had made--the
mistake.

"I wish I had had a chance to caution Nat," thought the girl, as Dorothy
made her way into the big department store. "I will have to tell him,
first thing when I get back. But what ever will he think of me?"

"Tavia! Tavia!" called Dorothy, who by this time was scanning the
mechanical toys on the great center tables. "Why don't you come and see?
We will be crowded away from the best things if you don't hurry."

"There's the little woman who was on the train with us," replied Tavia,
making her way to the clear spot Dorothy was saving for her. She must be
sightseeing."

"She hardly looks well enough off to be buying mechanical toys," agreed
Dorothy. "But Christmas goods seem to attract every one. See, isn't this
cute?" and she held up a small tin automobile, the details of which
revealed to what a nicety the real machine could be made in miniature.

"I do believe she is following us," whispered Tavia without regarding
Dorothy's remark. "Let us get out of the crowd."

CHAPTER V

SHOPPING AND SHOPLIFTERS

Toy automobiles and steam engines were soon forgotten, for Dorothy and
Tavia were anxious to free themselves from the jostling throng of eager
shoppers, and from the risk of the deliberate elbowing of the little woman
in black.

"Oh, dear!" sighed Dorothy, "I did intend to go right on with our list.
And now we have to stop and wait. What can she mean by always keeping in
our tracks? Perhaps she is weak and has not the strength to make her own
way through the crowds."

"Then she should have stayed at home," replied the practical Tavia. "I see
no reason why we should be inconvenienced by her infirmities."

"But she may have babies. Come, we will go to the jewelry counter. I must
get a pretty comb for Mrs. Pangborn."

"Comb?" repeated Tavia indifferently. "I thought Mrs. Pangborn had a head
full of combs."

"I know she wears them, which shows she is fond of them," replied
Dorothy, "and I do think in her kind of lovely white hair pretty combs are
so attractive. I want one with a band of enameled forget-me-nots."

With some remorse in her heart for the mother who had made such sacrifices
to give her daughter "her own Christmas money," Tavila looked for the
little neck pin for Mrs. Travers. It must be carefully selected, with a
view to economy as well as with the purpose of obtaining the best possible
value for the money.

It took some time to accomplish this, as the clerks were