Margery Dubois. They were badly
spelled and written in a labored handwriting but Josie felt that Mike
was a worthy fellow. Reading character by means of chirography had been
one of Detective O'Gorman's hobbies and Josie had taken up the science
to some extent. As Josie perused these epistles she gathered that Mike
had been Margery Dubois's dancing partner. Evidently they had been on
the vaudeville stage together.

"Not love letters at all," Josie decided. "When he says he misses her
so much, can't get along without her, he means he wants her to act with
him again."

The last one was from Chicago. In it he made an urgent appeal to his
former partner to join him there. "A big thing if you can come in a day
or so. Plenty of tin and three-night stands in big towns. No
barnstorming bizness in this job." This letter was signed Mike Brady
and the Chicago address was given.

"That's where she has gone," decided Josie.

By the time the great gong in the basement clanged forth its summons to
dinner Josie had grasped the contents of most of the letters found in
the grate, had tied them in neat packages and had them carefully stowed
away in her suitcase, the suitcase locked and the key in her pocket.

CHAPTER VIII
PETER REFUSES NEW PARENTS

The Children's Home Society moved to the old Hathaway house as soon as
possible after Mary Louise signed the deed making over the property to
the society. The new quarters were well suited to the needs of the
Children's Home, large airy rooms with long porches and a delightful
yard and garden where the little tots could play.

"I don't want to leave Mr. and Mrs. Robin before they hatch out their
fambly," moaned Peter. "Looks like we can't never stay put, can we,
Polly?"

"But the big house is much nicer, Peter dear," comforted Polly. "It
kinder reminds me of where we lived one time with Mother and Daddy.
That had a yard to it and lots of sweet violets bordering the walks. I
wish you could remember the violets, Peter."

"I wish I could. Sometimes I 'most can--but don't you ever forget 'em,
Polly. You keep on talking about 'em and maybe sometime I can 'member
too the way I can the porridge bowls. I won't never forget our mother.
I'm sure glad you didn't never let Cousin Dink know we had her picture,
hers and Daddy's."

"Not me! That old Dink wouldn't have let me keep them. I haven't ever
showed them to anybody but that nice Miss Josie girl. She is safe I
believe and she wouldn't