“But don’t you know that livin’ here is ’most as bad as bein’ in a house stored full of dynamite bombs, an’ havin’ a careless chap in charge?” asked Cranny.
“I guess I’m no more afraid than you.”
“Good boy! You’ll do.”
It was getting late, but no one paid any attention to this, until the solemn notes of a distant bell, ringing out the hours of midnight, warned them of the passage of time.
“We are now being introduced to another day,” remarked Bob.
“And we’ll be introduced to a mighty sleepy feeling in the morning unless we hit the trail for the plaza,” chirped Dick.
Even then it was hard to tear themselves away, and, when at last they did so, Jimmy’s face lost some of its cheerful expression.
“I’ll see you some time again to-morrow,” he said in eager tones—“so-long!”
A moment later the four were out on the street. The town seemed wrapped in slumber. Their footsteps echoed noisily; voices in the dreamy silence rose startlingly clear.
“Jimmy Raymond’s a mighty fine chap,” began Tom. “But say, boys—don’t you think——”