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<h3>AN EXCITING MOMENT</h3> "We're just in time," announced Mary, "and here comes the man who sold us the tickets." The crowd drew closer to the high box which served as a platform, as the man stepped upon it. The first thing he did was to open a shoe box, which he had been carrying under his arm. He then requested anyone who wished to step up so as to see that the numbers in the box ran from 1 to 100. Several people examined the slips in the box and seemed satisfied that what he had told them was true. "All right," he continued. "Now will some young lady step up on the platform and draw a number out of this box?" "Isn't it exciting," cried Jerry. "It's so near." Some one lifted a little girl of three or four years up to the platform and the man held the open box before her. "Everyone look at his number—we don't want to be kept waiting," he shouted. Uncle Billy then gave each of the girls one of the tickets he had bought and kept the fourth one himself. At a nod from the man, the little girl stretched out her hand and plunged it down into the box. "Just take one of them out," directed the man and the little tot smilingly obeyed, holding up one of the pieces of cardboard. "Number 97 wins the doll," called the man from the box, as his eyes swept the eager crowd. For a moment there was not a sound, then, "I have it," cried a hearty voice, so close to the girls that it made them jump, and Uncle Billy strode forward to show his number and receive the doll. A roar of laughter went up from the crowd as he placed the doll on his shoulder and started to return to the girls. "Isn't it wonderful," cried Mary in delight. "Oh, I'm so glad he got it," and Jerry jumped up and down in her excitement. "So am I," agreed Beth, "I'm so happy. But what will he do with it?" The crowd disappeared, and after Uncle Billy had joined the girls they found a seat where all could take their time to examine the beautiful new doll. "What will we name her?" inquired Mary, patting the doll's golden curls. "Aren't her eyes beautiful? They're blue like your's, Mary," remarked Jerry. Uncle Billy, who had said nothing up to this time, now drew a letter from his pocket from which he tore three little strips of paper. "I'm going to chance her all over again," he declared. "Each of you take a slip. The shortest wins the doll." "Not I," objected Jerry, "because I've had a balloon ride and I loved it more than anything else. Let Beth and Mary choose." "Oh, that wouldn't be fair," protested Mary. "Yes, it is," agreed Uncle Billy. "I understand. Jerry doesn't want to be selfish." "Well," insisted Beth, "I have the best of all, so I'm not going to draw." "What do you mean?" asked Mary. "Why, can't you guess, my Uncle Billy," laughed Beth. "He's only make believe yours, but he's really mine." Uncle Billy put his arm about her and kissed her happy face. "That's right, too," he said. "Little Beth has me." "Oh, Mary, don't you refuse, too," pleaded Jerry, her eyes shining, "or the poor dear won't have any home." Mary held out her arms to take the doll which Uncle Billy handed to her. "I'll love you always," she whispered, "and Annabel will love you too." "Well, what is her name to be?" asked Uncle Billy, as Mary with her new-found daughter stood before them. "I think," answered Mary, with a smile, holding the doll very close in her arms, "I shall call her 'Elizabeth Geraldine,' for her two aunts." <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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