“Yes,” added Steve, “Fred Badger is too good a fellow to let drop. We need him the worst kind to fill that gap at third. Besides, suspecting what we do, it would be a shame for us not to hold out a helping hand to a comrade who’s up against it good and hard.”
“What you say, Steve, does your big heart credit,” remarked Jack, “but it might be wise for us to drop our voices a little, because somehow we have wandered on, and are right now getting pretty close to Fred’s home, which you know lies just on the other side of that clump of bushes.”
“Did you steer us this way on purpose, Jack!” demanded Toby, suspiciously.
“Why, perhaps I had a little notion of stopping in and seeing Mrs. Badger,” admitted the other, chuckling. “In fact, my mother commissioned me to fetch this glass of home-made preserves over to her, knowing that Fred’s mother has not been at all well. Yes, I own up I was influential in making her think that way, and was on my way when I ran across you fellows.”
“Huh! I wouldn’t be at all surprised, Jack!” declared Toby, “if you had a scheme in your mind right now to put a crimp in this foolishness on the part of Fred Badger.”
“I’m not saying I haven’t, remember, fellows,” laughed the other, who evidently did not mean to show his full hand just then. “When the time comes perhaps I’ll let you in on this thing. I want to do some more thinking first, though. Many a good idea is wasted because it isn’t given a foundation in the beginning. Now, suppose you boys wait for me here while I step around and leave this little comfit with Mrs. Badger with my mother’s compliments.”
“Just as you say, Jack,” muttered Steve, looking rather unhappy because lie was not to be taken wholly into the confidence of the other. “Don’t stay too long, though, unless you mean to tell us all that happens in there.”
Jack only smiled in return, and stepped forward. His comrades saw him suddenly draw back as though he had made a discovery. Then turning toward them, he beckoned with his hand, at the same time holding up a warning finger as though telling them not to make the least noise.
“Now, what’s in the wind, Jack?” whispered Toby, as they reached the side of the other.
“Take a peek and see who’s here!” Jack told them.