“Got to have you!” declared Mason.
“Can’t get along without you,” growled Browning.
“Well,” said Frank, “I think I’ll be there; but if you should not see me, you are to lead the class, Browning.”
“Me?” gasped Bruce, without regard to grammar.
“Yes.”
“No!”
“That’s all right; you are to do it. You can, if you will.”
“But the idea! I’ve never done anything like that——”
“Since you were ‘King of the Sophomores.’ My dear fellow, you were a leader in those days, and you can be now, if you will be. I know you have become lazy as a dog, but you have to wake up when you play ball, and it will do you good if you have to lead the class to-night.”
“Oh, but say!” protested Bruce, “what kind of an Omega Lambda Chi celebration will this be without Merriwell to take the lead?”