began. "Do you think Mr. Rue would give me about five minutes for an announcement?"
"I don't know." The teacher gave him another swift survey. "I must go to the principal's office this morning. I'll ask him. Is it any thing important?"
"Betterment of school conditions," said the boy.
"In what way?"
"Why, I thought No; it was your thought.
"I'd like to sound out the school on going downtown to see the carpenter."
"I think it might be arranged," said Mr. Banning.
Next morning the auditorium exercises had reached the point that usually meant dismissal; but Mr. Rue, on the stage, was clearing his throat, and tapping his eye-glasses against the fingers of his left hand, and waiting for them to settle into quiet. The students shifted uneasily.
"Mr. George Praska, of Home Room 13," the principal said, "has an announcement to make that he thinks will be of general interest. I believe it comes under the head of school welfare."
There was a stirring of feet, a volley of applause, as Praska left his seat and came down one of the aisles. A quality of determination was in the set of his shoulders and the measure of his
