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“I declare I sha’n’t sleep a wink!”

“The Lord will take care of us,” Father said

“The Lord helps theoodness that money was safe in the bank”

It was already past chore-time, and Almanzo had to hurry to the barn with the milk-pails If cows are not , they will not give so ers and stalls to clean and all the stock to feed It was al was done, and Mother was keeping supper warm

Supper-time was not as cheerful as usual There was a dark, heavy feeling about that money Mother had hidden it in the pantry, then she hid it in the linen-closet After supper sh

e began setting the sponge for toain about thesounds under her spoon, and she was saying:

“It don’t seeh anybody’d think to look between sheets in the closet, but I declare I—What’s that!”

They all jumped They held their breaths and listened

“So round this house!” Mother breathed

All you could see when you looked at the as blackness outside

“Pshaa’n’t anything,” Father said

“I tell you I heard so!”

“I didn’t,” Father said

“Royal,” said Mother, “you go look”

Royal opened the kitchen door and peered into the dark After a minute he said: