I suppose you want this thing to be cleared up right off the bat." "You bet I do!" exclaimed Garry. "I'll see Mr. Allen in the morning and make an appointment, if I can, to see you at his office right after school closes. I'll 'phone you at noon about it. That suit you?" "Right down to the ground," replied Cal. "Good-bye, old chap, and don't take any bad money. S'long." The joy in the Grayson family when Garry repeated to them at the table the events of the afternoon can be imagined. They had all been immersed in gloom because of Garry's predicament, had never for an instant doubted his innocence, and had writhed under the sense of bitter injustice. Now Mrs. Grayson's eyes were full of happy tears as were Ella's, and Mr. Grayson's voice was husky as he threw his arm over the boy's shoulder. "You've had a hard time of it, my boy," he said, "and I know just how you must have felt. But wrong can't triumph for long, and now you've been vindicated. Let me know when you've made the appointment with Mr. Allen, and I'll run up and join you there." "Rooster," said Garry the next morning, as he met his chums on the way to school. "How would you like to get back on the eleven?" "Swell chance!" grunted Rooster. "Better chance than you think," replied Garry, his eyes dancing. "What do you mean?" came from the crowd in a chorus, as they gathered about him. "Never mind what I mean," replied Garry, with a portentous air of mystery. "Cut out that Sphinx stuff or I'll slug you," cried Bill. "Tell us what you mean!" "Not yet," laughed Garry happily. "I'm beautiful but dumb." "Dumb is right," agreed Ted heartily. "The less said about the beauty the better. Be a good fellow, Garry, and spill it." "Be patient, little ones," retorted Garry aggravatingly. "All in good time. If you behave yourselves, I may let you into a secret, say about five o'clock this afternoon. Until then my lips are sealed." "Your lips may be split unless you come across," threatened Nick, making a playful pass at him. But no amount of wheedling could get anything further from Garry, and his chums passed the rest of the school day in wondering what could be the explanation of the mystery. But that it was something good, they felt assured, and that enabled them to possess their souls in more or less patience. When the morning lessons were over Garry called upon Mr. Allen in the latter's office. The principal was bending over his desk, busy with a mass of reports. He looked up as Garry entered. "What is it, Garry?" he asked, as he pushed back his papers and slewed his chair around.