Page:Stanwood Pier--Harding of St Timothys.djvu/70

50 But none of us wanted to stir up any bad blood, and apparently we've done that. So we've called the whole thing off, we've thrown away our pins, and you fellows in the Crown"—he laughed—"are still the only real, genuine secret society in the school."

Harry smiled rather sheepishly.

"Then we got so excited over nothing at all?" he said.

"It looks that way to me," Rupert answered, rising to go. "Herrick was so interested in SB, you might tell him now what it was," he added. "And Watson—I think it would be just as well if you told Watson why SB was organized."

"I will," Harry promised. "I—you make me feel quite small, Rupert—and at the same time I 'm much obliged."

Rupert took his hand with a friendly laugh.

"I hoped there would n't be any hard feeling between us," he said. "Good-night, Harry!" It did not soften Herrick's resentment and mortification when Harry told him the next