Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/156

138 Shadow. "No, it isn't a story this time, it's a fact. Once on a time, when I was a kid of ten, I went to a surprise party. The girl—it was on a girl—loved chocolate cake. Says my ma, 'I'll make you a chocolate cake to take along. Mrs. Jones says Bessie loves chocolate cake so.' So I took the chocolate cake. When I got there I handed in the cake, and found out that Bessie had received fourteen chocolate cakes already. Everybody knew she loved chocolate, and everybody wanted to please her."

"Another black mark for Shadow!" cried Phil. "Now then, who wants the last of this root beer? Don't all speak at once."

"Give it to Shadow," suggested Dave. "He must be dry, telling so many yarns." And to Shadow it went, and he drank it quickly.

"Which puts me in mind," he began, after smacking his lips. "Once on a time——"

"Thanks, some other time," interrupted Roger. "Just gather those bottles together and put them in the box,—and go and get that bottle from the corner of the hall, too."

"I'll get that bottle, Roger," said Dave. He motioned to Phil.

"What's wanted?" whispered the latter, coming forward to the door.

"I'd like to know how Chip Macklin is making out, Phil. Supposing I slip down and see?"