"And now," said Miss Fidely, brightening up, "we'll settle. If you'll
just lift the lid of that old teapot standin' on the mantel-shelf,
you'll find three one-dollar bills and a two. I wish 'twas a hundred!"
she cried heartily.

Calvin Parks stepped to the mantelpiece and lifted the lid of the
teapot.

"I guess you made a mistake this time," he said cheerily; "where'll I
look next?"

Miss Fidely turned very pale. "What--what do you mean?" she faltered.

Calvin handed her the teapot; it was empty.

"You forgot and put it somewheres else!" he said. "Anybody's liable to
do that when they have a thing on their mind. I've done it myself time
and again. How about a bureau drawer; what? We'll find it; don't you be
scared!"

"No!" said Miss Fidely faintly. "No, sir! it was there. I counted it
last night the last thing, and there ain't no one--my Lord! that tramp!"

"What tramp?"

"He came here this morning and asked for some breakfast. He seemed so
poor and mis'able, and he told such a pitiful story, I went out to get
him a drink of milk--he must have taken it. I remember, he was standin'
over there when I come in, but I never mistrusted--"

Her voice failed, and she covered her eyes with her hands. Calvin Parks
cast a rapid glance behind him, and ascertaining the position of the
door, began to edge quietly toward it.

"Don't you fret!" he said soothingly. "I shall be round this way again
some time; mebbe you'll find it some place when you least expect. I've
known such things to happen, oftentimes."

"No! no!" cried the cripple, her distress increasing momentarily. "It's
gone, sir! The look in that man's face comes back to me, and I know now
what it meant. Oh! he must have a hard heart, to rob a cripple woman of
her one pleasure, and on Christmas Eve!"

She flung her hands apart with a wild gesture, but the next moment
controlled herself and spoke quietly but rapidly. "I am ashamed to
trouble you, sir, but if you'll take down the bags I'll empt 'em as
careful as I can. I wouldn't trouble you if I could help myself."

"I--I'm afraid I can't stop!" muttered Calvin; and he hung his head as
he spoke, for a dry voice was saying in his ear, "Put this straight to
yourself; are you running a candy route or an orphan asylum?"

"Oh! if Mittie May would only come!" cried the lame woman. "I'll _have_
to trouble you, sir; it won't take you long."

Calvin mumbled something about calling again.

"No!" cried Miss Fidely.