“Well, if Tom Fairfield was to blame, so much the better. We can kill two birds with one stone in his case,” chuckled the professor. “Now I think we understand each other. We needn’t meet again until we are up--well, we’ll say up North. That’s indefinite enough in case anyone hears us talking, and I don’t altogether like the looks of this landlord here.” “No, he’s too nosey,” agreed Murker. “Well, if that’s settled, I guess we’re ready for the next move,” and he looked significantly at Mr. Skeel. “Eh? What’s that?” came the query. “We could use a little money,” suggested the evil-faced man. “Money. Oh, yes. I did promise to bring you some. Well, here it is,” and the former instructor divided some bills between his followers and fellow plotters. “Now I’ll leave here alone,” he went on. “I don’t want to be seen in your company outside.” “Not good enough for you, I reckon,” sneered Whalen. “Well, it might lead to--er--complications,” was the retort. “So give me half an hour’s start. I’m going to drive back where I hired this cutter, and then take a train. You follow me in two days and I rather guess Tom Fairfield will wish he’d kept his fingers out of my pie!” cried Mr. Skeel, with a burst of anger. The three whispered together a few minutes longer, and then the former instructor came out of the road-house alone and drove off. “What do you think of him?” asked Murker of Whalen. “Not an awful lot,” was the answer. “But he’ll pay us well, and it will give me a chance to get square with that Fairfield pup. I owe him something.” “Well, I don’t care anything about him, one way or the other,” was the rejoinder. “I went into this thing because you asked me to, and to make a bit of money. If I do that, I’m satisfied. Now let’s get cigars and slide out of here at once.” And thus the plotters separated. Meanwhile, Tom and his friends were a merry party. They talked, laughed and joked, now and then casting glances at their pile of baggage, which included gun cases and cameras. For they were to do both kinds of hunting in the mountain camps, and they were particularly interested in camera work, since they were taking up something of nature study in their school course. The railroad trip was without incident of moment, if we except one little matter. It was when George Abbot mentioned casually the name of Whalen, one of the men employed at Elmwood Hall. “I wonder why he left so suddenly?” George said, as they were speaking of some happening at school. “I guess I was to blame for that,” Tom explained, as he related the incident of the cruel treatment on the part of Whalen. “I thought he looked rather sour,” went on George. “Why, were you talking to him lately?” asked Tom, a sudden look of interest on his face.