Darrin went most of the way to the Prestons.
"Come right along through, and meet Miss Preston," urged Dan.
"If you ask it as a favor I will, old chap," Dave replied.
"No; I thought the favor would be to you."
"So it would, ordinarily," Darrin replied gallantly. "But to-night
I just want to stroll by myself."
"Ta-ta, then." The grin on Dan Dalzell's face as he turned away from his chum was broader than usual. Dan was thinking that, this time, though his call must be a short one, he would be in no danger on his return. He could report unconcernedly just before taps.
"No doughface need apply to-night," chuckled Dan. "But Davy was surely one awfully good fellow to get me through that other scrape as he did."
All thought of football fled from Dan Dalzell's brain as he pulled the bellknob at the Preston house.
After all this was to be but the third meeting. Dan fancied, however, that absence had made his heart fonder. Since the night when he had Frenched it over the wall Dan had received two notes from Miss Preston, in answer to his own letters, but the last note was now ten days' old.
"May I see Mrs. Preston?" asked Dan, as a colored servant opened the door and admitted him.