evening, they are bound to make merry. Consequently there was
always an air of jollity connected with these weekly singing
society meetings throughout the winter months.

Both Bones Shadduck and Ralph West were present. They showed up
with a bunch of others, and secretly Ralph reported to Frank that
they had seen no sign of the enemy while on the way thither.

"But don't let that make you careless," retorted the other, "for
these chaps are as cunning as Indians, who always attack, they
say, just before dawn, when the men on guard are apt to be sleepy.
Watch out, Ralph. We need you too much to have you taking
chances."

But the evening passed quickly, with the customary songs and
merriment. Minnie was, of course, present. She had come with
Dottie Warren, and once, when it chanced that she and Frank met
face to face, she looked annoyed because she had to speak.
However, Frank's nod was just as cold as her own.

He sang with even more vim than customary, just to show her that
he was not caring in the least. Still, there were curious eyes
that noted the breach, and more than one group of girls commented
on the fact.

"They've certainly had a falling out," said Emily Dodsworth, the
primp, and she tried to look horrified, even while secretly
pleased, because she was herself very fond of Frank. "Isn't it
dreadful, girls? But then I thought their friendship was too
sudden to last long. Perhaps Frank may understand now that 'old