CHAPTER XXII.
The Message from the Unknown With the Christmas holidays Phin Drayne came home, to stay so far as school was concerned.
After his unhappy experience at the Fordham Military Institute, Phin had found things almost as unpleasant at Wilburville Academy.
For some reason the boys at Wilburville hadn't taken to him.
Phin had come to the conclusion that he wasn't appreciated anywhere save at home, so back he came, disgusted with the idea of carrying his education any further.
As a natural sequence, Drayne took to lounging about the streets.
High School boys and girls no longer paid any heed to him, so he did not fear slight or insult.
Two nights in every week Dick and Dave went faithfully to the High School gym.

to help Mr.Morton with the new evening classes in training.
One afternoon Prescott and Darrin encountered good old Dr.Thornton, the principal, who asked them how they were coming along.
"We're pretty busy," Dick admitted.

"Still, it does seem rather hard to us not to be connected with the High School any more." "Why, you are with us yet, and of us!" cried the principal.

"I carry your names on the rolls, with 'excused' written against your names.

If you don't believe that you're still of my High School boys, then drop in any day and take your places, for an hour, or as long as you please, at your old desks.