nd saltines
to be washed down with ginger pop and root beer.

Skippy, having calculated nicely the possibilities of the exchequer,
threw out progressively dark, mysterious hints that fed Snorky's
curiosity, without any open gift of his confidence. Even Doc Macnooder,
aware by all outward signs that the imagination which had conceived of
the Foot Regulator was again fermenting, had laid his arm about his
shoulders and led him to the Jigger Shop.

But the Skippy Bedelle, who had assumed the trials and tribulations of
manhood, had profited by the first disillusionments. The trusting,
childlike faith was gone forever and in his new, skeptical attitude
towards human nature--Toots Cortrelle excepted--he had determined to
part with as few millions as possible.

"I say, Skippy, how's it working out?" said Snorky at eleven P.M.,
producing the crackers and cheese, after having blinded the windows and
hung a blanket over the telltale cracks of the door.

"Fine!"

"Is that all you're going to tell me?" said Snorky with his hand on the
cheese.

"Not yet, but soon," said Skippy, whose appetite always betrayed his
caution.

"In that case I serve notice right here I'm through with the financing!"

"The financing!"

"What else do you call it?" said Snorky indignantly, producing the last
two quarters from his pocket, and restoring the cheese to its box.

"All that will go down to your credit account," said Skippy in a
conciliatory tone. "I'll tell you this much. There's nothing in the
butterfly idea--it would take too long."

"Huh! You didn't think I bit on that! Well, how're you going to clean
'em up? They destroy 'em in Cuba with kerosene--I've been reading up. Is
it something like that?"

"Destroy them, why destroy them?" said Skippy reprovingly.

"Why not?"

"If you destroy mosquitoes you destroy your income, you poor boob," said
Skippy with his superior manner. "Let 'em live--who profits? I do."

Snorky rose and produced the Bible.

"Come on," he said, in a fever of excitement. "I'm ready. Give me the
oath."

"You'll take the oath on my own terms!" said Skippy, looking at him
fixedly.

"What do you mean, terms?"

"Snorky, it's so big it may take years of investigation, you
understand--"

"Sure."

"This time I'm not giving up any fifty-one per cent."

"Let her go!"

"And if any one goes in they go in on a salary!"

"Oho! I see."

"Well?"

"All right, I'll swear," said Snorky, after a brief wrestl