It　followed　that　the　scouting　party　included　not　only　Miss　Hazel　Sleighter；　but　also　her　big　brother　Tom；　who；　being　temporarily　in　the　high　school；　more　perhaps　because　of　his　size　and　the　maturity　of　his　bearing　than　by　virtue　of　his　educational　qualifications；　was　at　the　present　moment　most　chiefly　concerned　in　getting　into　form　his　baseball　team　for　the　match　the　following　Saturday　in　which　the　High　School　was　to　meet　All　Comers　under　eighteen。　　The　freight　shed　being　on　his　way　to　the　practice　ground；　Tom　deigned　to　join　the　party　and　to　take　in　the　circus　car　as　he　passed。　　The　car　dwellers　were　discovered　on　the　open　prairie　not　far　from　the　freight　shed；　keeping　guard　over　Rosie；　who　was　stretching　her　legs　after　her　railway　journey。　　The　boys　were　tossing　a　baseball　to　each　other　as　Tom　pedalled　up　on　his　wheel。
  〃Hello；　there；　here　you　are；〃　he　shouted　to　Sam；　holding　up　his　hands　for　a　catch。
  The　ball　came　with　such　impact　that　Tom　was　distinctly　jarred；　and　dropped　the　ball。　　With　all　his　force　he　threw　the　ball　back　to　Sam；　who　caught　it　with　the　ease　of　a　professional　and　returned　it　with　such　vigour　that　again　Tom　dropped　it。
  〃Let's　have　a　knock…up；〃　he　said；　hitting　a　long　fly。
  Sam　flew　after　the　ball　with　amazing　swiftness；　his　scarecrow　garments　fluttering　and　flapping　in　the　air；　and　caught　it　with　an　upward　leap　that　landed　him　on　his　back　breathless　but　triumphant。
  〃Say；　you're　a　crackerjack；〃　said　Tom；　〃here's　another。〃
  Meanwhile　Larry　was　in　the　hands　of　his　sisters；　who　had　delightedly　kissed　him　to　his　shamefaced　chagrin；　and　introduced　him　to　their　new…found　friends。
  〃So　this　is　Larry。〃　said　Miss　Hazel　Sleighter；　greeting　him　with　a　dazzling　smile。　　〃We　have　heard　a　lot　about　you。　　I　think　you　must　be　quite　wonderful。　　Come　here；　Tom；　and　meet　your　friends。〃
  Poor　Larry！　　In　the　presence　of　this　radiant　creature　and　of　her　well…dressed　brother；　he　felt　terribly　conscious　of　the　shabbiness　of　the　second　best　suit　which　his　mother　had　thought　good　enough　for　the　journey　in　the　car。　　Tom　glanced　at　the　slight；　poorly　dressed；　pale…faced　lad　who　stood　before　him　with　an　embarrassed；　almost　a　beseeching　look　in　his　eyes。
  〃Can　you　play　ball？〃　asked　Tom。
  〃Not　much；〃　replied　Larry；　〃not　like　Sam。　　Come　here；　Sam；〃　he　called；　remembering　that　he　had　not　introduced　his　friend。　　Sam　shuffled　over　with　an　air　of　complete　nonchalance。
  〃This　is　Sam；〃　said　Larry。　　〃SamI　have　forgotten　your　name。〃
  〃Nolan；〃　said　Sam　shortly。
  〃Miss　Hazel　Sleighter；〃　said　Larry。
  〃How　do　you　do；　Miss　Hazel；〃　said　Sam；　sweeping　her　an　elaborate　bow；　and　then　gazing　boldly　into　her　eyes。　　〃I　hope　you're　well。　If　you're　as　smart　as　you　look；　I　guess　you're　way　up　in　G。〃
  〃I　am　quite　well；　thank　you；〃　returned　Miss　Hazel；　the　angle　of　her　chin　indicating　her　most　haughty　air。
  〃Say；　young　lady；　pass　up　the　chilly　stuff；〃　replied　Sam　with　a　laugh。　　〃It　don't　go　with　that　mighty　fine　complexion　of　yours。　Say；　did　you　ever　see　the　leading　lady　in　'The　Spider's　Web'？　Well；　you　make　me　think　of　her；　and　she　was　a　peacherino。　　Never　seen　her？　　No？　　Well；　you　ought　to　see　her　some　day　and　think　of　me。〃
