FRED'S REWARD
No sooner had Fred spoken than he started toward his rival.
By this time, a score or more boys were in sight and as they saw Fred
heading for Bart, they hastened their steps, keeping their eyes on both.
Bart Montgomery had also seen the boy he hated coming toward him and,
though he wondered what could be the reason, pretended not to notice
him, and it was not until Fred hailed him, with an "I say, Bart, just a
moment," that he looked in his direction.
"Well?" drawled the rich bully, as his rival came closer.
"I'm giving a supper to-night and I'd be obliged if you'd meet me at
five instead of seven. When I set the hour this morning, I did not know
about it."
As Fred spoke, the other boys had formed a circle about the two and
eagerly they awaited the bully's response.
For a moment, Bart was on the point of refusing. Then, as Fred had
hoped, he saw the chance of humiliating his rival before his friends
and sneered:
"_You_, giving a supper? Who's going?"
"That's none of your business, Bart Montgomery. Will you meet me at
five--or are you afraid to?"
"_I_ afraid to meet _you_? Say, if you'll take my advice, you'll
postpone your supper. You'll be more fit for bed and a doctor than a
supper."
This taunt drew shouts of approval from Bart's followers.
"Thank you. Five it is," said Fred, ignoring the others. And he walked
away to find Bronson, to whom he extended in person the invitation sent
by his mother.
Usually the forming of the classes and the assignment of lessons on
the opening day was a period of terror for the headmaster and the
instructors, but on this occasion, the boys were too excited over
the outcome of the quarrel between the rivals to cause any trouble.
Thus the tasks were soon completed, and the boys hastened to the
campus, while Fred and Bart were spirited away by Buttons and Taffy,
respectively.
The scene of the combat between the rivals was a tree-enclosed patch of
ground back of Hal Church's barn, beside the cattle run, and as the
hour of five approached forms of boys could be seen seeking the spot
cautiously, dodging out of sight at every sound.
Then followed a silence, broken now and again by subdued exclamations,
and finally the appearance of Fred and Buttons from between the trees,
showing that the fight was at an end.
"Why are we going this way?" asked Fred, as his chum led him along the
cattle run. "It looks as if I were afraid to be seen."
"Well, you're not exactly a fit exhibit for a beauty show," grinned his
chum, and then he suddenly gave three whistles, which were followed
immediately by the appearance of two girls from behind the bars at the
end of the cattle run.
"What in the world?" began Fred, then, recognizing the figures, he
exclaimed: "Why, it's Marg and Grace!"
"My, but you're the fine little guesser," chuckled Buttons. "Who did
you think they were, Alice and Mary Montgomery?"
His chum's sarcasm was lost on Fred, however, as, thinking only of the
position of the girls, he hastened toward them.
"Marg, you mustn't stay here! You never should have come!" he cried.
"But, I couldn't help it, Fred. I was so worried. Are you--did you--oh!
You're all blood! Did that big brute of a Bart get the best of you?"
The look that he read in the girl's eyes was so delightful to the
conflict-stained boy that he forgot all else and simply drank it in.
"For goodness sake! Speak, one of you, and relieve our anxiety. Marg
has been making my life miserable for the last hour," exclaimed Grace.
"An hour?" repeated both boys, in surprise.
"If not longer," smiled Grace. "I told her the thing wouldn't begin
till five, but that didn't make any difference. So _please_ tell us how
it came out."
"No, don't," protested Margie, her eyes on Fred's bespattered face. "I
can tell--and I don't want to hear it." Then, her affection asserting
itself, she put her hand on Fred's arm and breathed: "I'm so sorry! But
we won't care. He's bigger than you are, anyway."
"Um-m! You ought to be willing to take a licking every day if Marg
would talk like that to you," grinned Buttons.
"Well, I would," retorted the girl, a blush suffusing her pretty face,
as she realized the significance of her avowal. "I----"
Something about the expression on Buttons' face, however, suggested to
Grace that her chum's sympathy was wasted and she interrupted:
"Don't say another word, Marg. The boys are just drawing you on. I
believe Fred won."
But neither boy made any response.
"If you don't tell us, I'll never speak to either of you again,"
flashed Grace.
Alarmed at the prospect of such a dire calamity, Buttons said:
"Sure he won!"
A moment the girls looked at one another, then Marg exclaimed, looking
into Fred's face:
"Really? Did you _really_ beat that big brute of a bully, Fred?"
"Yes."
"Oh, I'm so glad!" cried the girl.
"I think you're a couple of mean things, to tease us so," declared
Grace. "Why didn't you tell us in the first place?"
"Because you talked so much we didn't have the chance, and then when he
saw you were so sure Bart won, we thought we'd let you have your own
way," grinned Buttons.
"Smarty!" snapped Grace.
But Margie was so proud to think the boy of her preference had defeated
the rich bully, that she did not share her chum's pique, declaring:
"I'm so happy, I don't mind your not telling us. Indeed, I think it's
pleasanter to find we were wrong."
A moment Buttons looked at the happy couple, then seized Grace by the
arm and started away, laughing:
"Come on, girlie, this is no place for us. Besides, you ought to be
nice to me. I was Fred's second."
Her anger being only simulated, Grace readily allowed herself to be led
away and as they went, Fred called:
"Come on back here! If you don't mind the invitation being a little
late, I want you both to come home to supper with me."
"Very kind of you, I'm sure," grinned Buttons, "but your mother invited
us this afternoon."
"But--why----"
"Your mother sent an invitation by me, when she learned about your
fight," exclaimed Grace.
"Then she knows?" gasped Fred.
"Evidently," grinned Buttons.
"Come on, then, quick! We must let Momsy know I won. She'll be worrying
her heart out," exclaimed the victor, as he seized Margie's hand and
broke into a run, followed by the others.
The arrival at the house affording Margie the first chance to catch
her breath long enough to speak, she put her face close to Fred's and
whispered:
"_One_ of the reasons I like you is that you are so thoughtful of
your mother. Another is because you were not afraid of that Bart
Montgomery."