"No," said Dick, with a shake of his head. "Even if there were a dozen coming here I'm afraid we'd have to lose the chance." "Why?" asked Belle quickly. "Because we can remain here only two or three days longer." "Oh, that's a shame," broke in Susie. "Do you really have to go back to Gridley?" "Yes," said Dick solemnly. "Is the reason one that you may properly tell us?" Laura inquired. "It's one that we're not ashamed of, because we can't help it," Prescott rejoined. "Our vacation up here is nearly at an end just because our funds are in the same plight---nearly at an end, you see." "Oh, what a shame!" cried Clara sympathetically. "To be short of money is more than a shame," blurted Tom Reade. "It is a crime, or ought to be. No one has any right to be poor---but what can we do?" "Oh, well, there are plenty of pleasant times to be had in good old Gridley in the summer time," Dick declared stoutly. "And we shall have our canoe there." While chatting the young people had been walking up through the hotel grounds until now they stood just behind the stone wall that separated the ground from the road. "Why---look what's coming!" urged Dave Darrin, in a voice expressive of mock interest. All looked, of course. Fred Ripley, his hat drawn down over his eyes, came trudging along. In one hand he carried a dress suit case, and from the way his shoulder sagged on that side, the ease appeared to be heavy. On young Ripley's face was a deep scowl. "Judging from his appearance," suggested Tom Reade, "Rip is walking all the way to the Land of Sweet Tempers. Probably he's doing it on a wager, and is just beginning to realize what a long road lies ahead of him. I wonder if he'll, arrive at his destination during his lifetime?" Fred's shoes, usually so highly polished, were already thick with dust. His collar, ordinarily stiff and immaculate, was sadly wilted and wrinkled. His whole air was one of mingled dejection and rage. "I wonder what can have happened to him?" asked Susie curiously. "I think his conscience may be chasing him," smiled Dick. What really had happened was that Squire Ripley had been present when his son had made a very disrespectful answer to a white-haired man, one of the guests at the Lakeview House where the Ripleys were stopping. In a great rage the lawyer had decided to send his son home for that act of gross disrespect to the aged. To make the punishment more complete, Mr. Ripley had ordered his son to make the long journey on foot over the hills to the railway station. Only enough money had been handed the young man to buy his railway ticket home. The dress suit case had been added in order to make his progress more difficult.