Then somebody threw a boxing-glove, which struck Merry fairly between the eyes.
“Water surprise!” punned Frank, as he drew out his handkerchief and began to wipe his clothes.
“It’s Merriwell!” cried several.
“Hello, Merriwell!” said Jack Ready himself. “Has it been raining outside?”
“There was a heavy shower just as I came in,” retorted Frank good-naturedly.
The freshmen were delighted, and they showed it by laughing uproariously.
“If I had known you were coming I might have loaned you your umbrella,” chuckled Ready.
“I haven’t a doubt of it,” nodded Frank. “Somebody stole it two weeks ago.”
“I trust you will pardon me, but I have a fondness for silk umbrellas,” said Jack. “I am making a collection of them.”
Frank was perfectly good-natured. He did not seem ruffled in the least by the ducking he had received, and the freshmen admired him for that. The room was full of smoke. Every man present, Ready included, seemed to be smoking like mad.