“Well, I want to square accounts with him also, and, at the same time, make a little money out of it. I thought you and Murker could help me, and that’s why I asked you to meet me here. I’m a bit late, and that’s some more of Fairfield’s doings. Now to business. This is the game!” And the three plotters drew their chairs closer together and began to talk in low, mumbling voices. CHAPTER IV HOLIDAY FUN “Jolly times to-night, fellows!” exclaimed Jack Fitch as he, with Tom and the other chums, walked along the snowy road on their way back to Elmwood Hall. “No boning to do, and we can slip away with some eats on the side and have a grub-fest.” “That’s right,” chimed in Bert Wilson. “Maybe you’d better put off telling us about the hunting trip, Tom, until we all get together. Suppose we meet in my room--it’s bigger.” “All right,” agreed Tom. “Anything suits me as long as you fellows don’t grab all the crackers and cheese before I get there.” “We’ll save you a share,” promised Morse Denton. “I’ve got part of a box of oranges my folks sent me,” volunteered George Abbot. “Bring ’em along,” advised Jack. “They’ll come in handy to throw at the fellows if any of ’em try to break in on us.” “What! Throw my oranges!” cried George. “Say, they’re the finest Indian Rivers, and----” “All right. If they’re rivers, we’ll let ’em swim instead of throwing ’em,” conceded Bert. “Anything to be agreeable.” “Oh, say now!” protested George, who did not always know how, or when, to take a joke. “It’s all right, don’t let ’em fuss you,” advised Tom in a low voice. “But, fellows, we’d better hustle if we’re going to have doings to-night.” “That’s right!” chorused the others, and they set off at a rapid pace toward Elmwood Hall, which could be seen in the distance, the red setting sun of the December day lighting up its tower and belfry. The skates of the students jangled and clanked as they hurried on, making a musical sound in the frosty air, for it was getting colder with the approach of night. “Seasonable weather,” murmured Jack. “It’ll be a lot colder than this up in the Adirondacks, when we start hunting deer and bear.” “What’s all this?” asked Morse, with a sudden show of interest. “Some of Tom’s schemes,” answered Jack. “We’re going on a hunting trip.” Morse looked to Tom for confirmation. “That’s the idea,” Tom said, briefly sketching his plan. “Bert, Jack and George are going with me. Like to have you come along.” “I’d like to, first rate, old man,” was the answer, given with a shake of the head, “but the governor has planned a trip to Palm Beach for the whole family, over Christmas, and I have to go along to keep order.” “I’m sorry,” voiced Tom, but his words were lost in a gale of laughter from his chums as they sensed the final words of Morse. “You keep order! You’re a fine one for that!” “The fellow who tied the cow to Merry’s back stoop!”