"He was in the conspiracy, boys, but I didn't know a thing about it until the day before I left Chillicothe," said Tad.
"Then Professor Zepplin knew about it before we left home, eh?" questioned Stacy.
"I guess he did," admitted Walter.
Stacy fixed a stern gaze on the smiling Walter Perkins.
"You in this thing, too, Walt?" he demanded.
"I plead guilty," answered Perkins, flushing violently.
"Well, I call it a shame to deceive innocent boys like that. But, sir," added Chunky, turning pompously to Tad Butler, "I welcome you in the name of the Pony Rider Boys. We will now kill the fatted calf."
"In other words, Stacy Brown," interjected Rector. "It's a good thing you are here, Tad. There is no holding Chunky. Why, you have no idea how he is acting. Am I right, Professor?"
"I will admit that Stacy is at times inclined to be rude," nodded Professor Zepplin.
"Everyone is against me," growled Stacy. "Everything I do is the wrong thing and nothing that I do is right. You fellows don't stop to think what tame affairs these trips would be without somebody to poke fun at. I am the mark for everyone. The trouble with me is that I am not valued at my true worth. Mr. Vaughn, have you learned to know me well enough to realize how valuable I am to this company?"