Up to the middle of the week Fred Ripley felt rather certain that he was to be invited.  Then, feeling less certain, he went to Thomp and Badger.

“Say, fellows,” began Fred, with a confident air, “I just want to mention the fact that I haven’t received a card to the senior ball yet.”

“Maybe you will, next year,” suggested Thomp coolly.

Fred flushed, then went white.

“Oh, very well, if you mean than I’m to be left out,” grunted Ripley.

“I’m afraid, Fred,” hinted Badger, “that you were overlooked until the full number of soph tickets had been issued.  It was an oversight, of course, but I’m afraid it’s too late to remedy it.”

Fred Ripley went away, furious with anger, for he already knew, as did everyone else in Gridley H.S., that Dick & Co. were to be among the elect at the senior ball.  And Fred had been so sure of a card to the ball that he had gone to the length of inviting Clara Deane to accompany him to the affair.  That young lady had most joyously accepted.

Now, as he walked home with Miss Clara this afternoon, Fred suddenly broke out: 

“I say, Clara, you don’t very much mind if we don’t go to the senior ball, do you?”

“Yes,” Miss Deane retorted.  “Why, what’s the matter, Fred. Didn’t you receive an invitation?”

“Of course, I could get an invite,” lied young Ripley.  “But the plain truth is, I want to keep out of the affair.”

“Why, what’s the matter?” asked Clara, gazing at her escort in astonishment.

“Haven’t you heard the news?”

“What news?”

“That mucker crowd, who call themselves Dick &s Co., have been invited.”

“There’s no harm in that, is there?” asked Clara Deane, quietly.  “Why, they’re quite popular young fellows; certainly the best-liked freshmen.”

“Well, I don’t like them,” retorted Fred, sullenly.

“And so, after inviting me to go to the ball with you, now you’re going to invite me to remain at home instead?”

“Oh, of course, if you really want to go, I’ll see about it,” muttered the sophomore.

But he didn’t see about it, nor did Clara Deane again refer to the matter.  However, being an enterprising girl, Miss Deane was not long in discovering that Fred was not going to the senior affair for the very good reason that he couldn’t possibly get himself written down on the invitation list.

Apart from the moral side of the question it is rarely worth while to lie—–­to a girl, especially.

CHAPTER XXIII

THE NITROGLYCERINE MYSTERY SPEAKS UP

In one phase of its social life Gridley H.S. was especially sensible.  Since only a few of the boys could be expected to be able to afford evening dress suits, it was a rule that none, even the seniors, should appear at any of the class functions in these fashionable garments.