After the incident with Buttercup, Dan tried to behave for a few days. But it wasn't long before he went back to his old ways.
"Let's have some fun," he said one night to Nat. He pulled a bottle of root beer, a small cake, and some cards from under his bed.
Nat's eyes widened. "Where did you get that food?" he asked.
"It was sitting in the kitchen all day," Dan explained with a shrug. "Asia always tells me I can help myself to snacks. Besides, nobody is around—Mr. Bauer's away, and Mrs. Bauer is busy with Teddy, who's sick or something. Don't you want to learn how to play poker?"
Tempted by the adventure, Nat nodded.
"Well, we need another player, so go get Tommy, and bring a candle for more light."
"I'll bring Demi too," said Nat, who shared a room with Demi.
"No, he'll just tell on us or try to stop us. Besides, he's probably asleep."
Nat ran off and returned with a candle and Tommy, who was always ready for fun.
"First we'll eat, and then we'll play cards for money," Dan said as he passed the root beer and cake around. "That's what real men do."
"I wish we didn't have to be so quiet," Tommy said softly. "But we don't want Silas to hear us."
Silas managed the property for Mr. Bauer, and his room was right next door.
Suddenly a voice in the hall wailed, "I can't find Nat!" Then the boys heard the patter of bare feet.
"It's Demi, and he's gone to get Mrs. Bauer," Dan cried, whisking everything out of sight. "Get in bed, everyone!"
Tommy and Nat flew to their rooms. Hearing Demi's voice again, Nat quickly blew out his candle and tossed it under his bed. When Demi arrived with Jo a few seconds later, Nat was pretending to be asleep.
But Jo wasn't fooled. "What mischief are you up to?"
"What?" Nat said sleepily. "I only ran into Dan's room for a minute . . . I'm so sleepy . . . "
Jo gave up and returned to Teddy, and Nat was soon asleep for real. Little did he realize what was happening under his bed—the candle was not out!
Meanwhile Silas had awakened because he smelled something burning. Poking his head into the hall, he saw smoke coming from Nat and Demi's room.
"Fire! Fire!" Silas cried, running to rescue the sleeping boys. Nat's bed was on fire, and the flames were licking the curtains. By the time Silas had pulled Nat and Demi to safety, Jo was on the scene.
"Dan! Jack! Bring water from the bathroom! Tommy, get more buckets from the kitchen! Daisy, tell Asia I need her right now! Rob, stay out of the way!"
The fire was quickly under control. Demi was more frightened than hurt, but Nat had a painful burn on his arm.
When Mr. Bauer returned the next day, the boys gathered around him. Nat and Tommy immediately apologized for lying about the poker game, and the danger they'd caused, but Dan remained defiant.
"You know I hate gambling, Dan," the professor said with a frown. "And you took a treat that Asia had left for Silas! Worst of all, you've involved the other boys in your misdeeds."
"I didn't know it was a treat for Silas," Dan snapped. "Besides, not much harm was done."
"Not much harm?" The professor raised his eyebrows in surprise. "The burn on Nat's arm is a terrible punishment, and Tommy is truly sorry. But you, Dan, have not even apologized. We've forgiven you many times, but it has done no good—you're still setting a bad example. So say good-bye to everyone, and pack up your things."
"Where's he going?" Nat cried.
"To Mr. Page's school in the country because Mr. Page has straightened out many troubled boys."
"Will he ever come back?" Demi asked.
"I hope so, but that's up to Dan himself," Mr. Bauer said.
After Mr. Bauer left the room, the boys were full of questions for Dan.
"Will you like it at Mr. Page's school?" Jack asked.
"I won't stay if I don't," Dan replied.
"Where would you go?" Nat asked.
"Maybe I'll go to sea or out to California," Dan said with a reckless air that startled the boys.
"Oh, don't do that! Stay with Mr. Page awhile and then come back here," Nat pleaded.
"I'm never coming back here!" Dan stormed upstairs to pack his things, every one of which Mr. Bauer had given him.
When it was time to leave, Jo came outside, looking so sad that Dan felt remorseful.
"May I go in to say good-bye to Teddy?" he asked.
"Yes, he'll miss his Danny very much," Jo said, and followed him upstairs.
While Dan was bending over Teddy's bed, he heard Jo talking to her husband. "Can't we give him another chance—he's the only boy we've ever failed with."
But Mr. Bauer's mind was firmly made up. Dan wanted to ask for one more chance, but his pride wouldn't allow him. So, with a stony look on his face, he climbed into the wagon.
A few days later, Mr. Page sent a letter, saying Dan was doing well. But three weeks later, another letter arrived, and this one said that Dan had run away.
Mr. Bauer sighed. "Perhaps I should have given him another chance."
"Don't worry, Fritz," Jo said. "I'm sure he'll come back to us."
But time passed, and Dan did not return.