nging from the bars under the lantern. But she
was accomplished in other ways. She could spin tops, play "cat" and
"shinney" as well as any of the boys. And as for jumping rope--if two
little girls would swing for her, Rosie could actually waltz in the
rope.

The strangest thing about Rosie was that she did not always go to
school like the other children. The incident of the dog happened on
Thursday. Friday morning, when the children filed into the
schoolhouse, Rosie did not follow them. Instead, she hid herself in
a doorway until after the bell rang. A little later she sneaked out
of her hiding place, joined Arthur Duncan at the corner, and
disappeared into the distance. Just before twelve they both came
back. For a few moments, they kept well concealed on a side street,
out of sight of Primrose Court. But, at intervals, Rosie or Arthur
would dart out to a spot where, without being seen, they could get a
glimpse of the church clock. When the children came out of school at
twelve, they joined the crowd and sauntered home.

Monday morning Maida saw them repeat these maneuvers. She was
completely mystified by them and yet she had an uncomfortable
feeling. They were so stealthy that she could not help guessing that
something underhand was going on.

"Do you know Rosie Brine?" Maida asked Dicky Dore one evening when
they were reading together.

"Sure!" Dicky's face lighted up. "Isn't she a peach?"

"They say she is a tom-boy," Maida objected. "Is she?"

"Surest thing you know," Dicky said cheerfully. "She won't take a
dare. You ought to see her playing stumps. There's nothing a boy can
do that she won't do. And have you noticed how she can spin a
top--the best I ever saw for a girl."

Then boys liked girls to be tom-boys. This was a great surprise.

"How does it happen that she doesn't go to school often?"

Dicky grinned. "Hooking jack!"

"Hooking jack?" Maida repeated in a puzzled tone.

"Hooking jack--playing hookey--playing truant." Dicky watched Maida's
face but her expression was still puzzled. "Pretending to go to
school and not going," he said at last.

"Oh," Maida said. "I understand now."

"She just hates school," Dicky went on. "They can't make her go. Old
Stoopendale, the truant officer, is always after her. Little she
cares for old Stoopy though. She gets fierce beatings for it at
home, too. Funny thing about Rosie--she won't tell a lie. And when
her mother asks her about it, she always tells th