scrambling to his feet he put both fists in his eyes and bellowed like a naughty child.  The others kept on marching, but he stood there inconsolable, until Betty, always quick to think, gave him a little shake in passing and held out to him a bright red apple she’d been nibbling.  An ecstatic smile spread over his face, he grabbed the apple, took a big bite, and fell into line just as they all marched off the stage.  So cleverly was it done that the audience decided that the fall had been intentional, and the whole thing a part of the performance, and gave Master Joe an extra salvo of applause when the children returned to make their bows.

As the curtains fell together for the last time, twenty-five girls dressed in white and carrying trays came into the hall.  They wore coquettish little aprons, and large ribbon bows in a variety of color, and suggested butterflies as they flitted among the tables.  One by one the performers, most of them still in costume, slipped out from behind the scenes.

“Is your lemonade good, Uncle Jerry, and are you having a nice time?” asked the Japanese maiden leaning confidingly on Mr. Harper’s shoulder.

“Yes, to both the questions, ‘Yuki-San,’” replied her uncle affectionately.  “But, Ruth,” he was speaking now in a low tone, “I shan’t be really happy until I have my palm read; and perhaps not then,” he finished inaudibly.

Ruth glanced quickly toward the palmist’s tent.  “Miss Burton said she should keep busy while the refreshments were served so as to make as much money as possible.  I’ll see if she can take you now.”

Uncle Jerry watched until he saw Ruth beckon to him.  Then he made his way quickly to the tent, and started in just as Dorothy resumed her position outside as guardian.

“Only five minutes, Mr. Harper,” said Dorothy decidedly.

“Give me ten, Miss Dorothy,” pleaded Uncle Jerry, “and I’ll give you four times the price of admission.  It’s for the good of the cause, you know.”

“For the good of the cause, then,” she answered grudgingly.  “Ten minutes and not an atom more.”

“You’re a terror, Dolly,” laughed Ruth, slipping into the chair beside her.  “How can you be so severe with my beloved Uncle Jerry?”

Dorothy’s answer was slow in coming, and Ruth went on happily without waiting.  “Don’t you think we’ve made a big success?  Everything’s sold except two or three boxes of candy and a loaf or two of cake.  And Marie’s perfectly radiant because several people have given her orders for lace and embroidery.”

Dorothy was holding her watch in her hand and almost counting each second as it ticked away.  “Eight and a half,” she murmured.  “Why, yes, I do think it’s a success, and won’t it be fun when we can take the money over to Mrs. Perrier’s and surprise Marie?  Time’s up, Mr. Harper,” she added with cruel promptness, and Uncle Jerry, fearing the invasion of other applicants, didn’t dare to disobey.