with his two fists to keep warm.
“The meeting was just letting out as I passed the school,” he whispered. “If the board thinks they can put the Hawks out of business they’ll have another think coming. We’ll just go under cover.”
“You couldn’t do that,” Diana said.
“Oh, we couldn’t?” Tad jeered. “Just watch. No, honestly I sure hope we can carry on as we are. Say, Mart,” his voice grew louder, then Trixie shushed him, “we’ve got the sweetest thing at bat you ever saw, in the Pony League now—Matt Devlin.”
“Why, good evening!” Mr. Stratton’s surprised voice interrupted Tad. “This is pretty late for you to be in town on Thursday night. Of course I know why you stayed.”
“Yes, we couldn’t possibly wait till tomorrow. We can’t possibly wait another minute!” Trixie caught Mr. Stratton’s arm as he reached to open his door. “Tell us, won’t you?”
“Yeah,” Tad said. “The Hawks want to know, too.”
“I’m sorry it’s too late to ask you to come in,” Mr. Stratton said. “Here it is, straight from the shoulder. I won’t tell you of the discussion that came first. The members of the board were indignant about what has been going on at our junior-senior high school.”
“Did you tell them we didn’t have anything to do with it?” Trixie asked.
“No, because I don’t think they were thinking in specific terms about anyone. When I had an opportunity I explained how the Bob-Whites came into existence. Then I outlined the project you have in mind for UNICEF.…”
“And?” Trixie could wait no longer.
“Well, they didn’t say outright that you would have to disband.”
They all sighed with relief.
“They did say, however,” Mr. Stratton continued, “that you would be placed on probation.”
The girls groaned. The boys shuffled their feet.
“Until,” the principal went on, “until they could appraise the outcome of the antique show. So, boys and girls, it’s up to you. If you make a great success of the show, and the members of the board see how well youcan work together to accomplish great good—they
did
think that raising money for UNICEF is very worthwhile—then they will consider allowing your club to continue to function.”
“Hurray!” they cried in unison.
A window went up upstairs. “Jeepers, we’re sorry,” Trixie called up to Mrs. Stratton, whose head appeared. “But thanks a million times, Mr. Stratton. We know it was the way you talked to them that won them over. Thanks!”
“Well now, thank
you
,” Mr. Stratton said and reached again for the doorknob.
“Say, how about the Hawks, sir?” Tad’s voice was low, most unusually humble.
“The Hawks?” Mr. Stratton repeated. “Oh yes, the board members said right away that they could continue—good for the health of the members—good for the school—yes, now good night!”
He went into the house.
Tad, cocky again, and triumphant, shook his clasped hands over his head. “The winnah!” he said and dashed away.
“That’s what he thinks,” Mart said, as the group followed Tad up the street. Regan would be waiting for them at the drugstore on Main Street.
“Let’s not bother about what Tad thinks,” Jim said. “Right, Trixie?”
“Right, Jim!”
What a co-president he is!
Trixie thought.
Out in the street they went, hand in hand, heads up, singing at the tops of their voices.
Nothing could stop them now!
Chapter 4
Treasures in the Attic
“Here comes Reddy again!” Bobby shouted. “He’ll get right in front of my sled! Down, Reddy! Please go back home, Reddy!”
Trixie had taken her little brother out to the hill behind Crabapple Farm to slide. Reddy, their Irish setter, wanted to go sliding, too. That is, he wanted to do anything Bobby wanted to do. It was plain to be seen which one of the children he liked best. Maybe it was because Bobby had more time to play with him.
“Go back home, Reddy!” Trixie ordered. “Bad dog!”
“He’s not a