“Oh, you know; the S. P. M. I guess they’re all going—except you.”
“Except me, yes,” murmured Gerald. “Oh, all right if you don’t want to tell, Arthur. That’s all right. Maybe it would be silly to risk probation just to play a silly old joke on some one. And I was on probation last year, you know. I guess it’s going to be pretty risky, too. You’re almost sure to get caught when you come back.”
“Get out! Every one will be asleep before that. If they don’t see us start out, we’ll be all right, I guess.”
“When are you going to start?” asked Gerald, with a fine show of indifference.
“I don’t know; I’ve got to ask Loring.” Then Arthur looked at Gerald suspiciously and grinned. “You’re trying to pump me, aren’t you?”
“The idea!” murmured Gerald, deprecatingly.
“Yes, you are, Mister Smarty. Say, you’re foolish like a fox, aren’t you? Well, I won’t tell you any more.”
“I don’t care. It doesn’t concern me any. Only I think it’s silly to get into trouble just for a few minutes’ fun.” Gerald paused. “Then, besides,” he said, “I wouldn’t want to play a joke on him any way, because he never did anything to me.”
Arthur grinned. “Go on, you little ferret! See what you find out.”
“Oh, if you think I’m trying to pump you,” said Gerald, with great dignity, “I’ll get out! And I hope you forget to pack everything you’ll need at home!”