“I wish we could,” agreed Clif desperately, “but I don’t believe there’s a train back from Danbury before morning, even if I got there before he’d left. Besides, if he didn’t want to come back with me I couldn’t _make_ him, could I? He’s beastly stubborn. And I’d have to cut study hour, and if faculty found it out we’d _both_ be in wrong.” “No, you couldn’t go,” said Loring. “There’d be no sense in you getting into trouble, too. And, as you say, you couldn’t make him come back if he didn’t want to. And even if he really wanted to, he probably wouldn’t. He’d be ashamed to quit and turn back, I guess. No, you wouldn’t do, Clif.” “Then who――what――” But just then Wattles returned with the time-table, and Loring eagerly spread it open before him. “Get a pencil, Clif, and stand by, will you? All set? Leave Freeburg 6:34. Arrive Danbury 9:07. That’s a slow old train! Leave Danbury for New York――wait a minute. Yes, that’s right. Leave Danbury 9:52. Arrive New York 11:35. Got it? Now let’s see about the next one. Leave Freeburg――leave Freeburg――leave―― Here we are! Leave Freeburg 8:54. Arrive Danbury 11:02. Hm, that’s an hour and ten minutes too late. No use trying to catch him by train, Wattles.” “No, sir,” agreed Wattles impassively. “No, it can’t be done. Are we broke, Wattles?” “Oh, no, sir, I believe there’s something like forty dollars in the trunk, and I have a small sum on me, sir.” “Say, fifty altogether? That may do. You might see just what we _have_ got.” “I have three or four dollars,” said Clif eagerly. “With you?” “No, but――” “Don’t bother. We’ve probably enough. What do you say, Wattles?” “Fifty-five, sir, and a bit of change.” “Plenty! All right. You know what to do, Wattles. Bring him back.” “Yes, sir, but if the young gentleman shouldn’t care to return?” “I’d use persuasion, Wattles; any kind.” “Look here,” exclaimed Clif, “do you mean you’re going to send Wattles?” “Unless you can suggest some one better,” answered Loring. “I’d make certain first of all that he really got off on that six-thirty-four. He might have missed it, although he probably didn’t. Perhaps the agent will remember him. After that――well, Danbury’s around sixty miles, I believe, and it oughtn’t to take you more than an hour and a half at this time of night. It’s now seven-nine, so you ought to fetch there by――let’s see; allowing for delays in getting started, by nine or a few minutes later. So you’ll probably get to Danbury about the same time that he does. That’ll allow you about forty-five minutes to make him see sense. Tell him we sent word that if he comes back with you no one will know he ever went off. I’ll leave this window here wide open, Wattles, and he ought to be able to get to his room without being seen. Better stop the car well down the street. Don’t try to get back before midnight, either. Better give folks here a chance to get to sleep. And, Wattles.”