ed
that some children wanted to see him, but he told her gravely to ask
them up. Louise's friendliness was irresistible, and when she came
straight to his side holding out her hand and saying, "How do you do,
John? We have been having a meeting at Miss Brown's, and she has sent
you some sugar cakes. Ikey and I have brought them," John forgot his
shyness and felt that she was an old acquaintance. He could not think
of much to say, but he smiled cordially at them.

When the cakes were undone it was of course necessary to explain the
meaning of so many M's and K's, and this led to an account of the
other club, and the Order of the Big Front Door. It was like finding
the missing pages of a fascinating story.

"And that is what you were doing this afternoon?" asked John, admiring
the little keys. "I did so wonder what was going on when I saw the
boys go in."

"I didn't know you were watching us," said Ikey.

John's face flushed as he replied, "I hope you do not mind. I often
do."

Mind! Of course they did not!

The visit was a decided success. When Mrs. Armstrong came hurrying in,
feeling that she had left John a long time alone, she found him with
very bright eyes, eating sugar cakes.

This was only the beginning; it soon became an established thing for
one or two of the Order to spend an afternoon each week with the lame
boy; and at such times the pleasure was by no means all on one side.

CHAPTER XVII.

A PRISONER.

"I believe I'll go to see little John this afternoon," said Louise.

"You can take him the last 'St. Nicholas' if you do. I'd rather have
you go there than to Dora's or Elsie's, for then I shall not wish so
much that I could go with you," answered Bess, who was to spend the
afternoon at the dentist's.

Louise found the magazine and then walked as far an the Armstrongs'
gate with her sister and Joanna.

"Good-by," she said; "I hope Dr. Atmore won't hurt you."

Several hours later Bess entered the room where Mrs. Howard was taking
off her wraps, and asked, "Do you know where Louise is, Aunt Zelie?"

"Why, no, I have only just come in; can't you find her?"

"No, Auntie, and I have looked everywhere."

"Surely she must be in the house; it is nearly dark. Did you have your
tooth attended to?"

Bess forgot everything else in the interest of relating her
afternoon's experience, but when the story was finished she began
again to wonder what had become of Louise.

"I think Carl has jus