clerk came forward ceremoniously and
stood beside them.

"My treat," said Sid grandly. "What'll you have, Louise?"

She wasn't certain. A feeling of dull resentment took possession of
John. If Sid was going to act this way, he'd make it as costly an affair
as possible.

"Chop-suey sundae," he announced, after a hasty glance at the printed
menu.

"What?" stammered Sid. Such a delicacy cost a whole quarter, the most
expensive treat that the soda fountain purveyed.

"Yes," said John calmly. "Better take one, too, Louise," he added
maliciously. "They taste just peachy."

She accepted his suggestion gratefully.

"Give me a glass of water," ordered Sid weakly. It is an awful thing to
possess soda liabilities of fifty cents when you have but three dimes
and two nickels in your pocket.

John sensed his rival's predicament and smiled. Slowly, with manifest
enjoyment in every mouthful, he devoured the tempting, frozen treat.
Then he leaned back in his chair contentedly and waited for Louise to
finish. The white-coated soda clerk approached the table for payment,
and the terror which crept into Sid's face was strangely like that on
Mordaunt's when the police had broken into the river hut. He drew out
his inadequate supply of small change and looked at it blankly.

"Come, boys," prompted the man of syrups and sodawater, "I can't wait
all day."

"I haven't enough money," whispered Sid at last.

John turned, a hint of the stage hero's mannerisms in his dramatic
gesture. "What? Invite us for a treat and then can't pay for it? You're
a fine one, Sid." He drew a half-dollar from his own pocket and flung it
down on the table. "Never mind him," he turned to Louise. "I'll pay your
car fare home!"

And with the crushed and humiliated Sid following them miserably, he led
the way from the drug store to the waiting car.

CHAPTER XIV

HE BUYS VALENTINES

Sid made one more effort to cope with Miss Martin's suddenly aggressive
fiance. John came upon the couple one late, crisp January afternoon, as
he was leaving for the paper route. Louise did her best to appear
nonchalant as he picked his way carefully across the slippery,
wagon-rutted road, and Sid, after a longing glance toward the iron fence
which surrounded the home lot, decided to brazen matters out.

"'Nother chop-suey sundae?" John sneered as he eyed his rival
scornfully.

"'Tain't fair, always talking about that," blurted Sid. "How'd I know
the money I'd n