news and promised to be at college when they arrived.
"Oh, I hope the Dartaway carries us there in good shape," murmured Tom. "It will be an arrival worth remembering!"
Before he left home Dick had a long talk with his father and his Uncle Randolph. When he rejoined his brothers he was unusually sober.
"What is it, dad's business affairs?" queried Sam.
"Yes, Sam."
"Are they in bad shape?" questioned Tom, quickly. "What's gone wrong?"
"It's something about those mining shares that dad and Uncle Randolph invested in," answered Dick. "I'll give you the particulars later. They don't want Aunt Martha to know about it, for it will only make her worry without doing any good. I'm afraid dad and Uncle Randolph are in it bad," went on Dick, soberly.
"Can't something be done?" asked Tom.
"Not just now. Dad is going to Chicago about it next week again."
"Does he and uncle stand to lose much?" questioned Sam.
"Yes, a good deal more in fact than they can afford."
"Phew! That's too bad!" murmured the
