of feathers taken therefrom. Then Gus Plum was allowed to come from the closet.
"Now, Plum, you wouldn't do as ordered," said Phil, "so you have got to take the consequences!"
"All right, do your worst!" muttered the bully, defiantly.
"Then you like tar and feathers?" questioned Dave.
"You ain't going to tar and feather me!" howled Gus Plum. "You wouldn't dare to do it!"
"Won't we dare?" said Roger. "Just wait and see."
"Take off his coat, vest, and shirt," came from another. "And then blindfold him."
"I won't stand it," ejaculated the bully, and now he was thoroughly alarmed. "Let me go, do you hear? If you don't, I'll yell."
"Gag him!" ordered Phil, and in a twinkling a cloth gag was forced into the bully's mouth, and a handkerchief was tied over it. Then the fellow was stripped to the waist, and his hands were fastened behind his back.
In the meantime the molasses had been warmed over the pocket stove mentioned. It was smeared on with a whisk broom, and Gus Plum groaned and tried to break away, feeling certain it was tar. Over the molasses went the feathers.
