word.

"All right! Tell her to come out, a minute."

Mrs. Fabian hastily interpolated with: "Oh, we'd better go in and ask for
a drink, Carl."

Carl laughed. "Just as you say, Missus. But dese farmer people don't
stand on fussin'. You'se can ask her right out if she wants to sell any
old thing she's got in the attic or cellar."

"How do you know?" asked Polly, smilingly.

"'Cause Mr. Dalken got the fever of collectin' after you folks went to
Urope. And many a time I've sat and laughed at his way of getting
things."

"Oh! That's why you knew where to drive us, eh?" said Eleanor.

"No, 'cause he never come this road, yet. He mapped it out, once, and
said he would try it some day. That's why he told me which road to foller
today."

The girl had disappeared but was coming back by this time. She climbed
upon the picket gate and hung over it, as she called out: "My ma's
kneadin' bread an' can't get out, this minit. She says if you want
somethun, fer you to come in and see _her_!"

This invitation sufficed for all five to instantly get out of the car and
lift the latch on the gate. The girl never budged from her perch, but
permitted the visitors to swing her back as the gate was opened.

"Go right to the side door," advised she, holding on to the pickets.

As invited, the collectors went to the side door and Mrs. Fabian knocked
timidly. "Come in!" said a shrill voice from within.

The lady of the house had plump arms elbow-deep in dough. She glanced up
and nodded in a business-like manner. "Did yer come fer fresh aigs?"
asked she, punching the dough positively.

"If you have any for sale, I should like to take a dozen," returned Mrs.
Fabian, politely. Polly and Dodo stared in surprise at their chaperone,
but Eleanor and Nancy comprehended at once, why this reply was made.

"Wait a minute, will yuh, and I'll get this job off my hands afore I go
fer the aigs."

Eleanor laughed humorously as she remarked: "It looks like dough on your
hands."

The woman laughed appreciatively, while the others smiled. "That's right!
It's dough, all right. I s'pose you folks are from nearby, eh?"

"Not very far away," returned Mrs. Fabian. "We are out on a pleasure
jaunt this morning, but I saw your farm and so we decided to ask your
little girl if you were in."

"That's right! I tole my man to put a sign out on the letter-box fer
passers-by to see how I had aigs to sell; but he is that
procrastinatin'--he puts off anythun' '