er."

Willie regarded his mentor good-humoredly.

"I figger it can, Celestina," he returned. "In fact, I reckon it will
have to content itself fur quite a spell without the notion I've run
a-foul of now."

Celestina offered no interrogation; instead she said, "Well, don't let
it harrow you up; that's all I ask. If it's goin' to be a
long-drawn-out piece of tinkerin', why there's all the more reason you
should eat your three good meals like other Christians. Next you know
you'll be gettin' run down, an' I'll be havin' to brew some dandelion
bitters for you." She came to an abrupt stop half-way between the oven
and the kitchen table, a bowl and spoon poised in her hand. "I ain't
sure but it's time to brew you somethin' anyway," she announced. "You
ain't had a tonic fur quite a spell an' mebbe 'twould do you good."

A helpless protest trembled on Willie's lips.

"I--I--don't think I need any bitters, Celestina," he at last observed
mildly.

"You don't know whether you do or not," Celestina replied with as near
an approach to sharpness as she was capable of. "However, there's no
call to discuss that now. The chief thing this minute is for you to
sit up to the table an' eat your victuals."

Docilely the man obeyed. He was hungry it proved, very hungry indeed.
With satisfaction Celestina watched every spoonful of food he put to
his lips, inwardly gloating as one muffin after another disappeared;
and when at last he could eat no more and took his blackened cob pipe
from his pocket, she drew a sigh of satisfaction.

"There now, if you want to go back to your inventin' you can," she
remarked, as she began to clear away the dishes. "You've took aboard
enough rations to do you quite a while."

Notwithstanding the permission Willie did not immediately avail himself
of it but instead lingered uneasily as if something troubled his
conscience.

"Say, Tiny," he blurted out at length, "if you happen around by the
front door and miss the screen don't be scared an' think it's stole. I
had to use it fur somethin' last night."

"The screen door?" gasped Celestina.

"Yes."

"But--but--Willie! The door was new this Spring; there wasn't a brack
in it."

"I know it," was the calm answer. "That's why I took it."

"But you could have got nettin' over at the store to-day."

"I couldn't wait."

Celestina did not reply at once; but when she did she had herself well
in hand, and every trace of irritation had vanish