To the surprise of Ned, Bob and Jerry, who quietly passed word around about the prospective surreptitious lunch, members of the varsity nine whom they asked, refused.
“I’d like to come, first-rate,” said Jake Porter, “but you see Frank has forbidden us.”
“You mean he won’t let you come just because we’re giving it?” asked Ned. “Solidified scuttle-butts! but that is carrying it a long way.”
“No, it isn’t because it’s you,” Jake hastened to add. “I’m not even sure he knows you’re going to give it, unless you asked him.”
“There wouldn’t be any use asking him,” Bob said.
“Well then, it’s because it’s the night before the second Kenwell game,” Jake explained. “Frank says any of the varsity who feed up and stay out late the night before the game can’t play. So I’m not going to take a chance.”
“Oh, well, that’s all right,” Jerry said. “We don’t want to spoil the team’s chances. We haven’t any ourselves, so we’re going to feed up.”
“Oh, I don’t suppose it makes an awful lot of difference,” said Jake. “I can play just as well after a supper as before. But you know what Frank is. Once he gets a notion in his head it’s hard to get it out. So I’m taking no chances.”
“Can’t blame you for that,” remarked Ned. “And we sure do know what Frank is!”