"I knew he wouldn't want to see me," said Dave.
"What's up—more trouble, Dave?" questioned Phil. "Remember, I've been away from Oak Hall so long I've rather lost track of things."
"This trouble didn't occur at the school," answered Dave. His face grew a trifle red as he spoke.
"It happened back at Crumville," broke in Ben, and winked one eye. "You see, Nat wanted to come to a Thanksgiving party the Wadsworths gave. But Dave told Jessie just what sort Nat was, and she left him out at the last moment. It made Nat furious, and I've heard that he is going to do his best to square up with Dave this winter."
"You're mistaken, Ben; I didn't have to tell Jessie anything," corrected Dave. "A fellow named Bangs wanted Nat invited, but Jessie didn't want him and neither did her folks. Bangs got mad over it, and said he wouldn't come either, and he and Nat went to a show instead."
"Well, I heard that Nat blamed it on you."
"He is apt to blame everything on me—if he can," said Dave, with a short, hard laugh. "It's his style. I suppose he'll even blame me for getting Gus Plum to reform."
"Well, you did get Gus to do that," declared Ben, heartily. "It's the best thing I ever heard of, too."
"If Plum cuts Poole, what's the dude to do?" asked Phil. "The two used to be great cronies."
To these words Dave did not reply. He was wiping the steam from the car window. Now he peered out as the train came to a stop.