"Something's going on over to our place."

Billy Wells walked into the school yard at noon with a face which
showed that the "something" was very important indeed. The other boys
gathered in a little crowd about him.

"What is it, Billy?"

[Illustration: "We sit in the same row," said Mabel.]

"Tell us, Billy."

"It's--somebody that's come there--"

"What for?"

"To stay, I guess. Acts that way."

"Friends of the folks?"

"No, we've never seen 'em before."

"Do you mean some kind of a tramp?"

"What's he doing?"

"Seems to be building a house."

"A house? Well, that sounds queer."