n his companions without
further ceremony.

"If you don't object to my going on with my work, I shall be glad to
have you," she said.

"Can't we help you?" asked Aleck politely, dropping down among the
cushions on the couch.

"No, I thank you, and please have some mercy on my new pillow."

Ikey, who admired pretty things, rescued the dainty white and yellow
pillow, and modestly helped himself to a footstool.

"Take the floor, Carl, it is the only safe place," murmured lazy
Aleck.

"Somebody take it, please, and tell me the object of this call."

"We want to get even with the girls," began Carl, as his aunt leaned
back in her chair, all attention.

"They think themselves so clever with their old club," said Aleck, his
nose in the air.

"They are clever--quite as much so as boys." Aunt Zelie returned to
her bills, and there was silence for a moment; then Ikey spoke:

"We thought it would be fun to have a club too, and not tell the girls
the name. There isn't any harm in that, is there?" meekly.

"None whatever. What I do not like is that tone of lofty superiority.
You do not realize how it sounds, and as I consider myself one of the
girls I shall take such remarks as personal. Now tell me about the
club; is it to be simply for fun?"

"We'd like a little fun, please," said Aleck.

"Aunt Zelie, we really don't know what we want, but we thought you
could suggest something. You can think of scrumptious things when you
try, and we can get ahead of the girls easily if we have you. So
please, there's a dear," and Carl emphasized his request with a
bear-like hug from behind.

There was no holding out against their entreaties, so she agreed to
think it over.

"You may each invite one friend to a meeting in the star chamber next
Friday evening, and in the meantime I'll do my best to think of
something for you," she said, and very well satisfied the boys
departed, to lie in wait for the M.Ks.

When they came to think of it, it was not easy to decide which of
their friends to ask. Ikey finally settled upon his next best chum,
Fred Ames. "Don't you think he will do?" he asked Carl as they walked
home from school.

"Yes, of course; he is a very nice boy. I think I'll ask Jim Carter."

Ikey looked astonished. "Do you think he is the sort of a fellow your
aunt will like?"

"I don't care; I like him and I am going to ask him," Carl replied
positively. He thought best, however, to make some explanation.

"You se