“You see, Kids,” said Jimmy, “we have only five coats and if you select the five boys needing them it is all right.”
The boys quickly named the lucky sellers.
Midnight, Peanuts, Bluster, Swipsey and Bundle were unanimously chosen and the orders were given to them.
This was a great surprise to the gentleman, for what he had imagined would be a difficult problem was satisfactorily settled in a very few moments by the boys.
“Boys, come close to me,” said the gentleman. It was difficult for him to stand as they crowded so closely around him.
“I am surprised at your way of doing business. This is one of the greatest things I ever saw. It shows you boys can take care of yourselves and I believe you could manage worse things than dividing up a lot of coats. For this nice little act of yours I am going to give you a first-class Christmas dinner—”
Not another word could be heard. That quiet, listening bunch of boys was quickly changed to a turbulent, noisy crowd.
Several policeman came into the alley to see the cause of the noise. It wasn’t common everyday cheering, but yelling. The invitation was accepted—it seemed by a thousand voices.
“All right, boys, get your little friends and meet me at the post-office steps Christmas morning at eleven o’clock.”