Shirley's hand understandingly.

CHAPTER X

WILLING HELPERS

"Thump, thump, thump!" a thunderous rap at the door of Shirley's shop
brought the four girls on the run from the back room, where they had
been doing the last of the window cleaning.

"It's Bob and Phil! Good for them!" shouted Bet. "Let them in, you're
nearest, Kit!"

The two boys entered the doorway in a very supplicating manner, their
hats held humbly in their hands.

"We want work, ladies! Can we get something to eat?" begged Bob
without a smile.

"You _would_, Bob Evans! Thinking of food the first thing!" scolded
Joy.

"Been out of a job for two months," added Phil.

"Then I suppose you want something to eat, too?"

"Yes ma'am, I'd like nothing better than a handout."

"You'll earn it first, you lazy things," exclaimed Kit.

"Always taking the joy out of life, isn't she?" Bob pretended to be sad.

"Now what do you boys want to do?" Bet was in her snappiest form,
business-like and full of energy. "You can paint that strip around the
wall where we've marked it, or you can paint the window, or you can
paint chairs or tables. Now just take your choice of work, I don't
care what you do, as long as you paint."

"But I wanted to do basketry or clay figures," teased Bob. "Didn't
you, Phil?"

"No indeed. I wanted to paint. I'm a noble soul. I'm just dying to
paint, in fact I _must_ paint!"

"Then get to work!" cried Kit. "And don't waste so much time! This is
our busy day. No parking here!"

"Slave drivers! No hand-out, and not a minute to collect our thoughts!"

"You don't need to worry, Bob, it won't take you that long to collect
your thoughts! One second will be enough," retorted Joy.

"And we don't get anything to eat?" asked Phil.

But while the merry nonsense went on the two boys were preparing the
paint and getting ready to work. Phil took a step ladder and began on
the outside of the store, painting the frame of the window in bright
orange.

"There now that stands out, all right," he exclaimed as he finished the
job. "You can see that a mile off."

Bob finished the frame on the inside, about the same time and together
they started on the broad strip that was marked off around the walls.

"Say lady, it's eleven o'clock. Can't we have that hand-out?" cried
Bob Evans.

"Not yet. Why you've only been working an hour!" exclaimed Bet
indignantly. "Who ever heard of such a thing!"

"Let's strike!" Phil