olasses into that sticky
mass which composes the dough for delicious, old-fashioned gingerbread.
John stood at the young lady's side and watched dreamily. Just wait
until he had that thousand dollars saved and could rent a kitchen of his
own!

After the mixture was poured into the pan, the two children, spoons in
hand, scraped the mixing dish of its residue of uncooked delicacy, and
decided that the effort would prove a huge success.

"Wait until it's baked," said Louise, "and you can have a piece."

John was transported into a seventh heaven of ecstasy, and followed her
into the parlor. They sat on the floor and played dominoes while the
minutes flew past.

"That's five games for me," Louise broke out exultantly. John nodded and
gazed listlessly around the room. On the bottom shelf of the magazine
table was a red and black checkerboard.

"Let's play that," he pointed with one grimy finger.

Louise demurred. "I don't know how."

"I'll teach you," her victim said eagerly. So she did penance for her
victories until Mrs. Martin appeared in the doorway and smiled down at
them.

"Come, kiddies. It's ready now."

They broke for the kitchen in a wild dash, leaving boards and men on the
carpet as they had finished with them.

Half an hour later, John sauntered into the house, his hat cocked
exultantly over one ear, and his mouth redolent of savory spices. He
heard voices in the dining-room and stuck his head in between the
portieres.

"That you, John?" asked his mother. "Where on earth have you been?"

"Up at Louise's." His spirits were too high to notice the admonitory
note in her voice. "She baked a cake all by herself, and when it was
done, I had a great big piece. And Mother," his voice rose proudly at
the memory of that effort, "it was better'n any ginger cake you ever
made in all your life!"

When he had placed his napkin in his ring and gone out on the front
porch, Mrs. Fletcher looked at her husband and her husband smiled back
at her.

"The little imp," she murmured finally.

But it was the first foretaste of the time when another woman should
dispossess her of her son's love, and she liked this touch in the
childish comedy not at all.

[Illustration: "16-31-4-7-82-6-21----"]

CHAPTER IX

HE SAVES FOR "FOUR ROOMS FURNISHED COMPLETE"

The early Sunday church bells roused him to consciousness that the clear
autumn sunlight was streaming in through the east window. The other
members of th