m so he would not like that, but I do not know as
I ought to consider it. There are people in this world who'll never know
anything if they're not told!"

Five other topics of the town, each of a doleful nature and each
indicating an evident depravity in a citizen of Plainton, were related
by Miss Shott, and then she arose to go.

"I hope you'll remember what I told you about Thompson's children," she
said, as she walked to the front door, "and if I was you, I'd have that
kitchen fumigated after he has put the door in!"

"There now!" said Miss Shott to herself, as she proudly walked down the
street. "The Widow Cliff can't say I've done any toadying; and, no
matter what she's got, and what she hasn't got, she can't say to herself
that I consider her any better able to give me twenty-five cents than
she was when she was here before; or that it makes any difference to me
whether she has much or little!"

CHAPTER IV

A LAUNCH INTO A NEW LIFE

It required the greater part of two days for Mrs. Cliff and Willy to
open the seven trunks, and properly display and dispose of the various
articles and goods, astonishing in their variety and beauty, and
absolutely amazing when the difference between the price paid for them
and what they would have cost in New York was considered.

During these fascinating operations it so happened that at one time or
another nearly all of Mrs. Cliff's female friends dropped in, and all
were wonderfully impressed by what they saw and what they heard; but
although Miss Shott did not come there during the grand opening, it was
not long before she knew the price and something of the general
appearance of nearly everything that Mrs. Cliff had brought with her.

Among the contents of the trunks were a great many presents for Mrs.
Cliff's friends, and whenever Miss Shott heard of one of these gifts,
she made a remark to the effect that she had not a doubt in the world
that the Widow Cliff knew better than to bring her a present, for she
would not want the thing, whatever it was, whether a glass pitcher or a
pin-cushion, flung back at her after the fashion that she had set
herself at a time when everybody was trying their best to be kind to
her.

It was clearly a fact, that through the influence of the seven trunks
Mrs. Cliff was becoming a very popular woman, and Miss Shott did not
like it at all. She had never had any faith--at least she said so--in
those lumps of gold found in a hole in