cept Fred Ripley and Clara
Deane. They were not asked to buy.

Meanwhile, up in the great assembly room a scene was going on
that was worth looking at.

Abner Cantwell had seated himself at his desk. Before him lay
a printed copy of the roll of the student body. It was the new
principal's intention to check off each name as a boy or girl
paid for the music. Knowing that he would have a good deal of
currency to handle, the principal had brought along a satchel
for this morning.

First of all, Harper came tripping into the room. He went to
his desk with his books, then turned and marched to the principal's
desk.

"I've brought the money for the music, Mr. Cantwell."

"That's right, Mr. Harper," nodded the principal.

The little freshman carefully deposited his fifteen pennies on
the desk. They were out of the roll. Dick & Co. had cautioned
each investor to break the wrapper, and count the pennies before
moving on.

Two of the seniors presently came in. They settled with pennies.
Then came Laura Bentley and Belle Meade. Their pennies were
laid on the principal's desk.

"Why, all pennies, so far!" exclaimed Mr. Cantwell. "I trust
not many will bring coins of such low denomination."

A look of bland innocence rested on Laura's face.

"Why, sir," she remarked, "you asked us, Friday, to bring pennies.

"Did I?" demanded the principal, a look of astonishment on his
face.

"Why, yes, sir," Belle Meade rattled on. "Don't you remember?
You laughed, Mr. Cantwell, and asked each one of us to bring
fifteen pennies to-day."

"I had forgotten that, Miss Meade," returned the principal. Then,
as the sophomore young ladies turned away, a look of suspicion
began to settle on the principal's face. Nor did that look lessen
any when the next six students to come in each carried pennies
to the desk.

Twenty more brought pennies. By this time there was a stern look
on the principal's white face.

During the next few minutes after that only two or three came
in, for Dick had thought of a new aspect to the joke. He had
sent messengers scurrying out through the street approaches with
this message:

"We're not required to be in the assembly room until eight o'clock.
Let's all wait until two minutes of eight---then go in a throng."

So the principal had a chance to catch up with his counting as
the minutes passed. So busy was he, however, that it didn't quite
occur to him to wonder why so few of the student