The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1911-02-01
HER BRAVE
SOLDIER

park delightful place In the early
forepoon hours, The squirrels were,
out In full force, every bird had its
song. and such people az were about
carried good-natured faces. OF all
places to finish up the last three chap
ters OF an interesting book the park
had the lead. @s
And little Tot, six years old, Miss
Molly's niece. had found the park
regular paradise. quarter Of q mile
away Cant. Phil Dayton of the army,
who had been invs!,ded home from the
Philippines, sat on selected bench
every morning and blessed the park.
Please. sir. I'm losted!"
Captain Phil had finished his paper
and laid 1t down beside him and was
fairly nodding In sleep. He straight
ened up with jerk and opened his
eyes very wide at sight ''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-
picion OF tears in her eyes.
Il say I'm losted," she repeated an
the captain continued to stare.
oh, l see." he replied. "You came
into the park alone and have got
turned around and can't find the way
out?'
mo, didn't come alone. Aunt Mol.
ly came with me. l ran away from
her and got losted I've been walking
miles and miles, but l can't find her
again. She'll be awfully scared"
And how about you-aren't you
scared?"
"Oh, no. l knew I'd find somebody
to take me home"
And what is your name?"
rot Foster. Do you thing it's
nice name?"
Il surely do. How far do you live
from the park?"
oh, we have to take a 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 ia to wait right here
for little time. Your aunt will sure
ly be searching for you, and is apt to
come this way. Besides, there will be
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 married woman; and
after taking a seat close beside him
she continued.
1T wasn't a week ago that Aunt
Molly told mamma that II she ever
married 1t would be brave soldier.
You are brave, aren't you?"
People have said So"
Then that settles 1t. 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
"losted" girl. One of the entrances
was reached at last and the captain
asked:
Does this look like the place you
usually come in at?"
why. it surely is" Tot answered.
yes, recognize it by that squirrel
there Nov, all we've got to sit down
on this bench and wait for auntie
She'll soon come a-fiying, But must
know your name or can't introduce
you"
"I's Captain Dayton, If Won please"
That's 4 nice name. and / know
auntic will he pleased with it She's
pretty particular about names. My
stars, there comes auntie now"
1t was true. Aunt Molly and a sol
emn policeman We're 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 a year:
"Oh. Tot, my darling!" from the
half.distracted 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 straight case"
said the oflccr to the lieutenant at the
desk
Captain Dayton gave his name, ad'
dress and profession, He had the doc.
uments with him as confederation.
The lieutenant was about to ask him
II he thought the police force could he
taken in that way when an auto came
chugging up and Miss Tot and Aunt
Molly came hurrying in.
"You just let this gentleman go!
ordered the little girl as she advanced