"Well, I didn't think a sister of mine would go to an affair given by the enemies of the Darewell baseball team."
"Oh, you're mad just because they played a trick on you about your dinner. That's nothing. I'm going to the dance just the same. So you'd better tell me now what you want the cheese for."
"Oh, if you go to the dance you may hear of it there."
"Now, Bart, I think you're real mean! Please tell me! How can I hear of it at the dance?"
"Run along now, Sis, I'm busy," and Bart, with a provoking smile, shut the door of his room. Alice waited a minute, and then, hearing her brother moving about among his possessions, and realizing that it was useless to tease him further, went downstairs.
"I don't care," she said to herself. "I'll have a good time at the dance, anyhow."
Preparations went on for the little informal affair the boys of the Upside Down Club were to give. They tried to keep it a secret, but it was impossible. However, they took precautions to prevent any unbidden ones gaining access to the hall. The place was kept locked all day, and in the evenings, while the work of decorating it was under way, there were enough of the first-year boys on hand to prevent any untoward acts on the part of their enemies.
The four chums had taken a few of their closest friends of the nine into their confidence, but they kept matters so quiet that none of the Upside Downs suspected that a plot of vengeance was afoot. While the first-year boys did not ask any of the other male pupils of the school to the dance, they were not so strict with the girls, and a number from all the classes of the institution were bidden to the affair.
"The more the merrier," said Ned, when he heard of this. "It will be the talk of the town Monday morning."
"If it works out right," put in Fenn.