"I just met two friends," went on Phil. "I stopped at the candy store for some chocolates and ran into Mary Feversham and Vera Rockwell. Vera wanted to know how you were, Dave," and Phil grinned.
"I trust you told her I was very sick, Phil," was Dave's quick reply.
"I did—I said you were crying your eyes out for another sight of her," and then Phil dodged, to escape a blow Dave playfully aimed at his head.
The boys procured the articles for which they had come, and then took a stroll through the town. At one store an auction sale was in progress and here they met the two girls Phil had mentioned. Both were dressed in fur coats, with dainty fur caps to match, and both looked very sweet.
"We watched them selling some bric-à-brac," said Mary. "It was real fun. A beautiful statue of Apollo went for two dollars—just think of it!"
"Might get one of those statues to replace the broken one," said Ben to Dave.
"Oh, did somebody break a statue?" cried Vera.
"Yes,—and there was quite an exciting time doing it," said Phil. "Dave was the hero of the occasion."
"Oh, tell me about it, Mr. Porter!" And Vera bent her eyes full upon Dave.
"Oh, it didn't amount to much," answered Dave.