bore, but
perhaps it will pay. Abou Ben Adhem, I'll do it!"

Abou Ben Adhem, the great silver cat in her lap, blinked indifferently.
He was Gloria's newest pet, so named with the superstitious fancy that
it might have the effect of making "his tribe increase," and Abou Ben
Adhem's "tribe" was exceedingly valuable. Gloria set the big, warm
weight gently down upon its embroidered cushion.

"Good-by, old dear. Be glad you aren't a human and don't have to go down
town in a blazing sun!"

A few moments later the dainty girlish figure came out again, gloved and
hatted. Aunt Em followed it to the door.

"Walk slowly, dear--just measure your steps! And be sure to take the car
at the corner. Perhaps you can bring Uncle Walter back with you."

It was only Gloria who called him Uncle Em. He was not really uncle
anyway to Gloria, being merely her kind, good-natured, easily-coaxed
guardian. But for ten years he and this sweet-faced elderly woman in the
doorway had been father and mother to the orphaned girl.

"Of course he'll come, if I tell him to!" laughed back Gloria from the
sidewalk. "Auntie, please ask Bergitta to come out and move Abou Ben's
cushion into the shade when the sun gets round to him. He'd never
condescend to move without the cushion."

At the corner no car was in sight and Gloria proceeded at a leisurely
pace to the settee that offered a comfortable waiting-place a block
above. The small, neat person of the House Across the Street was there
with her big, shabby bag. She moved over invitingly.

"But you'd better not sit down!" she said laughingly. "If you do, no car
will ever come! I've been here a small age."

The shabby bag between them attracted Gloria's curious gaze. It might
contain so many different things--even a kit of unholy tools, jimmies
and things! It looked decidedly like that kind of a bag.

"A fright, isn't it? If I ever got time, I could black it, or ink it, or
something, but I never shall get the time. I don't wonder you look at
it--everybody does." "Oh!" Gloria hurried apologetically, "I didn't
mean to be rude! I was just trying to make up my mind what was in it."

[Illustration: "I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DO SEE."]

"Well, did you?" The face of the small, neat person bubbled with
soft laughter. Her hand went out and stroked the old bag's sides
affectionately. "Give you three guesses!"

"I don't need but one!" laughed Gloria. A pleasant little intimacy
seemed already established between