Frank Roscoes Secret | Page 7

back of
the Masterson barn. These three boys approached warily in the dusk of
the evening.
"Is that the way they're going in?" asked one of the trio, as he saw the
cow stable door.
"That's the way all but one of 'em is going in," was the answer. "There's
going to be one vacant place at the dinner."
"Whose?" asked another of the trio, of the one who seemed to be the
leader.
"Ned Wilding's."
"Are you sure he will come along alone so we can grab him?"
"Alone or not we'll get him. In fact we did think one time of making a
rush through the cow stable door, after we found out about their traps at

the other entrances. But that door is so narrow we couldn't get in quick
enough but what they could stand us off. So we decided on this plan.
We'll capture their presiding officer. It'll be like the play of Hamlet
with Hamlet left out."
"What you going to do with him?"
"Denny Thorp has that in charge. I think he's going to carry him to
some vacant house."
"What are we to do?" asked the member of the trio who had first
spoken.
"We're to stay here until the rest of the crowd arrives, and watch what
happens. But the main thing is to capture Ned."
All unconscious of the change in the conspirators' plans, and
congratulating themselves on the success of their method in guarding
against surprise, the members of the nine and their friends began
assembling one by one in the barn, as it grew dusk.
Most of them were on hand, and the tables, which were boards placed
across saw-horses, had been spread with the good things to eat.
"Where's Ned?" asked Bart, as he noticed that the toastmaster was not
yet present.
"He and Frank are coming together," replied Fenn. "Better take a look
out, fellows, and see if you can spot any of the enemy."
Several boys mounted to the hay loft and looked out of the small door
formerly used to take fodder into the barn. The watchers reported the
coast clear.
They came down, and were standing about the table, waiting for Ned
and Frank, who were the only absentees, when a loud cry came from
the direction of the cow stable door.
"Rescue! Rescue! Darewells to the rescue! They're kidnapping Ned!"

"That's Frank's voice!" cried Bart. "Come on, fellows! They've played a
trick on us and they've got Ned!"
CHAPTER IV
NED HEARS STRANGE TALK
There was a rush for the stairs leading from the barn down into the cow
stable. The nine and their friends fairly jammed the narrow passageway,
so eager were they to get outside.
"Easy!" shouted Bart. "We'll never get down this way! One at a time!"
The boys could hear the sounds of a struggle. There were confused
cries, and the shuffling of many feet.
"Hurry! Hurry!" cried Frank.
At last Bart, Fenn and a few others managed to reach the outside small
door, and rushed into the disused cowyard. There they saw a confusion
of black forms. There were two knots of struggling boys.
One knot was grouped about Frank, and the other around Ned. From
both groups came shouts and cries and the sounds of conflict, though it
was all in fun, and there was no evidence of anger.
"To the rescue!" yelled Bart, making for one crowd. He was followed
by several of his companions and then, others of the nine, and their
friends, sailed in to help Frank, since Bart had tackled Ned's assailants.
But with the advent of the boys from the barn there appeared
reinforcements of the enemy. The rescuers were fairly surrounded by a
throng of the Upside Downs, who were shouting and laughing, and
fairly overwhelming the ball players and their companions.
Suddenly the group surrounding Frank seemed to break apart. The
members of the first year class, who had been pulling and hauling him
this way and that, drew off. At the same time a cry sounded.

"This way, First Years!"
Off through the darkness, out of the cow-yard, moved a mass of boys.
"We've beaten them off!" cried Bart exultantly.
"Yes but they're taking Ned with them!" shouted Frank.
Only a few of the members of the nine heard what he said, so great was
the shouting and confusion. Frank tried to make himself understood. He
ran toward Bart, but several of the Upside Down boys got in his way
and prevented him. When at last he was able to make Bart understand
what had happened the group surrounding Ned was out of the yard.
"We must get them!" yelled Bart as he caught Frank's meaning. "Come
on, fellows!"
There was a rush for the gate, but when Bart and his