for work that Cora had afforded to her.
"I like housekeeping when there is someone to keep for."

"You had Freda," Jack reminded her.

"And she wouldn't let me do enough to keep in practice," replied Mrs.
Lewis. "Here we are, and the young ladies are stringing beans!"

"Now that is what I call sweet of you," Jack observed as he greeted
the four girls, all seated around a low porch table with knives and
beans plying from basket to pan. "Who told you we were coming to
dine?"

"You positively are not, Brother Jack," Cora declared. "You boys think
our place is an elastic delicatessen. Why, we never know whether we
are going to have enough for another meal or not, and we can't go to
the point again to-day."

"All right, Little Sister. If you have the heart to eat good string
beans from old Henry's garden, and know that your brother is starving
for a single spoonful, just go ahead. They will rest heavy on your
heart, though. I warn you."

"You may help!" offered Lottie. "Just take that paper bag and scoop up
the ends. Bess spilled them."

"I absolutely refuse," replied Jack, haughtily, "to be a scraper-up
for such mean people. No, sir! I have just been manicured," and he
gazed lovingly at his much-neglected hands.

"It does seem as if all we do is to get ready to eat and then eat,"
said Belle with a sigh. "I would never keep house for myself if I
starved. At least, I would manage on fewer meals. We have only been to
the point since breakfast and now it is time to eat again."

Cora had gone in with Freda and Mrs. Lewis and very soon afterward
luncheon was announced--the beans were laid over for the evening meal.
Jack stayed, of course, and wondered (so he said) why the other
fellows did not come in search of him.

An hour or two later Mrs. Lewis hurried off to the little station,
after promising Freda that she would be most careful of the dark road
known as the "Cut."

"For, Mother dear," warned Freda, "I do believe those land sharks
would do almost anything to scare the information out of us. They have
threatened to have it at any cost, you know."

"Oh! I am surprised at you being so nervous, dear," replied the
mother, kissing Freda reassuringly. "I never felt less nervous. In
fact, I think now things will soon be righted. Good-bye, dear. And
have a good time with your friends."

Freda watched the little woman step lightly away over the white path.
Then, with a sigh, she turned back to the bungalow.

"Freda