wn to see that her guests lacked
no attention demanded by hospitality. John was likely to be forgetful
about such matters.

"I was just saying, Mary," Sally called out as soon as she caught sight
of her hostess, "that Dan was on his way to town, and I'm going to stay
here with the children till he comes back. But I want to lay the chart
on my goods right away, for I'm afraid I've got a scant pattern for that
tea jacket, and if I have, I can give Dan a sample of the goods, and he
can bring me an extra yard from town. And if you'll bring the chart out,
I'll lay off my goods right here and now, so Dan won't lose any time on
my account."

"Oh! never mind about me," said Dan, with the air and accent of one who
has suffered long and given up hope. "I've been losin' time on your
account for the last fifteen years, and this trip ain't goin' to be an
exception."

Every one laughed, for Sally's weakness was known of all men. Aunt Tabby
McElrath once said that if the road from Dan's place to town was ten
miles long, and there was a house every quarter of a mile, Sally would
make just forty visits going and coming.

"Get the chart, John," said Mary, "and it won't take us two minutes to
find out whether there's enough goods. It's on the top shelf of the old
secretary in the parlor."

John went obediently. "Where did you say that chart was?" he called
back.

"On the old secretary. I saw it there just before dinner," answered
Mary.

"I saw it there, too," responded John, "but it ain't there now."

Mary hastened to the parlor. "Why no, it isn't here," she exclaimed in
dismay. "Who could have taken it?"

"Ask the children," suggested Sally from the porch, where she sat
cheerfully rocking and fanning herself. "Whenever there's anything
missing at our house, some of the children can tell who's mislaid it."
But Lucy Ellen and little John with one voice made haste to defend
themselves against the visitor's accusation. By this time Dan had come
into the parlor, and the three stood looking at each other in silent
perplexity.

Dan was openly worried over the delay, Mary was sympathetically
distressed, and John's face expressed nothing but the deepest concern
over the situation.

"Maybe it's up-stairs," he said. "Suppose you and Sally run up there and
search while Dan and myself'll search down here. That'll save time."

"What sort of a lookin' thing is that chart?" asked Dan, as he got down
on his knees and made a dive under th