d No. 2 to an attitude of proper respect,
consistent with the approaching dignity of his sixteen years.

6. To thrash Puffy Ellis for the third consecutive summer.

7. To obtain permission for a two weeks' visit to the home of his chum,
Snorky Green.

In all of which, be it observed that the feminine portion of society
occupied not the slightest place.

* * * * *

On a radiant afternoon in mid-June, Skippy, having finished the last bar
of peanut brittle and made sure that no vestige remained of the box of
assorted chocolates which had preceded it down the Great Hungry Way,
assembled three comic weeklies and four magazines, gave the porter a
quarter for his ostentatious devotions and descended at the station,
with exactly seven cents in his pocket, having calculated his budget to
a nicety.

His patent leathers were in a decidedly shabby condition and cracked
over the instep, but his brown and green check suit, the yellow tie and
the new panama with the purple and white band were irreproachably _bon
ton_. He stood a moment supporting himself on a light bamboo cane,
contemplating his dress suit-case, which he acknowledged was not up to
form. Not only had the straps rotted away, but there were strange
depressions and bulges in it due to the Waladoo Bird's two hundred and
twenty pounds having fallen upon it. Furthermore, it was stained with
the marks of a root beer orgy and Snorky Green's mistaken efforts to
remove the same stains with a pumice stone.

Skippy after a moment's deliberation, decided not to insult the hackman
with an offer of seven cents and having consigned the unspeakable bag to
the truckman proceeded on foot twirling his cane and trying to appear
unaware of the admiration of the villagers who were particularly
impressed by his perfect pants.

The Bedelle homestead was a large ornamental, turreted and bastioned
mansion, consonant with Mr. Bedelle's increasing prosperity and Mrs.
Bedelle's social importance.

"Gee, the Governor certainly ought to stand for a raise," said Skippy to
himself, with a proper appreciation of the velvety lawns, the flower
gardens and the green and white stables. Then he remembered the none too
brilliant record of the scholastic year which was sure to come up for
discussion and fell into a sudden despondency.

CHAPTER XXII

GIRLS AS AN EPIDEMIC

AS he turned up the walk, sister No. 2, aged fourteen and a half, came
romping off the