choosing what we'd like best."

"Well, well!" laughed Julia. "All right, Katy: I'll save it, if I can."

Satisfied by this promise, the child ran away; for customers began to
come in, and to loiter would be to lessen her chance of gaining the
treasure which to herself she already called Ellie's.

McNaughton & Co. did a great business within the next two weeks; the
employees were "fearfully rushed," as they expressed it. Katy had no
opportunity for further conversation with the sociable attendant at the
end of the stationery counter, now given over to toys, upon the subject
oftenest in her thoughts. She had been transferred to another
department; but every day she took occasion to go around and look at
the doll, to make sure that it was still there; and the kindly
salesgirl always found time to give her an encouraging nod and a smile.

One afternoon, however, a few days before Christmas, when Julia
returned from her lunch she met Katy, who was crying bitterly. The
cause of her distress was soon told. A new girl had been put at the
counter that morning; she knew nothing about Katy's doll, and now, as
luck would have it, was just in the act of selling it to a big,
bluff-looking man, who said he wanted it for his little daughter.

Julia rushed to her post. The man was upon the point of paying for the
doll, and had decided that he would take the parcel with him.

"Have you seen the brown-eyed dolls?" she interposed, pleasantly. The
other girl scowled at the interference with 'her sale,' but she
persisted. "The brown-eyed ones are considered the most desirable."

"Are they?" the man hesitated. "Well, I believe I'll take one, then,
instead of this. My little maid likes brown eyes."

Katy's doll was saved. The child, in a fever of suspense, had watched
the transaction from behind a pile of dry-goods. Now she turned toward
her friend a face bright with gratitude, as she hurried away in
response to the imperative call of "Cash."

When Julia recovered from her flurry, she explained matters to her
associate. The girl's ill-humor quickly vanished once she understood
the situation, and she willingly agreed to help retain the doll if
possible.

III

On the morning of the day before Christmas, Katy appeared at the
counter and offered the twenty-two cents which she had succeeded in
getting together--the balance to be paid on her present.

"Can't I take the doll now, please?" she begged.

"You will have t