" exclaimed Pinkey, suddenly.

"There ain't no picnic," said Chook. "It's next Monday; the date must
'ave slipped me mind."

"An' yer mean ter move 'er furniture in without 'er knowin'?"

"That's the dart," said Chook, with a vicious smile. "If Sarah's
tongue don't git a change of air, I'll git three months fer murder. So
'urry up, Liz, an' put this apron over yer skirt."

The impudence of Chook's plan took her breath away, but when he
insisted that there was no other way of getting rid of Mrs Partridge,
she consented, with the feeling that she was taking part in a burglary.
Chook took the key from under the flower-pot and went in. They found
the place like a pigsty, for in the excitement of dressing for her day
behind the counter, Sarah had wasted no time in making the bed or
washing up, and Pinkey, trained under the watchful eye of Chook's
mother, stood aghast. She declared that nothing could be done till
that mess was cleared away, and tucked up her sleeves.

The appearance of the cart had roused the neighbours' curiosity, and
Chook engaged them in conversation over the back fence. He explained
that Mrs Partridge had begged him to come down and move her furniture
while she minded the shop. There was a general sigh of relief.
Nothing had escaped her eye or tongue. Mrs King, who was supposed to
be temperance, did wonders with the bottle under her apron, but was
caught. Then she found out that Mrs Robinson's brother, who was
supposed to be doing well in the country, was really doin' seven years.
Chook refused half a dozen offers of help before Pinkey had finished
washing up.

As Chook lacked the professional skill of Jimmy the van-man, Pinkey was
obliged to make two loads of the furniture; but by twelve o'clock the
last stick was on the cart, and Pinkey, sitting beside her husband on a
plank, carried the kerosene lamp in her lap to prevent breakage. By
sunset everything was in its place, and Chook and Pinkey, aching in
every joint, locked the door and drove home.

Meanwhile, Mrs Partridge had spent a pleasant day conducting Chook's
business on new lines. She had always suspected that she had a gift
for business, and here was an opportunity to prove it. The first
customer was a child, sent for three penn'orth of potatoes. As
children are naturally careless, Mrs Partridge saw here an excellent
opportunity for weeding out the stock, and went to a lot of trouble in
picking out the small and damaged tub