the Algonquin President
herself who told her,--that forward woman who was always teaching them
how to sew a band on a shirt. And it was all the talk at the Red Cross
meeting in town about the wonderful reception that was to be given to
their returned soldier.

"Who's the reception for?" says I, "for I hadn't heard of any one in
Algonquin that had done anything but dodge the recruiting officer?"

"Why one of our boys won the V. C. at the front," says she, "didn't you
hear about it?"

"The V. C.!" says I, gettin' suspicious, "it's the first time I ever
heard that any soldier from this town got anything but C. B." says I.

"Oh, yes," says she, as sweet as honey, "why, didn't you see in the
papers about Gavin Grant getting the V. C.? He's one of our Algonquin
boys. He enlisted here in The Blue Bonnets!"

And then another woman speaks up and says she, "'Why Mrs. Dunn,' says
she, 'it's a wonder you don't know Gavin Grant. I think he comes from
somewhere near Orchard Glen,' says she!"

"'Well' says I, 'it is a wonder; that's a fact! I don't seem to know
as much about him as I thought I did. He's lived almost on the next
farm to me since he was the size of a grasshopper,' says I, 'but this
is the first time I ever heard that he belonged to Algonquin!' says I."

"Well, I tell you, that blew down their clothes-line in a hurry;
especially when I told them that he was to be recepted at his own home
on the very day they were planning their spree."

"They got into a terrible sweat, and one of the women ran and
telephoned the Mayor's office, and the Mayor came runnin' over as if
the town had caught fire. He was in a great sputter I tell you, when I
let him know that he'd put his horse into the wrong stall. You'd think
it had turned out that Gavin was a German spy."

"'Why, Mrs. Dunn,' says he, 'we've got all our arrangements made,' says
he, 'and Mr. Leigh, the member, is spoken for,' says he, 'and, you'll
just have to put yours on for the next afternoon,' says he, 'we really
can't change now!'"

"'Well,' says I, 'I wouldn't have you stop Corny Leigh from makin' a
speech, for all the world,' says I, 'I know how hard it would be on
him,' says I, 'but I don't see how you'll manage,' says I, 'seein' that
Gavin Grant, V. C., is going' to get off at Silver Creek Crossing, on
the other side of Orchard Glen!' says I."

This was an inspiration on The Woman's part, and her audience burst
into clapping. Silver Creek was a l