  Hazel　turned　a　disgusted　shoulder　on　Sam's　impudent　face　and　engaged　Larry　in　vivacious　conversation。
  〃Well；　I　am　off　to　the　ball　practice；〃　said　Tom。　　〃Got　a　match　on　SaturdayHigh　School　against　the　world。　　Guess　they　would　like　to　have　you；　Sam；　only　I　wouldn't　care　to　have　you　play　against　us。　You　don't　play　baseball；　eh？〃　continued　Tom；　addressing　Larry。　〃What　do　you　playfootball？〃
  〃Not　much；　never　tried　much；〃　said　Larry；　flushing　over　his　lack　of　sporting　qualifications。
  〃He　plays　the　fiddle；〃　said　a　quiet　little　voice。
  Larry；　flushing　violently；　turned　around　and　saw　a　little；　brown…　faced　maid　gazing　thoughtfully　at　him。
  〃Oh；　he　does；　eh？　　Ha；　ha；　ha。　　Good　game；　eh？　　Ha；　ha；　ha。〃　　They　all　joined　in　the　laugh。
  〃And　he　plays　the　mouth　organ；　too；　and　does　funny　stunts；〃　sturdily　continued　the　little　girl；　disdaining　Tom's　scornful　laughter。
  〃Good　for　you；　Jane。〃
  〃Yes；　and　he　passed　his　entrance　to　the　High　School　a　year　ago　when　he　was　fourteen；　in　Ontario；　anyway。〃　　This　appeared　to　check　Tom's　hilarity。
  〃My；　what　a　wonder　he　is！　　And　did　he　tell　you　all　this　himself？〃
  〃No；　indeed；〃　said　Jane　indignantly。
  〃Oh；　I　am　glad　to　hear　that；〃　said　Tom　with　a　grin。　　〃Won't　you　come　along；　Sam？　　It's　only　a　little　way　down。〃
  〃All　right；〃　said　Sam　cheerfully。　　〃So　long；　folks。　　See　you　later；　Larry。　　Au　reservoir；　young　lady；　as　the　camel　said　to　the　elephant　when　he　asked　what　he'd　have。　　Hope　I　see　you　later　if　not　sooner　ta…ta；　tinga…ling；　honk　honk。〃　　Again　he　swept　Miss　Hazel　an　elaborate　bow。
  〃Thinks　he's　smart；〃　said　that　young　lady；　lifting　her　nose。　　〃He's　a　regular　scarecrow。　　Who　in　the　world　is　he　and　where　did　he　come　from？〃　she　demanded　of　Larry；　who　proceeded　to　account　for　Sam's　presence　with　their　party。
  The　visitors　peered　into　the　car　and　poked　into　its　recesses；　discovered　the　food　supplies　for　boy　and　beast；　and　inspected　the　dormitories　under　Larry's　guidance；　while　the　boy；　who　had　recovered　from　his　embarrassment；　discoursed　upon　the　wonderful　experience　of　the　journey。　　Miss　Hazel　flashed　her　great　blue　eyes　and　her　white　teeth　upon　him；　shook　all　her　frizzes　in　his　face；　smiled　at　him；　chattered　to　him；　jeered　at　him；　flattered　him　with　all　the　arts　and　graces　of　the　practiced　flirt　she　was；　until　Larry；　swept　from　his　bearings；　walked　the　clouds　in　a　wonder　world　of　rosy　lights　and　ravishing　airs。　　His　face；　his　eyes；　his　eager　words；　his　tremulous　lips；　were　all　eloquent　of　this　new　passion　that　possessed　him。
  As　for　Miss　Hazel；　accustomed　as　she　was　to　the　discriminating　admiration　of　her　fellow　clerks；　the　sincerity　and　abandonment　of　this　devotion　was　as　incense　to　her　flirtatious　soul。　　Avid　of　admiration　and　experienced　in　most　of　the　arts　and　wiles　necessary　to　secure　this　from　contiguous　males；　small　wonder　that　the　unsophisticated　Larry　became　her　easy　prey　long　before　she　had　brought　to　bear　the　full　complement　of　her　enginery　of　war。
