ne of his pet
sayings. "'Taint the muscles at all--it's in the
head, and I like the kind of head that's in use
all the time." Therefore this small affair made
an impression on him.

"Why, you could be a baseball player," said he.

"I used to play with Joe, when I was a
girl," said Miss Mattie, smiling. "I always
liked boy's play better than I did girl's. Joe
taught me how to throw a ball, too. He said
he wouldn't play with me unless I learned not
to 'scoop it,' girl fashion. I suppose you will
be wanting breakfast?" There was a hint of
sarcasm in the doubt of the inquiry.

"That's what I do!" said Red. "You
must just hustle down and get things to
boiling, or I'll throw bricks through the windows.
I've been up for the last two hours."

"Why! I don't believe it!" said Miss Mattie.

"No more do I, but it seems like it,"
replied Red. "Don't you want the fire started?
Come down and open up the house."

When Miss Mattie appeared at the door, in
he strode with an armful of wood, dropping
it man-fashion, crash! on the floor.

"Skip out of the way!" said he. "I'll show
you how to build a fire!"

The early morning had been the most
desolate time to Miss Mattie. As the day warmed
up the feeling of loneliness vanished, perhaps
to return at evening, but not then with the
same absoluteness as when she walked about
the kitchen to the echo of her own footsteps
in the morning.

Now the slamming and the banging which
accompanied Red's energetic actions rang in
her ears most cheerily. She even found a
relish in the smothered oath that heralded
the thrust of a splinter in his finger. It
was very wicked, but it was also very much
alive.

Red arose and dusted off his knees. "Now
we're off!" he said as the fire began to roar.
"What's next?"

"If you'd grind the coffee, Will?" she suggested.

"Sure! Where's the hand organ?"

He put the mill between his knees, and
converted the beans to powder, to the tune of
"Old dog Tray" through his nose, which Miss
Mattie found very amusing.

She measured out the coffee, one spoonful
for each cup, and one for the pot. Red
watched her patiently, and when she had
finished, he threw in the rest of the contents of
the mill-drawer. "I like it fairly strong," said
he in explanation.

"Now, Will!" protested Miss Mattie.
"Look at you! That will be as bitter as boneset!"

"Thin her up with milk and she'll be all
right," replied Red.

"Well, such wasteful ways