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seventy-five cents, anyway; just the worth of that hawser. That tow ain't going to cost anything now I know who I done it for!"

The launch broke into sound and disappeared momentarily around the stern of the Pequot Queen. When they saw it again Brose was draped over the little engine, squirting oil.

I fear that Laurie begrudged Kewpie the two sessions of pitching-practice that day. Certain it is that the afternoon session was shortened to a scant thirty minutes, after which four boys set forth on a shopping expedition, armed with a list that Laurie had made after dinner. Still later they joined Polly and Mae at the shop. Progress was reported and plans for the next day laid. Then Bob treated the crowd, Kewpie virtuously choosing a ginger-ale.

To their disappointment, a light rain was falling that Thursday morning when the four boys set forth for the Pequot Queen. Ned trundled a wheelbarrow laden with lumber, and the others each carried a couple of two-by fours or planks. Ned's load also included a paper bag of iron spikes, two hammers, and a hatchet. They chose Ash Street in preference to the busier thorough-