s.

As a matter of fact, Johnny was the one who was responsible for all
this excitement, since it was he who had told of the theatrical
enterprise. He had been in such a state of mental excitement since he
had first thought of the scheme, that it was almost an impossibility
for him to get along ten minutes without speaking of it to some one;
and when he told the story he was more apt to speak of the theatre as
he hoped they could arrange it than as it would probably be. But it
must not be supposed that either Ben or Paul were indifferent to the
matter; they were almost as much excited about it as Johnny was,
though they were not as eager to consult others regarding it.

As has been said, trade was very good that morning, and when they
went home for a lunch, which, by-the-way, they thought was much better
than any of the regular dinners they had been buying down town, even
Mrs. Green was disposed to think that there might possibly be some
chance that they could do as Johnny had proposed.

It had been their intention to call on Dickey Spry that evening, for
the purpose of trying to cheer him a little in his troubles; but they
were too eager to accomplish their new scheme to think of spending
their time anywhere but in that famous attic, which was to afford an
opportunity for the display of their histrionic talents as well as to
bring in so much wealth.

It was just as well that they did not adhere to their original plan,
for when Ben explained to Master Spry the reason why they could not
keep their engagement with him, he gruffly told them that it was just
as well, for he had already made up his mind to go to Jersey City in
search of the defaulter, Tim Dooley. Therefore they were not troubled
with any pangs of conscience because they were leaving Dickey to mourn
alone while they planned the transformation of the attic, and their
dinner was eaten with a celerity that astonished their landlady.
Johnny took upon himself the duties of architect, and, considering the
difficulties in the way of such labor, the others were not unwilling
that he should hold the office.

Master Jones found that there was a vast deal of difference between
thinking of what he would like to do in the way of making
improvements, and actually planning how to make them. He knew that he
wanted a stage at one end of the attic, but when the others waited to
hear how he could go to work to build it with the limited amount of
capital at his disposal, h