Directly behind them were the other three members of the "Co." "Say," muttered Dan, in a low undertone, "Mr.Morton looks half glum and half savage this morning, like the rest of us." "Seems to," muttered Tom Reade.
"What do you make of _that_ ?" challenged Dan.
"There must be strong foundation for the little hint Dr.Thornton let fall this morning," guessed Dave Darrin.
"And Mr.Morton knows it's a straight tip," added Harry Hazelton, sagely.
"It'll be a confounded shame, if the Board does anything like that," glowed Dick Prescott, indignantly.
"They'll be so many dead ones, if they _do_," flared Tom Reade, hotly.
"Yes," agreed Dave Darrin.

"But the worst about that Board of Education is that, though they _are_ dead ones, they're so very dead that they'll never find it out." "Won't they, thought" whispered Dan Dalzell, hotly.

"Say, I'm inclined to think they will! I-----" "Dan!" whispered Dick, warningly.
"Yep; you've guessed right," grinned Dan.

"I am hatching a scheme in my mind.

I'm getting up something that will bring even that dummified Board to its senses." "Then you can achieve the impossible," teased Reade.
"Say, but it's a warm one that's forming this time," whispered Dan, his eyes dancing.