June was ready to dance with any one save Dick. She knew Dick was watching her, and as she whirled onto the floor with Harmford she was filled with a feeling of satisfaction, for it seemed that she had retaliated, in a measure, for the deception of Merriwell. As for Dick, he was simply filled with astonishment, being utterly unable to understand what it meant.
“Sparkfair has stolen a march on me,” he decided. “Well, if June is as fickle as that, he may have her. I’ll show her that there are others.”
With this resolution in mind, he found another partner, and, thereafter, during the remainder of the evening he and June did not dance together.
CHAPTER XIV.
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.
In the morning the hostler came to Steele and sheepishly informed him that some time during the night the captive had slipped his bonds, managed to get out of the box stall, and escape.
“I don’t see how he did it, sor,” said the hostler. “I wisht you’d tell me how he opened the door of the stall from the inside, sor.”
“You must have slept like a log, Killen,” said Casper. “I’m sorry the fellow got away, but perhaps it saved the trouble of prosecuting him. I don’t believe he’ll show his nose in Cambridge again.”
Breakfast, with the morning sun streaming in at the windows of the dining room, was a jolly affair. Of course it was not what might be called an early breakfast, but before nine o’clock every one of the guests was up and ready to sit down at table.
And now Dick found that, in some manner, June’s seat had been changed. She was no longer at his side, but Sparkfair had the pleasure of discovering her beside him. Outwardly, Dick did not seem a bit disturbed. He chatted and laughed as easily as ever. The girl who filled June’s former seat received Dick’s smiling attention.
Plans for the day were freely discussed, and new projects were proposed, until Steele laughingly reminded them that they had suggested enough things to keep them all busy for a week, at least.