e
grass side of the sod that had struck his teeth, but a little
of the loam had gone in with it.

"Good enough for me, I suppose," grimaced Greg, seating himself
once more when he had cleaned his mouth fairly well. Dave, who
had turned over to grin at Greg, soon rolled back to his old posture
on the grass.

Greg, however, was not disposed to let the matter pass as easily
as the others imagined. Shortly Holmesy jumped astride of Dave
and rolled that youth over on to his back.

"I didn't eat all of the sod," young Holmes announced. "You may
have the rest, Darry. How does it taste?"

Dave shut his mouth tightly, but Greg held his nostrils. The
instant that Darrin opened his mouth for air Holmes rammed in
the piece of sod. Then he jumped up, retreating.

It was now Dave's turn to jump up and work vigorously getting
the stuff out of his month.

"Tastes immense, doesn't it, Dave?" called Holmes tantalizingly.

No answer in words came from Darrin, but he suddenly wheeled,
charging straight at Greg. Doubtless the latter would have gotten
out of the way safely, but that Dick thrust out a foot, tripping
Dave as he bounded by.

Darrin came down upon his knees. The hotheaded youth was now
very close to being angry in earnest.

"Hold up, Dave!" Prescott advised. "You started it, you know.
You will have to show that a joke is just as funny whether it's
going or coming."

"That's right, old chap," agreed Dave, halting and beginning to
cool. "Greg, come here and shake hands."

"You shake hands with Tom," Holmes retorted suspiciously. "I
appoint Tom my substitute, with full powers."

"I'd sooner fight Tom than you," mused Dave, gazing down at Reade,
who did not appear to be very much disturbed. "Tom is the fellow
who's always bringing his appetite along on the finest days that
heaven has sent us."

Dick Prescott lazily drew out his watch and glanced at it. Then
he rose, remarking:

"You may stay here and get all the comfort you can out of nature,
Dave. But it's half past five and I guess the rest of us will
want to be nearer to the source of kitchen odors."

"Whew! If it's any such time as that I'm going to move fast,"
cried Harry Hazelton, leaping to his feet. "At our house supper
is on at six o'clock, and anyone who gets in late has to take
what's left."

"Are your folks so poor as that?" laughed Tom.

"Hardly," returned Harry. "But both dad and mother are sticklers
for everyone being in his seat on time."