l, and Tim to
take good care of Mother and the babies. Be sure to greet for me
the Harlings, O'Dowds, Murphys, and all the neighbors at Mulberry
Court. We leave Liverpool for the Mediterranean next week and I
will write you from Gibraltar or Naples. In the meantime do not
forget the good ship _Charlotte_ or your affectionate

FREDERICK.

"As if we could forget him!" whispered Mrs. McGregor, folding up the
many sheets and replacing them in their envelope. "It isn't all
children have the kind uncle you have. Carl, maybe you'd like to be
stepping over to the Harlings with this letter. Grandfather Harling
would delight to read it, I know. The days are long ones for him and
I'm sure he must miss your Uncle Frederick dropping in to bring him the
news."

Only too ready to comply with her request Carl rose.

"You can leave the letter until they all have seen it; then Hal or
Louise can bring it back. I want Mrs. O'Dowd to have it next. She's
mentioned by name in it and it will please her to read the words
herself."

Thus did Mulberry Court share its blessings!

CHAPTER XVI

A RELUCTANT ALTRUIST

As spring came and Carl was more out of doors playing ball and tramping
the open country his watchful eyes were continually scanning passing
motors for a possible glimpse of the mysterious red racing car and its
genial owner. The boy had never forgotten this delightful stranger or
quite abandoned the hope that he might sometime see him again. But,
alas, day succeeded day and never did any of the fleeting vehicles his
glance followed contain the person he sought. Neither was the search
for the sender of the Christmas baskets rewarded.

Spasmodically since mid-winter the Harlings and McGregors had cudgeled
their brains to discover this elusive good fairy until at length,
exhausted by fruitless effort, they agreed to inter Louise's
philanthropic Mr. X in a nameless grave. Despite that fact, however, he
was not forgotten and tender thoughts clustered about his memory.

In the meantime May followed on April's heels and presently June, with
her greenery and wealth of roses arrived, and then the startling
tidings buzzed through Baileyville that Mr. John Coulter was to be
married. The news thrilled young and old alike for was not young Mr.
Coulter the junior partner of Davis and Coulter; and was not Davis and
Coulter the heart and soul of Baileyville? Davis and Coulter meant the
mills and the mills m