diately rolled over the fence and ran eagerly toward his friend.
They examined the article in question with great care.

"It looks perzactly like a mask," announced Jimmy after a thorough
inspection, "and yet it don't." He tried it on. "It don't seem to fit
your face right," he said.

Sarah Jane was bearing down upon them. "Come back home dis minute,
Jimmy!" she shrieked, "want to ketch some mo' contagwous 'seases, don't
yuh? What dat y' all got now?" As she drew nearer a smile of recognition
and appreciation overspread her big good-natured face. Then she burst
into a loud, derisive laugh. "What y' all gwine to do wid Miss Minerva's
old bustle?" she enquired. "Y' all sho' am de contaritest chillens in
dis here copperation."

"Bustle?" echoed Billy, "What's a bustle?"

"Dat-ar's a bustle--dat's what's a bustle. Ladies useto wear 'em 'cause
dey so stylish to make they dresses stick out in the back. Come on home,
Jimmy, 'fore yuh ketch de yaller jandis er de epizootics; yo' ma tol'
yuh to stay right at home."

"Well, I'm coming, ain't I?" scowled the little boy. "Mama needn't to
know nothing 'thout you tell."

"Would you take yo' mama's present now, Jimmy?" asked Billy; "you ain't
earnt it."

"Wouldn't you?" asked Jimmy, doubtfully.

"Naw, I would n't, not 'thout I tol' her."

"Well, I'll tell her I just comed over a minute to see 'bout Miss
Minerva's bustle," he agreed as he again tumbled over the fence.

A little negro boy, followed by a tiny, white dog, was passing by Miss
Minerva's gate.

Billy promptly flew to the gate and hailed him. Jimmy, looking around
to see that Sarah Jane had gone back to the kitchen, as promptly rolled
over the fence and joined him.

"Lemme see yo' dog," said the former.

"Ain't he cute?" said the latter.

The little darkey picked up the dog and passed it across the gate.

"I wish he was mine," said the smaller child, as he took the soft,
fluffy little ball in his arms; "what'll you take for him?"

The negro boy had never seen the dog before, but he immediately accepted
the ownership thrust upon him and answered without hesitation, "I'll
take a dollar for her."

"I ain't got but a nickel. Billy, ain't you got 'nough money to put with
my nickel to make a dollar?"

"Naw; I ain't got a red cent."

"I'll tell you what we'll do," suggested Jimmy; "we'll trade you a
baseball mask for him. My mama's going to give me a new mask 'cause
I all time stay at home; so we'll trade yo