f anxiety, he added,

"Jock says you can be made to give me up; he says it'll be a case of
kidnapping."

"Nonsense, Conny: nobody can touch you, or me either; but I advise you
to steer clear of Jock and all his companions."

But after this conversation the doctor thought best to see the
authorities of Dunsmore, and have himself duly appointed as guardian for
Conny--a proceeding which gave the boy unbounded satisfaction.

"I'm yer servant now, little Miss Betty," he said, with a low bow. "Yer
servant to keep and to hold; that was what the magistrate said. 'Deed
and you're the first lady that ever had a McConnell for a servant."

Betty's birthday came and went. The wonderful little toy was presented,
and it was hard saying who was most delighted, Betty or the doctor.

"You are a genius, Conny--an artist, a poet," he exclaimed; and he made
a journey to Kilbourne, bringing back a set of carving tools for Conny,
and a furnished doll's house, with which he bribed the little lady to
give her dainty sideboard into safe-keeping until her curious fingers
should have outgrown their passion for pulling things to pieces.

Day by day the attachment of the family for Conny increased.

"He is a gentleman born," said Mrs. Hunter. "I wish I could know more
about his history, but he is as discreet as if he were fifty instead of
fifteen."

"I fancy his father was a gentleman with a Scotchman's weakness for
whiskey, and that he came up here to keep out of sight. At any rate, the
boy is a genius, and I intend he shall have a chance in the world."

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

[Illustration: "ASLEEP AT HIS POST."--DRAWN BY C. S. REINHART.]

[Illustration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX.]

I am a boy of twelve years. I like YOUNG PEOPLE very much. We live
in Croatia, on the Styrian frontier, near to Bath Rohitsch. Our
castle was built about the time America was discovered. It is said
that a headless huntsman wanders through the corridors at night,
but I have never met him.

We see from the windows many high alps of Styria and Carinthia. We
go very often to the Szotlee to swim.

I have two canary-birds and two good old dogs.

My sister, who is fourteen years old, would like very much some
pressed California flowers. She would send some from here in
return.

JAMES KAVANAGH,
Post Rohitsch, Styria, Austria.

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIA