know that there are going to be several barrels of fun
uncorked in this old burg to-night?"

"I didn't know that barrels were ever 'uncorked,'" replied Dick
judicially.

"Oh, pshaw! This isn't the first class in language!" retorted Dan
disdainfully. "You're going to be out to see the fun, aren't you?"

"I suppose likely I shall be out on the street a little while after
supper," Prescott admitted.

"Hear the young saint!" taunted Dan derisively, appealing to a group of
boys. "No one would ever suppose that Dick Prescott had ever gotten up
any mischief--hey?"

"Oh, Dick will have one or two tricks ready for us to trim our enemies
with to-night," replied Ben Alvord. "Don't worry!"

"Sure! Dick never yet went back on the crowd," declared Wrecker Lane.
"He's got a few good ones ready right now."

"Have you, Dick?" demanded a chorus of eager voices.

"Tell us one or two of the tricks now," pressed "Hoof" Sadby.

But Dick shook his head.

"Come on out with it!" coaxed Spoff Henderson.

"Ain't he the mean one--keeping it all to himself?"

"If Dick has anything hidden in his sleeve," broke in Tom Reade, "he'd
show a lot of sense, wouldn't he, telling it to a lot of you fellows
with loose-jointed tongues? Why, it would be in the evening paper, and
the folks we want to torment would be at their gates waiting for us."

"We won't tell--won't breathe a word! Honest!" came in instant denial.

"I'll tell you just one thing, fellows, if you think you really can keep
it to yourselves," grinned Dick.

"Go ahead!"

"Don't trust these talkative Indians with anything in advance, Dick,"
protested Tom Reade.

"Yes, yes--go ahead!" cried the boys.

"You won't tell, fellows, will you?" Dick fenced.

"Cross our hearts we won't."

"Well, then, fellows, the truth is that you are all on the wrong scent.
I haven't thought up a blessed prank for to-night."

"Aw!" came an unbelieving chorus.

"Let's make him tell. Get hold of him. We'll paddle Dick Prescott until
he'll be glad to tell."

There was a rush, but Dave and Tom got in front of Dick.

"Who wants to try the paddle first?" asked Dave, his fists clenching, as
he faced the mischievous Grammar School boys.

"But I haven't thought of a thing, fellows," protested Prescott.

"Say, I want some of you fellows to help me take off old Pond's gate
to-night," called Toby Ross. "We can take it down and hang it on the
fountain in the square. That'll be a good mile from his h