visions of roast chicken were very alluring to her.

"No," answered Peace with sudden decision. "We'll sweep his paths and
collect our pay when it is done."

So again they fell to work making the snow fly briskly, and in a short
time had cleared steps and walks, but apparently no one was yet stirring
within doors.

"Guess they are still in bed," suggested Allee. "We will have to come
back later."

"If we are going to have chicken for dinner we ought to get it as soon
as possible, so's Gail can fix it, 'cause it takes hours to cook. I'm
going to knock again and see if I can't wake someone. It's time they
were up anyway. Rich folks do sleep an awful long time in the morning."

Mounting the steps once more, she knocked loudly, with no result. A
happy inspiration seized her, and picking up her broom, she tapped on
the door with the handle. No one came.

"I don't b'lieve that is loud enough," whispered Allee. "You'd better
pound."

"I think so myself," answered Peace, clutching the broom like a
battering ram and giving the door three resounding thumps that shook the
house from cellar to garret, and sounded like the booming of a cannon.

"Try it again," urged impatient Allee, and again the broom struck the
panels with thunderous force, once, twice--

The door burst open with sudden fury, and an angry-faced man in a long
bathrobe confronted the paralyzed children with the fierce demand, "What
in creation do you want?"

"It--it's time to get up," stammered Peace. "I mean, it--it snowed last
night. I mean, we've swep' your walks off. We s'posed you'd be glad to
pay us for our trouble."

"Well!" ejaculated the man, too much surprised for further speech.

"We've swep' real clean--better than Hector ever does."

"Well!" repeated the Judge, an amused gleam in his eyes chasing away the
angry frown. "How much do I owe you, Peace? You are Peace Greenfield,
are you not?"

"Yes, sir. A quarter will do, I think. The snow was very light, but
you've got lots of porch and walk."

"That's a fact, we have. Here is a quarter for you, and many thanks for
your good work."

"You are much obliged," she answered gravely, mixing her pronouns in her
haste to slip the coin inside her damp mitten. "I wish you a merry
Thanksgiving."

With a whoop of delight she bounded down the steps, snatched Allee's
hand, and rushed away up the street to the butcher shop for their
chicken, never pausing for breath until she had dropped the money