can't! I've _got_ to have
help!"

At this moment a jingling of bells was heard outside; Mary stepped to
the window. "Who on earth comes here?" she exclaimed. "Of all the
queer-lookin' turnouts--do look here, Calvin!"

Calvin looked. In an old-fashioned high-backed sleigh, drawn by an
ancient white horse, sat a little old man so wrapped in furs that only
the tip of a frosty nose could be seen. He was waving whip and reins
wildly, and shouting "Somebody come! somebody come!"

"Gosh!" said Calvin Parks. He ran out, and Mary Sands followed him
wondering.

"Mr. Cheeseman, I want to know if this is you!"

"I got it!" gasped the old man.

"You got it!" repeated Calvin. "You've got your everlastin', I expect,
out this time o' day at your age. You come in to the fire, sir!"

Without more ado, he lifted the old man in his arms, carried him bodily
into the little room, and set him down in the chair. Mr. Cheeseman was
still breathless with frost and excitement, and gasped painfully, his
eyes starting from his head.

"I got it!" he repeated. "I got it, Calvin!"

"Fetch your breath, old gentleman," said Calvin soothingly. "You ain't
got that, anyway. What is it you have got? the rheumatiz?"

"The money!" cried the old candy-maker. "Your money, friend Calvin,
every cent of it, except what was spent, and that warn't much."

Calvin stood as if turned to stone.

"What do you mean?" he faltered.

"I mistrusted all along!" cried Mr. Cheeseman. "I kep' askin' myself all
day yesterday, where did she get that money? I never slep' last night
for askin' it. Suddin, along about four o'clock this mornin', by the
livin' Jingo, I see the whole contraption. I got up that minute of time,
hitched up old Major, and drove straight out there to tell you what I
suspicioned. You warn't there. They was awake, the two of 'em, and
scared at your bein' out all night as they thought, and when I called
and knocked they come down, and a sight they was. Talk of witches!
'Where's Calvin Parks?' I says; and they made answer you hadn't come in,
and they'd sat up 'most all night for you, and was scairt to death, and
all the rest of it. 'Show me his room!' I says. They made objections to
that, and I just cleared 'em to one side and stomped up, and they after
me. When they see your things were gone, Phrony give a screech fit to
wake the dead, and the old woman set up a gibberin' about Jordan rollin'
past, and dust and ashes, and I don't know what all. M