only test of happiness," she added, "because I don't believe you
feel wicked the least bit. At least you have never said you did."

Crawford laughed, and there followed one of those interruptions to
conversation with which, although undoubtedly interesting to the
participants, outsiders are not supposed to be concerned. When it was
over Mary said:

"Of course I am not so foolish as to mean that you must not touch the
money your father left. That would be ridiculous. But I mean I think we
should not depend upon it; it should not change our plans or spoil your
life work, or anything like that. It will make life easier for us, of
course, and with its help we can make it easier for other people. I
think that is what we should do with it."

"So do I, my dear. And our first duty, it seems to me, is toward your
uncles. If they would consent, and I suppose there isn't the least
chance that they would, I should like to sell out the store and the
Lookout and the rest of it and take them with us, wherever we decide to
go, and give them an easy, carefree time of it the rest of their lives."

Mary shook her head. "They wouldn't like it a bit," she said. "That
precious old store is the joy of their lives. Without it they wouldn't
know what to do; they would be as lost and lonesome and miserable as a
pair of stray kittens. No, if we take care of them we must take care of
Hamilton and Company, too. And we mustn't let them know we're doing it,
either," she added with decision.

Crawford looked troubled. "I suppose you're right," he said; "but it
is likely to be something of a puzzle, their problem. It will mean, of
course, that you and I must go and leave them."

"Oh, no, we can't do that--not for some time, at any rate."

"It seems to me we must. We have decided, you and I, that I shall go
back West, finish my preparatory work, then come here and marry you.
After that--well, after that we have decided that I am to locate
somewhere or other and begin to practice my profession. You'll go with
me then, I presume?"

"Silly! Of course I will."

"I hoped so. But if we can't leave your uncles and they won't leave the
store, what are we going to do? Put the store on a truck and take it
with us?"

She looked up at him and smiled. "I have a plan," she said. "I haven't
quite worked it out yet, but if it does work I think it's going to be a
very nice plan indeed. No, I'm not going to tell you what it is yet, so
you mustn't tease. You d