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Rh hurry and left the workshop before Franklin was half ready to take his departure.

"Well, I'm glad they are gone," thought the boy. "I was afraid they would try to pick a quarrel as soon as the whistle blew. Perhaps they have reached the conclusion that they had better leave me alone."

Franklin washed up and brushed off his clothing, and then, with his little dinner basket on his arm, sallied forth. It was nearly quarter to six and quite dark on this Winter day. It had been snowing for over an hour, and the ground was covered to the depth of several inches. Out on the nearest corner over a dozen boys were having a lively time of it snowballing each other. Their antics amused Franklin not a little, and he stopped for several minutes to watch the sport. Had he known the boys, he would not have minded taking a hand himself.

The nearest cut to Belden Brice's residence lay through a number of side streets, lined with small factories and tenements. It was not a nice way to walk, but to this Franklin paid small attention, his one thought being to get to the residence in time for supper, for he did not wish to keep the table waiting—now that Belden Brice had been kind enough to insist upon his staying the week out at the place.

As the young electrician was hurrying along,