ugg is still in Poketown and doing business. Oh! there are
a dozen things I want you to do! But I won't tell you about all of
them now," and Janice laughed as she picked up her bag and ran out.

The rain had ceased. The sun was breaking through the clouds,
promising a beautiful evening. Janice almost ran into 'Rill
Scattergood on the sidewalk.

"Why, Janice dear!" cried the little schoolmistress. "I missed you
to-day." Then her eyes turned toward the store. "Is--is anything the
matter? Nothing's happened to little Lottie?"

"Not a thing," replied the girl, cheerfully.

"Nor--nor to Mr. Drugg? I don't hear him playing," said Miss 'Rill.

"And I hope you _won't_ hear him playing so much for a while," laughed
Janice. "The fiddle and the bow have been laid away on the shelf for a
while, I hope."

"But I really _do_ think Mr. Drugg plays very nicely," murmured the
little schoolmistress, not at all understanding what Janice meant. But
the girl ran on, smiling mysteriously.

CHAPTER XII

ON THE ROAD WITH WALKY DEXTER

Janice Day found the weeks sliding by more quickly after this.
Although school soon closed, she had begun to find so many interests in
Poketown that she could now write dear Daddy in Mexico quite cheerful
letters.

She had "kept at" Hopewell Drugg until his store was the main topic of
conversation all over town. The man himself was even "spruced up" a
bit, and he met the curious people who put themselves out to see his
rejuvenated store with such a pleasant and businesslike air, that many
new customers were attracted to come again.

Neatly printed announcements had been scattered about Poketown, signed
by Hopewell Drugg, and making a bid for a share of the general trade.
His windows remained attractively dressed. He displayed new stock and
up-to-the-minute articles. The drummers who came to Poketown began to
pay more attention to this store on the side street.

But Janice Day believed, that, like charity, reformation should begin
at home. The old Day house was slowly revolutionized that summer.
Commencing with the cleaning up of the yard and the mending of the
pump, Janice inspired further improvements. Marty and she spent each
Saturday morning in the dooryard and garden, while Mr. Day mended the
front porch flooring, where the minister had met with his accident, and
reshingled the roof.

The boles of the fruit and shade trees about the house were
whitewashed, and the paling