imply can't stay away from
the senior ball. Not a single member of Dick & Co. can be excused
from attending."

"We'll see about it," replied Dick.

"No, you won't! It has all been seen to. The six of you are
going to be on hand---with six stunning girls, too!"

"I thank you, anyway; I thank you all heartily for this very unusual
honor," Dick protested.

"That's all right, then; it's settled," proclaimed Ben Badger,
with an air of finality. "The dance begins at nine. It's all
stated on the ticket."

By the next day it _was_ settled that Dick & Co. were going to
attend. Besides the senior class, a good many of the juniors
were also invited. There was to be a fair sprinkling of sophomores,
but of the freshmen Dick & Co. were the only ones invited.

Up to the middle of the week Fred Ripley felt rather certain that
he was to be invited. Then, feeling less certain, he went to
Thomp and Badger.

"Say, fellows," began Fred, with a confident air, "I just want
to mention the fact that I haven't received a card to the senior
ball yet."

"Maybe you will, next year," suggested Thomp coolly.

Fred flushed, then went white.

"Oh, very well, if you mean than I'm to be left out," grunted
Ripley.

"I'm afraid, Fred," hinted Badger, "that you were overlooked until
the full number of soph tickets had been issued. It was an oversight,
of course, but I'm afraid it's too late to remedy it."

Fred Ripley went away, furious with anger, for he already knew,
as did everyone else in Gridley H.S., that Dick & Co. were to
be among the elect at the senior ball. And Fred had been so sure
of a card to the ball that he had gone to the length of inviting
Clara Deane to accompany him to the affair. That young lady had
most joyously accepted.

Now, as he walked home with Miss Clara this afternoon, Fred suddenly
broke out:

"I say, Clara, you don't very much mind if we don't go to the
senior ball, do you?"

"Yes," Miss Deane retorted. "Why, what's the matter, Fred. Didn't
you receive an invitation?"

"Of course, I could get an invite," lied young Ripley. "But the
plain truth is, I want to keep out of the affair."

"Why, what's the matter?" asked Clara, gazing at her escort in
astonishment.

"Haven't you heard the news?"

"What news?"

"That mucker crowd, who call themselves Dick &s Co., have been
invited."

"There's no harm in that, is there?" asked Clara Deane, quietly.
"Why, they're quite popular young fellow