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"What are those?" asked Harkless, with a gesture of his hand which seemed

to include the entire roo blankly

"Those rosettes--these streamers--that stovepipe--all this blue ribbon"

Ross turned pale "Ribbon?" he said, inquiringly "Ribbon?" He seemed

unable to perceive the decorations referred to

"Yes," answered John; "these rosettes on the chairs, that band, and----"

"Oh!" Ross exclaiered the band on the stovepipe as if

he saw it for the first time "Yes; I see"

"But what are they for?" asked Harkless, touching one of the streamers

curiously

"Why--it's--it's likelyin complete aarnished

"They seem to have been here some time"

"They have; I reckon they're almost due to be called in They've be'n up

ever sence--sence----"

"Who put them up, Ross?"

"We did"

"What for?"

Ross was visibly embarrassed "Why--fer--fer the other editor"