he mused. "A fairy tale is only a make-believe, while this is
really true. It's better than a fairy tale. Isn't it great!" and his
eyes sparkled. "But, say, do grandad and grandma know about it?"

"Yes, dear. I told them last night."

"And I bet they were pleased."

"Indeed they were. I wish you could have seen their faces when I told
them that you are Alec's boy, and their own real grandson."

For a few minutes there was silence, Rod thinking of all that he had
heard, and his mother recalling the night before, when she had revealed
to Mr. and Mrs. Royal the story of her life. Never should she forget
the look of intense joy which came into their eyes, nor the sweet peace
which possessed her heart as they enfolded her in their arms, kissed
her, and called her "daughter." It had seemed almost too good to be
true. She was roused by Rod's voice.

"May I tell Captain Josh?" he asked. "It would be great for him to
know."

"We talked that over last night, dear," was the reply. "Christmas will
soon be here, and you are to have a party on that day. How would it do
to wait until then?"

"Oh, that'll be great! Captain Josh, and the scouts will be here."

"Yes, and Whyn will be back by that time, so I understand, and we can
arrange for her and her mother to come up from the city. Will that do?"

"Won't it be great!" and Rod fairly shook with delight.

"It certainly will. We shall all go to the service on Christmas
morning, and your grandfather wants to offer up special thanks for all
the blessings we have received. We shall then come home for dinner,
and have all the afternoon and evening for games."

When Captain Josh came to see Rod the next day, he noticed the happy
expression upon the boy's face.

"What's up, lad?" he asked.

"What do you mean, captain?"

"Oh, I hardly know," and the old man scratched his head in perplexity.
"But everybody in this house seems about ready to explode with
excitement. I never saw sich a happy bunch in all my life. Ye'd think
that summer had been suddenly dumped down here, with all the birds
singin', the bees hummin', and the flowers bloomin'. That's the only
way I kin describe it."

"I guess you're about right, captain," was Rod's brief reply, for he
was determined not to give away the wonderful secret.

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROD OF THE LONE PATROL***

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