bosom of your
family?"

Captain Waller's face lost its frozen expression. His cheeks, which had
been deadly pale from the moment he heard the voice of Chester Hunt,
now flushed painfully. He sprang from his chair and stood facing the
other man.

"Where are my children?" was all he said.

"Oh, they are all right--in good hands. If that is what is eating you,
old fellow, you can drop your heroics and embrace your brother."

"What good hands?"

"When Mary got sick--of course you must know how very ill she has
been--I hardly knew what to do with the kids. They had got a bit
unruly because of their mother's being in such a bad way and naturally
my first care was for her and I felt it wiser to have them away from
her for the time being--"

"So you got some of our good friends at home to look after them? That
was natural and right."

"No-o, I did not. The fact was Polly and Peter were pretty difficult
and nobody really wanted them--that is nobody whom I might have
trusted--so I sent for a cousin of mine, a very worthy, high-principled
young woman, Miss Dingus. You have heard me speak of her. I saw a good
deal of her after I left Atlanta. She is a cousin of my father's.
Cousin Dink, we call her. I was sure she would take good care of the
children and give them the proper surroundings and education until
their mother could resume charge of them. I get weekly reports from her
and she says they are thriving--"

"And where does this Cousin Dink live?"

"She is in Chicago. She writes me she is devoted to the kids and gives
them the greatest care. Polly has had a little trouble with her throat
lately but the doctor assured Cousin Dink it was not infectious."

"How long is it since you have seen them?"

"Eh--eh--some time, now!"

Captain Waller looked at Chester Hunt sadly. Josie saw pity mingled
with indignation in his expression. Mrs. Waller said nothing and never
once took her eyes from her husband's face. Nevertheless she was
listening to every word that passed between the two men.

"I'll telegraph Cousin Dink immediately to prepare the children for the
great surprise," Hunt continued.

"You need not trouble to do that," said Captain Waller. "I reckon they
know we are on the way to get them by this time. Eh, Miss O'Gorman?"

When Josie was included in the conversation Chester Hunt turned and
looked at her curiously. In a spirit of mischief Josie assumed the dull
expression she had used as the Swedish servant