wallow the pie, swallowed
his resentment, making a mental vow to get even, if he should ever
discover the culprit.

A half an hour for rest and recreation followed the supper. Then the
bell rang for a study period of two hours. At the end of this time work
was over for the day, and the boys sought their dormitories to do as
they chose till bedtime. All lights were to be out by ten o'clock.

The boys came into Number Three with a clatter and a bang. When they
were all there, Melvin lifted his hand to hush the racket.

"Hi, there, you fellows," he shouted. "Keep still for a minute. I want
to say something."

The tumult subsided, as the boys came crowding around him.

"Gentlemen," he said, with mock dignity--"I know I flatter you, but no
matter--I want to introduce you to two new roommates, Fred and Teddy
Rushton."

CHAPTER XVI

A JOLLY CROWD

There was a general bow and smile on the part of all, as the boys
acknowledged the introduction, and then Melvin became more personal:

"You have here before you," he said to the Rushton boys, assuming the
air and tone of a "barker" at a seaside show, "the most gorgeous
collection of freaks ever gathered under one tent. Positively,
gentlemen, an unparalleled aggregation of the most astonishing wonders
of nature now in captivity, assembled by the management without regard
to expense from all quarters of the civilized and uncivilized world. So
remarkable, gentlemen, are these specimens of the animal world that they
have even been taught to walk, talk and eat like human beings. Some have
even gone so far as to say that they _are_ human, although this
opinion is not maintained by those who know them best.

"And what do I charge you, gentlemen, for gazing at this mammoth
collection of monsters and missing links? Do I charge you a half a
dollar? I do not. Do I even ask you for a quarter? I do not. Do I even
set you back to the extent of a dime? I do not. Do I even extract from
your vest pocket the humble jitney? No, gentlemen, a thousand times, no!

"This amazing show is free, gentlemen, absolutely free, free as the air,
free as the sunshine, free as good advice, free as----"

He ducked, just as a pillow flew past his head.

"Jo-Jo, the dog-faced boy, did that," he explained; "whenever he hears
me say 'free' he thinks it means that he's to be free with me. But I
don't mind, because he never hits anything."

There was a general laugh, and Granger abandoned his showm