"Yes; I'm afraid she will," interposed Mrs. Markham. "I'll fix that," announced the winner of the prize. "How?" inquired both girls. "Go round to Buttons' and telephone to both your mothers." "But you'll have to tell them you won over the phone--which would mean the whole town," declared Grace. "Trust me not to. I'll just say you are going to stay at our house, and hang up the receiver before they can ask questions." "Buttons may tell, though," suggested Margie. "No, he won't. Will you?" "Sure not. It's too decent of the Head to let us know Fred won to throw him down." In their hearts, Margie and Grace were only too delighted at the thought of not going home, and, as the obstacles they had raised were removed, they sighed resignedly. Mrs. Newcomb and Mrs. Darling, however, proved less easy to assure, and the boys found it necessary to take Buttons' mother into their confidence before the desired permission was obtained. "I'm so glad you won, Fred," declared the good woman. "You certainly worked hard for it. Ever since that Bart Montgomery acted so atrociously when you went down to see the football elevens off, I've hoped it wouldn't go to Alice." "You must not blame her for Bart's actions," exclaimed Fred. "Alice is no more like the rest of the Montgomerys than I am." "Which is some difference," chuckled Buttons. "Come on, Cotton-Top. Let's get back. Now, mother, don't forget--you're keeping a secret." And, with a merry laugh, the boys took their departure. Exempt from the examinations because they had attained a daily average of ninety per cent. or better, the four young people were aware the notice of the Scholarship award would be placed on the bulletin-board early, and they timed their arrival at school the next morning so that Fred's success would be known first. But they had no idea of the manner of his greeting. No sooner had one of his Form mates caught sight of Fred's yellow head, than he raised a shout, and in a flash all the students rushed out to meet him. "Three cheers for old Cotton-Top!" yelled Soda, hugging his chum. With a will, they were given, and then repeated. "Speech! Speech!" shouted some one, as the tumult subsided. Instantly the cry was taken up, the boys and girls chanting in rhythm: "Speech! Speech! Speech!" Blushing, Fred tried to escape, but his schoolmates good-naturedly hemmed him in on all sides. "I appreciate your good will," he began at last, "but I never should have won had not my friends helped me in my studying. Indeed, it is they who deserve the credit, not I." Fred had been on the point of saying Alice Montgomery, instead of "friends," but as the words were on his tongue's end, he chanced to see Bart's face, malignant with anger and disappointment, peering at him from the edge of the crowd, and, fearing the bully would wreak his vengeance on his sister, should he learn of her actions, he had wisely refrained from paying such tribute to the girl.