IR

P.M., the night before Ch

left the house of the scout-master, Paul Morrison. Frank had been the lucky one to be counted among

and weather permitting," observed Bobolink, w

hing is in complete readi

be off," laughed Jack. "And there'll be a lot of restl

r we have a 63 double reason for lying awake and counting the dragging minutes.

row with old Briggs at his store. He wanted to ask us top-notch price

llowing me around as if he thought I meant to steal him out of house and home. I just up and told

narrow vision. Besides, some boys have given him a lot of trouble, and he doesn't know the diffe

hat it's grown cloudy late to-

tarted," exclaimed Bluff. "If a foot of snow comes down on us,

and cold ahead for this section," announced Jack

was just like the thoughtful fellow you are to go down and rea

other, "for he told me about it. I rather expect Pa

that Jud Mabley busines

hat the chances were ten to one Paul would have to fork over the dollar to pay fo

I thought I was dreaming when Paul told me that Jud's little brother came thi

ed, with a scrap of paper on 65 which Jud had scrawled these words: 'Never would have paid only I couldn't let you s

o half believe he thinks he can see a rift in the cloud, and that some of

ow him like a book, and believe me, he gets more pleasure out of making his

was showing that scrawl to us fellows? I was close enough to get part of it, a

ame to a halt on a corner where several of the boys had to

der well enough to feel sure it's got to be a fierce storm to ma

he goose hangs high. Just keep on remembering that to-morrow will be Christ

fore we separate," said Jack, pretending to look

ferring to that Lawson crowd a

er home than the Lawsons

s what you have on your mind,"

ber to be extra careful how they gorge at Christmas dinner to-morrow. Too much turkey and plum pudding have stretched out many a brave scout before now. If ther

, and every one looked particularly

. "As for me, I'd already made up my mind to be satisfied with one hel

ope that this time we won't have to refer to

hter, and before Bobolink could make a caustic r

fire alarm!" exc

came with startl

t small towns in that section of the country. Stanhope was proud of its fire laddies, who had, on numerous previous occasions, proved the

oup of lads stood ready for flight, only waiting to catch some de

t over yonder!" cried Spider Sexton, as

es. See how it keeps on getting brighter right along, showing that

e fled wildly down the street. "Run for all your worth, old

Women and children had commenced to scream at each other across dividing fences. Dogs began to join in the general confu

nce they were dressed in the beginning. As they ran on they were joined by a number of men and women who had chanced