  It　was　a　happy　afternoon　for　the　boy；　but　when　informed　by　his　sisters　of　his　mother's　desire　that　he　should　return　with　them；　he　was　resolute　in　his　refusal；　urging　many　reasons　why　it　was　impossible　that　he　should　leave　the　car　and　his　comrades。　　There　was　nothing　for　it　but　to　leave　him　there　and　report　to　his　mother　their　failure。
  〃I　might　have　known；〃　she　said。　　〃He　would　never　come　to　a　stranger's　house　in　his　old　clothes。　　I　will　just　bring　down　his　best　suit　after　tea。〃
  The　dinner　hour　at　Dr。　Brown's　was　fully　occupied　with　an　animated　recital　of　the　adventures　of　the　afternoon。　　Each　member　of　the　car　party　was　described　with　an　accuracy　and　fulness　of　detail　that　would　have　surprised　him。
  〃And　you　know；　Papa；〃　said　the　little　maid；　〃Tom　just　laughed　at　Larry　because　he　could　not　play　baseball　and　things；　and　I　just　told　him　that　Larry　could　play　the　mouth　organ　lovely　and　the　fiddle；　and　they　laughed　and　laughed。　　I　think　they　were　laughing　at　me。　　Tom　laughed　loudest　of　all；　and　he's　not　so　smart　himself；　and　anyway　Larry　passed　the　entrance　a　year　ago　and　I　just　told　him　so。〃
  〃Oh；　did　you；〃　said　her　father；　〃and　how　did　Master　Tom　take　that？〃
  〃He　didn't　laugh　quite　as　much。　　I　don't　think　I　like　him　very　much。〃
  〃Ah？〃
  〃But　Hazel；　she　was　just　lovely　to　Larry。　　I　think　she's　nice；　Papa；　and　such　lovely　cheeks　and　hair。〃　　Here　Jane　sighed。
  〃Oh；　has　she？　　She　is　quite　a　grown…up　young　lady；　is　she　not？〃
  〃She　has　her　hair　up；　Papa。　　She's　sixteen；　you　know。〃
  〃I　remember　you　told　me　that　she　had　reached　that　mature　age。〃
  〃And　I　think　Larry　liked　her；　too。〃
  〃Ah？　　And　why　do　you　think　so？〃
  〃He　just　looked　at　her；　and　looked；　and　looked。〃
  〃Well；　that　seems　fairly　good　evidence。〃
  〃And　he　is　coming　up　here　to…night　when　we　bring　him　his　good　clothes。〃
  〃Oh；　you　are　to　bring　him　his　good　clothes；　are　you？〃
  〃Yes；　Mrs。　Gwynne　and　I　are　taking　them　down　in　the　carriage。〃
  〃Oh；　in　the　carriageMrs。　Gwynne〃
  〃Yes；　you　know　　Oh；　here's　Nora　at　the　door。　　Excuse　me；　Papa。　　I　am　sure　it　is　important。〃
  She　ran　to　the　door　and　in　a　moment　or　two　returned　with　a　note。　〃It's　for　you；　Papa；　and　I　know　it's　about　the　carriage。〃　　She　watched　her　father　somewhat　anxiously　as　he　read　the　note。
  〃Umm…um。　　Very　good；　very　nice　and　proper。　　Certainly。　　Just　say　to　Mrs。　Gwynne　that　we　are　very　pleased　to　be　able　to　serve　her　with　the　carriage；　and　that　we　hope　Larry　will　do　us　the　honour　of　coming　to　us。〃
  Jane　nodded　delightedly。　　〃I　know；　Papa。　　I　told　her　that　already。　But　I'll　tell　her　this　is　the　answer　to　the　note。〃
  Under　Jane's　direction　and　care　they　made　their　visit　to　the　car；　but　on　their　return　no　Larry　was　with　them。　　He　would　come　after　the　picnic　and　baseball　game　tomorrow；　perhaps；　but　not　to…night。　His　mother　was　plainly　disappointed；　and　indeed　a　little　hurt。　　She　could　not　understand　her　son。　　It　was　not　his　clothes　after　all　as　she　had　thought。　　She　pondered　over　his　last　words　spoken　as　he　bade　her　farewell　at　the　car　door；　and　was　even　more　mystified。
  〃I'll　be　glad　when　we　get　to　our　own　place　again；〃　he　said。　　〃I　hate　to　be　beholden　to