The daily Alaskan., 1911-11-24


 when a eirS's slender form had ap- peared In the Kitchen doorway she continued. I'm going now. Haunihars been waiting for ten minutes, and expeet that old horses hcofs are most frpze or. I know it's cruelty to ami mals to keep 'em standing around in the snow ike this. but l had to set ready, and I couldn't find my spec tacIes, and then I lost my handkev- chief. and l found it and lost it, and I haven't found it again yet, Why. there it Is on the almanac. was looB fnr to see what the weather Is going to be tomorrow
 The girl laughed softly as she push ed the older woman gently toward the door. There, Aunt Charity; if you stop and talk much longer the horses hoofs will freeze of, and Hannibal is looking so impatently at the door. I won't forget to put the bread in the oven at II o'clock. and I'll water the plants and put Toby in the wOodshed before I go over to Cousin SSrah's 10 sleep. And I'll expect you home on the 8 o'clock train tomorrow afternoon without fail-thereT
 Miss Charity was on the porch by this time and waving a mittened hand to Hannib,l Jones, the stage driver. "TII be there in a Jifry, Hannibal. I've got to say something more Co Da- rina"-
 Darina laughed merrily as she waved farewell to Miss Charity's ceSticulaung mittens, and she went hack into the house and closed and locked the door. Miss Charity's de rsrture for Greenville. the next vil- Iace. was an event that had been talked about for a fortnight, ever since her brothers wife had invited her over to the Baptist donation party and to spend one night. She had left q dozen different commands for her crandniece to carry out and the last and the greatest of these was the one concerning agents of any description.
 Charity Decker detested agents. She was scarcely polite when members or that honorable calling knocked iuSinu- stincly at her kitchen door. Her strict orders for the reception Of any that might call during her absence had been thoroughly drilled into Darina's under. standing and out of the tenderness of her heart the girl hoped that the agents would stay away.
 "They are not so plentiful in snowy weather thought Darina as she rolled out some ginger cookies. "I hope none Of them win call, but somehow 1t does seem as 1T Little River harbored more canvassers. and-there Is one nowr'
 She popped a pan oS cookies In the oven and pushed back her fair hair with a loury hand, leaving a dab of white on the rose of her cheek. She opened the door to find Syrian rug dealer souatted on the doorstep, Miss Chaaty's admonitons still rang in Der ears.
 oNo-no-noV' said Darina emphat- cary in response to his appealing ges- tures as be displayed his wares. She closed the door and watched him shambIe down the path Her heart leaned with fright as she saw him nause at the gate and make some sort of maSk on the white post with a bit of red chaUk. Then, with sly look over his shoulder at the house, he went on his way.
 How dreadfulr' thought DariuR as she returned to her baking Perhaps he has marked the house so he can return tonight and rob us-or perhaps murder"
 There was another knock at the door, and Darina took her cookies out Of the oven before she tlptoed over to the entrance and peered through the crack in the door curtain. A man with long handled patent mop impadently waited on the doorstep
 narina opened the door.
 Good morning" said the agent courteously. Are you the lady Of the bousey
 aYeS.s said Darina. But do not wish to buy anything today. We have mop we bought from you last year" "Very good, ms'am; you cannot need another one now, and you will never unless yours Is stolen. for, as 1 told you last year. when I sold it to your our mop Is practically indestructible- Now. let me show you the best clothes brush you ever saw-there, ma'am- ! look at thatr'
 When Darina had finally added a ! firmly voiced 'GSo. nor to his mono ' logue he gathered up his wares, dis I posed them about his person and with ! a bob of his head was gone.
 q hope he doesn't mark the house" !" murmured Darina as she watched his 1 hurried departure. But the brush man seemed glad to get away from such an unpromising vicinity and paused to ! look neither to the right nor left as ] he hastened down the road. Presently ] Darina- saw him open Cousin Sarah's 1 green gate and enter the yard
 She went back to her cookies, and sn q Haa kl-a