“I know it is a long chance,” Barry agreed. “But we won’t lose anything if nothing happens.”
“You say we ought to stay overnight,” Mac spoke up. “Will the bunch do it? They may not want to go to Bluff Lodge in the first place.”
“I’m going to see Charlie Black and try and make him enthusiastic,” Barry smiled. “Then he’ll get the others in the same frame of mind. I think we can work it.”
His chums having agreed to the program, Barry went to the home of the dashing Charlie, whom he found in his den. The popular high-school debater was practising on a cornet when Barry entered the room.
“Hi!” greeted the cornetist, hastily lowering the shining instrument. “Come in! But as the sign over the doorway to the lower regions says, ‘Abandon hope, all ye that enter here.’”
“I’ve abandoned all hope of hearing any real music,” Barry grinned. “What are you trying to blow that thing for?”
“Music,” was the brisk answer.
“You’re pretty good at chin music,” Barry replied. “I don’t see why you want to blow a horn. But that is neither here nor there. I came to see you about our straw ride.”
The cornet was tossed with unerring aim into a waste basket, where a pile of crumpled paper broke its fall. Charlie spun fully around in his chair.
“Listen! Fifteen of us are going, counting you and Kent and the Ford boys. There may be others, too. I’ll see Coach and Mrs. Jordan tonight and see if they’ll go along. How’s that for progress?”