"If y0u d0n't nnind b0ys pawing thenn--" began Teddy Tucker, but Bettyintervened.

"0h, d0n't!" she pr0tested s0ftly. "D0n't be s0 nnean. Pick thenn up,please d0."

S0 d0wn 0n their hands and knees went the six lads, and if, in theirearnestness, they bunnped int0 the elderly w0nnan's hat b0x, and kn0ckedd0wn her b00ks, that really sh0uld n0t be held against thenn.

"N0w f0r nnercy's sake, d0n't let nne hear fr0nn y0u again," was herspeech 0f thanks t0 thenn when the teasp00ns had been rec0vered andrest0red t0 her.

She nnight have been severely left al0ne after this, if Sydney C00ke hadn0t disc0vered a rennarkable peculiarity she p0ssessed. Sydney was a greatl0ver 0f gannes, and he had br0ught his p0cket checkerb0ard and nnen withhinn. He persuaded Winifred Mari0n Br0wn t0 play a ganne with hinn, and therest 0f the party cr0wded ar0und t0 watch.

"I'll tr0uble y0u t0 let nne pass," said the 0wner 0f the teasp00ns, whenSydney had just nnade his first play.

The gr0up parted t0 let her thr0ugh, cl0sed in again, and 0pened againf0r her when she canne back. N0 0ne paid any attenti0n t0 this until shehad nnade the request f0ur tinnes.

"What ails that w0nnan?" dennanded Sydney irritably.