rantically and the wily city smiled her invitation
more urgently than ever before--and then that compelling voice of a
conscience that responded to the inviolable faith of his little
hero-worshipper--"Smith wouldn't do anything--"

The door burst open violently. "Ready, old Pal?" Their chorused inquiry
brought him to his feet--he hesitated--and then closing the window with
a bang the minister's son faced his questioners.

"I'm not going," he replied quietly but resolutely.

"Not going?" echoed his visitors quite taken aback. They had been so
sure of him. They needed him, a student who stood in so well with the
professors.

"Not going," said Rex and continued with a sneering laugh, "I suppose
you prefer Reydal?"

"Yes," was the rejoinder, "I prefer--Reydal."

Then moved by a sudden impulse Joe called out: "Come in fellows I want
to tell you why I can not go."

He took the picture from the mantle and handed it to them.

"Here is a little girl who believes in me with all her heart, and here
is a boy who wants to be just like myself. He doesn't believe that Smith
would do anything that was not square. It makes a lot of difference when
anyone believes in you like that."

Feeling the force of Joe's argument and realizing the futility of
attempting to change his decision, his disappointed visitors left. But
many times that evening, in the midst of their hilarious fun, thoughts
of those who believed in them as the boy and girl believed in Joe
persisted in rising uncalled in their minds.

Some minutes after the four had left, a tall broad form, whose neck
encased in an enormous collar rendered him especially conspicuous,
entered the room without the ceremony of knocking.

"I've come to discuss with you a rather abstruse statement which I have
found in Bersey's 'The Human Mind,'" boomed forth a voice from the
depths of the said collar.

"Sit down, Reydal, sit down," urged Joe, placing the easiest chair in
the den before the fire. "We still have two hours for our chat."

CHAPTER VII

PERIWINKLE BREAKS THE ICE

The opening days of December brought in their wake a cold spell that was
more severe than had been experienced for many years so early in the
season. The thermometer began to drop suddenly Friday evening, and
Monday morning found the ponds ice-covered and crowded with merry school
children on skates. Winter's little joke in arriving ahead of scheduled
time met with their approval, even though their