ickered and jumped a great deal, and at times streaks on
the old film gave the idea that the boat loads of infantry were
approaching the shore in a torrent of rain, but the figures moved,
nevertheless, and unslung rifles, and formed into companies.

"The charge up the hill under fire," supplemented the operator. They had
no titles for the motion pictures in those days.

Amid a steady whirring, flashes of smoke appeared from the thickets
overhanging the shore. A soldier threw up his arms, another pitched
headlong into the sand, and the Americans swept up the slope in a charge
which brooked no obstacles. Little girls handclapped vigorously, while
the boys pounded on the floor with their feet and gave vent to weird
whistles of enthusiasm.

"And so San Joon was taken!"

"The hill wasn't on the water that way," John interrupted excitedly.
"I've got a book at home with maps and everything. Wasn't that way at
all."

"Let's pretend it was," Louise replied philosophically.

The lights flashed on in the hall to dazzle the eyes of the audience. A
chair squeaked. There was a sound of footsteps near the doorway.

"Keep your seats," cautioned Professor O'Reilley as he jumped up on the
stage. "The drawing for prizes will now take place. Ryan," to his
assistant, "bring them out on the stage as I call for them."

A babel arose. "Don't you wish you could win the skates, Jim?" "What'll
you do if you get a ring?" "And there's dolls and doll carriages, too."

The showman raised an arm as a signal for silence. "Will some boy step
up to draw the tickets from the hat?"

Four or five eager volunteers scrambled over the footlights. The
professor selected the largest of them.

"Number six-seventy-six!" John looked eagerly at the coupon which had
been handed him at the door. "Number six-seventy-six! Who has it?"

Harriette, the cast-off Harriette of last year, bobbed forward.

"Ah," boomed the deep voice. "A little girl, and a nice one, too."
Harriette stuck one finger in her mouth as she shifted sheepishly from
foot to foot. "But the skates are boy's. Isn't that too bad? Now, little
girl, do you think you will be satisfied with a nice, new dollar bill
instead? Will that buy a good enough pair of skates?"

"Jimmy!" John ejaculated enviously.

"Number three-forty-four!" he continued, as his volunteer assistant drew
out another slip. "And another little girl. Well, she gets this
beautiful Brazilian pearl ring, set with wonderful, gl