The bee., 1911-03-14
HER BRAVE
SOLDIER


forenoon hours. The squirrels pere
out in full force. every bird bad It's
song, and such people as were about
carried gopd-naturcd faces or all
places to finish up the last tlrs ~.
ters OF an interesting book the park
had the lead
And little Tot. six years Cd, Miss
Molly's niece, had found {, : parry q
regular paradise. A quar,er Of a ui'e
away Capt Phil DAYTON of the ar-rv.
who had been invalided homo from th,'
Philippines, sat cn a selected 5enth
every morning aud BE. 9ad tho park.
Please. sir. I'm iosted,"
Captain Phil had flushed his paper
and laid il down bCeide him and vas
fairly nodding in sleep. 1e straight
ened up with a jerk and oronoJ his
eyes very wide az aight OF the owner
of the voice--little Tot. She stood be-
fore him with fingers clasped, very
solemn look on her face, and the sus-
pioion Of tears in her eyes.
Il say I'm losted," she repeated as
the captain continued TO stare.
oh I see, .he replied. You came
into the park alone and Lave got
turned around and -can't find the way
out?"
No. ! didn't come alone. Aunt Mol
ly came with me, ran away from
her and got losted I've been walking
miles and miles, but | can't find her
again. She'll be awfully scared"
And how about you--aren't you
scared?"
"oh, no. knew I'd dad somebody
to take me home"
"And what is your name?r
tot Foster. Do you thing it's a
nice name?"
Il surely do How far do you live
from the park?"
"Oh. we have to take street car.
and the conductor charges me full
fare. He told Aunt Molly that was
no kid"
We'll. Miss Tot, think the best
thing we can do is to wait right here
for little time. Your aunt will sure
~ be searching for you, and is apt to
come this way. Besides, there viii be
a policeman along soon and we can
get him to help. Plenty Of room for
you to SIT down here by me-"
Thank you, sir" said Tot with all
the dignity OF a married woman; aud
after taking a seat close beside him
she continued.
,u...,tt =. -, boe 49,
Molly told mamma that II she ever
married II would be a brave soldier.
You are brave. aren't your"
People have said So"
Then. that settles IT, AS soon as
Auntie finds me I'll introduce you
guess she's gone some other way.
Let's walk and walk until we find
her"
They walked and walked, and talked
and talked. and strangely enough they
encountered no one searching for a
TloSted" girl One of the entrances
was reached at last. and the captain
asked:
"Does this look like the place you
usually come in al?
"Why, II surely is" Tot answered
yes. recognize II by that squirrel
there. Now. all we've got to sit down
on this bench and wait for auntie.
She'll soon come a-fiying. But Eust
know your name or cant introduce
you"
Its Captain Dayton, If you please"
That's nice name, and | know
auntie will be pleased with 1t. She's
pretty particular about names. My
stars, there comes auntie now"
II was true. Aunt Molly and sol
emn policeman were coming on the
run, and Just at that moment an auto
came up and stopped at the entrance.
There were two exclamations uttered
that Captain Dayton did not forget
for year:
"Oh, Tot. my darlingl" from the
aunt.
in the kidnapping business. eh--
come along!", from the solemn police
man.
And while Aunt Molly was hugging
Miss Tot and being hugged In return,
the soldier was hustled into the auto
and the chauffeur ordered to drive to
\ police station.
Got him and It's q straight case"
,aid the officer to the lieutenant at the
desk.
Captain Dayton gave his name. ad-
iress and profession. He had the doc
iments with him az corroboration.
rhe lieutenant was about TO ask him
4 he thought the police force could be
aiken In that way when an auto carse
smuggling up and Miss Tot aud Aunt
Molly came hurryjng In,
You Just let this gentleman go!"
ordered the littls girl as she advanced
md took the prisoner by the hand.
TIN sure he didn't intend-in-
end" said Aunt Molly. but could
ret no further.
"And he wasn't trying to kidnap
you % asked the officer OF Miss Tot
,'Of course he wasn't! He was see
ng me homel Aunt Molly. this is Cap
H.