"Oh, forget it!" exclaimed Frank. "It was just by luck that we happened to be there."
"By the way, did you get any fish?" asked Andy.
"Not a one," replied Billy. "I had had a few nibbles when you came along, and I was just thinking I was going to have great luck, when——"
"When you had some bad luck," interrupted Frank. "Well, never mind. We'll all go fishing some day, and——"
There came a knock on the door, and the two visitors looked questioningly at Billy.
"I guess it's all right," he said, in a whisper. "It isn't past visiting time, and we haven't broken any rules. Come in!" he called.
The portal opened, disclosing one of the school messengers with a letter in his hand.
"Special delivery for you," he announced to Billy, and the host, with a murmured apology for reading the missive, tore open the envelope. Rapidly he scanned the few lines. Then he uttered an exclamation of surprise and delight.
"Say, fellows" he cried. "This is great! Listen to it. My uncle says his affairs are getting all tangled up, and he wants me to come back West at once and help him. He says to let things here slide for the present, and hustle right out to the ranch. It seems that his rivals are making all sorts of trouble for him."
"And can you help him?" asked Frank.