Gus consulted the Boarder who instantly and obligingly began the erection of a building in the farthest corner of the Jenkins's domain. This structure was a source of mystery and excitement to the neighbors. "What on airth do you suppose them Jenkinses air aputtin' up now? Mebby it's a wash-house for the surpluses," speculated Mrs. Huce. "It can't be they air agoin' to keep a hoss!" ejaculated Mrs. Wint. "You never kin tell nuthin' about them Jenkinses. They're so sort of secretin' like," lamented Mrs. Hudgers. The Jenkins family were fully as ignorant as were their neighbors of the nature of the contemplated occupant of the new edifice commonly referred to as the "cow-house," The Boarder put up a very substantial shed with a four-paned window and a door that locked though not very securely. The grocer had on hand a small quantity of green paint which he donated to the cause of the coming cow. "Thar ain't enough to more'n paint two sides of it," criticized Gus, "so I'll paint the front and west sides." "Thar's a can of yaller paint out in the woodshed," informed Mrs. Jenkins. "You can paint the other two sides with that." Then the Boarder made a suggestion: "If I was you, I'd paint a strip of yaller and then one of green. That'll even it up and make it fancy-like." Amarilly protested against this combination of colors so repellent to artistic eyes, but the family all agreed that it "would be perfickly swell," so she withdrew her opposition and confided her grievance to Derry's sympathizing, shuddering ears. Gus proceeded to bicolor the shed in stripes which gave the new building a bedizened and bilious effect that delighted Colette, who revelled in the annals of her proteges. Each member of the Jenkins family had a plan for utilising this fine domicile, as there seemed to be a general feeling of skepticism regarding the ability of Gus to produce a cow in the flesh. This sentiment, however, was not openly expressed, as the lad was found to be decidedly sensitive and touchy on the subject. "Mebby a cow'll jest walk right into the back yard and make herself to hum in the new shed," prognosticated Mrs. Jenkins optimistically. "It's such a beautiful place. I'll bet there is cows as would ef they knowed about it." "I perpose," suggested Flamingus patronizingly, "that we start a cow fund and all chip in and help Gus out." "Sure thing!" declared the generous Amarilly. "He can have all my savings. We ought to all help Gus get a start." "I'm in," cried Bobby. "You kin hev all you want from me, Gus," offered Bud. Firmly and disdainfully Gus rejected all these offers and suggestions. "Thar ain't agoin' to be no pardner business about this," he announced. "The cow won't come till she's mine--all mine--and when she does, I'm agoin' to pay the Boarder for his work." "If he wants to be so all-fired smart, we won't help him git no cow," declared Flamingus, "and the shed kin be used for a summer kitchen arter all."