Frank Roscoes Secret | Page 5

meet you later," Bart replied.
"What's the matter?" asked Ned, for Bart was usually the first one to

join in sport of this kind.
"Got a little business to transact. You fellows go ahead, and I'll come
pretty soon."
Ned had to be content with this. A little later, with Frank and Fenn, he
went to the swimming hole. Bart remained about the school until he
saw Sandy start off, then he followed a short distance behind, heading
for the dock, where the four chums kept a boat they owned.
"Hello, Sandy!" exclaimed Bart, as he saw the boy on the dock when he
arrived. Bart spoke as though Sandy's presence was accidental, and he
did that for the benefit of any of the members of the Upside Down Club
who might be in the vicinity.
"Going out rowing?" asked Sandy, and he winked at Bart.
"Yes," was the answer, as Bart comprehended what Sandy meant.
"Want to go 'long?"
Sandy nodded, and, with his help, Bart got the boat from the house and
rowed it out into the middle of the river.
"Now I guess we can talk without being overheard," said Bart, when
they were well out from shore, and rowing up stream. "What's up,
Sandy?"
"The Upside Down boys have a plot on foot to spoil the dinner."
"What dinner?" asked Bart, wishing to see just how much Sandy knew.
"Oh, the dinner the baseball nine is going to have. It's all over. Some
one must have talked. I heard of it late Saturday night, but it wasn't
until last night that I heard of the conspiracy."
"What are they going to do?" asked Bart.
"That I can't tell," Sandy replied. "You know that, though I'm in the
first-year class, I don't belong to the society. I didn't join. One of the

members thought I was in and before he knew what he was doing he
had blurted out something about their going to take the dinner stuff
from Fenn's barn. Then he found out I wasn't a member, and a lot of
'em got around me and made all sorts of threats if I told. I wouldn't
promise not to, but I can't find out any more, except that they're going
to make a raid on the place just before it's time for the dinner."
"How many?" asked Bart.
"About fifty of 'em."
"Whew!" exclaimed the captain of the nine.
"That means trouble !"
CHAPTER III
NED IS CAPTURED
For a few minutes after receiving this information Bart was busy
thinking. Then, turning to Sandy he said "Will you help me row the
boat up to the swimming hole?"
"Sure. But let me out just before you get there. If any of the Upside
Down boys see me with you they'll suspect I've given the thing away.
Are you going to do anything?"
"I rather think we will," replied Bart "But I don't know yet what it will
be. Row fast now, Sandy."
In a little while the boat was near enough to the Riffles so that Bart
could manage it alone for the rest of the distance. Sandy went ashore
and disappeared in the woods that lined the bank while Bart tied the
craft to an overhanging limb and got out.
He found his three chums were enjoying themselves in the water,
splashing about and ducking one another. There were a number of High
School boys with them, including several of the first-year class, from

the ranks of which the secret society was made up.
"There's Bart!" cried Fenn. "Come on in!"
Anxious to tell his chums the news he had heard, but not wanting to
awaken the suspicions of the Upside Down Club members, Bart
prepared and went in swimming. He managed to get close to his three
friends in turn, and quietly told them to go out, dress, and wait for him
near the boat, which he told them was tied close at hand.
"Go out one at a time," Bart cautioned, "or they may suspect
something."
In a little while the four boys were seated in their boat and were rowing
down stream.
"Now what's up?" demanded Ned. "I declare you're as mysterious as
though something had happened."
"Something's going to happen," said Bart.
"What?"
"The Upside Downs are going to spoil our dinner--if they can!"
"How did you hear of it?"
"Who told you?"
"What are they going to do?"
The three chums asked these questions of Bart all at once.
"What do you think I am, a lightning calculator?" demanded Bart. "One
at a time, please! The line forms on this side."
Then he proceeded to tell them what Sandy had revealed.
"Good for Sandy!" exclaimed Ned. "He treated us pretty mean once,

but he's making up for it now."
"Yes, it was a