d you fellows to be sure to be on hand to-night,"
resumed Bob, as they walked along, "was that I saw in the program of the
Newark station in the newspaper this morning that Larry Bartlett was
down for an entirely new stunt. You know what a hit he made with his
imitations of birds."

"He sure did," agreed Joe. "To my mind he had it all over the birds
themselves. I never got tired listening to him."

"He certainly was a dabster at it," chimed in Jimmy.

"Now he's going in to imitate animals," explained Bob. "I understand
that he's been haunting the Zoo for weeks in every minute of his spare
time studying the bears and lions and tigers and elephants and snakes,
and getting their roars and growls and trumpeting and hisses down to a
fine point. I bet he'll be a riot when he gives them to us over the
radio."

"He sure will," assented Herb. "He's got the natural gift in the first
place, and then he practices and practices until he's got everything
down to perfection."

"He's a natural entertainer," affirmed Bob. "I tell you, fellows, we
never did a better day's work than when we got Larry that job at the
sending station. Not only was it a good thing for Larry himself when he
was down and out, but think of the pleasure he's been able to give to
hundreds of thousands of people. I'll bet there's no feature on the
program that is waited for more eagerly than his."

By this time the boys had reached the business portion of the town and
the short spring day was drawing to a close. Already lights were
beginning to twinkle in the stores that lined both sides of the street.

"Getting near supper time," remarked Bob. "Guess we'd better be getting
along home. Don't forget to come--Gee whiz!"

The ejaculation was wrung from him by a snowball that hit him squarely
in the breast, staggering him for a moment.

Bang! and another snowball found a target in Joe. It struck his shoulder
and spattered all over his face and neck.

"That felt as though it came from a gun!" he exclaimed. "It's the
hardest slam I ever got."

"Who did it?" demanded Bob, peering about him in the gathering darkness.

Halfway up the block they saw a group of dark figures darting into an
alleyway.

"It's Buck Looker and his crowd!" cried Jimmy. "I saw them when they ran
under that arc light."

"Just like that crowd to take us unawares," said Bob. "But if they're
looking for a tussle we can accommodate them. Get busy, fellows, and let
them have something i