The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-08-02
ROCKY AND XII!
BY AGNES G. BROGAN.

Homer st. Clair. bachelor and au-
thor, left the apartment house because
he detested children and the landlord
insisted upon receiving them there.
Homer had name to make for him.
seIf-Or rather to keep--for his fame
as writer was now assured.
Somebody's baby, crying Justify
upon an opposite side of the wall, was
not an incentive to genius. So HON.
or had been for some time comfort
ably established In charming bunga-
low, with his widowed sister as his
housckeeper, and acknowledgement
of this he was unaware-as his mani
oyer.
Mrs. Blair likewise detested chill
dren; their hands were usually dirty,
and they possessed weakness for
strewing crumbs, where crumbs should
never be.
So into this satisfactory childless
home came like thunderbolt Rock
well Brant's letter. Rockwell had
been a college chum of Homer's, and
In years past he had been Instrument
al in many ways in helping his lit
erary friend OH to his career.
Rockwell was still young; the au-
thor reflected, what marriage and care
may do to n man Rockwell wrote
now to say that he was sending his
young son to the old home town In or
der to have n certain reputable doctor
there look the boy over. Roeky's
spine was not strong. his father wrote.
The boys mother being dead. and
no relatives to send him to, for the
week or so 1t would be necessary TO
keep him in the city, Rockwell had
remembered his good old chum," and
WINS entrusting the boy to his care.
HE won't go without his close com
panion." Rockwell further added, $50
Kit (you remember my elder sisters
child?), will go with him. | trust
they will not greatly Inconvenience
you, old chap, and I'll be eternally
grateful"
When Homer finished the letter he
ter Mrs. Blair gave it back to him
codly.
81 suppose for the sake Of your
pact we must live through 1t, she
said. kit and Rocky! The names of
the two would Indicate what sort of
imps we shall have to contend with"
Rockwell had given little time Cor
refusing his request. The train.
Homer found. had already stopped,
and gone again on its way. On the
small suburban platform remained
bur one passenger. Homer settled his
irreproachable cravat as he looked nj
her. She was as lovely young wom-
an as the proverbial "sprlng morning.
Curiousiv she glanced at him and
then she smiled,
slave you," she asked, "seen lit
tie boy around here?"
81 have not" Homer responded. Tie
seated himself patiently. Encouraged
by something in her glinting blue eyes,
he added:
II came to meet small boy my
self. He and a little girl companion
should have arrived by that last train.
You saw nothing of two childreng
The lovely one shook her head.
81 told Rocky" she unused in
troubled tone, Ito so no further than
the candy counter in the station, but
he has eludad me-"
"Rocky!" the man gasped "coUld
you possibly refer to Rocky BraM
the boy whom l am expecting"
The young woman's eyes widencd.
"You must be Mr.. ST. Clair" she
said. mfr Braut wrote instructing
me to see that Rocky reached your
home safely"
Homer leaned forward.
"You know the boy then?" he asked
"Does he-er-inher'
1t his fathers adventurous spirit?"
"Rocky's latest adventure" the
young woman replied. was climbing
into waiting automobile and starting
its engine. He is too young. OF
course, to understand automobiles, but
with his usual uncanny cleverness he
succeeded in stopping the car,
Homer st. Clair turned pale.
"And the girl" he asked hreathless-
ly, his companion, Kit; is she a lit
tie devil tour
"As ! recall tho child. Kit" the
young wt.nnu answered "she was ex-
actly what you express" She smiled.
81 am remembering one occasion
when she traced her arnt's valuable
pet dog TO a strange little girl for a
small pink parasol."
"And those two are coming to stay
in my house !" said the man despond-
emily.
"Oh! 1t may turn out better than
you think" she cheerfully suggested.
Just then, tearing down the plat