and
could do all those little things which poor Tom never could master; he
could joke and make people laugh, and he always knew what to say and how
to say it--especially to girls.

Tom's long trousers had not brought him this accomplishment, and in his
clumsiness of speech and manner he envied this sprightly youth who had
become so much of a celebrity in his thoughts that he actually took a
certain pleasure in walking past the Bent residence just because it was
where Roscoe and his well-to-do parents lived.

He was a little ashamed of doing this, just as he was ashamed of his
admiration for Roscoe, and he knew that neither Roscoe, with his fine
airs, nor Roscoe's home would have had any attractions for Roy at all.
But then Roy's father was rich, whereas Tom's father had been poor, and
he had come out of the slums and in some ways he would never change.

"He isn't so bad, anyway," Tom muttered to himself, as he kicked another
stone along. "I knew he'd be really interested some day. Any feller's
_got_ to be interested in a camp like that. If he only _went_ there
once, he'd see what it was like and he'd fall for it, all right. I bet
in the summer he goes to places where they dance and bow, and all that,
but he'd fall for Temple Camp if he ever went there--he would."

Tom was greatly elated at Roscoe's sudden interest, and he believed that
great things would come of it.

"If he could only once see that shack up on the mountain," he said to
himself, "and make that climb, I bet he'd knock off his cigarettes. If
he thought those pictures were good--gee, what would he think of the
shack itself!"

When he reached the Bent house he was surprised to see an automobile
standing directly in front of it which he had not noticed as he
approached because its lights were out. Not even the little red light
which should have illuminated the car's number was visible, nor was
there a single light either in the entrance hall or in any of the
windows of the big house.

In the car sat a dark figure in the chauffeur's place, and Tom, as he
passed, fancied that this person turned away from him. He was rather
surprised, and perhaps a little curious, for he knew that the Bents did
not keep a car, and he thought that if the presence of the machine meant
visitors, or a doctor, there would be some light in the house.

Reaching the corner, he looked back just in time to see another figure,
carrying luggage, descend the steps and enter the car.