HOW TOM ESCAPED PUNISHMENT Dick and Sam were good walkers, so it did not take them long to reach Ashton.

While covering the distance they talked over Tom's dilemma, but failed to reach any conclusion concerning it.
"It's too bad," said Sam, "especially when the term has just opened.
It will give Tom a black eye." "I don't think he'll stand for too much punishment, being innocent, Sam.

He'll go home first." "I was thinking of that.

But we don't want to be here with Tom gone." Arriving at Ashton, the boys hurried to the post-office.

The mail for the college was in, and among it they found several letters from home and also epistles from Dora Stanhope and the Laning girls.
"Here's one for Tom--that will cheer him up a bit," said Dick, holding up one addressed in Nellie Laning's well-known hand.
The boys sat down in an out-of-the-way corner to read their letters.
Dick had a communication of ten pages from Dora, and Sam had one of equal length from Grace.