"What's wrong, Mr. Dodge? Anything in which another fellow can lend a hand?"
"Nothing's wrong," replied Dodge shortly, and turned at once to his books. Still his gloom continued, and one evening not long after Anstey said to Dick and Greg:
"That townsman of yours is so deep in gloom that it's like living in an unlighted cave to be in the same room with him. What's wrong, do you suppose?"
"No telling," replied Dick. "Just disposition, I presume. He's no longer a townsman of ours, by the way."
"Do you note really savage looks on his face?" put in Cadet
Holmes.
"Don't I, though!"
"Then Bert Dodge has a mean streak on and is plotting mischief to some one!"
"Is he underhanded and treacherous?" demanded Anstey quickly.
Prescott hesitated a moment, then said:
"Perhaps you'd better keep your eyes open. You're pretty close to him, and you don't want him to do anything to bring your record in question. Still, so far as any of us knows, he's been honorable and square here; so let's give the fellow his chance and say nothing to prejudice any one else."