The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-02-18

Sn@A% me because his
0nON mother had head
A.~~~~ ache. In the five and
SEOKY ten, another child
asked him to come
downstairs and see the big tank of
goldfish. The crowd had swallowed
them in an instant. l succeeded in
catching the children but lost my
pocketbook. So distracted I couldn't
think what to do, 1 was telling the
toy-counter girl that l hadn't even
carfare, and knew no one in town,
when little lady beside me said:
I have 20 cents. You shall have
half for l need only TO-
''Think of that, Vim, from
stranger. She was the dearest thing,
and l loved her, but I forgot to ask
her name and address. Later, when
I received my pocketbook at the
lost and found desk, the little lady
had disappeared. Do you suppose
a notice in the personal column
would find her? I'd like to thank
her properly. You know Rosalie,
the maid, walked out on me-"
"You need companionship as well
as help" said Vim. 81 was hoping
Aunt Nan would come this winter.
But mother writes that Aunt Nan
overheard Jacks wife and Dicks
wife arguing who could better have
her for the winter She disappeared,
leaving word that she could take
care of herself. The boys are crazy
and their wives are repentant, but
they can't find her. Here's the let
ter, and one from Jack, too, asking
me to follow some clues here"
''Too bad" said Carol sorrowful-
ly. $50 many hurt feelings!"
SILLY girls!' said Vim fervently.
"Aunt Nan is the salt of the earth,
but they think she's old-fashioned.
Of all the feather-headed females"
"Vin," said Carol suddenly. ga
pound Of my best pinoche against
a box of chocolates that find Aunt
Nan first"
Got a bunch, Mrs. Sherlock"
asked Vim shrewdly. cts trade"
Carol had a bunch indeed. The
little lady in the ten-cent store had
had two tiny curls, one on each
side, just above the collar of her
gray coat-such curls as Vim had
often told her Aunt Nan wore.
Scanning the columns of "Situa-
FL -,
place the recreant Rosalie, she read
with interest and subsequent enthu-
siasm the following bit:
"Old-fashioned country pies, cook
les and doughnuts made in your
own kitchen. Will cook and serve
a wholesome meal. Hour or day.
w. D. East, Wayland street. Tel
ephone 3296-W."
''The great Mrs. Sherlock has a
second hunch," Carol declared
aloud to the quiet room.
The very help she needed, too, for
Mrs. Vaughn, that dear, great lady,
who had room in her heart for the
little country girl, wife of her hus-
bands confidential man, was COM
ing to dinner. A telephone call to
w. D. East resulted in an arrange
ment for Wednesday night dinner.
Opening the door to her new help
er, on Wednesday, she uttered a
cry of pleasure. 1t was the friend
ly little lady of the 10-cent store.
Carol was sure it was also Aunt Nan.
Mrs. Vaughn's ring came before
Vincent's. He was close behind her,
to Carols surprise, ushering in as
guests his Cousin Jack and wife,
Nell, come to the city on business.
Carol could guess what the bust
ness might be.
With an eye on Vim, she drew
back the curtain separating dining
room from living-room, revealing
Mrs. East busy about the table. Vim,
glancing that way, uttered an
astonished exclamation:
"Aunt Nan! Carol, where did you
find her?"
Mrs. East turned quickly. Nell
stood silent, Jack gasped, "Moth-
er!" and Mrs. Vaughn unconscious
ly saved the situation by crossing
the room to take Aunt Nan by
both shoulders.
Nancy Raymond, 1 should know
those curls anywhere, in spite of
the years. Remember the April
Fool pie with the sawdust filling,
when John Payne and Jerry Vaughn
came to supper?"
Amid much talk and laughter they
gathered at the table.
II was adventuring in the great
city," explained Aunt Nan. 81 have
supported myself very comfortably
as w. D. East-which means Way
Down East"
"Jack and l came to find you,
mother" said Nell. sour house is
always home and your roora is wait
ing" .
-"Aunt Nan is going to spend the
winter with us" interposed Vim.
'We want her-and need her"
Surely, if Pm needed" agreed
Aunt Nan.
Vim was gone when Carol awoke
the next morning. On the dining
table was a generous box of choco-
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