Part 16 (2/2)

”Either Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning. He's going to stop at the 'Royal,' and wants us to be on hand to meet him. He says in all probability he'll arrive on the 7:45 Monday evening. And just make out we won't be on hand to give him a rousing welcome, what?”

”I rather guess we will,” said Tom, ”and then some. I move that we hire a bra.s.s band and do the thing up right.”

”That's a good idea all right,” laughed Bert, ”but I rather think Mr.

Melton would prefer to dispense with the bra.s.s band. But we'll manage to make him know he's welcome, I have no doubt of that.”

”I'd deserve to be hung, drawn, and quartered if _I_ didn't,” said d.i.c.k with feeling. ”He was certainly a friend in need if there ever was one.”

d.i.c.k alluded to a never-to-be-forgotten time when Mr. Melton had, at the risk of his own life, rendered timely aid to Bert and Tom in rescuing d.i.c.k from a band of Mexican outlaws. The three comrades were not ones to forget such a service, and from that time on Mr. Melton had always occupied a warm place in their regard. In addition to his personal bravery he was genial and good natured, with a heart as big as himself.

He had taken part in many enterprises, but was now a prosperous rancher in the Northwest, calling many a fertile acre his own.

He had traveled extensively and knew much of the world. His stock of experiences and anecdote seemed inexhaustible, and he was never at a loss for some tale of adventure when called upon to tell one. His bluff, hearty manner gained him friends wherever he went, and it was with feelings of the keenest antic.i.p.ation that the three comrades looked forward to his coming. It was only Wednesday when Bert received the letter announcing his coming, so they had several days of inevitable waiting.

However, ”all things come to him who waits,” and the day to which the boys looked forward with so much antic.i.p.ation was no exception to the rule. They were at the station long before the train was due, and it seemed hours to them before they heard its whistle in the distance.

”The chances are though,” said Tom pessimistically, ”that something has happened to delay him and he won't be on this train at all, but on the one that comes in to-morrow morning.”

”That's the way it usually works out,” agreed Bert with a grin, ”but somehow I have a hunch that Mr. Melton is going to be on this train. He said in the letter you know, that in all probability he would be on the earlier train.”

”Yes, I know,” said Tom, ”and I only hope that my fears are groundless.

But we won't have to wait long now to find out at any rate.”

He had hardly ceased speaking when the train puffed into the station.

They scanned the long line of cars carefully, and it was d.i.c.k who first discerned the burly form descending the narrow steps of one of the rear Pullmans.

”There he is, fellows,” he shouted and made a dash in the direction of the approaching figure, followed closely by Bert and Tom. Mr. Melton saw them coming and stretched out his hand. ”Well, well!” he exclaimed, after shaking hands all around. ”I'm certainly glad to see you once more, my boys. You don't look as though the grind of college work has interfered much with your health,” with a twinkle in his eyes.

”No,” laughed Bert, ”we're not actually wasting away under the strain.

But as far as that goes,” he continued, ”you look pretty fit yourself.”

”Yes, and I feel it, too,” replied Mr. Melton. ”I'm not quite as spry as I used to be, but I never felt better in my life. There's nothing like an open air life to keep a man young.”

While this talk was going on, the little party was making its way toward the hotel at which Mr. Melton had said he was going to put up, and were not long in reaching it.

”Well, boys,” said Mr. Melton as they ascended the handsome flight of steps leading up to the entrance, ”I don't suppose you've had supper yet, have you? If not I want you all to keep me company. It's on me, and the best in the house is none too good for us.”

”Well,” replied Bert, ”speaking for myself, nothing would give me greater pleasure. But we're all three slaves of the training table, you know, so I'm afraid you'll have to excuse us this time.”

”That's right!” exclaimed Mr. Melton in a disappointed tone, ”for the moment I had forgotten all about that. But duty is duty, and far be it from me to put temptation in your path.”

”What I think we had better do,” said Bert, ”is to see you safely installed here, and then hustle back to college and eat. Then we can come back here and spend the evening with you.”

”I guess that will be the best plan,” agreed Mr. Melton, ”but you must promise me to get back soon.”

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