“And I think,” Mr. Irving remarked, “that the young chap who took the part of ‘April Fool’ was one of the hits of the evening. He was so merry and good-natured, and yet so full of quips and pranks, why, he nearly fooled me two or three times!” “Oh, pshaw, Grandpa,” said Betty, saucily, “it would be easy enough to fool you; you’re so—so honest and good-natured, you know.” Mr. Irving looked at the roguish, smiling face with pretended severity. “Indeed, Miss Curlyhead! So you think it easy to fool your simple-minded old grandfather, do you? Well, little lady, you’re greatly mistaken! In fact, you’re quite wrong! Fool me! Humph! Why, when I was in college, the boys said I was the only one they could never play a practical joke on!” Mr. Irving looked very proud of his record for shrewdness, but his eyes twinkled as he saw Betty’s incredulous smile. “All right, Miss Mischief,” he went on, “if you doubt my word, try it. I’ll wager you a hat you can’t get off a joke upon your unsuspecting old grandfather that I don’t see through before it reaches its climax. Fool me, indeed!” “I don’t want to fool you, Grandpa,” said Betty, demurely, “only I think I could—that’s all.” “You little rogue, you do, do you? Well, the burden of proof rests with you.” “You know you wagered a hat,” said Betty, smiling; “did you mean it?” “Well, my child, I’ll own up that I said ‘wager a hat,’ because that’s a slang phrase—or at least it was in my youth—that doesn’t mean anything in particular, and I said it without thinking. But I’ll stand by it. You shall have the prettiest hat in Boston if you succeed in playing even the mildest little joke on your old grandfather.” “Now, Father,” said Mrs. McGuire, “I don’t think practical jokes are nice at all; and I don’t think you ought to put Betty up to such nonsense.” “As a rule, my dear, I agree with you; and I don’t want Betty to get the habit of doing such things. But this is an exceptional case. And, too, a good-natured joke does no harm, especially if the victim invites it himself.” “I think you’re safe, Grandfather,” said Jack. “I don’t believe Betty or anybody else could fool you. You’re too quick.” “Thank you for that compliment, my boy,” said Mr. Irving; “and then, too, remember that I am forewarned.” “Yes,” said Mrs. Irving, laughing at the conversation; “I think your chances for a new hat from Grandfather are slim, Betty dear.” “I really don’t need a new hat—just now,” said Betty, thoughtfully, “but, all the same, I’d like to win that one, and I’m going to try.” Betty’s dark head wagged in a determined fashion, and, after a little further chaff, the subject was dropped. But the next day Betty took it up again with Jack. “I want to play a perfectly splendid joke on Grandpa,” she said, “one that he will remember all his life.” “Well,” returned Jack, “you’re modest in your desires, aren’t you!” “But I do want to, Jack. Think what fun it would be! Now, help me think of something, do!”