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6 "Yes, Will was telling me about Frank," returned Mrs. Charleigh, who had come over to help Mrs. Bell at the party to be held by the young people. "He thinks Frank the smartest boy in Orange, and he has been at me and his pa to get him a battery and some sort of a telephone to put up from his bedroom window to Frank's."

"I don't know where he gets his liking for electricity," resumed Mrs. Bell, with a shake of her head. "I'm sure his father, who has been dead these ten years, never took any interest in that subject, and his mother died before batteries were known, excepting by doctors and such folks."

"Well, we're living in an age of progress, so Mr. Charleigh says, and I suppose the boys have got to move the same as the rest," said Mrs. Charleigh. "Now what do you want, Will?" she continued, to her son, who had just touched her arm.

"I would like to go up to Frank's room, if Mrs. Bell will let me," returned the boy, a curly-headed, manly-looking fellow of sixteen.

"You can go, if you will promise to bring Frank down in five minutes," replied Mrs. Bell. "Tell him it's a shame to stay up there when the boys and girls are arriving just as fast as ever they can."

And Mrs. Bell darted off to welcome some newcomers.

Will Charleigh bounded up the broad steps two