CHAPTER III
THE "RETREAT"
Not far from the high school, at the end of a long row of houses, stood an unpretentious two-story frame building painted white. Big black letters almost covering the width of the house announced that therein was located "Terry Guffin's Student Retreat."
Terry had lived in the "White House" long enough to know generation after generation of schoolboys. His pies, doughnuts and cakes were famous; so were his chops. And many an old "grad" who had left his student days far behind found it convenient to return to Kingswood so that he might see the round, red face of Mr. Guffin, and once more partake of his tasty wares.
The interior of the Student Retreat was filled with interesting souvenirs of school life—photographs, sketches, bits of writing—each possessing a significance dear to the heart of Terry Guffin. There were rather curious paintings, too, on door panels, or over mantel-pieces, which showed ambition, if not high artistic ability. The largest and most important, painted on real canvas, with a gold frame around it, and hanging so conspicuously that all who entered must rest their gaze upon it, was signed "David Brandon."
The picture represented a wild stampede of cattle on the plains. Cowboys, terror-stricken animals, and clouds of dust were depicted in a spirit which had often aroused the enthusiasm of visitors to the Retreat.
At the rear of the building, a large yard enclosed by a high board fence was a favorite spot with many of the students, for tables, with the whitest of table-cloths, and comfortable chairs were placed temptingly about. Several trees and palms, together with a number of small flower beds, helped, in warm weather, to make the place very attractive.
When Nat Wingate and Owen Lawrence entered the "Retreat," late that afternoon, their ears told them before they reached the yard that it had been captured by a crowd of lively boys. And the new student of the Kingswood school immediately noted that his companion seemed to be highly popular.
"Hello, Nat! Hello!" came from half a dozen throats.