seemed slipping away. Suddenly a bold idea presented itself. He got
out of the wagon, and came up on the step.

"Couldn't you use a whole load, if I was to take it out in
tickets?"

The man looked puzzled. "Take it out in tickets?" he repeated.

"Yes, sir," said Billy, "theayter tickets. Don't you own the show?"

The gentleman laughed. "Well, hardly," he said. "What do you want
with more than one ticket?"

There was a certain sympathy in his voice, in spite of the fact that
he was still laughing, and before Billy knew it he had told him all
about it.

"How many tickets could yer gimme fer the load?" he asked, in
conclusion.

The gentleman made a hurried calculation. "You say you have three
sisters?" he asked.

"Yep," said Billy.

"Well, I should say that load was worth about five tickets."

"Gee whiz!" cried the boy; "that 'ud take us all!"

He followed the gentleman back to the ticket-office, and eagerly