and a brown skin, for she never wore a hat.
She raced all over town on one roller skate,
often cheated at "keeps," but was such a
quick shot one couldn't catch her at it.

The grown-up daughter, Frances, was a
very important person in our world. She was
her father's chief clerk, and virtually managed
his Black Hawk office during his frequent ab-
sences. Because of her unusual business abil-
ity, he was stern and exacting with her. He
paid her a good salary, but she had few holi-
days and never got away from her responsi-
bilities. Even on Sundays she went to the
office to open the mail and read the markets.
With Charley, who was not interested in busi-
ness, but was already preparing for Annapolis,
Mr. Harling was very indulgent; bought him
guns and tools and electric batteries, and
never asked what he did with them.

Frances was dark, like her father, and quite
as tall. In winter she wore a sealskin coat
and cap, and she and Mr. Harling used to walk
home together in the evening, talking about
grain cars and cattle, like two men. Some-
times she came over to see grandfather after
supper, and her visits flattered him. More
than once they put their wits together to

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