“Hang the themes, Dick!  I’ve got to have some fun—­ and I’m going out for it!” answered Tom, and catching up his cap he passed out of the dormitory.

“Guess I’ll go, too,” added Sam, and quickly followed.  Soon Dick came also, not wishing to be left behind if anything unusual was to take place.

In the lower hallway the boys found several men at work, cleaning and oiling the hardwood floor.  They had a box of wax polish with them, and this immediately gave Tom an idea.

“I’d like to buy a little of that,” he said, to the head workman, and a bargain was quickly struck, and the fun-loving Rover walked away with half a box of the wax polish.

“What are you going to do with it?” asked Sam.

“Don’t know yet—­ but I’ll do something,” was the reply.

“Looks like maple sugar candy,” said Dick, gazing at the wax.

“Wait!  I’ve struck it!” cried Tom.  “Just the thing!  Hurray!” And his face brightened.

“What is it, Tom?” asked both of his brothers.

“I’ll make William Philander Tubbs a present of this,” was the reply.  “Come on, and watch how I do it.”

“William Philander has gone to see that new, girl of his,” answered Sam.

“Not just yet—­ but he’ll be on the way soon.  I’ll have to hurry, if I want to do something.”

Tom led the way up a back stairs and to the room occupied that term by Tubbs and some other students.  They met the dudish student, half dressed, going to the lavatory to wash up.

“Quick!” cried Tom.  “I hope I can find the box.”

“What box?” asked Dick, as he and Sam followed Tom into Tubbs’ room.

“The box of candy he bought for Miss Ruggles.  It was a dandy—­ but maybe we can improve it just a little,” and Tom grinned broadly.

All looked around and presently found the box of candy on a dresser.  It was tied up with a blue ribbon, but this Tom slipped off with ease.  Inside of the box were chocolates and bonbons and some candied fruit.

“Hold the box, Sam,” said Tom, whipping out his knife.  “We’ve got to move mighty quick!”

On the instant he was at work with his pocket-knife, cutting the floor wax into various shapes to resemble candy.  He took out some of the candied fruit and substituted the wax.  Then he felt in his pocket.

“This will help,” he said, bringing forth a soapstone slate pencil, which he cracked into tiny lengths.  “The candy that lasts!” he cried softly, as he dropped the bits into the box.

“Rather rough on the girl,” declared Dick.

“Not at all, Dick,” said Sam.  “I was introduced to her last week and the very next day she passed me on the road with a stare as if she had never seen me.”

“And Stanley says she is stuck up to the last degree,” added Tom.  “Maybe this will take her down a peg—­ anyway I hope so.”

Sam was searching his pockets.  He brought out several dried beans and a heavy rubber elastic.