once more they tried to find the stout gentleman's quarters.

When they reached it they found to their disappointment a small card on the door that read, "Gone to dinner, back at two." "Isn't that just too bad!" cried Brandt, almost ready to burst into tears.

"Never mind," said Jim, hopefully, "we'll just wait until he comes back." "I did not think it was dinner-time," sighed Brandt. "I thought we'd be at home long before this."

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"So did I," returned Jim. "I wonder what the folks will think?”

"I hope they won't think we are lost," exclaimed Brandt, "because that would worry dear Mrs. Cole, you know."

"I wish we had told them all about it before we started," cried honest Jim; "and then if we did not get back in time, they'd know just where we were."

"It's all my fault," murmured Brandt. "You wanted to tell them, but I said to keep it a secret and surprise them; but," he added, in a tired voice, "we'll tell them the very next time."

Their conversation was interrupted at this point by the joyful appearance of the stout gentleman.

"Well! well! well!" he exclaimed, rubbing his hands, "back again. I thought you were home by this time."

"So we might have been, sir," replied Jim (Brandt was too tired to talk), “if our tandem had not been stolen."

"How was that?" asked the stout gentleman, taking a bunch of keys out of his pocket. He was a bashful lad, was Jim, in the presence of strangers, but somehow he forgot to be on this occasion, and told the whole story from the beginning. The stout gentleman did not open his office door as he intended, instead he asked the boys several questions in a very serious voice. Then he said, "Come with me.”

They followed him out into the street, and after many turns reached a large railroad station. Into the depot and up to a window walked their friend, and bought two tickets. Then they followed him out and up the steps into a train.

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Now, my little boys," said the man,

"don't you leave your seats until the conductor comes to you. He'll take you safe home. It's too bad you lost your tandem," he continued, "but remember, never again to come into the city without telling your folks, will you promise me that?" he said, looking earnestly at the boys.

"Yes, sir, we promise, and thank you very much," replied Jim, as the stout gentleman disappeared through the doorway.

The train did not start for thirty-five minutes, but it seemed hours to the tired, hungry little soldiers. At last a bell rang, and the train began to move slowly out of the station.

During the ride, the boys talked but seldom, and reached the little country depot an hour later, feeling utterly

wretched.

They had still three miles to walk before they reached the farm, and Brandt was so weary that it seemed as if he would drop on the roadside. How different everything appeared to the tired boys!

They had started out in the morning with flying colors on a beautiful tandem

that went like the wind. They were coming back weary and footsore.

Poor little patriots! their loss had been heavy, it is true, but a little seed had taken root that day in the field of a lad's experience that would blossom and bear fruit by and by.

When they had gone about a mile, Brandt sat down on the roadside.

"I can't go- any more—I—” but he did not finish. Overcome with the heat and fatigue, the poor little fellow fainted in Jim's arms.

Dear, patient Jim! He held the little boy tenderly, while big tears trickled down. the freckled cheeks. Suddenly a horse appeared in the distance, and through the mist of tears Jim saw that it was Dandy and the dog-cart, with Pete driving.

CHAPTER IX.

QUIET TIMES.

BRANDT had been very ill for many days after his trip to the city, but at last was feeling well enough to sit up in bed. Miss Robyn came to see him every day and sat by his bedside. The boy had grown to love the golden-haired girl, and watched for her visits.

One day when she was just about to leave him, Brandt said suddenly, "Please bring me Cousin Dick's picture."

She brought the photograph from the table, and Brandt gazed at the fine manly face for a moment, saying, "I thought I'd be down there helping him by this time."

"Did you, dear?" said the girl. "But boys don't go to war, you know, they stay at home and help."

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Yes, that's what Mrs. Cole said," returned Brandt; and he kissed the photo