"No, it's been busted too many times by the raiding sophs. I'll buy another first time I'm down town."

But the matter slipped Dunk's mind, and Andy did not again think of it.

The thefts created no little excitement, and it was said that a private detective agency had been engaged by the faculty. Of the truth of this no one could vouch.

Another warning was given by the Dean, and students were urged to see to the fastening of their doors, not only for their own protection, but in order not to put temptation in the way of servants.

Andy came in from a late lecture one afternoon, to find open the door of his room he had left locked, as he thought. At first he supposed Dunk was within, but entering the apartment he saw Link Bardon there. The helper arose as Andy came in and said, rather embarra.s.sedly:

"Mr. Blair, I'm in trouble."

"Trouble!" exclaimed Andy. "What kind?"

"Well, I need money. You see I've got a sick sister and the other day she wrote to me, saying she'd have to have some money to buy an expensive medicine. I sent it to her. She said her husband would get his pay this week, and she'd send it back to me. Now she writes that he is sick, and can't earn anything, so she can't pay me back.

"I was counting on that money, for my wages aren't due for several days, and I have to pay my board. I don't like to ask my landlady to wait, and I thought maybe----"

"Of course I'll let you have some!" exclaimed Andy quickly. "How much do you need?"

"Oh, about seven dollars."

"Better have ten. You can pay me back when you like," said Andy as he extended the bill.

"I don't know how to thank you!" exclaimed Link, gratefully.

"Then don't try," advised Andy, with a smile.

CHAPTER XXV

THE MISSING WATCH

Andy was "boning" on his German, with which he had had considerable difficulty. The dusk was settling down that early December day, and he was thinking of lighting a lamp to continue work on his books, when he heard a familiar step, and a whistle down the corridor. Then a voice broke into a college refrain.

"Dunk!" murmured Andy. "It sounds good to hear him, and to know that there's not much more danger of our getting on the outs. He sure was worth saving--that is, what little I did toward it. He did the most himself, I fancy."

"h.e.l.lo, old top, hard at it?" greeted Dunk, as he entered.

"Have to be," replied Andy. "You've no idea how tough this German is."

"Oh, haven't I? Didn't I flunk in it the other day? And on something I ought to have known as well as I do my first reader lesson? It's no cinch--this being at Yale. Wonder if I've got time to slip down town before we feed our faces?" and he began fumbling for his watch.

"What's on?" asked Andy, rather idly.

Then, as he saw Dunk giving his shoes a hasty rub, and delving among a confused ma.s.s of ties in a drawer, Andy added:

"The witness need not answer. It's a skirt."

"A which?" asked Dunk in pretended ignorance.

"A lady. I didn't know you knew any here, Dunk!"

"Huh! Think you've got the preserves all to yourself, eh? Well, I'll show you that you haven't."

"Who is she?" asked Andy.

"Friend of a friend of mine. I think I'll take a chance and go down just for a little while. Save some grub for me. I won't be long. May make a date for to-night. Want to fill in?"

"If there's room."

"Sure, we'll make room, and I'll get you a girl. Some of us are going to the Hyperion. Nice little play there," and Dunk went on "dolling up,"

until he was at least partly satisfied with himself.

Dunk was about to leave when a messenger came to announce that he was wanted on the 'phone in the public booth in Dwight Hall, where the Y. M.

C. A. of Yale has headquarters.

"I guess that's her now," said Dunk, as he hurried out. "I told her to call up," and he rushed down the corridor.

Andy heard him call back:

"I say, old man, look out for my watch, will you? I must have left it somewhere around there."

"The old fusser," murmured Andy, as he rose from the easy chair. "When Dunk goes in for anything he forgets everything else. He'd leave his head if it wasn't fastened on, or if I didn't remind him of it," and Andy felt quite a righteous glow as he began to look about for the valuable timepiece belonging to his roommate.

"He must have it on him," went on Andy, as a hasty search about the room did not reveal it. "Probably he's stuck it in his trousers' pocket with his keys and loose change. He oughtn't to have a good watch the way he uses it. Well, it isn't here--that's sure."

Andy, a little later, turned on the electric light, but no glow followed the snapping of the b.u.t.ton.

"Current off again--or else it's burned out," he murmured. A look in the hall outside showed him other lamps gleaming and he knew that his own light must be at fault.

"Guess I'll go get another bulb," he remarked.

When he returned with the new one he was aware that some one was in the darkened room.

"That you, Dunk?" he asked.

"No," answered a voice he recognized as that of Ikey Stein. "I saw you going down the hall and guessed what you were after, so I took the liberty of coming in and waiting. I've got some real bargains."

"Nothing doing, Ikey," laughed Andy, as he screwed the lamp in the socket and lighted up the room. "Got all the ties I need for my whole course in Yale."

"It isn't ties," said Ikey, and his voice was so serious that Andy wondered at it. "It's handkerchiefs," went on the student-salesman.

"Andy, I'm in bad. I bought a big stock of these things, and I've got to sell 'em to get my money out of 'em. I thought I would have plenty of time, but I owe a bill that's due now, and the man wants his money. So I've got to sell these handkerchiefs quicker than I expected. I need the cash, so I'll let 'em go for just what I paid for 'em. I don't care if I don't make a cent."

"Let's see 'em," suggested Andy. The talk sounded familiar. It was "bargain" patter, but an inspection of the handkerchiefs showed Andy that they were worth what was asked for them. And, as it happened, he was in need of some. He bought two dozen, and suggested to Ikey several other students in Wright Hall on whom he might call.

"Thanks," said the salesman, as he departed after a lengthy visit in Andy's room. "I won't forget what you've done for me, Blair. I'm having a hard time, and some people try to make it all the harder. They think, because I'm a Jew, that I have no feelings--that I like to be laughed at, and made to think that all I care about is money. Wait! Some day I'll show 'em!" and his black eyes flashed.