rm of Jess. "You're certainly down in the mouth to-night. I never saw you so before. I'

seldom that she ever felt that way about Bobby. Bob

k on the street-one that "didn't belong to nobody!" There wasn't such an object in sight, however

he butter and egg shop. The man could d

er. Mr. Vandergriff and his son, whom the boys called "Griff" and who played fullback on the Central High footbal

who stood beside Jess as she gave her order to Griff. The lady was a very dressy person and she laid her silver-mesh purse on the counter between herself and Jess. The latter saw the glint of gold coins b

younger Vandergriff, as he packed her modest order in

s Morse. Nothin

man in a long blue raincoat who had been waited upon by Griff already was just then going out, and he held open the door for her. As she stepped out

ch was Saturday-before she went to the butcher's. Perhaps something would happen. Perhaps

hundred dollars that Mrs. Mabel Kerrick was to offer for the girls of Central

s over and then run to the Belding house and see her chum

ndred

d to beckon her on, and in a few minutes she was at the cottage, just a

, wearing an ink-stained jacket, was busy at her desk, the pen scratching on the big sheets of pad paper. The typewriter was o

and jacket, and replenish the fire. Mother would want some tea by and by

the range to dry. She had scarcely done so when a stumbling foot sounded on the porch. Sh

imed, recognizing the withere

e a little while ago and nobody answered my knock, though I

hastily. "But you know how mother i

um

nt was not due for a day or two, and he usually gave them a few day

ll," squeaked

by Hargrew said. His mouth was a mere slit in his gray, wrinkled face, and his ey

o Mr. Chumley. He did not mind the trouble of collecting, and he could fight off repairs lon

e as a turkey's foot, Jess thought-over the renewed fire. "It ain't many days

han usual just now," said Jess, hating the phr

an, licking his thin lips. "And I'm afraid ye find it pretty hard to meet

him already that Mr. Closewick had refused to let her increase the bill? The girl looked at hi

Mr. Chumley. "Do

sure that she had closed the door tightly between the

If you're finding the rent of this house too much fer ye, why, there's cheaper tenements in to

urs ever since I can remember. We've paid you a lot

it. Beginnin' with January first your mother will have to pay three dollars

! Surely you won

slow. And she's a woman alone. Hard to git your money out of a widder woman. No. She can stay if she pay

, without lifting his ey

with her instead of with a half-grown gal. Don't suppose

ey," Jess said, undecided wh

llo! who'

y opened the outer door. Jess looked past him and saw a female and a ma

med the woman, and her vo

mley, and stood aside. "H

iff, and the woman with him was the fashionably attired lady who

ed Griff, quickly. "Did you ope

-I

exclaimed

f, I didn'

aven't ope

mitted the p

an. "Now, you wait, Mrs. Prentic

But it isn't your purse that is

od. She started forwa

Did you lose that

mbers it well enou

d it on the counter between us. And

y listened eagerly, his little eyes snapping. "Did you

id," repe

d handle on the edge of the counter

, I

" laughed Griff. "Get the umbrella, Mis

as you say, young man," spoke Mrs. Prentic

too, had heard of such an incident as this. Perhaps the purse had been kn