Frank Roscoes Secret | Page 3

he wouldn't tell me any
more. So that's why I think the Upside Down boys may make trouble
for us."
"Well, if they wish to make trouble we'll give them all they want," put
in Fenn.
"Yes, but we don't want the dinner spoiled," said Bart. "There's a big
class of first-year boys this term, and they could make a 'rough-house'
of our spread in short order. That's why I think it would be better to
keep quiet about the affair, at least as to the place where we're going to
hold it."

After some discussion Bart's suggestion was agreed to. Further details
of the dinner were arranged, and it was planned that Ned should be
toastmaster, an honor which he would gladly have declined.
"No, sir, you won the game for us, and you've got to preside at the
dinner!" declared Bart, to which all the others on the nine gave their
approval with a shout.
"Mind now," Bart added, as the team was about to disperse, having
reached Darewell, "no talking about the dinner. Everyone keep mum or
there may be no spread at all. If any one hears of the Upside Down
boys getting wind of the affair, tell me and we'll arrange to fool 'em."
The club members left their uniforms and outfits in the basement of the
High School, where they had improvised dressing rooms, and then the
boys started for their homes. Frank, Bart, Ned and Stumpy, four chums
who were seldom separated, went down the street together. As they
were passing the drug store they saw two girls going in.
"There's your sister Alice, Bart," called Ned.
"Yes, and Jennie Smith is with her," added Bart. "Hi, Stumpy! There's a
chance for you. Jennie looked back as if she wanted you."
At this the other chums laughed, for Fenn was rather "sweet" on the
girls, and Jennie was an especial favorite with him. But Fenn did not
like to have his failing commented on.
"You let up!" he called to Bart. "You're so afraid of the girls you don't
dare speak to 'em!"
"You do enough of that for the four of us put together," joked Ned.
"But come on. Let's hurry, it's almost supper time."
CHAPTER II
A CONSPIRACY REVEALED

By this time the four boys were in front of the drug store, from which
Alice Keene and Jennie Smith came out.
"What were you doing in there? Having a Dutch treat of soda?" asked
Bart of his sister.
"I was taking back some court-plaster I had," replied Alice.
"Court-plaster? For what?"
"I'll not tell you."
"I know," answered Bart, for he had a habit of teasing his sister.
"What for then?"
"You heard Stumpy had broken his heart over the way Jennie treated
him, and you were going to mend it."
"Silly! I'll tell you what for, and you can see how far wrong you were. I
bought a lot, thinking some one might get hurt at the ball game. When I
found I didn't need it I took it back and got my money. I hadn't opened
it."
"Well, if that isn't the limit!" exclaimed Bart. "I s'pose you're sorry
some of us didn't get all cut up and bruised, so you could patch us up."
"Well, of course I don't want any of you to get hurt, but if you had been
injured it would have been good practice for me," replied Alice. "Come
on, Jennie."
Alice, who had a desire to become a trained nurse, for which profession
she believed she was fitting herself by reading a book on
"First-Aid-To-The-Injured," walked off with her girl chum, leaving the
boys to stare after the pair.
"Alice would rather play nurse than eat her meals," commented Bart. "I
wonder why Jennie didn't say something about poetry?" he added, for
Jennie was of rather a romantic disposition, and was very much given

to reciting verses.
"Probably the presence of Stumpy made her bashful," suggested Ned.
"But I'm going. See you Monday, fellows."
The four boys resumed their walk toward their homes. With the
exception of Frank Roscoe they all lived near one another. Frank
resided about a mile out of the town, with his uncle, Abner Dent, a
wealthy farmer.
The four boys, because of their close association, were known as the
"Darewell Chums."
Darewell was located on the Still river, not far from Lake Erie. The lads
had played together ever since they attended primary school, and their
friendship was further cemented when they went to the High School.
Attending which institution our story finds them.
There was Ned Wilding, whose mother was dead, and their father was
cashier of the Darewell Bank.
Bart Keene was a stout-hearted youth, more fond of sports than he was
of eating or sleeping, his father used