surprised Tommy very much.

On the steps he gave her his final instructions, and she dimpled and
gurgled, obviously full of admiration for him, which was a thing he
approved of, but he would have liked to see her a little more serious.

"That is the door. Well, then, I'll waggle the rail as makes the bell
ring, and then I'll run."

That was all, and he wished she had not giggled most of the time. She
was sniggering, as if she thought him a very funny boy, even when he
rang the bell and bolted.

From a safe place he watched the opening of the door, and saw the
frivolous thing lose a valuable second in waving the muff to him. "In
you go!" he screamed beneath his breath. Then she entered and the door
closed. He waited an hour, or two minutes, or thereabout, and she had
not been ejected. Triumph!

With a drum beating inside him Tommy strutted home, where, alas, a boy
was waiting to put his foot through it.




CHAPTER II

BUT THE OTHER GETS IN