“Next time you pick out two chaps as easy be sure you do not make a mistake,” advised Hodge. Frank laughed over it. “I fancied you were planning something for us,” said Merry, “and so we turned it on you. It’s all right, fellows. No hard feelings. We’re able to stand the joke.” “Joke’s on ush,” said Hackett. For some time Fillmore rode in silence. They had reached Druid Hill Park. Suddenly the captain of the lacrosse team flew into a drunken rage. “Anybody can keep shober ’f he drinksh water!” he snarled. “That washn’t smart! I ’fuse to ride with a man who drinksh water! It’sh dishgrace! Lemme out! I’ll take car home! Lemme out!” “Don’t be silly,” said Frank. “You’re not going home now, either of you. You’re not in condition to go home. We’ll take you to the Belvidere with us and get you straightened out. You don’t want to show yourselves in this condition. What will your sister think, Fillmore? What’ll she say? Keep still!” “I’m all ri’! Guess I know when I’m all ri’! Needn’t think you’re only shober person on earth! I’m shober—perfec’ly shober. But I’ve been inshulted! I’ve been basely desheived! I won’t ride ’nozer inch wish you! Lemme out!” “That’s ri’, Freddie, ol’ man!” joined in Hackett. “I’m wish you! Le’sh git out an’ walk.” “Shtop thosh horsesh!” commanded Fillmore, starting to rise. Frank pulled him back on the seat. “I tell you to keep still!” “I tell you go to thunder!” snarled Fred, as he tore from Merry and flung himself from the carriage. He fell sprawlingly, but gathered himself up directly and was on his feet when Merry stopped the horses. “G’wan!” cried the unreasonable chap. “Want noshing to do wish you!” Hackett tumbled out. “G’wan!” he echoed. “Noshing to do wish you at all!” He joined Fillmore and feebly tried to brush the dust from his friend’s clothing. “What are we going to do about it, Hodge?” asked Frank. “Let the blamed fools go,” answered Bart, at once. “Why should we bother with them? They’ve fixed themselves the way they planned to fix us.” “I suppose that is true, but they’re intoxicated, and I can’t leave them this way.” In vain he tried to reason with Fillmore and Hackett. They took to the nearest walk, arm in arm, and reeled away. Merry drove along as near them as possible, hoping they would change their minds and decide to get back into the carriage. “Show that you can take a joke as well as anybody, fellows,” he urged. “Come, get in here again.” He was invited to go to a most disagreeable place, and the Hopkins men kept on until they came out of the park and boarded a street car. Then, of course, Merry had to give up. Befogged by drink, Fillmore went straight to his sister’s home, taking Hackett with him. On entering they encountered Inza and Elsie, and thus, through their own folly, exposed themselves to the girls in much the same condition in which they had intended to expose Frank and Bart. CHAPTER XXVI.