Part 30 (2/2)

She turned and s, rimy individual,--me

”It does not happen to be the kind of piano one can take to pieces, Miss Grant, is it?” I asked

”It is,” she answered, ”but that one ain”

It was another bull's eye for the lady

She went on ”I have never received a piano,--knocked down”

Soered at the phrase, for it was purely a business one But I was too busy just then figuring the ins and outs of the ive way to any hilarity

”Thanks so hed, with a nod to her silent companion, who nodded in return

”Oh!--may I have five cents' worth of pins,--Mister, Mister----”

”Mr Bremner,” I added

”Thank you!”

”Hair pins, hat pins, safety pins or clothes pins?” I queried

”Just pins,--with points and heads on them,--if you don't mind”

I bowed ceremoniously

”We shall be over this afternoon, e have made a list of the supplies we require,” she went on

As I hunted for the pins, she began to look in her purse for a five cent piece

”Oh!--never e these to your bill in the afternoon”

”No! thank you,” she replied, airily and lightly;--oh! so very, very airily that I would not have been surprised had she floay

”Your terms are strictly cash;--I would not disturb your business routine for worlds”

As I held out the package to her, I stopped and, for the first time, I felt really at ease and equal to her

”Possibly you would prefer that I send this package round by the delivery wagon?” I said

She picked the paper package froers and her chin went into the air at a erous elevation, while her eyelids closed over her eyes, allowing long, golden-brown lashes to brush her cheeks

Then, without a word, she turned her back on h the doorith her companion, or chaperon, or aunt, or whatever relation to her the elderly lady ht be

”So foolish!+” I heard her exclaiers to the elderly lady, who laughed and started in to talk volubly

The n sh, but she was as deaf as a wooden block and used her smile to cover her deficiency