Lester was sick, why, some one ought to help the country--some
Pomeroy. The boys agreed. But his dad and Elinor needed him,
too; so he supposed he would have to wait yet.

Porky, rolling around on the grass, felt the paper rustle in his
pocket.

"Here, Asy," he said. "You ought to be in on this. I'm going to
let you carry this paper. It is very important indeed."

Asa beamed, but as usual said nothing. It was fine to be in on
things. It made him feel important. He patted his pocket, and
sat straighter. The paper rustled, just as any paper would
rustle. Asa, listening, heard no warning in the sound.

Finishing their talk, Porky decided that it was getting very
late, and they boarded the next car passing. It was nearly
empty, and the boys dozed all the way to town. In fact, they
were so sleepy that the car had reached New York Central Station
before they roused themselves. They had been carried two blocks
too far.

"Well, we are here, anyway," said Beany, "and I'm going inside to
get a stick of gum."

"That's a good stunt," said Porky.

They ran up the steps and entered the great waiting-room. Asa
did not like gum, and, besides, Asa never liked to spend a penny.
He stood looking about him in the middle of the space in front of