“Never mind, dear,” replied Cissy cheerfully. “So'll YOUR popper some day. I'm goin' to get mine to let YOUR popper into something--Ditch stocks and such. Yes! True, O King! Popper'll do anything for me,” she added a little loftily. Loyal as Piney was to her friend, she was by no means convinced of this. She knew the difference between the two men, and had a vivid recollection of hearing her own father express his opinion of Cissy's respected parent as a “Gold Shark” and “Quartz Miner Crusher.” It did not, however, affect her friendship for Cissy. She only said, “Let's come!” caught Cissy around the waist, pranced with her out into the veranda, and gasped, out of breath, “Where are we goin' first?” “Down Main Street,” said Cissy promptly. “And let's stop at Markham's store. They've got some new things in from Sacramento,” added Piney. “Country styles,” returned Cissy, with a supercilious air. “No! Besides, Markham's head clerk is gettin' too presumptuous. Just guess! He asked me, while I was buyin' something, if I enjoyed the dance last Monday!” “But you danced with him,” said the simple Piney, in astonishment. “But not in his store among his customers,” said Cissy sapiently. “No! we're going down Main Street past Secamps'. Those Secamp girls are sure to be at their windows, looking out. This hat will just turn 'em green--greener than ever.” “You're just horrid, Ciss!” said Piney, with admiration. “And then,” continued Cissy, “we'll just sail down past the new block to the parson's and make a call.” “Oh, I see,” said Piney archly. “It'll be just about the time when the new engineer of the mill works has a clean shirt on, and is smoking his cigyar before the office.” Cissy tossed her hat disdainfully. “Much anybody cares whether he's there or not! I haven't forgotten how he showed us over the mill the other day in a pair of overalls, just like a workman.” “But they say he's awfully smart and well educated, and needn't work, and I'm sure it's very nice of him to dress just like the other men when he's with 'em,” urged Piney. “Bah! That was just to show that he didn't care what we thought of him, he's that conceited! And it wasn't respectful, considering one of the directors was there, all dressed up. Don't tell me! You can see it in his eye, looking you over without blinking and then turning away as if he'd got enough of you. He makes me tired.”