emnly drawn for the distinction of opening the shop, and
the choice fell on D'Arcy, and Lickford, who for the next day or two
went about shaking in their shoes. As the day drew nearer, the venture
seemed a tremendous one, and Mr Stratton had to use all his powers of
encouragement to keep his colleagues from not taking fright at the last
moment.

"It will all go swimmingly, you'll see," said he. "I will hold myself
in readiness to come down and back you up if there's the least hitch,
but I shall be greatly disappointed if you need me."

The last act of the committee before commencing proceedings was to draw
up a manifesto, which was copied out and duly affixed to the notice
boards and the shop-shutters on the morning of the opening.

_Under the distinguished patronage of Mr and Mrs Stratton_.

The Fellsgarth Shop will be opened this day from 11 to 12,
And 4 To 8,
and daily (sundays excepted) till further notice.
The following prime goods, at the cheap prices affixed.
[Here followed a list of the stores.]
Ready money. No tick. Change given.
no more stomach-ache!!
Real jam!
Ripe fruit!
Fresh pastry!
All the season's novelties. Nothing stale.
Boys of Fellsgarth--
Come in your thousands!
No risk to man or boy.
No favour.
Masters and fags treated alike.
All the profits for the clubs.
Treasurer, Mrs Stratton.
Managing directors, Nine gentlemen, Carefully Selected.
President, Mr Stratton.
Plenty for all. No questions asked.
All are welcome.
Come early and stay late.

_By Order_.

This soul-stirring manifesto, which had the hearty approval both of the
president and treasurer (who carefully revised the spelling), threw some
satisfactory light on the mystery. Who were the "carefully selected
gentlemen" was still obscure, although it was generally held that
Fellsgarth only contained nine individuals answering to that particular
description. What was more important was that Mr and Mrs Stratton
were at the back of the venture. If so, it was not a swindle, and the
grub was pretty sure to be right. The new price list, moreover, was
very satisfactory, and on the whole the hours were approved of.

When the eleven o'clock bell sounded, on the Wednesday morning, a
general movement was made for the Watch-Tower Gate, where, firmly
entrenched behind a clean counter piled up with the good things a
schoolboy holds dear, demurely stood D'Arcy and Lickford, looking very