leave anything around that might
excite suspicion."

"Just so," laughed Thad, merrily, for as he was not going to get an icy
ducking, he felt as though he could afford to be happy; "after fellows
have worked so hard to jimmy their way into the premises of another,
it'd be a shame to discourage their efforts in the beginning. We might
paint a sign 'welcome,' and put it over the window, Hugh, just to let
them know everything is lovely, and the goose hangs high."

"I'll step outside, and take a peep in through the window to find out
how things look," suggested Hugh, which he proceeded to do.

"Nothing to excite anybody's suspicion that I can see," he announced.
"The tub is completely out of sight, just as I expected it would be,
and even the cord connecting it with our hiding place couldn't be
noticed unless you knew all about it beforehand. I guess our work is
done, all but filling the reservoir."

Procuring a bucket, they set to work. One carried and the other
poured, standing on the short step-ladder in order to better reach the
elevated tub.

"There, it's as full as I dare make it," Hugh finally announced.

"And for one, I'm not half sorry," Thad added, "because toting water
isn't altogether fun. That bucket is heavy enough to nearly pull your
arms out of their elbow sockets. You said something about _ice_,
didn't you, Hugh?"

"Yes, I had that in mind. After supper, when we come out here to take
up our vigil, I'll get a lot of small chunks from the ice-house and put
it in the water. It'll make it lovely and cold, I warrant you, unless
our guests delay their coming too long."

Nothing more being necessary, the boys adjourned to the house, where in
Hugh's den they talked various matters over with the customary
enthusiasm of live boys. Naturally, these affairs, as a rule,
concerned the athletic happenings just then on the carpet, and
particularly the baseball rivalry about to break out in a series of
hotly contested games between Scranton, Belleville and the formerly
victorious Allandale High team.

Later on, Thad went home to his supper, though Hugh had pressed him to
stay and share his meal, for they were often at each other's table.

"Like to," said Thad, shaking his head, "but it happens I've got a few
things I ought to attend to. Then again there's that hand-torch you
asked me to fetch over with me. Another time will have to do, Hugh."

Hugh laughed scornfully.

"Tell all that to your grandmo