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“I’ll yank the tooth out—open your mouth!” and Mete caught hold of his younger brother’s shoulders and shook him.

A choking, a sputtering, and a great confusion followed as Don was forced to give up the gum.

“Oh—you! you—you——” but Vene had no words to convey her horror at the untruth she felt Don had told.

“Good gracious—what a chunk! How could you crowd it in at one time!” gasped Mete, when he saw the size of the gum.

“He chewed nine pieces at once!” eagerly attested Dot.

“Did you chew the tenth?” was the unexpected query from Ned.

“Only the teeniest bit—just to get the flavor, then I threw it away!” admitted Dot.

“Oh, really!” from several voices.

“And she got angry when I wouldn’t give her five even!” added Don, scowling at everyone.

“Why did you say you couldn’t open your mouth ’cause your tooth was fast? Didn’t you know you were fibbing?” asked Ned.

“I didn’t say one word that was a lie! Now you think! My tooth was hooked. I had to use that gum to keep my tooth from getting cold and aching again. The dentist told me always to keep the nerve covered when I went outdoors. He said it was an exposed nerve that made a tooth jump. So I did as he advised me, that’s all!” explained Don.