All about the brick-paved school yard, on the walk, and in the street gutters, were scattered oblongs of blue paper as he scampered from the deserted building at noon. The boy picked one of the handbills up and read with an odd thrill: Professor T. J. O'Reilley's PUNCH AND JUDY SHOW _in_ Three Stupendous, Sidesplitting Parts _at_ NEIGHBORHOOD HALL, _Monday, October 4, at 4:15 p.m._ I Punch and Judy. The old favorite as played before the Crowned Heads of Europe. All the well-known characters, with added mirth provoking innovations. Alone worth the price of admission. II Peck's Bad Boy and His Pal. Startling, amusing, and instructive exhibition of ventriloquism by that amazing expert, Professor T. J. O'Reilley. Hear the Bad Boy and his friend talk and joke as if they were really alive. During this act Professor O'Reilley uses one of his marvelous ventriloquial whistles and will explain its operation to the audience. III Motion Pictures. Actual figures thrown on the screen that do everything but talk. Thrilling display of the heroism of American Soldiers during the Spanish-American War! See the landing of the Regulars under fire! See men fall in actual battle before your very eyes! Watch the charge up San Juan Hill--the thrilling infantry skirmish! _Followed by_ A Grand Distribution of Valuable Prizes! Glistening Ice Skates. Rings, Dolls, Doll Carriages, and other Toys. In addition, every man, woman, and child in the audience who does not win a gift, will receive _absolutely free_, one of Professor O'Reilley's marvelous ventriloquial whistles. TWO HOURS OF AMUSING AND INSTRUCTIVE ENTERTAINMENT! _Admission only ten cents!_ Could he go? Of course, for the necessary dime was always forthcoming from his mother when an itinerant showman rented the corner dance hall for a one day performance. On the corner of Southern Avenue, he overtook Bill, who had stopped to play tops with an acquaintance. "Going?" he asked, as his chum glanced at the blue slip in his hand. "Bet your life," said Silvey decidedly. "Did you see the rings the man showed in the school yard?" John reminded him of the fifteen minute detention. "Were they pretty?" "Pretty? They were just peaches--all gold and stones, and sparkled like everything." They parted at his front steps. John plodded thoughtfully homeward, for his brain buzzed with a new and daring possibility. Would Louise overlook the morning's fiasco and allow him to take her? He broached the matter of finances to Mrs. Fletcher. "But what do you want two dimes for? Tell Mother." No, he wouldn't. But he had to have the two coins. Mrs. Fletcher studied him curiously. "Is there some little girl you want to take?"