It was the day of the great intercollegiate boat races.
The single-shell race had just been ordered.
Among the number to compete in this race was Jerry Upton.
Our hero was rich now—that is, his folks were, which amounted to the same thing.
On trial it had been proven what a villain Alexander Slocum was. All of his masquerading in the west under the name of Darnley was exposed, as well as his fraudulent land schemes in the east. The real-estate manipulator was sent to prison for a term of years, and the property in California was divided up between Jerry’s father, Nellie Ardell and several others who held an interest in it.
The land was found to be within the city limits of Sacramento, and the Upton share was computed to be worth forty-five thousand dollars.
Mr. Upton was offered forty thousand dollars for it, but by the advice of Colonel Dartwell, who became his intimate friend, he concluded to keep it.
“The investment is bringing in good interest,” he said, “and as it was Jerry who did the work in getting it, the lad shall have it just as it stands when I and my wife die.”
Immediately after these matters were settled up, Jerry began to study for college, and Harry did also, and both made the entrance examination with ease.
Jerry was a fine scholar and he was also one of the best oarsmen in his class. Harry likewise rowed a good deal, although not near as much as formerly.
It was a perfect day and the river was, filled with pleasure boats, loaded down to the rails with sightseers. The banks of the stream were likewise lined with the crowds which had poured in to see the various college oarsmen compete for the supremacy in aquatic sports.
In the crowd on shore was our old friend Blumpo Brown. Blumpo was now in business at Lakeview, letting out pleasure boats, of which he owned several, and he was unusually prosperous. Just at present he was wearing the colors of Jerry’s college and “whooping her up” for our hero whenever the chance presented itself.
At the given signal the single shells took their places at the starting point.
The participants were the pick of the single-shell men, and Jerry realized that he would have a struggle to win.
A puff of smoke, the report of a gun, and they were off!