ority, Tom was a dead man.
Tom denied being dead, but Tim insisted and refused to pay any heed to
him all the rest of the way to the village on the ground that, being
dead, Tom had no business to talk.

But when they reached what Tim called "the heart of the city" Tom was
allowed to come to life again. The heart of the city consisted of the
junction of two village streets whereon were located the diminutive town
hall, the post office, a fire house and five stores. They began with the
druggist's, ranging themselves in front of one of the two windows and
pretending to be overwhelmed with the beauty and magnificence of the
goods displayed.

"What beautiful soap," exclaimed Tom. "I never saw such beautiful soap,
fellows. Pink and green and white! Looks almost good enough to wash
with, doesn't it?"

"And get on to the lovely toilet set in the green velvet box," begged
Tim awedly. "Scissors and brushes and little do-funnies and----"

"I'm going to buy a bottle of that hair-grower," announced Don. "I want
to raise a beard."

"Let's get a bottle and present it to Uncle Sim," suggested Clint. Uncle
Sim was Mr. Simkins, the Greek and Latin instructor, and was noticeably
bald. The others chuckled and thought very well of the suggestion until
Tom discovered that the price, as stated on the label, was one whole
dollar. They had, they decided, better uses for what little money they
carried. Eventually they went inside, and sat on stools in front of the
small soda fountain and drank gaily-coloured concoctions which,
according to Tim, later, sounded better than they tasted. Having
exhausted the amusement to be derived from the drug store, they went to
the fire house next door and, pressing their noses against the glass,
debated what would happen if an alarm was rung in. There was a box
beside the doors, a most tempting red box and Tim eyed it longingly
until Don led him gently but firmly away from temptation.

In the small store across the street they examined all the books and
magazines displayed on the counters, which didn't take long, as
literature was not a large part of the stock. Tim spent ten cents for a
football guide, explaining that he had always wanted to know some of the
rules of that game! Don bought some candy and Clint a bag of peanuts,
although the others protested that if they ate truck they'd spoil their
appetites for real food. The force of the protest was somewhat marred by
the actions of the protestants, who