"No, Roger. I am sorry, but the party I am going to see asked me to come alone."
"Oh, all right. I just thought I'd mention it."
"If it hadn't been for that I should like very much to have you and Phil along," continued Dave, earnestly. "But I can't take anybody."
"Must be going to see a girl," and the senator's son looked at his chum quizzically.
"No, it is not a girl. Now please don't ask me any more questions."
"Just as you say, Dave," answered Roger, and then began to get ready to go to bed. He could not help but wonder what the business was, and why Dave was so secretive about it.
In the morning Dave had to go through the same kind of a scene with Phil. The shipowner's son was as much mystified as Roger, and after Dave had departed, the pair walked into the warm gymnasium to talk the matter over.
"Dave has something on his mind," said Roger. "I noticed it yesterday."
"So did I, Roger. What is it, do you suppose?"
"I don't know, excepting it may be about Merwell and Jasniff. He said it wasn't about those girls."