3. Drain; cover with boiling water; add 1 tablespoon salt. 4. Let boil about 35 minutes, or until a fork will easily pierce the largest. 5. Drain off all the water, and set pan at back of stove to dry off the potatoes. 6. Serve in their jackets. [Illustration: Jacket boiled potatoes] "I wonder how many Billy will eat," she thought, as she brought the basket. "I guess about--about--I don't know. He has an e-nor-mous appetite. I guess I'll cook a hundred." "He'll never eat a hundred!" [Illustration: "He'll never eat a hundred."] Mary Frances looked around. Boiler Pan was climbing down from the closet shelf. "Hello! How do you know?" asked Mary Frances. "You never saw him eat." "Hear that! Hear that!" cried Boiler Pan. "As though I hadn't cooked potatoes before you were born. Eat a hundred? Why, I can't hold a hundred--so there!" "Ho, ho!" said Mary Frances, "that must be so. How many can you hold?" "Oh, about thirty, I guess," swelling with pride. "Well," said Mary Frances, "you've no notion how many that boy can eat, and there isn't much else for lunch. I guess I'll cook about twelve,"--and counting them out, she began to wash them. "Be sure to get all the sand out of their eyes," laughed Boiler Pan. "But first, will you help me jump up on the stove, and fill me?--then I can boil while you're 'ringing' the potatoes." This done, he was very quiet, while she finished the potatoes. Just then the clock struck eleven. [Illustration: The clock struck eleven.] "Why, I must hurry," exclaimed Mary Frances. "I'm ready," bubbled Boiler Pan. "Oh, yes, I'm coming," and she dropped the potatoes in one by one. "Now, put on my hat," said Boiler Pan, and Mary Frances put on the lid. "Are they all right?" asked the little girl. [Illustration: Swelling with pride.] "All right!" he answered in a muffled voice. Mary Frances then went in the dining-room, and busied herself about setting the table. Soon, she heard a "rumpus" in the kitchen. She ran out. Bubbles were sputtering over the sides of Boiler Pan, and the lid was dancing a jig. "What shall I do? What shall I do?" cried Mary Frances, jumping up and down. "This hat's crazy! Take it off, quick!" Boiler Pan besought her. Without thinking, she seized the lid with her fingers, but dropped it with a cry of pain. "I'm scalded, I'm scalded," she sobbed. "What will I do for it?" and she ran for some cold water. "Don't do that, child," said Aunty Rolling Pin. "Butter it and then powder it with baking soda the way your mother does." [Illustration: "Don't do that child."] "I'm so sorry," said Boiler Pan, "but I really couldn't get my old hat off. I should have told you to take a holder." [Illustration: "This hat's crazy!"] "Never mind, it's better now. Those potatoes must be done. Yes," as she tried them with a fork, "even the biggest is done in the middle. I'm so glad, for I expect that boy any minute."