from further trouble with
Mr. Dexter."

Then Dick told the story of his adventure that evening. Dave and Greg
added a few words at the end.

"So we think," summed up Dick, "that Mr. Dexter may not yet be through
with his schemes against you. Excuse us, Mrs. Dexter, but don't you
think it would be well to have a man sleep in the house--one that you
can depend on if Dexter comes here to make trouble?"

"Yes, indeed. My hired man is a straight-forward fellow. I'll have him
stay around here more, and I'll have a room fitted up in the house for
him. Mr. Dexter isn't usually extremely brave. I imagine that the hired
man can take care of him if he puts in an appearance. At all events, I
shall feel safer for having a man in the house."

Their errand being done, the three Grammar School boys would have risen
to go, but Mrs. Dexter detained them, asking many questions about their
school life.

Then, somehow, the story came out of the newly organized Central Grammar
football squad.

"Oh, but that is going to be fine!" cried Mrs. Dexter. "Manly sports
always make boys stronger, and give them a better sense of fair play
when such a sense is needed. You'll have uniforms, of course. What will
your uniforms be like?"

"That's one of the points we haven't decided on yet," smiled Dick. "The
uniforms will have to come, in good time."

"Your football organization has a treasurer, of course?"

"He's a luxury we don't need yet," laughed Dave.

"Why not?"

"Because there isn't any treasury."

"Yet there will be, of course--that is, if----"

Suddenly Mrs. Dexter looked mightily pleased and clapped her hands.

"I've stumbled on to one of your secrets, boys," she cried. "You haven't
any treasury, and you're still wondering where the money can come from
to pay for uniforms. Well, you needn't wonder any longer. All of you
boys who helped me to-day are interested in the football plan. You did
me a very great service to-day, and you've done me another one to-night.
Now I'm going to buy the football uniforms. How much will they cost--ten
dollars apiece?"

"Five or six ought to buy as good uniforms as we'll need," replied Dick
Prescott, reddening. "But, Mrs. Dexter, we don't want----"

"Let me have my own way, won't you?" she pleaded plaintively. "It's such
a very new thing for me to be able to have my own way. I'm going to
write the check, to-night, to pay for the uniforms. Don't stop me,
please don't."

Mrs. Dexter rose and we