"Not a one! Not a one!" exclaimed Bruce, holding up a protesting hand.
"The floor's good enough for me."

But several chairs being offered by admiring Sophomores, who knew how
to appreciate one of the best-loved lads in Elmwood Hall, Bruce
accepted a seat.

"Go ahead, Tom," he suggested. "Don't let me interrupt the
festivities. I don't want to be the skeleton at the feast."

"Oh, I was only telling the fellows how Sam and Nick acted this
summer," proceeded our hero. "And, as I was saying," he resumed, "they
captured Bert, Jack and my friend, from home, Dick Jones.

"They sneaked up on 'em while I was away from camp, mauled 'em
something fierce, and tied 'em up. Then they held em prisoners for
several days------"

"On bread and water," interrupted Jack. "Don't forget that, Tommy my
boy!"

"That's right," added Bert with a sorrowful sigh at the recollection.
"I was nearly starved before you rescued us."

"And that's what they did," concluded Tom, telling the final details.
"Now the question is, what had we better do to such cads when they come
back to school and expect to be treated decently? What ought we to do?"

There was silence for a moment, and then Bruce Bennington asked quietly: