ere the talking
members, he readily consented to a reopening of business for a
scrutiny of the various accounts which represented the boys' earnings
at selling papers and blacking boots, minus the cost of their keep and
of sundry surreptitious flings at "craps" in secret corners. The
inquiry developed an available surplus of three dollars and fifty
cents. Savoy alone had no account; the run of craps had recently gone
heavily against him. But in consideration of the season, the house
voted a credit of twenty-five cents to him. The announcement was
received with cheers. There was an immediate rush for the store, which
was delayed only a few minutes by the necessity of Gimpy and Lem
stopping on the stairs to "thump" one another as the expression of
their entire satisfaction.

The procession that returned to the lodging-house later on, after
wearing out the patience of several belated storekeepers, might have
been the very Santa's supply-train itself. It signalized its advent by
a variety of discordant noises, which were smothered on the stairs by
Stretch, with much personal violence, lest they wake the Kid out of
season. With boots in hand and bated breath, the midnight band stole
up to the dormitory and looked in. All was safe. The Kid was dreaming,
and smiled in his sleep. The report roused a passing suspicion that he
was faking, and Savarese was for pinching his toe to find out. As this
would inevitably result in disclosure, Savarese and his proposal were
scornfully sat upon. Gimpy supplied the popular explanation.

"He's a-dreamin' that Santy Claus has come," he said, carefully
working a base-ball bat past the tender spot in the stocking.

"Hully Gee!" commented Shorty, balancing a drum with care on the end
of it, "I'm thinkin' he ain't far out. Looks's ef de hull shop'd come
along."

It did when it was all in place. A trumpet and a gun that had made
vain and perilous efforts to join the bat in the stocking leaned
against the bed in expectant attitudes. A picture-book with a pink
Bengal tiger and a green bear on the cover peeped over the pillow, and
the bedposts and rail were festooned with candy and marbles in bags.
An express-wagon with a high seat was stabled in the gangway. It
carried a load of fir branches that left no doubt from whose livery it
hailed. The last touch was supplied by Savoy in the shape of a monkey
on a yellow stick, that was not in the official bill of lading.

"I swiped it fer de Kid," he s