, Miss Sieppe," he said. "I suppose
you have kept your ticket."

"Yes, yes; four three oughts twelve--I remember."

"That's right," admitted the other. "Present your ticket at the local
branch office as soon as possible--the address is printed on the back
of the ticket--and you'll receive a check on our bank for five thousand
dollars. Your number will have to be verified on our official list, but
there's hardly a chance of a mistake. I congratulate you."

All at once a great shrill of gladness surged up in Trina. She was to
possess five thousand dollars. She was carried away with the joy of her
good fortune, a natural, spontaneous joy--the gaiety of a child with a
new and wonderful toy.

"Oh, I've won, I've won, I've won!" she cried, clapping her hands.
"Mamma, think of it. I've won five thousand dollars, just by buying a
ticket. Mac, what do you say to that? I've got five thousand dollars.
August, do you hear what's happened to sister?"

"Kiss your mommer, Trina," suddenly commanded Mrs. Sieppe. "What efer
will you do mit all dose money, eh, Trina?"

"Huh!" exclaimed Marcus. "Get married on it for one thing." Thereat
they all shouted with laughter. McTeague grinned, and looked about
sheepishly. "Talk about luck," muttered Marcus, shaking his head at the
dentist; then suddenly he added:

"Well, are we going to stay talking out here in the hall all night?
Can't we all come into your 'Parlors', Mac?"

"Sure, sure," exclaimed McTeague, hastily unlocking his door.

"Efery botty gome," cried Mrs. Sieppe, genially. "Ain't ut so, Doktor?"

"Everybody," repeated the dentist. "There's--there's some beer."

"We'll celebrate, by damn!" exclaimed Marcus. "It ain't every day you
win five thousand dollars. It's only Sundays and legal holidays." Again
he set the company off into a gale of laughter. Anything was funny at a
time like this. In some way every one of them felt elated. The wheel of
fortune had come spinning close to them. They were near to this great
sum of money. It was as though they too had won.

"Here's right where I sat when I bought that ticket," cried Trina, after
they had come into the "Parlors," and Marcus had lit the gas. "Right
here in this chair." She sat down in one of the rigid chairs under the
steel engraving. "And, Marcus, you sat here----"

"And I was just getting out of the operating chair," interposed Miss
Baker.

"Yes, yes. That's so; and you," continued Trina, pointing to Maria,
"came u