money to spare--"

"That's just the way I thought it all out," interrupted Peace eagerly.
"But Mr. Strong hasn't lots of spare money. He is a minister, and they
never have enough for themselves. Besides, he crossed his heart that he
didn't know who put it there. The Dunbars aren't rich. Miss Truesdale
can't afford it. Even Mrs. Grinnell couldn't do it. Judge Abbott has
lots of money, but folks have to work for what they get out of him, and
old Skinflint is so stingy that he _borrows_ the city papers so's he
won't have to buy them himself. Hec Abbott told me so. I can't think of
a single soul who would give us the money."

"Maybe this is a friend whom you don't know."

"That's it, I guess. But I'd _like_ awfully well to know them, and
'specially whether we can really use the money for ourselves. Now that
Bossy is gone, I don't know what we are going to do for milk. Mr. Jones
paid fifteen dollars for her, but that won't buy a whole new one."

"I think I know where you can get a fine cow for fifteen dollars. If you
will give me the money I will call around by the place and have the man
bring it to you the first thing in the morning. It is quite a piece from
here, and maybe he wouldn't sell it to _you_ for that price, but I know
he would to _me_."

Peace sat lost in thought, a bit of bread poised half way to her mouth.

"Is it a good cow?" asked Allee, timidly.

"The very best."

"Gentle, like Bossy?" Cherry questioned.

"Gentle as a lamb."

"Does she give four gallons of milk a day?" Peace interrupted.

"More, sometimes."

"Is she pretty?"

"Handsome as a picture."

"Does she give good milk, with lots of cream? We make our own butter,
you know."

"She's a splendid butter cow."

"Has she got brown eyes, like mine, and a curly tail, and two good
horns--not too sharp? Will she eat sugar out of your hand and not drive
folks out of the stall when they try to pet her?"

"She is the finest cow I ever saw--"

"Then it's funny the man will sell her for; fifteen dollars," declared
Peace, with sudden suspicion, studying the old man opposite her, but
seeing only a sandy, untrimmed beard, a strong, honest face, with square
jaws, and a pair of the kindest eyes she had ever looked into.

"Not at all," said the man, chuckling to himself at the trap she had
laid for him. "He wants to get rid of his herd, but doesn't need the
money; though, of course, he wouldn't care to give the cows away."

"Well," hesitated the