most a wail from poor Ed. He could have killed
'Rast for the triumphant laugh that followed.

In the meantime Anderson Crow was preparing to crawl in between the icy
sheets at home. Mrs. Crow was "sitting up" with old Mrs. Luce, who was
ill next door.

"She's a girl with a past," reflected Anderson. "She's a mystery,
that's what she is; but I'll unravel her. She had a mighty good reason
fer sawin' me off out there to-day. I was gittin' too close home. She
seen I was about to corner her. By gum, I hope she don't suspect
nothin'! She's found out that Ed Higgins has a good job down to Lamson's
store, an' she's settin' her cap fer him. It shows she'd ruther live in
the city than in the country--so it's all up with 'Rast. That proves
she's from Chicago er some other big place. Ed's gettin' eight dollars a
week down there at Lamson's. By gum, that boy's doin' well! I used to
think he wouldn't amount to nothin'. It shows that the best of us git
fooled in a feller once in a while. To-morrow night I'll go out to the
spellin'-match, an' when the chanct comes I'll sidle up to her an'
whisper her real name in her ear. I bet four dollars an' a half that'll
fetch her purty prompt. Doggone, these here sheets air cold! It's forty
below zero right here in this bed."

Anderson Crow soon slept, but he did not dream of the tragedy the next
night was to bring upon Tinkletown, nor of the test his prowess was to
endure.

The next night and the "spellin'-bee" at school No. 5 came on apace
together. It was bitterly cold and starlight. By eight o'clock the warm
schoolhouse was comfortably filled with the "spellers" of the
neighbourhood, their numbers increased by competitors from Tinkletown
itself. In the crowd were men and women who time after time had "spelled
down" whole companies, and who were eager for the conflict. They had
"studied up" on their spelling for days in anticipation of a hard
battle in the words. Mrs. Borum and Mrs. Cartwill, both famous for their
victories and for the rivalry that existed between them, were selected
as captains of the opposing sides, and Miss Banks herself was to "give
out" the words. The captains selected their forces, choosing alternately
from the anxious crowd of grown folks. There were no children there, for
it was understood that big words would be given out--words children
could not pronounce, much less spell.

The teacher was amazingly pretty on this eventful night. She was dressed
as no other wo