like--robin's egg blue fever for all I care."

"But, my darling, I can't be having those things! You know I don't
believe in them this year, since I became a--oh, it wouldn't do at all
for Me. But You could have it because You believe in diseases."

"You bet I do, and I believe you've got softening of the brain." He
paced the floor in an effort to keep up with his temper. Eventually he
stopped short. He remembered that his son had failed to help the
family out in its distress. He said:

"Let Ulie have something."




XI

GANG AGLEY AGAIN

Mrs. Budlong felt a certain superstitious uneasiness, but was finally
won over, and Ulie was unanimously elected the scapegoat--or in more
modern form, the goat.

Ulie was in bed at the time sleeping like an innocent cherub and
smiling in his sleep. He was dreaming of a great invention: he would
set a figure-4 trap near his fireplace and snare Santa Claus by the
foot. Then from a safe ambush under the bed, he would assail the old
gentleman with his nigger-shooter till he laid him low, whereupon he
could rifle the entire pack at his leisure, and select what he