rouble now. Bottomless trouble, he feared, and so
wholly engaged in his devotions that he didn't take any notice of the
noisy youngsters foraging his stores. Until, from the corner of his
eye, he saw Alfy poking into a little wall-cupboard that was his own
property and used to shelter his dearest treasures.

"No, no, Missee Alfaletta! No, no. Wun Sing's chalm no wolkee if lill
gels meddle!"

He rose from his prostration on the floor and fairly flew to the girl's
side, pushing her hand aside from the key she had almost turned, his
whole manner expressing great agitation.

Of course, she desisted at once, even apologized for her action, but her
old co-worker in Mrs. Calvert's kitchen begged pardon in his own turn
and after his foreign fashion. In his broken English he eagerly
explained that he and his belongings had been _bewitched_.

His hen--the so beloved hen of Wun Sing, that he had brought from far
away California, along with some garden seeds and roots, the hen had
been entered by an evil spirit and the days of Wun Sing were numbered.
Already he felt the dread sickness stealing over him, as it had already
stolen upon his old neighbor of San Diego--the so afflicted Mateo. He
had been praying and offering gifts to his little clay god but so far
no good had come. Within the cupboard on the wall he had placed a
"charm"--a terrible charm, in his opinion and if that failed not only
he but all at San Leon were doomed. Would that he had never heard of
the place, even for the extra big wages the rich owner had offered.
He--

When he had reached this point, Alfy shook him demanding:

"What makes you such a fool, Wunny? That little old image on the floor
is enough to make you sick, course, it's so filthy dirty. I hope you'll
scrub your hands good with soap before you touch any food for other
folks to eat. What's the matter with the hen, anyway?"

Having put this question, Alfaretta walked to the sink and turned the
spigot over her own hand, which suddenly felt soiled by contact with the
Chinaman's shoulder. Then she remarked:

"We're all hungry. Tell us where we can find something to eat."

The cook shook his head and Alfy foraged for herself: presently securing
from the pantry a box of crackers and a jar of cheese. Armed with these
refreshments she felt she would be sustained until the regular supper
time, and invited her mates to accompany her on a visit to this
wonderful hen whose name was in everybody's mouth.