“So will I!” said Bunny.

But as Miss Winkler usually made this threat three or four times a week (or every time the monkey or parrot got loose), and as Mr. Winkler had never yet given them away, it did not seem likely that he would do so now.  So Bunny and Charlie had small hopes of owning either pet.

The boys went back to school, passing, on their way, the store of Mrs. Golden.

“Let’s go in,” suggested Charlie.  “I want to buy a top!”

“All right,” agreed Bunny.

“Well, boys, what can I sell you to-day?” asked Mrs. Golden, coming out from the little back room where she generally sat when there were no customers to wait on.

“Got any tops?” asked Charlie.

“A few,” Mrs. Golden answered, “but not many.  I’m going to have a new lot in next week.  Good day, Bunny,” she went on.  “Did your mother like that baking powder?”

“I guess so,” Bunny answered.  Then he and Charlie began looking at the tops.  But the kind Charlie wanted was not in the case, and after looking at several Charlie decided not to buy any.

“Here’s a tin automobile I’m selling cheap,” said Mrs. Golden, taking a red toy out from another case.  “It’s the last one I have, and I’ll sell it to you for what it cost me—­twenty-five cents.  The regular price would be fifty cents.  See, I’ll wind it up for you.”

This she did, setting it down on the floor.  With a whizz and a buzz the auto darted across the store, bringing up with a bang against the low part of the opposite counter.

“Say, that’s a dandy!” exclaimed Charlie.  “I’d like to own that!”

“So would I!” agreed Bunny.  “Only I haven’t twenty-five cents.”

“I have!” Charlie said.  “I was going to spend only ten cents for a top, but I guess I’ll buy this buzzer auto for a quarter.”

“It’s in good order,” said Mrs. Golden.  “I’m not going to keep such expensive toys after this.  I’m getting too old to run a toy store as well as groceries and notions.  I’m giving up most of my toys.  But this is a good auto, Charlie.”

“Yes’m, I’ll take it,” said the little boy, and he bought the auto.

“You can’t take it to school with you,” said Bunny, as he and his chum left Mrs. Golden’s store.

“Yes, I can,” answered Charlie.

“If teacher sees it she’ll take it away.”

“Well, she won’t see it.  I can put it in my coat pocket.”  This Charlie did, after a struggle, for the pocket was rather small and the toy auto rather large.

“It sticks out and shows,” Bunny said, after the toy had been crowded in.

“I’ll stuff my handkerchief over it,” Charlie decided, and this was done.

Then the two boys went on to school, arriving just as it was time for recess, so they did not have to go back to their lessons right away.

“And I didn’t have to spell!” laughed Bunny.  “Though I did know how to spell cracker.”