who had figured in the affair
of the night before.

Parson Dan's eyes opened wide with astonishment when he opened his
paper, which arrived just before dinner, and read to his wife the story
of the assault in the city.

"Well done for the boys!" he exclaimed, as he laid the paper aside, and
began his meal. "I wish they had caught the rascals who did that deed."

"The boys might have got badly hurt," Mrs. Royal replied. "I am very
thankful that they escaped without any harm. What terrible things take
place in cities. We live such quiet lives here that we little realise
what is going on elsewhere."

"I do hope that the police will get those fellows," the parson mused.
"The paper says that there have been several hold-ups lately, and it is
believed that they have been done by the same ones who made the assault
last night. I am anxious to see Rod to hear what he has to say."

"Perhaps the boys will have to stay as witnesses, Daniel."

"Sure enough!" and the clergyman put down his cup he was about to raise
to his lips. "I never thought of that. And this is the night of the
concert, too. What will Captain Josh do without the boys? I must go
over and tell him the news. It will certainly upset his plans, for he
depended so much upon Rod."

That same morning Anna Royanna, while at breakfast, read the
description of herself and her singing in the Opera House. This did
not greatly interest her, for she was beginning to weigh such articles
at their true value. It was the custom now for papers to say pleasant
things about her. It was the same wherever she went. She recalled the
time, several years before, when the same newspapers had so
begrudgingly given her a few lines concerning a certain performance of
hers. She had to plead with the editors then. She was not famous, and
how a sympathetic article would not only have encouraged but assisted
her as well. Now she was Anna Royanna, the noted singer, and a slight
smile of contempt hovered about the corners of her mouth as she began
to fold up the paper.

Just then something caught her eye, which caused her to pause, and look
more closely. "Rod Royal" were the words she first saw, but they were
enough to make her devour eagerly the whole story of the adventure of
the previous night. She studied the two words which had first arrested
her attention, paying no heed to her breakfast which was getting cold.
Neither did she notice the number of eyes turned upon h