you for information about some stupendous scheme of yours that was
literally as big as a house. Let's have it now."

"Do I understand that you're really appealing to me to learn my
scheme?" inquired Roger, swelling with amusement.

"If it's any satisfaction to you--yes," replied his sister.

Roger burst into a peal of laughter.

"Shoot off the answers, old man," urged James. "We're waiting."

"Breathlessly," added Margaret.

Roger settled himself comfortably on the top step of the piazza and
leaned his head against the post.

"It certainly does me good to see you all at my feet begging like
this," he declared.

"Bosh! You're at ours and I can prove it," asserted Tom, stretching
out a foot of goodly size.

"Peace! Withdraw that battering ram!" pleaded Roger. "I'll tell you
all about it. Tom's really responsible for this idea, anyway."

"Ideas, real fresh ones, aren't much in my line," admitted practical
Tom, "but I'm glad to have helped for once."

"I don't suppose you remember that time last autumn when I went in to