e it so."

"That's very kind of you to say so," the Eagle Man answered in his usual
gruff voice.

They reached the gate and leaning upon it was Mr. Procter. He stared his
amazement at sight of his family returning in such state.

"Father, we had a picnic," called Maizie, springing from the carriage.

"And once I drove," cried Peter, almost falling from his seat, "and
scared a chicken."

"We've had the grandest day, father," finished Suzanna, running to him.
"We went on a picnic and we took the lame and halt along, Mabel and the
Eagle Man, and they had a good time, too."

"And twice today, father," said Maizie, taking her father's hand, "I
remembered Who smiled at me."

"Who smiled at you?" asked the Eagle Man, who heard everything, it
seemed.

"The Man with the halo, Jesus, you know," Maizie answered reverently.
"When first I was a baby on this earth He came to smile at me and to
wake me up. Suzanna told me so."

Silence. Then the Eagle Man turned to Mr. Procter. "Glad to have met
your family, sir."

"Glad you've had the opportunity," said Mr. Procter.

"You sold a quantity of nails to me a few weeks ago, good nails, too;
not underweight either, I noticed," said the Eagle Man at last. "Your
little girl tells me you are an inventor."

"Yes, I'm working on a machine," Mr. Procter flushed. "It is nearly
finished. That is, sometimes I think so; other times completion seems
far away."

The Eagle Man paused. "I'd be interested in seeing your invention," he
said, and stopped. Yet there was promise, too, in his voice, in his
eyes.

Again the color rushed to Mr. Procter's face. He stared unbelievingly at
the other, and then said: "I'll be glad any time to show my machine; to
tell you all about it--" He hesitated. "There'd be a great chance for
you, should you become interested in it."

"Well, if that's the case, expect me any time. Good-bye."

Suzanna spoke cordially: "You must come and see us very often," she said
warmly, "only not on Tuesday nights, if you're coming to supper, because
we have stew then made from the last of Sunday's roast."

"I'll remember," said the Eagle Man gravely, as he gave the signal to
Robert to drive away.

The little family went down through the yard and on to the house.

"I must hurry with your supper," said Mrs. Procter. "I'm sorry you were
kept waiting." She felt rested enough not to dread preparing the meal.

"Don't hurry, I found some crackers," said Mr. Procter, and ad