Confronted by such an embarrassing situation, the boy who was to meet Bart in defense of his father's honor, was doing some rapid thinking.
"We'll have the party, Momsy," he replied. "Only please have supper at seven instead of six." And without giving his parent the opportunity to ask the reason for the late hour, Fred kissed her and dashed out the door, followed by his schoolmate.
"Jiminy crickets! but this is a pretty mess!" lamented Sandow, as he and Fred settled into a rapid walk. "How do you intend to get around Bart? Put it off until to-morrow?"
"Not much! I'll meet him at five instead of seven."
"He won't agree, if he thinks it will be an accommodation to you."
"Oh, won't he?" returned Fred, smiling in a superior manner. "You just wait and see. He'll jump at the chance!"
"Go ahead and tell me; I'm not good at puzzles."
"There's no mystery. I'll simply tell him that I'm going to a party and want to get through with him first. He'll think he can give me a couple of black eyes and shame me before the girls."
"Great head, Cotton-Top!—provided he doesn't close your peepers. Bart's some scrapper. He told Hal he'd been taking boxing lessons during the summer. It's because I wanted to give you a few points I dropped in for you. Have you any idea how you are going at him?"
"Sure. The way Phil Thomas got him in our Form game with Landon last year."