"There! Didn't I tell you you were mistaken?" breathed Margie, as she walked to the general assembly room, by Fred's side.
The sudden change in the attitude of his schoolmates was more than Fred could fathom, and so absorbed was he in trying to solve the mystery, that the girl had left him to go to her side of the hall before he thought of a reply.
The students were allowed to choose their own seats in chapel, the only restriction being that each Form must sit by itself. According, Fred, Buttons, Soda, Shorty and Bronson appropriated one bench, marking the respective numbers of their seats in the class room on the back, in pencil.
So engrossed was the fair-haired boy in this task, that he did not notice his rival when he entered.
But his attention was quickly called to him by Buttons.
"We sure got Bart. Look at the court plaster on his face," chuckled the boy, nudging his chum. "He's had to use three pieces."
Fred was not the only one who gazed with interest at the rich bully. Indeed, there was scarcely a pair of eyes in the hall that was not focused upon him, and, conscious of their scrutiny, Bart flushed, dropping as quickly as he could into the seat Taffy had been saving for him.
The hum of comment that greeted his appearance was quickly checked, however, by the headmaster who arose and began the chapel service.
When this was concluded, Mr. Vining moved to the side of the table.
"You all know that one of the advantages afforded by the Baxter High School is the Scholarship in Science. This Scholarship, which is open to any member of the Second Form, amounts to two hundred dollars, a sum worthy the best efforts of all members of the Form. The gentleman who endowed it, Mr. Anthony Baxter, wisely stipulated that it should be awarded upon the result of the mid-winter examinations. As all who wish to try for the prize must make their purpose known, I therefore request that aspirants enroll now."