oin worse than ever. The book
was better than that!

Dusk came at last, and liberation. As he was returning from the
newspaper route, the sight of a familiar figure, in the lighted circle
of a street lamp, made him cross over. It was Louise.

"'Lo."

"'Lo."

John paused. It was a difficult thing to lead up to her faithlessness
tactfully. She broke the silence.

"Those dishes were dear. But, oh, John, I liked the powder puff jar the
best of all!" Which was the truth, for the fact that he thought her old
enough for such feminine weapons was a soul-satisfying compliment.

He murmured a perfunctory acknowledgment. "Louise, what's this I've been
hearing about you and Sid drinking sodas together at the drug store?"

She stood speechless, thinking of a defense.

"It's got to quit. Do you hear?"

"Why shouldn't I have sodas with him?" his lady broke out vindictively.
"You never take me anywhere."

Didn't she understand that all of his playtime was taken up with earning
money for her? "But we can go skating tonight," he concluded
pacifically.

"That isn't spending money on me. And Sid does, lots and lots of times."

The words hurt. He'd show her that two could play at that game, even if
the funds were to be drawn from the pig bank.

"I'll tell you," he shot back recklessly. "We'll go to the theater a
week from Saturday. Isn't that better than sodas?" He watched her
anxiously for she was most dear to his suddenly constant heart.

She assented eagerly. Nevertheless, it was plain that she still thirsted
after the drug store flesh pots. He must interview Sid in the morning,
for that catch in her voice was far from reassuring.

CHAPTER XIII

HE CRUSHES AND HUMILIATES A RIVAL

Sid, with new skates glistening at his side, was bound for the park
lagoon when John ran across the street and stopped him.

"Come along?" asked Sid amicably. John shook his head.

"I want to talk to you," said he. "Bill says you're trying to cut me out
with Louise. It's got to stop."

"What's he know about it?" asked the culprit defiantly.

"And Louise told me you'd taken her up to the drug store."

Sid shrugged his shoulders. "Guess I've a right to. What have you got to
say about it?"

"Well," said John slowly, "She's my girl--"

Sid sneered.

"And we're going to get married on the money from the paper route when I
grow up and--"

"Pooh!" Sid laughed unpleasantly. "Go ahead and save your money. I don't
care. I'm spend