"Ask him to go to the campus to give Buttons points on playing left half." "But he wouldn't come." "Have you asked him?" "No." "Then you don't know he won't. Put it to him he owes it to Baxter and to Buttons, as his friend, to lend a hand." "Don't believe he knows I'm playing left half," declared Buttons. "Then tell him--and ask him to coach you." "But how'll we get round the month we've hardly spoken to him?" inquired Soda. "Forget it. Just go to Cotton-Top and talk to him as though nothing had happened. Then, Buttons, you and Grace get at Margie. It seems Fred thinks Alice is lonesome, and so he asked Margie to take her into our crowd, and, like a silly fool, Margie got on her high horse, instead of realizing Fred only suggested the idea out of kindness." "By Jove! I have it!" cried Buttons. "Why not have an extra meeting of the supper club round at Fred's to-night?" "Too much of a tax on Mrs. Markham," returned Sandow. "We can get around that, by having the girls bring baskets and telling Mrs. Markham we only decided after school to have the meeting." "All right, fix it up. Only be sure to talk to Margie first, so she won't sulk," advised Sandow. "That's pretty fine for you two, but where do I come in?" demanded Soda. "Here you bid me to a consultation, and then decide upon a plan to be pulled off at a meeting of a club of which I'm not a member." "That is sort of tough," chuckled Buttons. "Guess we'll have to invite you. You can come as my guest. So long as we're going to take our suppers, an extra won't make any difference." "But I'll want a girl," protested Soda. "I don't want to sit around and watch you all." "All right. I'll have Grace ask Betty Brewer." This proposal met with the approval of Soda, and the consultation ended with Sandow's admonition to inform the girls without delay. Eagerly the suggestion was accepted by all the members of the club, though Margie demurred until Buttons told her Sandow had called her silly--discreetly omitting the fool--and while the girls bustled about their preparations, Buttons sought Bronson. Fred was in his room studying when the boys and girls arrived. "I'll call him," said Mrs. Markham. "No; let me," pleaded Margie, and, amid the banter of the others, she vanished from the room, returning in due course with Fred. At the sight of his friends, the boy flushed, but Sandow and Sallie diplomatically smoothed out any awkwardness, and under the spell of their hearty cordiality, Fred became the merry companion of old. But his cup of happiness was not yet filled. While the girls were putting on their wraps, Bronson called Fred to one side. "Will you give me your father's address?" he asked. "Why, yes, if you want it," replied the boy, his surprise at the request evident in his face. "I do. That is--my father does. Your father consulted him about some matter and left without giving his address. Father wishes to write him that he has changed his mind and will take his case."