ght as a boy the kid ought
to start in early. So I've wrapped him up warm and have brought him out
with me."

"What are you going to do with him, Hoof?"

"I'm going to tote the little fellow around to see the fun--if you
fellows can stand having me with you," announced Hoof sadly, rather
pleadingly.

"Why, of course you can come, can't he, fellows?" appealed Dick.

"If you're sure that the youngster won't catch cold," agreed Tom Reade.
"A baby is a human being, you know, and has some rights of his own."

"Oh, I won't let the little shaver catch cold," promised Hoof. "See how
warmly I've got him wrapped up."

As some of the fellows crowded about their encumbered mate, baby laughed
and tried to reach them.

"He's a good fellow, if he is young," spoke up Greg. "Bring him along,
Hoof."

So that was settled, and the crowd turned down one of the side streets.
These darker thoroughfares, as all knew by experience, were safer for
Hallowe'en pranks. The dark places were the easiest ones in which to
escape when pursuit offered.

Nor had the Grammar School crowd been strolling along more than
two minutes when Dick suddenly halted them by holding up one hand.

"What is it?" whispered several, mysteriously, as they crowded about the
leader.

"There's Mose Waterman's house, and it's all dark there," murmured Dick.
"And it's the same over at Mr. Gordon's. Now, you know, Waterman and
Gordon have never spoken to each other since they had that law suit."

"Yes, yes!"

"Well, the warm weather lately has led Mose Waterman to leave his porch
chairs out later'n usual. Now, fellows, suppose we lift the chairs from
Waterman's porch and put 'em over on Gordon's porch. That wouldn't be
far for Waterman to go after 'em, but do you think he'd do it? Never! He
will growl, and swear that Gordon stole the chairs. And Mr. Gordon is
too angry with Mose Waterman to take the chairs back. So it'll give us
fun for a fortnight strolling by in the day time and noticing whether
Waterman has his chairs back."

"Wow!" "Whoop!" "And you said, Dick"--reproachfully--"that you couldn't
think up anything!"

Half a dozen figures moved swiftly and stealthily. In a twinkling the
transfer of porch chairs from Waterman's house to Gordon's had been
made. The young mischief-makers passed on, looking for more nonsense.
But that joke became almost classic in Gridley. For days and days after
that Waterman and Gordon glared at each other from their front wi