nd the house
bearing a mysterious something done up in a newspaper. "What in
conscience do them boys want?" said Luella, looking out of the kitchen
window. "It's Billy Laws and Horeb Potter. What are they peekin'
around here for I want to know." One of the boys now advanced toward
the house, but at the appearance of Miss Ada on the porch, he took to
his heels, and lurked in the distance where his companion was uneasily
waiting.

Luella went out to Miss Ada. "Them boys has got some errant here," she
said, "but they won't come in whilst they see you on the piazza." Miss
Ada reentered the house. The three little girls peeped from the
windows, looking out from behind the blinds. In a few minutes the boys
came stealthily forth, tiptoed toward the house, halted fearfully, took
a few steps back, came on more quickly. He who bore the newspaper
package was suddenly pushed violently forward by the other and came on
with a trot, bolted into the kitchen, laid the package on the table
before Luella and exclaimed hastily: "It's for the little gals!" then
he took to his heels, not stopping till he was clear out of sight.

Luella came laughing into the living-room. "Here's another present,"
she announced. "You open it, Miss Ada."

"What can it be?" exclaimed the children, gathering around their aunt
who untied the string of the damp parcel, unwrapped it and disclosed to
view a huge lobster, fiery red, and still warm from recent boiling.

"Isn't he a monster?" exclaimed Miss Ada. "I don't believe I ever saw
a larger. We'll have him for supper, Luella. I hope you took half the
salmon to Mrs. Wharton, for we couldn't eat that and this, too.
Children, you will have to invite Grace over to have her share. I
suppose some of it is due to her anyhow."

"She ought to have it all," said Polly, "for she was the only one who
was hurt."

"I'm afraid she'd suffer more still if she attempted to devour this
entire lobster," laughed Miss Ada. "We'd better spare her little turn,
Polly, and help her eat this."

It was after such of the lobster as they could eat had been disposed
of, and the children with no desire for long wanderings, were safely
gathered around the fire, that a tap was heard at the door. Uncle Dick
arose to open it and received into his hands a large cold jar, while a
small lad piped out: "Jerry sent this to the little gals. They'll
keep." And then the figure vanished into the darkness.

"I don't know who Je