It was a gold collar button, and Dick, she found, had a box of
pearl and gold buttons that Sister was sure she had never seen
before. She played with them, tossing them up and down and
watching them glitter, until a sudden thought struck her.

"They'd make lovely jackstones," she whispered. "I could use 'em
and put them right back. I know Nellie has a ball."

Dick had several new ties, and Sister had to admire these before
she could leave the chiffonier. Finally she slipped the box of
pretty buttons in her pocket and jumped down. She put the chair
where she had found it, and ran downstairs and through the hedge
that separated the Morrison house from that of Dr. Yarrow's.

"Nellie, oh, Nellie!" called Sister. "Come on, let's play
jackstones."

"Haven't any," answered Nellie Yarrow, a little girl a year or so
older than Sister. "All I have left is my ball."

"Well, get that and we can play," Sister told her. "I've found
something we can use--see!"

Nellie admired the collar buttons immensely and thought it would
be great fun to play with them. She ran and got her ball and the
two little friends sat down on the concrete walk to play
jackstones, heedless of the hot morning sun.

Sister had won one game and Nellie two, when they heard Louise
calling.