e could have touched her. Other folks were
chased and found, but Mary Jane's hiding place was undiscovered. Of course
when she rolled in under the bench, Mary Jane had expected to roll right
out again when somebody else was caught. But when she found that they
couldn't see her; that they went right around close at hand, talking about
her and wondering where she was and all that, she thought it was such a
good joke that she lay very still and watched.

She heard them asking each other where she was seen last; she heard her
father say she couldn't be so very far away; and she saw them all start
off in search of herself. Then, just the minute their backs were turned
but before they had had time to be really frightened, she slipped out from
under her seat, stood up close by the dying fire and shouted, "Here I am,
can't you see me?"

They thought it a very good joke she had played and Mary Jane was sure she
would always remember that the best hiding place is often the nearest
one.

"Time to go home," said Mr. Holden, looking at his watch, "the fire's most
out and the party's over."

"But there'll be another one, won't there?" begged Mary Jane.

"Let's have it next week," said Betty.

The boys loaded up the empty baskets on their wagon--not much of a load
going home! Mr. Merrill raked out the fire so no harm would come to
anything; Mr. Holden gathered the children together and started the line
of march. It was a happy little crowd that wandered homeward and they all
agreed with Mary Jane when she said, "Well, anyway, I think a beach
party's the mostest fun I know. It's more fun than moving!"

MARY JANE GOES SHOPPING

The days after the beach party seemed to fly past on wings. First it was a
Monday and then, before a person could do half the nice things planned,
Saturday was coming 'round again and Alice was home all day from school
and fun for the four Merrills could be planned. Mrs. Merrill and Mary Jane
took to doing all their "Saturday marketing" on Friday afternoon so they
could have more time on Saturday for trips and sight-seeing and all the
lovely things folks like to do when they've just moved to a big city.

One Saturday morning, not so very long after the beach party, dawned--not
bright and warm and sunny as Mary Jane had hoped it surely would--but
rainy and cold and windy as some May mornings are sure to be in Chicago. A
cold northeast wind raced across the city and folks had blue noses and
shiver