come here, sare?" asked Tony
hopefully.

"Why, yes; I think perhaps I can send you a bit of trade," replied
Brimmer. The young man's father was a politician, and a prosperous
one. The son had learned the wisdom of making friends wherever
he could, since there could be no telling when a friend anywhere
might be useful.

"You come with me, sare," urged Tony, taking a gentle hold on
Brimmer's arm, and leading him to the rear of the store.

Tony threw open a door, revealing a rear room in which were three
tables.

"Maybe midsheepmen like play cards, sometimes," suggested Tony,
with a grin.

"Great!" cried Brimmer. "Yes; sometimes the fellows do like to
know a quiet little place where they can have a good game without
a discipline officer butting in. Good enough; I'll tell some
of the fellows about this place; but you must keep it quiet, and
not let anyone else into that room."

"For midsheepmen on'y," promised Tony solemnly.

"Good enough, then," smiled Mr. Brimmer. "I'll bring you a party
as soon as possible."

"Then you make me your frien', sare," protested the Greek.

As Brimmer went strolling along the street, after that, a plan
began rapidly to hatch in his mind. He thought he saw how Tony
could made a most valuable ally.

As luck would have it, Brimmer was not long in meeting three midshipmen
of rather wild tendencies. To them he proposed a quiet little
game of cards. He led his classmates back to Tony's. Here they
regaled themselves with ginger ale, then passed on into the rear
room. For more than two hours the midshipmen remained here.
Occasionally they called for more of the temperance drinks. As
they left Brimmer passed Tony a two-dollar bill, for this midshipman
disregarded the regulations in that he frequently received money
from home and was always well supplied.

"Thank you, sare," cried Tony, bowing very low, indeed.

The following Saturday Brimmer returned to the little shop with
a small party of friends.

Late that afternoon Tony was richer by a few dollars.

"You one ver' good frien', sare," protested the delighted Tony.
"Me? I your ver' good frien', too. I do anything for you,
sare--try me!"

"I'm getting Tony about where I want him," thought Mr. Brimmer.
"Just a little more help to him, and then I'll spring my idea
on him."

Thanksgiving had gone by, and now the Christmas Holidays were
nearing. Brimmer was playing his game slowly, and without the
slightest risk to h