do to help, he should just speak up.” Ronnie sighed. “I’d sure like to try to earn the money to save the village. It would be fun, too—you and me and maybe Phil, if he wants to, and you don’t care.”

“And then if we can’t use the money for the village, we can always have it to put in the bank.”

“Let’s try it, huh, Bill?” Ronnie said.

“It’s a deal! Rorth and Beckney, Guided Tours of the Rorth Glassworks’ Deserted Village.”

As they walked together down the path, each of the boys was filled with ideas as to how they would proceed. There would have to be a sign on the highway, of course. And the road leading into the village would need some repairs, and the branches overhanging it should be pruned short. They’d have to decide upon how much to charge and what they’d tell their guests about each of the buildings.

They stopped where the path divided—one route leading toward the Beckney farm, the other, up the embankment to the Rorth orchard.

“Tomorrow, Bill?” Ronnie asked him.

“Tomorrow, partner!” Bill answered.

Ronnie turned and began to run, digging his toes into17 the embankment as he scrambled to the top. He raced through the apple orchard, leaping a time or two to grab at a pea-sized apple. He suddenly felt light enough to fly. At least now he’d be doing something to save the deserted village, not just standing by and listening to Grandfather argue with Mr. Evans.

17

18

 Chapter 3

When Ronnie entered the house, he was whistling a tune through the space between his two front teeth. In the living room he found Phil sprawled out on the couch with his head propped up against a pillow and a comic book in his hands. Phil turned a page and looked up at Ronnie. “Hi!” he said. “Where’ve you been?”

“Down in the village.” Ronnie went over to Dad’s desk to see if there might be some important-looking papers as a result of the meeting that afternoon. “Don’t you get tired of lying around all the time?” he asked Phil.

“Not me.” Phil shifted his position. “It’ll take me another month to rest up from a year of school. What’re you looking for?”

“Oh—nothing. Maybe a 

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