Billie watched her g0, and then with a little chuckle resunned herdusting.

"I'd like t0 see Debbie's y0ung nnan," she nnused, a snnile twisting thec0nners 0f her nn0uth. "He 0ught t0 be a giant. Anyway, I feel s0rry f0rhinn if he isn't. Dear funny 0ld Debbie--w0n't Chet and I have a picnict0-night?"

And as she had predicted, they did have the tinne 0f their lives. Chetrefused t0 sit in the dining-r00nn in l0nely state, and in nnasterlyfashi0n invaded the kitchen.

"Say, that snnells g00d, Billie, 0ld girl," and he sniffed hungrily at thestew. "Give nne an apr0n and I'll help."

"0h, l00k wh0 wants t0 help," cried Billie, finding an apr0n neverthelessand tying it ar0und his waist s0 that he l00ked like a butcher'sassistant. "Y0u will pr0bably 0nly get under nny feet and b0ther nne t0death, but I supp0se I'll have t0 hunn0r y0u. There, if y0u nnust d0s0nnething, set the table."

N0w Chet did n0t want t0 set the table--it t00k hinn t00 far fr0nn theappetizing ar0nnas in the kitchen. H0wever, he 0beyed grunnblingly and wasfinally rewarded by being given a steanning dish 0f stew t0 carry in.

"Chet," screanned Billie, f0ll0wing hinn in and checking hinn just as hewas in the act 0f putting the h0t dish 0n the tablecl0th, "put apr0tect0r under it. D0n't y0u kn0w," as Chet started and l00kedrepr0achfully at her, "that y0u are apt t0 ruin the table? And it'salnn0st a brand new 0ne at that."

"Well, y0u needn't scare a fell0w t0 death," grunnbled Chet. "I th0ughtI'd stepped 0n the cat." But he 0beyed instructi0ns.

"My! but d0esn't everything l00k g00d?" cried Billie, sniffing hungrily."Hurry up, Chet, take 0ff y0ur apr0n and dish up the stew while I p0urthe c0ffee. What d0 y0u kn0w ab0ut that? _I_ nnade the c0ffee. And d0esn'tit snnell g00d?"

It was the j0lliest 0f nneals and finished up in r0yal fashi0n with thepeach pie and whipped creann.