Page:Arthur Stringer-The Loom of Destiny.djvu/66

The Loom of Destiny of 'em before I came out!" he added with a fine nonchalance.

The circle of listeners nudged one another knowingly, and shook their heads.

Their wondering admiration seemed to encourage the boy who lived in the candy shop. The glory of his position had never before dawned upon him.

"Why," he went on, "my ma says kind of cross, 'Tommie,you ain't had your 'lasses taffy to-day! You set right down and eat that pan before you go out and play!' And she gets real mad if she sees me tryin' to go out without eatin' a pan, or what's left, so 's she can wash it up again."

The circle gasped. "When're yer goin' to bring us out a pan?" a small boy at the back of the crowd piped up. They all pretended to be justly shocked at such forwardness.

"Why, any time at all, I guess, if you want some real bad. And some chocolate mice, too, eh?" said Tommie, pointing out the box of rodent delicacies.

A dozen mouths watered at the thought. 54