oo
mystified to understand what it meant.

"Yaws," he said, with a silly grin, looking at the coin and then clasping
it tight; "what do yuh warnt me to dew?"

"Go right home to yer mommy and give her that quarter to save up fur ye.
Don't git gay on the road and buy a horse and wagon."

"Yaws, but--uh--I don't understand what yuh am drivin' at."

"Ye don't understand anything in this wurruld and by yer looks niver
will."

"He means, Jim," interposed Nora, "that he will bring in the things
to-night for us, but you must come round in the morning and set them out
again. That's plain enough, isn't it?"

"Yaws--but what did he give me so much money fur? I hain't done nothin'
to earn it; I don't understand it."

"We all know that. Come wid me, James."

As Mike spoke, he slipped his arm under that of Jim and walked to the
door, not pausing until they stood on the porch.

"Now, James, tell me where ye live."

"Yaws, what fur?"

"'Cause I asked ye; out wid it!"

The lad pointed a crooked finger down the street to the left.

"Now, see how quick ye can git thar. Don't look back, and whin ye tumbles
over the doorsill, tell yer mither ye won't have any wurruk to do here
until to-morrer mornin'."

"Oh, yaws, I understand--why didn't ye say so afore?"

"'Cause ye wouldn't have understood if I did. Off wid ye!"

And to make sure of being obeyed, Mike gave him a push which caused his
dilapidated straw hat to fall off. He snatched it up and broke into a
lope, as if afraid of harm if he lingered longer in the neighborhood of
such strange doings.

"Now, Miss Nora, if ye'll tell me where ye want these things placed, I
shall be honored by carrying 'em in fur ye."

Mike stood in the front door and looked down the big store to Nora, at
the rear, who called:

"Set them in the back part of the room right here where I'm standing."

"How can I put 'em there, if ye stand there?" asked Mike.

"I expect to get out of your way."

"Oh, yaws," remarked the youth, mimicking Jim, who had shown so much
mental bewilderment.

The task was easy. There were picks, shovels, rakes, hoes, spades, pails,
ice cream freezers, toy wagons with gilt letters, coils of rope and the
various articles displayed by most village or country stores to attract
custom. These were carried in by the lusty Mike, a half dozen at a time,
and set down somewhat loosely at the rear, Nora making a few suggestions
that were hardly needed.

While this was goin