d enjoy the moonlight with Eloise's eyes shining upon
him. But where was that apron? Perhaps it hadn't come after all. He'd
inquire. But of whom? Mrs. Biggs was in the supper-room. He did not care
to go there again, for every time he appeared somebody was sure to get
off on him a cup of chocolate or coffee, and he could not drink any
more.

Ruby Ann was busy,--her face very red and her eyes very tired, as she
tried to sell the most unsalable articles to old women who wanted
something for nothing, and quarrelled with the quality and quarrelled
with the price. His only recourse was Eloise, and he planned a long time
how to approach the subject without mentioning her apron. At last a
happy inspiration came to him, and when Howard's attention was diverted
another way he bent over her and began.

CHAPTER XVI

THE AUCTION

"Astonishing, isn't it, where all the stuff comes from? Somebody must
have given very freely. I never gave a thing except money. Bell sent a
lot to be sure, and it's all sold. They had a pile from the Crompton
House. They were good at begging. They didn't expect anything of you, a
stranger, of course?"

"Oh, yes," Eloise replied. "I had an apron which Miss Patrick seemed to
think might sell for something. It was rather pretty, and I made it
myself. I haven't seen it, and think it may have been sold, or perhaps
Mrs. Biggs, who had it in charge, forgot it. She has had a great deal on
her mind."

Jack did not hear more than half Eloise was saying. One fact alone was
clear. She had expected the apron to be there and he would look it up.

"Excuse me," he said, and going into the room where Mrs. Biggs was
trying to make half a loaf of bread do duty as a whole loaf to a party
just arrived, he said to her, "Pardon me, Mrs. Biggs, but did you send
or bring Miss Smith's contribution to the sale? I believe it was an
apron. She has not seen it."

The bread fell from Mrs. Biggs's hand to the table, and the knife
followed it to the floor as she exclaimed, "Lord of heavens! I forgot
it till this minute. Where's Tim?"

She darted from the room and found Tim bringing two pails of water, "the
last gol darned thing he was going to do that night," he said, as he put
them down. Seizing him by the collar his mother almost shrieked, "Run
home for your life, Tim!"

"Why-er,--what-er! Is our house afire?" Tim asked, and his mother
replied, "No, but Miss Smith's apron is there. I clean forgot it. You'll
find it