“Because I want him to have the facts――that’s all.” “Then I’ll write him,” said Walter hastily. “All right.” “And look here, Dan. I didn’t just mean what I said. I don’t want to be a cad. I didn’t――I wish I hadn’t said what I did.” “About what?” “You know,” said Walter foolishly. “I mean about the room.” “I understand,” said Dan in a low voice. “I was just a little worried, Dan. Gus Kiggins has his faults, but then he isn’t the worst fellow in school. But I don’t want you to have any trouble――――” “Why not?” “He’s the best fighter in school.” “You mean best or worst?” “Either,” replied Walter, with an uneasy laugh. “I don’t want you to queer yourself.” “I don’t want to myself,” said Dan good-naturedly. CHAPTER XXII CHANGED RELATIONS The relations between Dan and Walter were daily becoming more strained. Gus Kiggins was a less frequent visitor than he had been formerly, but Dan was convinced that this simply meant that Walter was spending more time in the room or company of the boy for whom Dan had formed an intense dislike. The threatened trouble between himself and Gus apparently had vanished and even little Carlton Hall was not troubled as he formerly had been. The lad was a bright little fellow and in the classroom was already making a reputation for his quickness. Now that his first feeling of homesickness was gone and there had come a comparative freedom from his tormentors, Carlton was entering more fully into the spirit of the life of the school. For Dan the little fellow’s admiration, as well as his devotion, steadily increased. More and more Carlton sought Dan’s room and company. If Walter objected, he did not say so, though his unconcealed contempt was not lacking. But Dan and Walter, though they occupied the same rooms, were no longer such warm friends as once they had been. There were not many times when the boys quarreled. It was rather an absence of all friendly relations that marked their daily lives. As the weeks passed Dan’s steady work began to tell. After the Christmas vacation he was among the few boys of his class who were permitted to study in their rooms instead of in the study-room, where the other boys assembled every afternoon and evening and did their work under the direction of a teacher, who for Dan’s class was Mr. Sharp. At first Dan had almost decided to keep on with his work in the study-room, because of his feeling that he could do better work there, but his lack of respect for this particular teacher finally led him to accept the privilege and his study-hours were therefore spent in the quiet of his own room.