CHAPTER III

THE "A. R. K. P." IS FORMED

Few customers patronized the little blue shop on Pine Street between five and six. Hillman's discouraged the consumption of sweets so close to the school supper-hour, and, while there was no rule against it, the fellows felt themselves more or less on honor to observe the doctor's frequently expressed wish. Neighbors ran in at intervals for a loaf of bread or cake or ten cents' worth of whipped cream, but for the most part, as six o'clock approached, the bell tinkled infrequently. Consequently the conference held this afternoon in the Widow Deane's sitting-room, which was also kitchen and dining-room and parlor, was almost undisturbed. The conference was participated in by four persons, Polly, Ned, Laurie, and Mae Ferrand. Mae's presence had been unforeseen, but as she was Polly's particular chum and, as Laurie phrased it, "one of the bunch," it occasioned no embarrassment. Mae