“She offended me deeply,” said Spud.
“I’m so glad you boys didn’t do it this year,” said Marm.
“Didn’t do what?” asked Spud, selecting an apple from a basket and setting his teeth in it.
“Why, go over there and—and trouble her apples.”
“Oh! Yes, that is nice,” answered Spud, winking across at Cal. “You need never be afraid of anything like that happening, though, Marm, while you have me in the house to—er—preserve order.”
“You run along, Spud Halladay,” laughed Mrs. Linn. “You preserve order! You’re worse than any of them.”
“Study!” yelled Sandy from upstairs.
“Sandy has a very disagreeable voice at times,” muttered Spud as he led the way out, “and this is one of the times.”
It was not until Cal had entered the Den and closed the door behind him that his eyes lighted on his roommate. Ned was standing in front of an open bureau drawer with a brown leather collar-box in his hand and a look of consternation on his face.
“Hello,” said Cal, “what’s the matter?”