"Twenty-five cents! Wow!" commented Stanley. "I'll wager this spread costs you a good many dollars."
Word had been passed around to a number of Tom's old friends, and they were all requested to be on hand by ten o'clock.
"Tubbs says he begs to be excused," announced Paul Orben when he came in. "He says he has got some studying he must do."
"Nonsense! He's afraid we'll treat him to some sauerkraut pie and some pickled pastry," returned Tom. "I don't want him to stay away and miss a good time. What room is he in?"
"Number eighteen."
"Then come along, some of you, and we'll bring him here," announced the fun-loving Rover, and marched off, followed by Spud and Bob. In the meanwhile, Sam, Songbird and Stanley brought the things from the closet and began to prepare for the feast.
Tom and his friends found William Philander busy folding and putting away half a dozen gorgeous neckties. He was rather startled at their sudden entrance, and did his best to hide the articles.
"Hello! I thought you were boning away on trigonometry or mental science," was Tom's comment. "Say, old boy, that's a gorgeous necktie," he added as he picked up a creation in lavender and yellow. "Did you buy this to wear at the horse show, or at a meeting of mothers' helpers?"
"Oh, my dear Rover, please don't muss that up!" pleaded William Philander, snatching the necktie from Tom's hands. "That is one that was—er—made—er—a—a present to me."
"Oh, I see. That's the one that blind young lady gave to you. I admire her taste in picking it out."