He replaced the tablet in its box, carefully putting the damp side down, and considered the advertising matter. The black and red banner ought to be hung prominently somewhere, but where? Over the mantel in the hall would be the best place, but he was sure that they wouldn’t allow it to remain there. Why not in the gymnasium, then? Brilliant idea!
Luckily it was possible to get to the gymnasium from the laboratory without passing through the hall. Kid secured a tack and ascended the stairs. The gymnasium was empty and it took but a moment to hang the banner on the wall under the clock, reaching the place by climbing onto the dumb-bell rack. Jumping down, he viewed it critically. It certainly looked well there and added a much-needed note of color to the room. Then he distributed a few circulars about and retired. He managed to get the tablets up to his room without being seen by anyone, and was relieved to find that Stanley had gone out, probably for hockey practice. In fact, the sleeping floor seemed utterly deserted, and Kid decided that he could have no better opportunity for disposing of his cards. So he went from room to room and placed a card in plain sight on every bureau, usually leaning it against a hair brush. That done, he put six boxes of the tablets in his pocket and started out on the track of his prey.
The hockey teams were hard at work on the rinks, and Small, Bert and Lanny were watching the House players. Kid drew Small aside.
“You’d better button your coat up around your throat,” he advised him. Small obeyed. “How are you feeling? Is the cough any better?” Small coughed so that Kid might judge for himself. Evidently Kid found the cough not at all reassuring, for he looked troubled. “Feet warm?” he asked next. Small assured him that they were, likening their condition to toast. As a matter of fact, since Small had been standing in the snow for twenty minutes, his feet were decidedly cold and numb, but he wasn’t going to acknowledge it for fear that Kid would bully him into returning indoors. “Well, you’ll be all right now,” said Kid, brightening. “They’ve come.” He slapped Small reassuringly on the back.
Small immediately went off into another fit of coughing. When he could speak he demanded: “Who’s come?”
“The Tinkham’s Throat-Ease,” returned Kid triumphantly. “They came half an hour ago.”
“Oh! Was that what was in the package you got?”
Kid assented. “They didn’t get here any too soon, either,” he said. “That cough of yours is getting pretty bad, Small. Well, here you are.” He pulled forth one of the boxes. “Take one tablet every half hour until relieved.” Then he had a better idea. “The best way, though, is to take one whenever you feel that you want to cough. Take plenty of them. They won’t hurt you. They’re quite harmful.”
“What!”