om "The Madness of Philip." McClure, Phillips & Company.]

It was evident that something was wrong that morning with the children
of the kindergarten. Two perplexed teachers were quieting the latest
outbreak and marshaling a wavering line of very little people when the
youngest assistant appeared on the scene.

"Miss Hunt wants to know why you're so late with them," she inquired.
"She hopes nothing's wrong. Mrs. R. B. M. Smith is here to-day to visit
the primary schools and kindergartens, and--"

"Oh, goodness," exclaimed a teacher, abruptly, ceasing her attempted
consolation of Marantha Judd. "I can't _bear_ that woman! She's always
read Stanley Hall's _last_ article that proves that what he said before
was wrong! Come along, Marantha, don't be a foolish little girl any
longer. We shall be late for the morning exercise."

Upstairs a large circle was forming under the critical scrutiny of a
short, stout woman with crinkly, gray hair. This was Mrs. R. B. M.
Smith, who, when the opening exercises were finished, signified her
willingness to relate to the children a model story, calling the
teacher's attention in advance to the almost incredible certainty that
would characterize the children's anticipation of the events judiciously
and psychologically selected.

The arm-chairs shortly to contain so much accurate anticipation were
at last arranged and the children sat decorously attentive, their faces
turned curiously toward the strange lady with the fascinating plumes in
her bonnet.

"Nothing like animals to bring out the protective instinct--feebler
dependent on the stronger," she said rapidly to the teachers, and then
addressed the objects of these theories.

"Now, children, I'm going to tell you a nice story--you all like
stories, I'm sure."

At just this moment little Richard Willetts sneezed loudly and
unexpectedly to all, himself included, with the result that his
ever-ready suspicion fixed upon his neighbor, Andrew Halloran, as the
direct cause of the convulsion. Andrew's well-meant efforts to detach
from Richard's vest the pocket-handkerchief securely fastened thereto
by a large black safety-pin strengthened the latter's conviction of
intended assault and battery, and he squirmed out of the circle and made
a dash for the hall--the first stage in an evident homeward expedition.

This broke in upon the story, and even when it got under way again there
was an atmosphere of excitement quite unexplained by th