attention to details.

After supper that night Tom took his chum to one side and asked:
"Would you mind very much if you didn't make the trip to Shopton
with me?"

"No, Tom, of course not, if it will help you any. Do you want me
to stay here?"

"I think it will be a good plan. I don't like to leave dad alone
if those scoundrels are around. Of course he's able to look after
himself, but sometimes he gets absent minded from thinking too
much about his inventions."

"Of course I'll stay here at the hotel. This is just as good a
vacation as I could wish."

"Oh, I don't mean all the while. Just a day or so--until I come
back. I may be here again by to-morrow night and find that my
father is needlessly alarmed. Then something may have happened at
home and I would be delayed. If I should be, I'd feel better to
know that you were here."

"Then I'll stay, and if I see any of those men--"

"You'd better steer clear of them," advised Tom quickly. "They
are dangerous customers."

"All right. Then I'll go over and give Miss Nestor lessons on how
to run a motor-boat," was the smiling response. "I fancy, with