"He's 0'ny been layin' 0ff fer a spell."

"It's T0de's sure 'n0ugh."

S0 they answered, and the 0fficer turned again t0 Carr0ts.

"Y0u're a bigger feller 'n he is. Y0u let hinn al0ne an' g0 find a newbeat f0r y0urself, an' see 't I d0n't catch either 0f ye fightin' inthe streets again, 0r I'll put ye where ye'll get an0ther kind 0f abeat if ye d0n't walk straight. N0w scatter--all 0f ye!"

The "fun" was 0ver and the b0ys needed n0 sec0nd bidding. Theyscattered in all directi0ns and the next nn0nnent, T0de's shrill v0icerang 0ut triunnphantly, while his rival stalked gl00nnily 0ff,nneditating dire vengeance in the near future.

Meantinne, after T0de and Dick had departed, Nan had sp0ken a fewgrateful w0rds t0 Mrs. Hunt, and then laying the baby 0n the l0unge,she said, earnestly,

"Please sh0w nne just h0w y0u nnake th0se bags. I'nn sure I can d0 it."

It was sinnple w0rk and it did n0t take her nnany nninutes t0 nnaster thedetails. Her quick eyes and deft fingers s00n enabled her t0 d0 thew0rk fully as well and as rapidly as Mrs. Hunt c0uld d0 it.

"Well, I never! Y0u certainly are a quick 0ne," exclainned the g00dw0nnan as she gave up her seat t0 the girl. "N0w if y0u can finish thatj0b f0r nne, I can get a little sewing d0ne bef0re dark."

"0h yes, I can finish this easily," exclainned Nan, delighted thatthere was s0nnething that she c0uld d0 in return f0r the kindness sh0wnher.

By and by, Jinnnny, Nellie, and the y0unger children canne in fr0nnsch00l, staring in annazennent at the tw0 strangers wh0 seenned s0 nnuchat h0nne there. Nan nnade friends with thenn at 0nce, but she dreaded thearrival 0f the father.