dded, pointing to
the big golden molar projecting from the office window.

"With his fingers! Now, think of that," exclaimed Miss Baker, wagging
her head. "Isn't he that strong! It's just wonderful. Cleaning house
to-day?" she inquired, glancing at Trina's towelled head.

"Um hum," answered Trina. "Maria Macapa's coming in to help pretty
soon."

At the mention of Maria's name the little old dressmaker suddenly
uttered an exclamation.

"Well, if I'm not here talking to you and forgetting something I was
just dying to tell you. Mrs. McTeague, what ever in the world do
you suppose? Maria and old Zerkow, that red-headed Polish Jew, the
rag-bottles-sacks man, you know, they're going to be married."

"No!" cried Trina, in blank amazement. "You don't mean it."

"Of course I do. Isn't it the funniest thing you ever heard of?"

"Oh, tell me all about it," said Trina, leaning eagerly from the window.
Miss Baker crossed the street and stood just beneath her.

"Well, Maria came to me last night and wanted me to make her a new gown,
said she wanted something gay, like what the girls at the candy store
wear when they go out with their young men. I couldn't tell what had
got into the girl, until finally she told me she wanted something to get
married in, and that Zerkow had asked her to marry him, and that she was
going to do it. Poor Maria! I guess it's the first and only offer she
ever received, and it's just turned her head."

"But what DO those two see in each other?" cried Trina. "Zerkow is a
horror, he's an old man, and his hair is red and his voice is gone, and
then he's a Jew, isn't he?"

"I know, I know; but it's Maria's only chance for a husband, and she
don't mean to let it pass. You know she isn't quite right in her head,
anyhow. I'm awfully sorry for poor Maria. But I can't see what Zerkow
wants to marry her for. It's not possible that he's in love with Maria,
it's out of the question. Maria hasn't a sou, either, and I'm just
positive that Zerkow has lots of money."

"I'll bet I know why," exclaimed Trina, with sudden conviction; "yes,
I know just why. See here, Miss Baker, you know how crazy old Zerkow is
after money and gold and those sort of things."

"Yes, I know; but you know Maria hasn't----"

"Now, just listen. You've heard Maria tell about that wonderful service
of gold dishes she says her folks used to own in Central America; she's
crazy on that subject, don't you know. She's all right on everythin