Livingston nodded, smiled again, and turned to Cowan.

"Well, they tell me you fellows are in for desperate deeds this year,"
he said.

"How's that?" asked Cowan.

"Aren't you in on the sophomore councils? Why, I'm told that if the
freshmen don't give up the dinner plan I'm to be kidnaped."

"How'd you hear--" began Cowan. Then he paused with some confusion. "Who
told you that rot?" he asked with a laugh.

"Oh, it came in a roundabout way," answered Livingston. "I dare say it's
just talk."

"Some freshman nonsense," said Cowan. "I guess we'll do our best to keep
you fellows from eating too much, but--" He shrugged his big shoulders.
Livingston, observing him shrewdly, began for the first time since
intelligence of the supposed project had reached him to give credence to
it. But he laughed carelessly as he turned away.

"Oh, well, we have to keep you fellows amused, of course, and if you
like to try kidnaping you may."

"I wish the sophs would try it," said Neil warmly. Cowan turned to him.

"Well, if they did--_if_ they did--I guess they'd succeed," he drawled.

"Well, if they do--_if_ they do," answered Neil, "I'll bet they won't