"That's the safety can," said Stover, yielding to a vague feeling of uneasiness. "What's this?" "That's a padlock." "What for?" "Why, for the kerosene." "What kerosene?" "The kerosene for the lamp." "Why, you nincompoop, we don't furnish the kerosene." "We don't?" said Stover faintly, with a horrible sinking feeling. "Don't furnish the kerosene?" "Who got hold of you?" said Butsey, too astounded to laugh. "I met Macnooder----" "And the Tennessee Shad, I'll bet my pants on it," said Butsey. "Yes, sir." "What else did they unload on you?" "Why--why, I bought a souvenir set." "A what?" "A souvenir toilet set." Butsey wheeled to the washstand, uttered a shriek and fell in convulsions on the bed. Stover stood stockstill, gazing in horror from the variegated crockery to Butsey, who was thrashing to and fro in hysterical flops, holding both the pillows where they would most ease the agony. Then, with a sudden deft movement, Dink dropped the historic shoes, sent them under the bed with a savage kick and, rushing to the window, threw the safety can into the tall grass of the fields beyond. Then he returned solemnly, sat down on the edge of the bed, took his head in his hands and began to do some rapid thinking. Butsey White, prone on the bed, burying his head in the covers, by painful degrees returned, gasping, to self-control. "Mr. White," said Dink solemnly. There was a slight commotion opposite and a hand fluttered beseechingly, while Butsey's weak voice managed to say: "Take it away--take it away." Dink rose and cast a towel over the set of seven colors, and then resumed his seat. "It's all right; I've hidden it," he said. Butsey rolled from the bed, tottered over to his own washstand and drank deeply from the water pitcher. Then he turned on the melancholy Stover. "Say!" "Go ahead! Soak it to me!" "I thought you were old enough to go out alone." "They lied to me," said Stover, kicking a chair. "Say that again." "They lied," repeated Dink, but with a more uncertain note. "This from you!" said Butsey maliciously. A great ethical light burst over Dink. He scratched his head and then looked at Butsey, grinning a sheepish grin. "Well, I guess it was coming to me--but they are wonders!" he said, with reluctant admiration. "I'll take my medicine, but I'll get back at them, by jiminy! You see if I don't." "For the love of Mike, give us the story!" "You'll keep it twenty-four hours?" "So help me----" "I'm a sucker, all right," said Dink ruefully. Then he stopped and blurted out: "Say, White, I guess it was about what I needed. I guess I'm not such a little wonder-worker, after all. I've been fresh--rotten fresh. But, say, from now on I'm holding my ear to the ground; and when it comes to humbly picking up a few crumbs of knowledge you'll find me ready and willing. I'm reformed. Now, here's the tale:" VI