of guile. She
suspected nothing.

The next day the eggs were of the proper size.

"It's a real blessin' to have hens a-layin'," she said one day. "I took
half a dozen over to the minister's wife this mornin', and she was so
pleased! She said it was sich a blessin' to have fresh eggs again.
She was gittin' sick o' them she's been buyin' at Billings'. She was
downright thankful."

About a week later she said:

"Them hens of ourn do beat all creation. I run out o' that hen-food a
week ago, and I hain't give them a mite since, and they keep a-layin'
jist the same. I can't make head nor tail of them, Pap."

Pap squirmed in his chair.

"Pshaw, now, Sally," he said, "you'd ought to have let me know you was
out. You oughtn't to do that. Feed 'em plenty of it. They deserve it.
If you stop feedin' them they'll stop layin' pretty soon. The effect of
that hen-food don't last more'n two weeks. No," he said thoughtfully,
"ten days is the longest I ever knowed it to last 'em."

If Pap Briggs enjoyed his eggs for breakfast he enjoyed as fully the
many laughs he had with Billings over the scheme, and Billing found
it hard to keep his promised secrecy. It would be such a good story to
tell. But Pap exhorted him daily, and he did not let the secret out.

One Sunday morning Pap came down to his breakfast and took his seat.
Sally brought his coffee and bacon. Then she brought him a plate of
moistened toast.

"You've forgot the eggs, Sally," said Pap admonishingly.

"They ain't none this morning," said Sally briefly.

Pap looked up and saw that her mouth was set very firmly.

"No eggs?" he asked tremulously.

"No," she said decidedly, "no eggs! I kin believe that hens lay eggs and
don't cluck, and I kin believe that hens lay eggs all winter, and I kin
believe that Plymouth Rock hens lay Leghorn eggs and Shanghai eggs and
Banty eggs, Pap, but when hens begin layin' spoiled eggs I ain't no more
faith in hens."

Pap laid down his knife and fork.

"Spoiled eggs!" he ejaculated.

"Yes, spoiled eggs," she declared. "You and Billings ought to be more
careful."

Pap turned his bacon over and eyed it critically. Then he frowned at it.
Then he chuckled.

"You needn't laugh," said Miss Sally severely. "You don't get no more
eggs until the hens begin laying regular. You can eat moistened toast.
You ain't fair to me, pa. You set up to say who I shall marry, when I'm
old enough to know for myself, and then you go and cheat me abou