t it was impossible not to like him.

"Mr. Chumpleigh, ladies and gentlemen," Billy said. "Some members of
the W.M.N.T., Mr. Chumpleigh."

And Mr. Chumpleigh, he was until--until--

Billy stayed that night to dinner. They had just finished eating
when an excited ring of the bell announced Rosie.

"Oh, Granny," she said, "the boys have made a most wonderful coast
down Halliwell Street and Aunt Theresa says I can go coasting until
nine o'clock if you'll let Maida go too. I thought maybe you would,
especially if Billy comes along."

"If Misther Billy goes, 'twill be all roight."

"Oh, Granny," Maida said, "you dear, darling, old fairy-dame!" She
was so excited that she wriggled like a little eel all the time
Granny was bundling her into her clothes. And when she reached the
street, it seemed as if she must explode.

A big moon, floating like a silver balloon in the sky, made the
night like day. The neighborhood sizzled with excitement for the
street and sidewalks were covered with children dragging sleds.

"It's like the 'Pied Piper', Rosie," Maida said joyfully, "children
everywhere and all going in the same direction."

They followed the procession up Warrington Street to where Halliwell
Street sloped down the hill.

Billy let out a long whistle of astonishment. "Great Scott, what a
coast!" he said.

In the middle of the street was a ribbon of ice three feet wide and
as smooth as glass. At the foot of the hill, a piled-up mound of
snow served as a buffer.

"The boys have been working on the slide all day," Rosie said. "Did
you ever see such a nice one, Maida?"

"I never saw any kind of a one," Maida confessed. "How did they make
it so smooth?"

"Pouring water on it."

"Have you never coasted before, Maida?" Billy asked.

"Never."

"Well, here's your chance then," said a cheerful voice back of them.
They all turned. There stood Arthur Duncan with what Maida soon
learned was a "double-runner."

Billy examined it carefully. "Did you make it, Arthur?"

"Yes."

"Pretty good piece of work," Billy commented. "Want to try it,
Maida?"

"I'm crazy to!"

"All right. Pile on!"

Arthur took his place in front. Rosie sat next, then Dicky, then
Maida, then Billy.

"Hold on to Dicky," Billy instructed Maida, "and I'll hold on to
you."

Tingling with excitement, Maida did as she was told. But it seemed
as if they would never start. But at last, she heard Billy's voice,
"On your marks. Get set! Go!" Th