“It’s good night boys for me,” that individual was saying, as he stripped off his coat, kicked his shoes into a corner and commenced to crawl under his warm woolen cover. “Say, this feels just great; you fellows’d better make up your minds to follow my example, and turn in.”

He was sound asleep in less than ten minutes, when the others were ready to seek cover. Wee Willie stared down at his round moonlike face, and nodded his head as he turned to Elmer and Amos to say softly:

“Looks like a sweet cherub lying there, with such a happy smile on his mug. No use talking, Perk is the best-natured chap in seven counties. I’ve been mean enough more’n a few times to try my level best to make him mad, but had to give it up; he just looked at me, and kept on smiling until I had to turn and walk away bested; bless his big heart!”

Elmer nodded in approval of these words of appreciation, and Amos too showed that he echoed the sentiments expressed by the tall chum.

“I’ve known a lot of fellows,” he went on to say, “but never his like. If all boys were built like good old Perk there’d be a heap less trouble in this world. I know I’d have been saved more or less suffering myself.”

Wee Willie looked quickly at the speaker, as though he half expected Amos to take them into his confidence; but instead the other simply bent down and started to push his extremities under his blanket.

The fire still burned without, and although the door was closed, Perk having succeeded in fastening it with a piece of stout rope, through innumerable apertures the flickering glow stole, making queer pictures on the wall beyond, that came and went like phantom drawings.

Elmer lay there and watched them for some time, his thoughts far afield, possibly in his Chester home with the dear ones there. Gradually his eyes closed and he lost track of even these precious ties in restful slumber.

Time passed by, several hours elapsing, when Elmer suddenly sat half-way up. Surely he had heard the yapping of a dog somewhere near by. This not only interested him but aroused an intense curiosity. Then he noticed that both Wee Willie and Amos also gave signs of being awake.

Now voices could be heard. They were heavy tones that came to Elmer’s ears, as of mature men. Crunching footsteps followed, then a loud pounding.

“Open up here!” boomed a voice, followed 

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