Next to children, the gray-haired man loved flowers, and he had planted the barren strip of land adjoining the fence separating the school yard from the alley with cannas and elephant's ears. He was puttering among them, now seeking voracious parasites, now examining a leaf which hinted in its faded coloring of fast approaching frosts, when boys' voices coming from the alley, held his attention. "So you want a holiday?" John Fletcher was the speaker beyond doubt; and his case had been the forerunner of the epidemic. "Uhu." "Got your nickel?" "Show me how, first." A moment's silence. John was examining the seeker after advice. "Just want this afternoon?" The boy assented. "Better have the measles, then. That's only good for one day, 'cause you can't fake it much longer. The disease comes on too fast. Doctor's book says so. Now pay attention." "Yes." "Just before you go to school, shake some red pepper into your hand and go into a small closet. Shut the door so's none of the stuff can get out, and blow on it. Stay there until your eyes begin to smart. You'll find they're all red. That's the first symptom. Now repeat what I told you." His pupil obeyed. "Let Miss Brown take a good look and she'll send you to the doctor right away. When you come into the office, give a little cough as if your throat hurt. Let's hear you." The urchin hacked vigorously. "No, no, not so loud! You couldn't do that if your throat hurt as much as you must pretend it does. Try again." This time, the effort satisfied even the teacher's critical ear. "Then, when the doctor asks what's the matter, tell him you don't exactly know; that your head feels sort of queer, and you were all hot when you woke up this morning. He'll say 'Measles' and order you 'home until the case develops,'" quoting the physician's words at his own dismissal. "Now give me the nickel." "Shucks, is that all?" "Yes." "That ain't worth no nickel." "Aren't you going to give me that nickel?" threateningly. "That ain't worth more'n a penny. How do I know whether it'll work?" "Perry Alford's worked, and so did mine, and Bill Silvey's, Olaf's, Carl's, and the country kid's." "The other kids aren't paying you no nickel." "They are, too. Ask Mickey and his brother, and the Shepherd kids. They're going to be sick this afternoon, and they've paid me." "I can go to Olaf," asserted the would-be dead-beat. "He'll tell me what you told him, and it'll only cost a penny." "He'd better not! I'll smash his face in if he does. _Are you going to give me that nickel?_" "Naw, I ain't." John clenched his fists belligerently. His debtor raised both arms in a posture of defense. The principal tiptoed noiselessly around the end of the fence. John sparred for an opening and his opponent spied the approaching figure. "Jiggers! Old man Downer!" he yelled. "Beat it quick!" John turned, only to meet the principal's firm grasp on his shoulder.