g," wistfully. "He'd
like you to like him."

Mr. Wells looked at the friendly dog who wanted to be liked, and at
Mary Rose, before his eyes swept the older group. There was not the
faintest trace of a smile on the faces of Miss Thorley and Miss Carter,
but there was more than a trace on the countenance of Bob Strahan.

"I don't like dogs!" the grin made him say with a snap. "I won't have
one here!" And he went up the steps and slammed the screen door behind
him.

"Mercy, mercy!" feebly murmured Mr. Strahan. "You might think he owned
the whole works. My rent comes due every month, just as his does."

At her window Aunt Kate wrung her hands and thought sadly how
comfortable they were in the basement of the Washington. Mr. Wells
would never rest now until he had Larry discharged. She knew he
wouldn't. He would never overlook the fact that Mary Rose had talked
back to him on the very steps of the Washington. She could not blame
Mary Rose, the child had had provocation enough, goodness knows, but
she wished--she wished--Oh, how fervently she wished that Mr. Wells had
never been born!

Mary Rose looked sadly after the retreating figure which looked as
friendly and unbending as a poker.

"He won't ever forget I called him a crosspatch," she said sadly and
she blushed.

"What!" There was an astonished chorus. How had she dared? It did
not sound like Mary Rose.

"I did!" the color in her cheeks deepened painfully. "I never meant to
but the words were in my mind and so they slipped out of my mouth.
Come on, Jimmie, we'll take Solomon over to Mr. Jerry's. He'll be glad
to see him. He's a human being."

"I think I'll go, too," suggested Bob Strahan who scented a story.
"Have you seen George Washington, the self-supporting cat?" he asked
Miss Thorley and Miss Carter.

"All of you come," begged Mary Rose, glowing happily again. "Mr.
Jerry'd be glad to have you and there's plenty of room in the back
yard. I'd like to have you see my cat. Isn't it wonderful that George
Washington and Solomon are self-supporting? That's being independent,
isn't it, Miss Thorley? Will you come?" she caught her hand and drew
her to her feet.

Miss Thorley hesitated. If George Washington had been boarding with
anyone but Jerry Longworthy she would have gone at once but Jerry
Longworthy was very apt to forget that she preferred work to love. If
she went to his back yard he would be sure to think that her coming was
an