Page:Chetyates00yateiala.pdf/213

 Five minutes after, while Uncle Rob was helping one of the high-school girls to choose a novel, in came the man again, out of breath and his face red. "This ain't right," he said, holding out the roll.

Uncle Rob saw that it hadn't been undone; for he recognized his style of wrapping. "What's the matter with it?" he asked.

T ain't right," said the man. "The lady over there," and he pointed the roll at the cashier, "said something about a widder without dower, and there ain't no widder in the deal."

The cashier's jaw dropped. "I—I—" she began; but I was at her elbow.

With-or-without-dower,'—'widder without dower, I mimicked. Down went her head onto the desk, and I stuffed my handkerchief into my mouth.

Uncle Rob saw the point right off, and I never in my life saw any one make such a heroic effort not to laugh. I thought fora moment that it would come out in spite of all he could do; but I hoped it wouldn't; for the man was so uncomfortable already. Uncle Rob closed his eyes for just a second,—it wasn't more than a mere