Page:Arthur Stringer-The Loom of Destiny.djvu/64

The Loom of Destiny For months the dingy little shop had stood empty. When Mrs. Doyle was found mysteriously occupying it one morning, its doors and windows were watched as only these things should be watched at such a time. A person can't be too careful about these new-comers.

The watchers saw a transformation take place. Boxes of highly coloured candies appeared in the show window, together with bags of molasses pop-corn, and square tins of brown taffy, and rows of chocolate mice with elastic tails. There also appeared a box of pink and green marbles, and a wire basket with seven wizened lemons in it.

The inhabitants of the Street viewed all these things with wonder and delight. At times during the day at least a dozen admiring noses were flattened inquisitively against the little panes of the candy shop window.

Naturally, then, when Master Thomas Doyle made his first appearance on the Street with the other children he was at once surrounded by an admiring and solicitous crowd, who, he was astonished to find, took 52