to carry out his
plans. Of course, I was Johnny-on-the-spot and would have saved the dear
lady from such a terrible fate. There is no use in your swelling your
nostrils at me and pretending you scorn me and my news. I have proof
positive of it all. I have lived in Chester Hunt's home in Atlanta as a
domestic and there I discovered many things."

"Who are you anyhow?" stormed Dink.

Josie turned back the lapel of her coat and one glance at what it
disclosed was enough for the scornful Dink.

"You made the poor little kiddies afraid of policemen because you were
afraid of them yourself, eh? Well, you can beat it now. Anyhow, when
Chester Hunt looks you up, which he is sure to do, and begins to
reproach you for having been false to the trust he imposed in you, you
can just meet fire with fire and you can also tell him that Josie
Larson sends her regards. I fancy you have come for the children
because he has written he might come to see you any day."

Dink nodded miserably.

"He may be on his way to Chicago now, but I rather fancy he will stop
awhile and rest up. He has been ill with lumbago and on top of that the
shock of finding his much loved brother, Stephen Waller, to be alive
and well has been too much for him. When he is able to travel again he
will travel directly towards you and if you are any wiser now than you
were ten minutes ago you will make it convenient to change your
address. It would be the better part of valor not to meet Chester Hunt
until he has cooled down a bit."

"Thanks!" cried Miss Dingus in ludicrous haste. "I believe you. I'll be
going now." With a nonchalant nod she turned the corner walking as fast
as her long legs could carry her in the direction of the railroad
station.

On returning to the Hathaway house Josie found that Mary Louise and her
husband, having finally received the telegram, had hastened to inform
Polly and Peter of the good news contained therein. Already they were
fast friends with the Wallers. Dr. Weston had joined them and came in
for his share of thanks from the grateful parents.

The children looked very happy. Peter acknowledged that he was glad he
wasn't dead and his father was not an angel after all.

"I'd ruther a' been dead than go back with ol' Dink, though," said
Peter snuggling in his mother's arms.

The children changed laps every now and then, as though to make sure
that both parents were really alive and well and belonged to them,
Polly and Peter.