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
