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Show Conway's Kiddie, t J Kathy A I By DOROTHY DOUGLAS (Copyrlsbt.) MADGE had been wondering for some time Just what she could do to make herself go out into the fresh air regularly every day. Her mirror, truest of friends, had been telling her of late that her cheeks were not so rosy as they used to be. ' She had been sitting inside too much, 1 mending and sewing for people. It was while thinking of those harassed mothers of six and seven kiddies who had not the time in one human day to do all the mending for their broods, that Madge had a brain wave. She knew that many mothers were e.mpelled to take thoir tiny children to school each morning and call for them again iu the afternoon and i hereby here-by rob their crowded days of perhaps an hour and a half of time. Madge realized that she herself would do the same if she were blessed with some tiny tots of her own. "1 shall start a Kiddie Itound Instead In-stead of a milk or paper round nnd call for and deliver all the little tots I can manage." Madge smiled at her idea it was really a good one. "It will help busy mothers and relieve re-lieve their minds of worry and will force me out in all weathers and regular reg-ular hours." And so It was that Madge started her somewhat unique business of gathering gath-ering little -school children and herding herd-ing them safely through the streets of the village. It was Mrs. Thorpe, mother of six, who suggested to Madge that Mr. Conway Con-way of Rose Cottage would perhaps welcome some one to take his little daughter to and from school. "I think he has a somewhat hard time," Mrs. Thorpe Informed Madge. "His wife passed away when little Kathy was born and he has tried to do his best for the wee girlie but you know how hard it must bo for a man." And next morning Madge called for six-year-old little Kathy and at the door met one of the very nicest men she had ever talked with. "You are an angel," he told her as she took Kathy's trusting little hand In her own. "I am struggling rather desperately to. make a living for my little girl by writing, and the break in the day at morning noon nnd "afternoon sometimes cuts Into my best inspirations." Madge saw the trouble in Conway's splendid eyes and knew he had been having a pretty rough time of it. 'Couldn't I take little Kathy home for her lunch with me? I should love to have company and some one to prepare a meal for besides myself. my-self. It will give you a fine opportunity oppor-tunity to do good work." The Joy in Conway's eyes made Madge want to cry. "Oh," he said swiftly, "1 believe I could get on my fee! in a few months' time if I could just feel thai my precious little girl was well cared for. My sister and her hushand have I let me come out here to live with I them, but they both go to business all day and I well. I've been trying to give Kathy a lunch in the middle of the day hut I'm not much of a hand at cooking." Conway watched his small daughter nnd Madge go down the path and o-it of sight. "She certainly inspires confidence," he found himself thinking, "and somehow some-how I fancy she will prove the friend in need." And that day Convvny did some of the best literary work he had ever done and found himself w.i:t!:; I wilh keen interest for the rc-luiii of Kathy and her guide. Life and work began to takvi on new interest, new bloom and a wonderful sense of well being for bolh Madge and Conway. Stories, loo, began to take a firm grip on editorial checks. And It was all due to the fact that Madge in the beginning had foil that i she must have more fresh air. I She often pondered over this small I fact which had worked 1 1 sol f out In j so happy a manner. Her checks were now rosy, as her mirror Informed her. I and her eyes had taken on a new sparkle. It might have been the ef- feet of regular exercise one never 1 knows. The day come when she felt well enough acquainted with Kathy's father fa-ther to scold him for not getting out enough. j "You sit far too long over that type- writer. So don't you think you could I come along at noontime and have I lunch with Kathy and me? There Is J always Just enough for three I should love to have you." Madge ; felt somewhat choked at the expres I slon that leaped Into Conway's eyes "You'll never know how many times I have pictured you and the kiddie at lunch and wondered Just I wlmt von were ehalfinn nhont nnd ! wishing wishing 1 could be invited I to join you. lis been beastly loneh . without her. She's a regular little ball of sunshine when she wants to he." j "Don't 1 know it," said Madge a ! trifle wistfully. "I don't know what I I shall do when summer holidays j come and Kalhy won't need me any i.i re." ! "That lime is never going to come," ' Conway told her, "for Kathy and Kathy's dad are alwr.ys going to need ( you hadn't you suspected that Madge dear?" |