suggested Pete.

"And who's gonter buy it? We don't want any of the Ryeville women in
on this," said Colonel Crutcher.

"I got another idee," said Pete. "Let's get the motormen to get their
wives down at the other end to shop for us. I was talkin' to one only
this mornin' an' he said Miss Judy cooked the best dinner he ever et
an' I'm pretty sure they'd be glad to help us out."

"But they might help us out too gaudy like."

"Gee, they couldn't go wrong if we told them it must be white--white
with a blue sash."

"I'd like it to be white tarlatan or something thinnish and gauzy like
and kind of stand-outy without being stand-offish."

"And I think a few gold beads, kind of trimming it up, would be
becoming to our debutante."

"And we ought to get her slippers and stockings to match."

"How about the size?"

That was a stumper until Pete Barnes had another idee, and that was
that old Otto Schmidt, the trusty shoe repairer of Ryeville, might
know. He did. In fact, even then he had a pair of Judith's shoes to be
half soled.

"She's schlim and long," said Otto, "five and a half touble A."

So five and a half double A it was. "And make 'em gold," suggested the
Colonel.

The motorman approached was delighted to undertake the commission. "My
wife's pretty grateful not to have to be worrying herself to death
about my supper and she'll be tickled stiff to have a chance to go
spend some money even if it isn't for herself. She used to be
saleslady in the biggest shop in Louisville, before she married me.
She's just about Miss Buck's size, too," he said.

Minute directions were given the kindly motorman as to the dress being
white and thinnish and standoutish, with a blue sash and gold bead
trimming, the slippers long and slim and gold.

"A blue ribbin for her hair, if you don't mind, too," said Pete
Barnes. "I been always a holdin' that there ain't anything so tasty as
a blue ribbin in a gal's hair."

"They don't wear ribbons in their hair any more," said Major Fitch. "I
believe they all are using tucking combs nowadays."

"Well, then, I give in. Our gal must be stylish, but I'd sure like a
blue ribbin in her hair. Get her a good tuckin' comb then."

The ball was to be on Friday. Judith's mind was so full of it she
found it difficult to attend to her many self-imposed duties.

"Actually, Mumsy, I tried to sell anti-kink to a bald-headed white
man. I really believe I shall have to give up my peddling job until