o. We often go there when we can get the assayer's horses,
but the wagon won't hold us all, so we three stayed at home to-day."

"And had ice-cream sodas for being good," added Irene.

"We _wanted_ to make some taffy," mourned Inez, ruefully eyeing the
blackened mass which the mysterious stranger was deftly removing from
the stove and floor.

"'Twas so lonesome here by ourselves," supplemented Susie
apologetically, remembering that she was responsible for the candy
suggestion.

"So 'while the cat's away the mice will play'," chuckled the man,
beginning a vigorous scraping of the sticky kettle.

"Why, how did you know her name was Catt?" cried Irene in amazement.

"Goosie!" exclaimed Susie sarcastically.

"He didn't know. That's not what he meant. But truly, mister, I don't
think Tabitha would have minded a bit if our candy had come out all
right. As 'tis, we've wasted such a lot of m'lasses and sugar that I
reckon she'll scold----"

"If she ever finds it out," broke in Inez.

"That's it--_if_ she ever finds it out," chuckled the man again. "Who
is this mysterious Tabitha that you are so scared of?"

"We ain't _scared_ of her," protested Susie loyally. "Her name is
Tabitha Catt, and she's taking care of us while mamma is with papa at
the hospital in Los Angeles. She's only a girl herself, but we
promised to mind her so mamma could go, and not fret about us all the
time, and we're trying hard to keep our promise."

"But sometimes we forget," said truthful Irene. "We oughtn't to have
made that candy, 'cause we told her we wouldn't get into mischief while
she was gone. I guess that's why it burnt up."

"I guess it's no such thing!" Inez contradicted hotly. "You made such
a fuss over nothing that Susie and me forgot to watch it and it boiled
over."

"I guess you'd have made a fuss if I'd blistered your hand like you did
mine," cried Irene in great indignation, suddenly remembering her
grievance, and affectionately regarding the white blister on her plump
hand. "Then on top of that you told me to suck it off, when you knew
it was boiling hot and would skin my whole mouth."

"Tut, tut!" interrupted the stranger, seeing that a quarrel was
imminent. "Now don't get mad all at once. I've a proposition to make
to you----"

"A what?" asked Susie, glad she had taken no part in the flare-up
between the twins.

"A bargain. I'll make you a mess of candy that'll pop your eyes out if
you will give me a s