clared Ted. "It's nice and
smooth. And, anyhow, I didn't mean to slip; I couldn't help it." He
laughed as he remembered it, and Jan laughed too. She wished she had
been there to see Tom and Ted toppling down the slide together with the
empty pails banging. It was this that had made the noise.

"It was like Jack and Jill, falling down the hill," laughed Janet.

"That's right," agreed Tom. "But I guess I'd better be going home," he
added. "Do you s'pose my things are dry yet?" he asked Mrs. Martin.

"Oh, mercy, no!" exclaimed the mother of the Curlytops. "They won't be
dry until to-morrow. I'll have Nora hang them in the kitchen by the
range."

"But I guess maybe--I'd like to, but--er--now--I don't guess my mother
would like me to stay here all night," said Tom hesitatingly.

"You don't have to stay here all night," Mrs. Martin said.

"Well, but if my things aren't dry--"

"Oh, wear those of Ted's that you have on," laughed Mrs. Martin. "I
didn't know what you meant. That's all right--wear those things of
Ted's. He has plenty more. Yours will be dry in the morning."

"And I hope there'll be ice on the toboggan slide in the morning!"
exclaimed Ted. "I wish you could stay all night, Tom. Couldn't he,
Mother?" he asked wistfully. "We'd be awful good and he could sleep with
me and we wouldn't pillow fight or anything. And Tom's better'n I am
about spilling things on the tablecloth at breakfast."

"Oh, it wasn't that I was thinking of," said Mrs. Martin. "I was
thinking his mother and father would want him home. It's getting late."

"But we don't have to get up early to-morrow. It's Saturday and there's
no school!" pleaded Ted, eagerly.

"My mother wouldn't care if I didn't come home, as long as I was over
here," said Tom, trying not to appear too eager, for that would have
been almost like asking to remain.

"Well, I suppose it would be best for you not to go out in the cold
again, after having been wet," said Mrs. Martin. "We could telephone to
your mother, Tom."

"All right!" he cried joyfully.

"Hurray!" shouted Ted.

"Be careful! Don't awaken Trouble!" cautioned Mrs. Martin.

Thereupon the boys quieted down, but they were still bubbling over with
mirth, talking about the fun they would have sleeping together and the
other fun they would have on the toboggan slide the next day.

Mr. Martin telephoned to the Taylor home, explaining about the little
accident that had happened to Tom, and suggesting that,