at won't work is like a fishline without a
hook--good for nothin'. Have you got room in your team for Jan, too?"

"Sure."

"Then let's start along," said the inventor, stooping to gather up his
tools.

But he had reckoned without his host, for as he swept them into a
jagged piece of sailcloth and prepared to tie up the bundle, Celestina
called to him from the window.

"Where you goin', Willie?" she demanded.

"Up to Zenas Henry's to mend the pump."

"But you can't go now," objected she. "It's ten o'clock, an' you ain't
had a mouthful of breakfast this mornin'."

The little man regarded her blankly.

"Ain't I et nothin'?" he inquired with surprise.

"No. Don't you remember you got up early to go fishin', an' then you
found the pump wasn't workin', an' you've been wrestlin' with it ever
since."

"So I have!"

A sunny smile of recollection overspread the old man's face.

"Ain't you hungry?"

"I dunno," considered he without interest. "Mebbe I am. Yes, now you
speak of it, I will own to feelin' a mite holler. Can't you hand me a
snack to eat as I go along?"

"You'd much better come in an' have your breakfast properly."

"Oh, I don't want nothin' much," the altruist protested. "Just fetch
me out a slice of bread or a doughnut. We've got to get at that pump
of Zenas Henry's. I'm itchin' to know what's the matter with it."

Celestina looked disappointed.

"I've been savin' your coffee fur you since seven o'clock," murmured
she reproachfully.

"That was very kind of you, Tiny," Willie responded with an
ingratiating glance into her eyes. "You just keep it hot a spell
longer, an' I'll be back. Likely I won't be long."

"You've been workin' five hours on your own pump!"

"Five hours? Pshaw! You don't say so," mused the tranquil voice.
"Think of that! An' it didn't seem no time. Well, it's a-pumpin' now,
Celestina."

The mild face beamed with satisfaction, and Celestina had not the heart
to cloud its brightness by annoying him further.

"That's capital!" she declared. "Here's your bread an' butter, Willie.
An' here's some apple turnovers fur you, an' Jan, an' Zenas Henry.
They'll be nice fur you goin' along in the wagon." Then turning to Jan
she whispered in a pleading undertone:

"Do watch, Jan, that Willie don't lay that bread down somewheres an'
forget it. Mebbe if he sees the rest of you eatin' he'll remember to
eat himself. If he don't, though, remind him, for he's just as liab