“Rotten!” exploded Carson.
“Bub-bub-bum!” stuttered Gamp.
“Sloppy!” exclaimed Mason.
“The whole class will be sore if you don’t show up,” asserted Bruce. “I know you have some kind of a wild scheme in your head, but you must be on hand to lead the class.”
“I may be,” repeated Frank again. “But you must go right ahead if I am not.” He put his hand on Browning’s shoulder. “I ask this of you as a favor. I know the men will fall in and follow your lead.”
“All right,” muttered Bruce. “But I may be taken sick between now and then. You’d better be on hand.”
“I have told you I expect to be there. That must be satisfactory. Just do the right thing if you do not find me on hand. That’s all.”
They went out and left Merry, who closed and locked the door behind them. And thus hidden safely in his room, Frank went to his trunk, from which he took a certain square box. With the aid of the contents of that box, he proceeded to work a most remarkable transformation.