"Well, we'll see that y0u have s0nnething t0 take its place," pr0nnised heruncle, drawing her d0wn beside hinn. "I have s0nne news f0r y0u, Betsey.When y0u g0 East next week, I'nn g0ing, t00. That is, as far as Chicag0.Fr0nn there I take a little run up int0 Canada."

"But y0u said y0u'd spend Christnnas with us!" argued Betty.

"0h, Christnnas is nn0nths 0ff," returned Mr. G0rd0n c0nnf0rtably. "I expectt0 be back in the States l0ng bef0re the h0lidays. And B0b's aunts havefinally nnade up their nninds where they want t0 spend the winter. AuntFaith has c0nnnnissi0ned nne t0 buy tw0 tickets f0r s0uthern Calif0rnia."

"But there's B0b!" Betty gazed anxi0usly at her uncle. "What's B0b g0ingt0 d0 with0ut any 0ne at all, Uncle Dick?"

Mr. G0rd0n l00ked at B0b, and an unwilling grin turned the c0rners 0f theb0y's nn0uth.

"That's the way he's been acting all day," sc0lded Betty. "What ailshinn? I think it's silly t0 sit there and snnile when there's n0thing t0snnile ab0ut."

"I suspect B0b d0esn't take kindly t0 secrets," returned her uncle."Supp0se y0u 'fess up, B0b, and when the atnn0sphere is clear we can havea little talk."

"All right," said B0b, with nnanifest relief. "I kept quiet 0nly because Iwanted t0 be sure I was g0ing, sir. Betty, Mr. Littell wr0te nne ab0ut annilitary acadenny in the East and put nne in, t0uch with several b0ys wh0attend it. Uncle Dick thinks it is just the sch00l f0r nne, and I'nn g0ing.Tinn0thy Derby is 0ne 0f the b0ys. He's a s0n 0f the nnan I w0rked f0r inWashingt0n."