on Peter's shoulder, and I,
for one, won't miss you. Making me do all that work over again!"

"Here boys, get to work, you're only getting into mischief by standing
around. Help me with this rug, it isn't straight." And the boys
jumped to attention at Bet's order and arranged the rug to suit her.

"There now, isn't that cozy?" exclaimed Kit. And they all stood back
and admired the work that had transformed the old store into a cozy
room.

"I think it's just lovely," said Bet, with a sigh of happiness.

CHAPTER XI

THE FIRST CUSTOMER

Joy hadn't quite recovered from her disappointment over her spoiled
chair. She was working away with a frown as she repaired the damage.
At a suggestion from Bob that she finish the job she had started on
him, Joy gave a dab with her brush and left a long streak across his
cheek.

"Now go away and leave me alone, Bob Evans."

"Get to work! Get to work!" shouted Bet. "Here help me with this
table, Phil."

They lifted the heavy library table that the Colonel had given them
from one corner of the room to the other. At the fifth move, Bet was
satisfied but that brought it back to exactly the spot where she had
started.

"Why don't you two go into the moving business? Bet has a talent in
that direction," teased Bob.

"Now I'm just too happy today to get angry at you for anything, Bob, so
you might as well give up. I'm having the time of my life!"

And Bet looked happy as she arranged the large easy chairs about the
room, while Shirley got out the portfolios of prints for the table.

"There now, the work's all done, isn't it?" asked Phil.

"Why the idea!" laughed Bet. "There are millions of things to do yet."

"It will take weeks to have things the way we want it," agreed Kit.

The girls now got out needles and some orange silk and started on the
fancy shade for the lights. A floor lamp was to give the main lighting
for the room and a number of wall brackets would add to the artistic
effect.

"It's kind of you to say that there is nothing else we can do," laughed
Phil with a deep bow.

"And thanks for the eats. Ask us to come to your next party, that is
if there is no work to do."

"Why you lazy things! There'll always be work at Shirley's Shop," said
Bet.

"Bye-bye," waved Bob as he and Phil departed.

The girls hurried on with their different tasks. Kit and Bet were
making the lamp shades, chattering of their plans for the future.

Shirley put