THE SOUND OF BEATING HOOFS

On Monday morning Mrs. Atterson put her house in the agent's
hands. On Wednesday a pair of spinster ladies came to look at
it. They came again on Thursday and again on Friday.

Friday being considered an "unlucky" day they did not bind the
bargain; but on Saturday money was passed, and the new keepers
of the house were to take possession in a week. Not until
then were the boarders informed of Mother Atterson's change of
circumstances, and the fact that she was going to graduate from
the boarding house kitchen to the farm.

After all, they were sorry--those light-headed, irresponsible
young men. There wasn't one of them, from Crackit down the line,
who could not easily remember some special kindness that marked
the old lady's intercourse with him.

As soon as the fact was announced that the boarding house had
changed hands, the boarders were up in arms. There was a wild
gabble of voices, over the supper table that night. Crackit led
the chorus.

"It's a mean trick. Mother Atterson has sold us like so many
cattle to the highest bidder. Ungrateful--right down ungrateful,
I call it," he declared. "What do you say, Feeble?"

"It is particularly distasteful to me just now," complained the
invalid. "When Sister has learned to give me my hot water at