“Whoop!” shouted Harry, pitching the lively freshman across the cab and into Halliday’s arms. “Somebody else hold him awhile! I’m getting tired of the job!”
“Mr. Ready,” said Frank, “I trust, for your own general welfare, that you will not cause us to resort to extremes.”
“Oh, you wouldn’t do anything cruel when we are enjoying ourselves like this—I know you wouldn’t! Why, this is the best time I’ve had in a year!”
“You’ll have a better time before we are done with you!” yelled Hodge.
“How lovely!” squealed the freshman, apparently in a fit of intense delight. “How good it is of you to be so thoughtful of me! I cannot tell you how I appreciate it!”
“Wait awhile! wait awhile!” snorted Rattleton. “You will appreciate it a great deal more before we are through.”
“The other gent made practically the same observation. Why not be original in your remarks? It may cost you an effort, sir, but you’ll cut a great deal more frost in this hot world.”
“Oh, shut up!” shouted Halliday. “You make me sick! Give your mouth a rest, and give us a rest.”
“My dear boy, if you’ll stop for me to call a policeman, I’ll gladly see that you get arrest,” chirped the irrepressible freshman.
Somehow, Frank’s admiration for Ready was increasing. Plainly, the fellow had plenty of nerve, but would it last him through to the end? Frank knew it was sure to be sorely tried before the sophomores were through with Jack. The cab was continuing on its way at a great rate of speed, for the kidnapers knew the freshmen would raise an alarm and start on a hunt for Ready without much delay, and it was necessary to get the fellow under cover in short order.