“Yes, sir.” Wattles had taken an overcoat from the closet, and now, his black derby in hand, he stood rigidly at attention, his long countenance even more than usually solemn. “It will be worth five dollars extra to the man who drives you if he forgets all about it by to-morrow.” “So I was thinking, Mister Loring. There’s a fellow works in the garage who has a car of his own, sir, and as we’ve struck up a bit of an acquaintance, sir, I fancy he would be quite the chap for the――er――undertaking.” “Good! Better put this memorandum of the trains in your pocket. Got the money?” Wattles tapped the inside pocket of his coat. “Then go to it! I’ll expect you back about midnight. Good luck, Wattles!” “Thank you, sir.” Wattles reached the door and paused, a hand on the knob. “You understand, Mister Loring, I am doing this with the understanding you’re not to leave the chair until I get back, sir.” “Oh, absolutely, Wattles! Cross my heart. You’ll find me right here. I may be asleep, but I’ll stick to the jolly old chair!” “Thank you, sir,” said Wattles again. Then the door closed behind him, and Loring, chuckling, looked at his watch. “Eleven minutes past,” said Loring. “Fifteen minutes to get to the village and find his man. Five minutes to get started. Five minutes more at the station. Barring accidents, Clif, he ought to roll into Danbury by nine-ten.” “I dare say,” Clif agreed, “but if Tom is still set on going home I guess Wattles won’t be able to do much.” “Oh, Wattles will fetch him,” said Loring confidently. “Now it’s up to us to fix things at this end. What about his absence from supper? Suppose it was noticed?” “Why, yes, but that doesn’t matter. If a fellow doesn’t want to come to his meals he doesn’t have to. No one’s going to bother about that, but if he’s missed from assembly hall it’s good night! I wonder who’s in charge to-night!” “That’s so. I’d forgotten about study hour.” Loring thoughtfully thumbed the pages of the time-table. Finally; “Say, is it hard to get permission to cut study hour, Clif?” “Gee, I don’t know. I never tried it. Why?” “I was thinking that if Tom got permission to stay away, because of illness or something, he might get by.” “Of course, but how can he get excused if he isn’t here to ask?” “Couldn’t you do it for him?” The two boys observed each other in thoughtful silence for a moment. Then Clif’s eyes lighted. “Gee, I might!” he exclaimed. “Only――well, I’d sort of hate to have to lie, Loring.” “Don’t do it. Listen. Here’s how you work it.” Loring’s voice dropped a tone and Clif hitched his chair closer. CHAPTER XVII WATTLES USES COERCION “Is it necessary, sir, for Tom Kemble to ask for permission to cut study hour himself?” “How’s that?” asked Mr. McKnight, smiling. “If Kemble cut study hour he would have to do it himself, wouldn’t he Bingham?” “Yes, sir. I meant, does he have to ask himself?”