Page:The spirit of the leader (IA spiritofleader00heyl).pdf/209

 A day later he received his black arm band with the letters "S. C." standing out in white. The same day he left the school and crossed to the Candy Kitchen. Charlie, the clerk behind the soda fountain, viewed him with surprise.

"You on the committee?"

Jim grinned. "I'll say so. Any of our fellows around? No? Well, I've done my duty and looked for them. Let's have a vanilla, and don't be stingy with the measure."

Charlie scooped out the ice cream. "I thought you committee fellows were the honor boys and couldn't take advantage of things to sneak over here for a drink?"

"Don't make me laugh," said Big Jim. As he drank his soda he glanced down at his arm band and chuckled. The soda finished, he crossed the street casually and entered the school.

Perry King, from an upstairs hall window, happened to see Big Jim go to the Candy Kitchen, and return. He went downstairs and met Fry as he entered the building.

"Anybody over there?" Perry asked.

Big Jim's eyes narrowed. "No. I had a hunch I'd find a certain fellow busy at Charlie's counter. I guess I was too early. Suppose you keep a watch on the place."

Why, Perry reflected, should Big Jim's eyes