Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/264

242 he'll make me go home and work in his lumber yard. I don't want to do that."

"Write to him and tell him you didn't know what you were drinking—that somebody put up a job on you," suggested Gus Plum. "That's what I am going to do," and the letters were penned without delay.

After this happening matters moved along smoothly at Oak Hall for over a month. Having had such a "calling down" from Dr. Clay the bully and his cronies did not dare to do anything wrong, and Dave and his chums stuck to their lessons. The only break for Dave came at Thanksgiving, when he journeyed to Crumville, to eat his turkey dinner with the Wadsworths and Professor Potts.

"Oh, I'm so glad you've come," cried Jessie, dancing up to greet him. "You must tell me all about your school, and how you are getting along."

The dinner was a veritable feast, and all sat around the board two hours, eating nuts and raisins and listening to what Dave had to tell.

"Of course you haven't gotten into any scrapes?" remarked Oliver Wadsworth, with an amused twinkle in his eye.

"Not any serious ones, sir. Of course, I've had some fun—it's bound to come in a school like that."

"I know, Dave, and I don't blame you for wanting some sport. But don't neglect your studies."