ckled. "Mary Rose was horrified when she remembered she'd
forgotten to pay but I said Mr. Jerry 'd understand that she wasn't
used to business. So long as she paid in the end a little waiting
wouldn't matter."

Mr. Jerry had just driven into the garage when the delinquent Mary Rose
slipped in at the back gate.

"Hullo, Mary Rose," he called cheerily.

"I've come to pay George Washington's board," importantly. "I'm
ashamed I'm late but I forgot. I'm not used to business," she
apologized, mortification dyeing her cheeks pink.

"That's all right. But if it's board you're going to pay we'd better
go in and see my Aunt Mary."

His Aunt Mary looked mildly surprised when Mary Rose announced that she
had come to pay George Washington's board and she was sorry she was
late. Aunt Mary pursed her lips in a way that made Mary Rose quake
until she remembered that she was earning a lot of money and it really
didn't matter if the board was more than fifty cents. And George
Washington did have an awful appetite.

Mr. Jerry's Aunt Mary was saying so. "That cat is perfectly hollow.
It's amazing the milk he drinks. He has been here a little over a
week, Mary Rose," again mortification painted Mary Rose's cheeks, "and
in that time he has caught five mice. It is impossible to estimate the
damage that five mice would have done if they hadn't been caught so I
figure that George Washington has earned his own board."

"Why, George Washington!" Mary Rose could scarcely grasp this but when
she did she caught the cat to her in a rapturous hug. "Isn't he the
very smartest cat? Why, he's self-supporting, isn't he?" And she
hugged him again. "If he keeps on earning his board I can send for
Solomon. I don't suppose you would want to board a dog, too? I think
I'd almost feel as if I were in Heaven to have my animal friends with
me again."

"What kind of dog is Solomon?" Mr. Jerry asked carelessly. "I've been
thinking of buying a dog but perhaps I could rent old Sol."

"Mr. Jerry! I'd be glad to let you have him for his board. He's
splendid, a real fox terrier, and that clever. He can do lots of
tricks. You couldn't help but love him. He's so affectionate and
friendly."

"It was a fox terrier that I thought of buying. Then we can consider
that settled, Mary Rose. You send for Sol as soon as you please and
I'll board him for the use of him. I think he would look well on the
front seat of the car."

Mary Rose had