“You have――now. The girls were keeping it quiet until this morning. Nell Sawin called me up on the telephone after breakfast and told me and said I was to speak to you about it and make you come to-night.” “Come where to-night? Your talk is wonderfully lucid, Gordie.” “To Louise’s house,” laughed Gordon. “There’s to be a sort of meeting of the――the――――” “Criminals,” prompted Dick. “Ways and means committee, or something. Just a few of the girls and you and Morris, naturally, and Lanny and me. Will you come?” “Yes, of course. Hold on, though! To-night? I don’t believe I can, to-night, Gordie. You see school opens to-morrow and I haven’t really done a thing yet.” “That’s all right. No one has. Anyhow, it won’t take long and you can go home afterwards and study as much as you like. They especially want you there, Dick. In fact, I don’t dare to show up without you!” “Well, if that’s so I’ll go,” laughed Dick. “Joking aside, though, I like the scheme. Mr. Grayson is a fine man, Gordie, even if he does happen to be a principal, and it will be a mighty nice thing to show him we think so. I don’t believe the school has ever done anything like this for him since he came here. If it has I’ve never heard of it.” “Nor I. How long has he been here, I wonder?” “Must be fourteen or fifteen years. He came as assistant to old Mr. Flagg, who’s superintendent of education now. I suppose Mr. Grayson can’t be much over fifty, Gordie, but I’m so used to thinking him an old man that it seems as if he was somewhere about seventy.” “I suppose he really isn’t so dreadfully old,” said the other. “I dare say most of the fellows will be glad to chip in and get him a present.” “How much money will it take?” asked Dick. “I don’t know. I suppose the idea is to get as much as we can and buy accordingly. If every student gave a dollar――――” “Some of them won’t give a quarter,” replied Dick. “Lots of them can’t afford to.” “Well, if only half of them gave a dollar apiece――――” “Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched, Gordie. And pile out now; I’ve got to get home to supper. What time does this conference take place? Do I have to ‘doll up’ for it?” “Of course not. They didn’t say what time. About half-past seven, I suppose. Ask Grace.” “I might do that,” agreed Dick, as Gordon vacated his seat. “See you later then. Get up, Eli!” CHAPTER III A DISCOURAGED CAPTAIN