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Rh were anything to it I might get more stirred up. But it's just an empty honor. I don't care."

Stoddard looked at him with such keen disappointment that again Rupert laughed. Then he put his hand on the boy's shoulder.

"It's good of you, anyway, to take such an interest and want to help," he said. "Thank you, Francis."

"I don't care! I don't believe they can beat you! If there's anything I can do"—Stoddard's emotions were too stirred to permit him to continue. "I'm going to speak to every one I know," he added, after a moment, "though I don't know many."

"Well, don't make yourself unpopular on my account. By the way, I ordered those pins,—for that exclusive society of ours,—and they were to be here this afternoon. Don't you want to walk down to the express office with me and see if they've come?"

They had come; and in the basement of the study building, where the express office was situated, Rupert opened the little package.