"Not a line, Phil," and Dave Porter's usually bright face took on a serious look. "I don't know what to make of it and neither does my Uncle Dunston."
"It certainly is queer. If they went to Europe your letters and cablegrams ought to catch them somewhere. I trust you get word soon."
"If I don't, I know what I am going to do."
"Go on a hunt, just as I did when I found my uncle," was Dave Porter's reply.
While the three boys were talking the train had rolled out of the station. The car was but half filled, so the lads had plenty of room in which to make themselves comfortable. Phil Lawrence stowed away his suit case in a rack overhead and settled down facing the others. He gave a yawn of satisfaction.
"I can tell you, it will feel good to get back to Oak Hall again," he observed. "You can't imagine how much I've missed the boys and the good times, even if I was laid up in bed with a broken head."
"You'll get a royal reception, Phil," said Dave. "Don't forget that when you went down you won the football game for us."
"Maybe I did, Dave, but you had your hand in winning, too, and so did Ben."
"Well, if the fellows---- Say, here comes Nat Poole." Dave lowered his voice. "I don't think he'll want to see me."
As Dave spoke, a tall, fastidiously dressed youth came down the car aisle. He was not bad-looking, but there was an air of dissipation about him that was not pleasant to contemplate. He wore a fur-trimmed overcoat and a cap to match, and heavy fur-lined gloves.
"Hello!" he exclaimed, on catching sight of Phil Lawrence. "Going back to the Hall, eh?"
"I am, and you are going back too, Nat, I suppose."
"Yes," drawled Nat Poole. He turned and caught sight of Dave and Ben. "Humph!" he muttered, and without saying more continued on his way down the aisle and through to the next car of the train.
"He's real sociable, he is," observed Ben Basswood, with a grin.
"I knew he wouldn't want to see me," said Dave.
"What's up--more trouble, Dave?" questioned Phil. "Remember, I've been away from Oak Hall so long I've rather lost track of things."
"This trouble didn't occur at the school," answered Dave. His face grew a trifle red as he spoke.
"It happened back at Crumville," broke in Ben, and winked one eye. "You see, Nat wanted to come to a Thanksgiving party the Wadsworths gave. But Dave told Jessie just what sort Nat was, and she left him out at the last moment. It made Nat furious, and I've heard that he is going to do his best to square up with Dave this winter."