going to be dreadfully hard. "I wish some fairy would come along and transport us all to Hillcrest Farm in the twinkling of an eye," said Lyddy to herself. "I--I'd rather starve out there than live as we have for the past three months here." She went to the door of the flat just as somebody tapped gently on the panel. A poorly dressed Jewish man stood hesitating on the threshold. "I'm sorry," said Lyddy, hastily; "but we had trouble here last night--a fire. I can't cook anything, and really haven't a thing to give----" Her mother had boasted that she had never turned away a beggar hungry from her door, and the oldest Bray girl always tried to feed the deserving. The man shook his head eagerly. "You ain't de idee got, lady," he said. "I know dere vas a fire. I foller de fires, lady." "You follow the fires?" returned Lyddy, in wonder. "Yes, lady. Don'dt you vant to sell de house-holdt furnishings? I pay de highest mar-r-ket brice for 'em. Yes, lady--I pay cash." "Why--why----" "You vas nodt insured--yes?" "No," admitted Lyddy. "Den I bay you cash for de goots undt you go undt puy new--ain'dt it?" But Lyddy wasn't thinking of buying new furniture--not at all. She opened the door wider. "Come in and look," she invited. "What will you pay?" "Clodings, too?" he asked, shrewdly. "No, no! We will keep the clothing, bedding and kitchenware, and the like. Just the furniture." The man went through the flat quickly, but his bright, beady eyes missed nothing. Finally he said: "I gif you fifteen tollar, lady." "Oh, no! that is too little," gasped Lyddy. She had begun to figure mentally what it would cost to replace even the poor little things they had. And yet, if she could get any fair price for the goods she was almost tempted to sell out. "Lady! believe me, I make a goot offer," declared the man. "But I must make it a profit--no?" "I couldn't sell for so little." "How much you vant, den?" he asked shrewdly. "Oh! a great deal more than that. Ten dollars more, at least." "Twenty-fife tollars!" he cried, wringing his hands. "Belief me, lady, I shouldt be shtuck!" His use of English would have amused Lyddy at another time; but the girl's mind was set upon something more important. If she only _could_ get enough money together to carry them all to Hillcrest Farm--and to keep them going for a while! "Fifteen dollars would not do me much good, I am afraid," the girl said. "Oh, lady! you could buy a whole new house-furnishings mit so much money down--undt pay for de rest on de installment." "No," replied Lyddy, firmly. "I want to get away from here altogether. I want to get out into the country. My father is sick; we had to send him to the hospital last night." The second-hand man shook his head. "You vas a kindt-hearted lady," he said, with less of his 

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