29.

"Humph", snorted Mr. Brown, "dress him up in skirts and ribbons I suppose".

Suddenly Mrs. Brown shrieked again, but this time happily, "That's it, Bruce, that's it". She flung her arms around her startled husband gushing, "oh, I'm so happy you thought of a way out."

Bruce felt flatteree at being so complimented but didn't know exactly what for--"you mean"---, he put forth tentatively?

"Yes, of course, for the two weeks Aunt Marian is here we'll dress Butch up like a girl and let Aunt Marian continue to believe he is one."

Bruce rubbed his chin reflectively, being dubious of his brilliant idea. "Butch isn't going to like this, and I can't say as I blame him."

Mrs. Brown's eyes snapped, "It makes no difference whether he likes it or not, he's go to do it to save our home. Why Aunt Marian could actually take it away from us if she wanted to." This thought made Mr. Brown nervous.

Butch Brown came home from the baseball game quite exhuberant for the home team had finally won in the 9th inning. Butch was quite a sports fan as well as an active participant in everything in season. There was nothing girlish about him anymore than there is in any handsome youth of average size and 14 years. Quite naturally he did not accept the fantastic story wabout what he must do to please Aunt Marian. In fact, it was a long time before he was finally convineed of the seriousness of the situation through his mother's tears and his father's arm waving. He finally gave in under such pressure, but viewed the whole thing with alarm a few minutes later when his mother seated him and began working on his hair with a curling iron. He had had a rather long pompadour but when she finished there were little curls sticking out all over his head. He didnt like it a bit, but his parents were satis- fied. A wig would be much more satisfactory his father said, but as Aunt Marian will be here tomorrow there isn't time to buy one.