She crept softly up stairs and stealthily opened the door of her neighbor's room without knocking. Once in the room, she looked cautiously toward the bed. Grace had her face turned toward the wall and was in a light slumber. "Heaven be praised!" thought Mrs. Marlow. She walked on tiptoe to the bureau and opened the upper drawer. There was the purse! Mrs. Rollins had gone out in such a hurry that she had not thought to take it. Mrs. Marlow took it hurriedly and dropped it into her capacious pocket. Before she could leave the room Grace woke, and turning her head saw her. "What's the matter, Mrs. Marlow? Why are you here?" she asked, in a startled voice. "Drat the child!" muttered Mrs. Marlow, under her breath. Then aloud, "I thought you was asleep, my dear, and I didn't want to disturb you." "But why are you here? Where is my mother?" "She went out in a hurry like as if she had heard bad news. I saw her go out, and thought you might want something. So I came up, but I didn't want to disturb you." Grace was surprised. It was not like Mrs. Marlow to be so thoughtful and considerate. "No," she said, "I don't want anything--except my mother." "She won't be gone long, my dear." "Did she say anything to you when she went out?" "No; but I saw a telegraph boy come upstairs with a message like, and she went out directly afterwards." "I wish I knew what she went out for." "You'll know soon. I must hurry back now, for my kettle will be bilin'." Once in her own room Mrs. Marlow opened the purse, after she had locked the door. Her delight at discovering the gold piece was great. "And it's a gold piece you've got, Mrs. Rollins!" she exclaimed. "Sure you're in luck, Maggie Marlow, for once in your life. It's ten dollars, as sure as you live. And I might be passin' it off for a quarter. I'll have to get it changed quick." Mrs. Rollins had taken a dollar in silver, but there was a dollar and a half left besides the gold piece. After she got into her own room it occurred to her that she might have hunted up the basket of provisions and helped herself from what was left. "But it don't matter," she reflected. "With all this money I can buy what I like." She put on her bonnet and shawl, and going down stairs went to the nearest grocery store. "What can I do for you, Mrs. Marlow?" asked the grocer. "You may give me a pound of tea, a pound of butter, a pound of sugar and a loaf of bread," answered Mrs. Marlow, volubly. "Are you sure you've got money enough to pay for them?" asked the grocer, doubtfully. "Yes, and more, too." Upon this assurance the articles were put up, and Mrs. Marlow passed over the gold eagle. "A ten-dollar gold piece!" exclaimed the grocer, in surprise. "And where did you get so much money? Have you come into a fortune?" "Sure it was given me by a cousin of my husband--he's a rich man, and lives uptown. It isn't often he thinks of me, but he opened his heart this time."