About the last time that Paul went swimming to Bruce's dam, a decayed
thorn was driven into his foot, a portion of which he was unable to
remove. This troubled him occasionally. During the month of November the
foot commenced to swell in an alarming manner. He had to remain in the
dormitory for over a week. While he was still an invalid, a box arrived
from home full of cakes, candies, preserves and many other goodies dear
to a school-boy's heart. In the box was also a present from his younger
brother. It had been packed in without the knowledge of his mother. It
was a large Chinese firecracker. Paul carefully concealed this precious
gift until a grand occasion would come to fire it. At recess many of
the boys came up to see him, and incidentally to share in the delicasies
he had received. Stockie came also and told Paul that their crowd had
discovered a tale-bearer in the person of a youth from Johnstown, Penn.
He wound up by adding:
"And how are we to fix him?"
Paul answered mysteriously: "Leave it to me. I have it; bring me all the
string you can find."
From day to day Stockie produced liberal supplies of the desired
article. No doubt most of it belonged to the boy whose innocent pastime
was that of flying kites during recess.
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