"And I want big high ones, just like those he's going to have," begged
Jan, pointing to her brother.

"We'll get them just alike and then you won't have any trouble," laughed
her father. "Only, of course, Ted's will have to be a little larger in
the feet than yours, Jan."

"Oh, yes, Daddy! That's all right," and she smiled. "But I want mine
high up on my legs."

Telling one of his clerks to stay in the office until he came back, Mr.
Martin took Ted and Jan to the shoestore a few doors down the street.
There were many other boys and girls, and men and women, too, getting
boots or rubbers.

"Well, Mr. Martin," said the clerk who had come to wait on the
Curlytops, "I see you're getting ready for a hard winter. If you get
snowed in out at your house, these youngsters can wade out and buy a
loaf of bread."

"We're going to have a lot to eat in our house," put in Ted, "'cause a
hermit my grandpa knows said we might get snowed in."

"Indeed!" exclaimed the clerk. "Well, it looks as though we would have
plenty of snow. We've had more so far this year than we did in twice as
long a time last season. Now about your rubber boots," and he took the
measure of the feet of Ted and Jan, and soon fitted them with high
boots, lined with red flannel.

"Do they suit you, Jan?" asked her father.

"Yes, they're just right," she answered. "I like 'em!"

"They're fine!" cried Ted, stretching out his legs as he sat on the
bench in the shoestore. "Now I can wade in deep drifts," for the boots
could be strapped around his legs at the top, as could Jan's, and no
snow could get down inside.

"Well, run along home and have fun in the snow!" said their father. "Oh,
I forgot something! Come on back to the store a minute. I bought a new
kind of chocolate candy to-day and I thought maybe you might like to try
it."

"Oh, Daddy! We would!" cried Jan, clapping her hands.

"Mind you! I'm not _sure_ you'll like it," her father said, trying not
to smile, "but if you _don't_, just save it for Nicknack. He isn't
particular about candy."

"Oh, we'll like it all right!" laughed Ted. "Hurry, Jan. I'm hungry for
candy now!"

The chocolate was very good, and Ted and Jan each had as large a piece
as was good for them, and some to take home to their mother, with a
little bite for Trouble. As the Curlytops were getting ready to leave
their father's store the clerk came from the office and said:

"While you were gone, Mr. Martin, a lame boy came in