He looked at the luminous dial of his wrist watch. It was five minutes after four. On some distant farm a rooster crowed and, far down the valley, an associate answered. He turned over impatiently and pulled the sheet over his head against the treacherous encroachment of the dawn.

At least he could buy the equipment for his workshop. Thus committed, action might follow. He went down to Mills and Bradley's Hardware Store and bought a full set of carpenter's tools, including a rotary power saw and several other pieces of power machinery that Mr. Mills said were essential for babbiting and doweling, whatever they were. He also bought a huge square of pegboard for hanging up his tools, and lumber for his workbench, sandpaper and glue and assorted nails, levels and T squares and plumb lines and several gadgets that he had no idea how to use or what they were for.

``There,'' said Mr. Mills. ``That'll get you started. Best not to get everything at once. Add things as you find you need' em.''

He didn't even ask the cost of this collection. After all, if you were going to set up a workshop you had to have the proper equipment and that was that. When he returned home, the station wagon loaded with tools, Jinny had gone with a friend to some meeting in the village, using the recently purchased second car. He was glad. It gave him a chance to unload the stuff and get it down to the cellar without a barrage of acid comments. He had made such a fuss about buying that second car that he knew he was vulnerable.