Cora was perplexed. She wanted to save more trouble, yet she did not feel it "fair" to give in to the woman. "Your berries are spoiling in the fields now," she suggested. "Why don't you give in, and let the boys go back to work?" "Me give in to a pack of kids!" shouted the enraged woman. "She is always sour on Andy because his mother won't do her dirty washing," explained the German boy. "My mother is sick--and she can't wash," sobbed the unfortunate Andy. "Yep, and that money of his'n was for her, too," put in Skip. At this point another figure sauntered down from the house. "There comes Mrs. Blazes!" put in Narrow. "She couldn't miss the show." The woman who came down the path sent on before her the rather overpowering odor of badly mixed perfumes. "Look at her sparklers," whispered a boy to Cora, "that's why we call her 'Blazes.'" A black lace scarf was over the woman's head and now the "sparklers," or diamonds that she wore, in evident flashy taste, could be seen at her throat, and on her fingers. Bess smiled to Belle, and Cora turned to the boys. "We must finish up this business," she said. "It is getting late, and we have to go to Chelton." "Go ahead!" called the urchins. "Fork out Andy's sticks," shouted some others. "What is the crate worth?" asked Cora. "It was worth three dollars and seventy-five cents," said the woman, "before that scamp deliberately set in it." Cora did not intend to argue. "Then if the berries are bought you will give the boy his tallies?" she pressed. "Of course," drawled the woman, beginning to see Cora's intentions. "He's not goin' to pay fer them!" interrupted Narrow. "What does she take us for?" "Hush!" commanded Cora. "Just give the boy his sticks, Mrs. Ramsy, and I'll attend to the rest." "What'll I give him the tallies for when he owes me more than they're worth?" "To satisfy the boys," demanded Cora. "I will take that crate of berries. They will suit me as well as any others." Seeing herself beaten, the farm woman handed the tally-sticks to Cora, who put out her hand to take them. "Now, you boys carry that crate down to the big machine in the roadway," she said, "and I will pay Mrs. Ramsy!" A wild shout went up from the boys! The woman had been beaten! She had not sold but the one crate of berries! And that was the one she demanded Andy should pay for! Cora winked at Bess and Belle and the girls understood perfectly what she meant. "Don't the other young ladies want any?" asked the woman. "You said two crates!" "But we haven't time now to stop longer," said Cora. "We can come again, when the sun will not be so hot. Then we may have a better choice." It was Andy who helped Narrow carry the crate to the _Whirlwind_. "Thank you, miss," he said, "I was almost sick. And mother expected the money to-night."