Of course he would!" said her father. "Now go back to your seat,
Machree, and eat your dinner. When Mommer takes you and Tess to the
matinee to-morrow, ask her to bring you in to me first, and you and
I'll step over to Paul's, and pick out a table or a couch, or
something. Eh, Mommie?"

"And what do you say?" said that lady to Alanna, as the radiant little
girl went back to her chair.

Whereupon Alanna breathed a bashful "Thank you, Dad," into the ruffled
yoke of her frock, and the matter was settled.

The next day she trotted beside her father to Paul's big furniture
store, and after long hesitation selected a little desk of shining
brass and dull oak.

"Now," said her father, when they were back in his office, and Teresa
and Mrs. Costello were eager for the matinee, "here's your book of
numbers, Alanna. And here, I'll tie a pencil and a string to it. Don't
lose it. I've given you two hundred numbers at a quarter each, and mind
the minute any one pays for one, you put their name down on the same
line!"

"Oo,--oo!" said Alanna in pride. "Two hundred! That's lots of money,
isn't it, Dad? That's eleven or fourteen dollars, isn't it, Dad?"

"That's fifty dollars, goose!" said her father making a dot with the
pencil on the tip of her upturned little nose.

"Oo!" said Teresa, awed. Hatted, furred, and muffed, she leaned on her
father's shoulder.

"Oo--Dad!" whispered Alanna, with scarlet cheeks.

"So NOW!" said her mother, with a little nod of encouragement and
warning. "Put it right in your muff, lovey. Don't lose it. Dan or Jim
will help you count your money, and keep things straight."

"And to begin with, we'll all take a chance!" said the mayor, bringing
his fat palm, full of silver, up from his pocket. "How old are you,
Mommie?"

"I'm thirty-seven,--all but, as well you know, Frank!" said his wife,
promptly.

"Thirty-six AND thirty-seven for you, then!" He wrote her name opposite
both numbers. "And here's the mayor on the same page,--forty-four! And
twelve for Tessie, and eight for this highbinder on my knee, here! And
now we'll have one for little Gertie!"

Gertrude Costello was not yet three months old, her mother said.

"Well, she can have number one, anyway!" said the mayor. "You make a
rejooced rate for one family, I understand, Miss Costello?"

"I DON'T!" chuckled Alanna, locking her thin little arms about his
neck, and digging her chin into his eye. So he gave her full price, and
she went off