make me another cap when I can lay aside enough for the
material."

"Make several," Mercedes advised. "I'll sell them for you,
keeping, of course, a small commission for my services. I can
give you six dollars apiece for them. We will consult about them.
The profit will more than provide material for your own."



CHAPTER V

Four eventful things happened in the course of the winter. Bert
and Mary got married and rented a cottage in the neighborhood
three blocks away. Billy's wages were cut, along with the wages
of all the teamsters in Oakland. Billy took up shaving with a
safety razor. And, finally, Saxon was proven a false prophet and
Sarah a true one.

Saxon made up her mind, beyond any doubt, ere she confided the
news to Billy. At first, while still suspecting, she had felt a
frightened sinking of the heart and fear of the unknown and
unexperienced. Then had come economic fear, as she contemplated
the increased expense entailed. But by the time she had made
surety doubly sure, all was swept away before a wave of
passionate gladness. HERS AND BILLY'S! The phrase was continually
in her mind, and each recurrent thought of it brought an actual
physical pleasure-pang to her heart.

The night she told the news to Billy, he withheld his own news of