did or Sherm would have denied it instanter. Let's think
up something real mean." Katy stood ready to second any effort.

Gertie had been in a brown study. "The boys are going off some place
to-night. I heard Ernest ask your mother if she had cleaned that spot
off his Sunday suit, where somebody spilled ice cream on him at the
party."

"I bet they're going to see Mamie Jenkins ... they're trying to sneak
off without our knowing it." Jane's indignation was not lessened by this
news.

Katy leaned forward and whispered something.

Jane and Gertie clapped their hands.

"All right, the very thing."

At dinner the boys were rather surprised to find that the young ladies
had dropped the subject of the bread. They were inclined to take it up
again, but nobody seemed interested. Ernest was a little vexed to have
his father say before them all: "It will be all right about Sherm's
riding the bay, only don't stay out late, boys."

The girls went upstairs soon after dinner and there was much giggling
from their room for the next two hours.

"Where ever can we put the clothes where they can't find them? They make
such a big bundle."

"O Chicken Little, I've thought of something that will be better than
hiding!" Katy's eyes sparkled with mischief as she unfolded her scheme.
"Let's hurry and fix a cord."

"There's a hook there already we can use. Mother had a hanging basket
outside the window one summer."

"We can pretend to take a walk," added Katy.

"Pshaw, I want to hear them--it will be half the fun," Gertie objected.

"I said pretend--we will sneak back through the orchard. Of course, we'd
have to be here to do it, Goosie."

That night Mrs. Morton had an early supper at the request of the boys.
Immediately after, they armed themselves with sundry pitchers of hot
water and retired upstairs. The girls also disappeared.

All went well for some minutes except that Ernest cut himself in his
haste to shave. Presently, a call for mother floated downstairs. Mrs.
Morton had gone across the road to visit with Marian. Receiving no
reply, Ernest called again lustily. Dr. Morton, coming in just then,
replied:

"Your mother is not here, what do you want?"

"Send Chicken Little then."

"She's gone for a walk with Katy and Gertie."

"Thunderation! I've got to have somebody. Won't you please call Mother?"

At this moment three girlish forms slipped into the grape arbor
immediately below the boys' window, and concealed th