With Mrs. Frank Costello's booth--raffle of sofa cushion, by Miss
Alanna Costello, twenty-six dollars and thirty-five cents!"

"Oo--would he, Dad?" said Alanna, won to smiles and dimples by this
charming prospect.

"Of course he would!" said her father. "Now go back to your seat,
Machree, and eat your dinner. When Mommer takes you and Tess to the
matinee to-morrow, ask her to bring you in to me first, and you and
I'll step over to Paul's, and pick out a table or a couch, or
something. Eh, Mommie?"

"And what do you say?" said that lady to Alanna, as the radiant
little girl went back to her chair.

Whereupon Alanna breathed a bashful "Thank you, Dad," into the
ruffled yoke of her frock, and the matter was settled.

The next day she trotted beside her father to Paul's big furniture
store, and after long hesitation selected a little desk of shining
brass and dull oak.

"Now," said her father, when they were back in his office, and
Teresa and Mrs. Costello were eager for the matinee, "here's your
book of numbers, Alanna. And here, I'll tie a pencil and a string to
it. Don't lose it. I've given you two hundred numbers at a quarter
each, and mind the minute any one pays for one, you put their name
down on the same line!"

"Oo,--oo!" said Alanna in pride. "Two hundred! That's lots of money,