Part 42 (1/2)

”There you are!” said Al. ”Why, nothing, of course--a lemon, perhaps--but the point is, every one just had to know.”

”Not a word!” said d.i.n.k, springing up triumphantly.

”Mum as the grave,” said Al, accepting his handshake.

d.i.n.k went romping back like a young spring goat, his busy mind seizing all the ramifications possible from the central theory. He found the Tennessee Shad and communicated the great idea.

”I don't like the guessing part,” said the Tennessee Shad.

”Nor I. We must get up a contest.”

”A champions.h.i.+p.”

”Something devilishly original.”

”Exactly.”

”Well, what?”

”We must think.”

The day was pa.s.sed in fruitless searching but the next morning brought the answer in the following manner: d.i.n.k and the Tennessee Shad--as the majority of trained Laurentians--were accustomed to wallow gloriously in bed until the breakfast gong itself. At the first crash they would spring simultaneously forth and race through their dressing for the winning of the stairs. Now this was an art in itself and many records were claimed and disputed. The Tennessee Shad, like most lazy natures, when aroused was capable of extraordinary bursts of speed and was one of the claimants for the authorized record of twenty-six and a fifth seconds from the bed to the door, established by the famous Hickey Hicks who--as has been related--had departed to organize the industries of his country. Of a consequence Stover was invariably still at his collar b.u.t.ton when the thin shadow of the Shad glided out of the door. But on the present morning, the shoe laces of the Tennessee Shad snapping in his hand, d.i.n.k reached the exit a bare yard in advance. Suddenly he stopped, clasped the Tennessee Shad by the middle and flung him toward the ceiling.

”I have it,” he cried. ”We'll organize the dressing champions.h.i.+p of the school!”

That very evening a poster was distributed among the houses, thus conceived:

FIRST AMATEUR DRESSING CHAMPIONs.h.i.+P OF THE SCHOOL

under the management of that well-known

Sporting Promoter MR. d.i.n.k STOVER

FOR THE BELT OF THE SCHOOL

and

A SEALED MYSTERIOUS PRIZE

Guaranteed to be Worth Over $3.50

Entrance Fee 25c Books Close at 6 P. M.

To-morrow

For Conditions and Details Consult MR. DENNIS DE B. DE B. FINNEGAN, Secretary.

While the announcement was running like quicksilver through the school the souvenir toilet set was encased in cotton, packed in the smallest compa.s.s, stowed in a wooden box, which was then sewed up in a gunny sacking. This in turn was wrapped in colored paper, tied with bows of pink ribbon and sealed with blue sealing wax stamped with the crest of the school--VIRTUS SEMPER VIRIDIS. The whole was placed on a table at the legs of which were grouped stands of flags.

By noon the next day one-half of the school had pa.s.sed around the table, measuring the mysterious package, touching the seals with itching fingers and wanting to know the reason for such secrecy.

”There are reasons,” said Stover, in response to all inquiries.