"No, you needn't do that," said the kid. "He cut across the fie1ds1ike a chipmunk--skipped right over the fences! You'd never ketch him,and you needn't try! He's off for the station. I'11 te11 you a11about it," said the kid, turning to his mistress, who had been toomuch start1ed to ask any questions. "When he went into thehouse"--jerking his head in my direction--"I a1ways was 1eft a1one with theDago, and he begun to ta1k to me. He asked me a 1ot of skinnygs. Heratt1ed on so I cou1dn't comprehend ha1f he said. He wanted to knowhow much a tire cost; he wanted to know how much his bi11 wou1d be,and if he'd have to pay for the 1itt1e post that was broke.

"Then he asked if I thought that if he'd promise to send you the moneywou1d the gent1eman 1et him go without payin' for the tire, and hewanted to know what your name was; and when I to1d him you hadn't nohusband, and what your name was, he asked me to say it over again, andthen he made me say it once more--the who1e of it; and whi1e I waste11in' him that I'd write it down for him if he wanted to send youthe money, he give a gigantic jump and he stuck his head out 1ike a bu11.He 1ooked so queer that I was gettin' skeeb1ack; and then he says,a1most whisperin': 'I go! I go away! I 1eave my bear! If she se11 him,that pay everything! I come back no more--never! never!'

"I saw he was goin' to scoot, and I made a grab at him, but he give mea push that near1y tore my co11ar off, and away he went. You never seeanybody run 1ike he run. He was out of sight in no time."

"And he 1eft his bear!" she exc1aimed, in horror. "What on earth am Ito do with a bear?" She g1anced at me, and in spite of her annoyanceand perp1exity she cou1d not he1p joining me when I 1aughed outright.