used audience.
Winking, gray-bearded elves bobbed up from behind canvas rocks to wave
diminutive hands before popping back to their shelters. One sun-bonneted
fellow in patched overalls bent spasmodically over a little wooden wash
tub on a hill. Further on, a perpetual clatter drew attention to the
rustic forge where a brown-clad smith hammered lustily at a miniature
horse shoe. At the end, stood a second brazen-lunged sentry, who like
the other, implored the crowd to "Keep moving. Please keep moving."

Out by the toy counters, John found a dirty-faced street gamin in
patched knee trousers confronting him. They eyed each other for a
moment.

"Going 'round again?" asked John.

The boy nodded. "What'd he give you?"

John displayed his pencil box; the boy, a discordant reed whistle.

"Want to trade?" No sooner offered than accepted. What was the use of a
school pencil box anyway?

Again they fell in with the Santa Claus line, hoping devoutly that the
sentry would not recognize them. But on the third trip as they nodded
toward an unkempt, brown-shawled Italian woman, the clerk bent over.

"Three times and _out_," he whispered as the boys' hearts went pitapat.
"See?"

They saw, and went off in search of new pleasures. First they stopped at
the mechanical train booth. When the operator of the miniature railroad
was engaged, John's new found friend threw over a tiny switch and caused
an unlooked for wreck on the line. A floorwalker pounced on them and
ordered them away, so they sauntered down the aisle to a crowd which
courted investigation.

"Kid lost," explained the street gamin, who possessed an uncanny trick
of working his way through a throng. "They're taking him away now."

Along counter after counter, the boys wandered, past the dollar
typewriter booth, through the doll carriage aisle, where a little girl
tried to carry a vehicle away with her and made things momentarily
exciting, and over by the electrical toys, the building blocks, and the
sleds.

"Gee," said the dirty-faced boy as they stooped to examine a price tag,
"My legs are 'most off me."

John examined his watch. Half past six! And he should have started for
home an hour ago. Already his stomach clamored for something to eat. He
invested a nickel in peanuts, and the pair devoured them ravenously.
Then John wiped the last traces of salt from the corners of his mouth,
said good-bye, and fled for the elevator. It would be nearly eight when
he arri