a stone through the window of some one he doesn't
like, or who carries off gates, or tramples flower beds is only a cheap
penny pirate."

That was rather daring, for Dick's condemnation had touched rather
closely some forms of mischief that boys always imagine as belonging to
them on Hallowe'en night.

However, the general opinion was against quarreling with Dick. Without
him and his chums on the streets, the Grammar School boys knew that
there wouldn't be as much sport.

"You're trying to think up some good ones, aren't you?" asked Dave, as
he and Dick were about to part on the homeward way at noon.

"Yes, of course; but I hope you other fellows have brains that are
working faster than mine is to-day."

"Oh, you'll have something ready by to-night," laughed Dave.

"I hope so."

That afternoon the boys and girls in Old Dut's room did not appear to
have their minds very much on their lessons. A man of Old Dut's
experience knew why.

"I'll stay at home and sit tight on my place to-night," murmured the
principal to himself. "Like as not I'm slated to be one of the biggest
Hallowe'en victims."

When Dick reached Main Street that evening he found himself instantly
the center of a crowd of at least twenty boys from the Central Grammar.

"What'll we do, Dick?" came the hail.

"Anything you like," agreed Prescott.

"But what have you thought up?"

"Nothing."

"Cut that!"

"Honest, fellows, I haven't."

"Never mind," sang out Dave. "We fellows will just roam around town for
a while and see what is happening. Something will pop into our minds,
and then we can have a bit of mischief."

"Hullo!" muttered Toby. "Say! Just look at Hoof!"

"Whatcher got there, Hoof?" demanded a laughing chorus.

For Hoof Sadby, looking more sheepish than ever before in his life, had
appeared on the scene carrying a baby. It was a real, live one, too--his
year-and-a-half-old brother, to be exact.

"Say, don't guy me too much, fellows," begged Hoof sadly. "I'm in a
pickle, sure. Pop and mother are going to a sociable to-night. That is,
they've already gone. And they said----" Hoof paused. "They said----" he
tried again. Then, in final desperation he shot it out quickly. "They
said I'd have to stay home, and--mind the baby!"

"Isn't that a shame?" came a sympathetic chorus, but a few of the
fellows laughed.

"It's a boy, any way," argued Hoof, rather brokenly, "and a smart little
fellow, too. Now, if he's going to grow up ri