“Dear Mabel: Found at 7 A. M. one pig rooting under the dining
room table for crumbs. Charles is building a pen for him in the
back yard and all is well—thought you’d like to know.
Sallie.”
At recess time, Mabel led Isabelle to the new pig pen. Maude and little Jane Pool were looking over the edge.
“Jane and I thought somebody ought to give him a name so we did,” said Maude, with a wicked glance at Isabelle. “Don’t you think ‘Clarence’ would be a sweet name—for a pig?”
Then, with a gleeful shout, the naughty pair sped away to eat pie under the porch. And Sallie appeared with a message for Mabel.
“Doctor Rhodes wishes to see Miss Bennett in his office,” announced Sallie.
“I’m told,” said Doctor Rhodes, when Mabel stood demurely before him, “that Highland Hall has mysteriously acquired a pig. It occurs to me that you may be able to shed some light on the subject.”
“Yes,” said Mabel, “you’ve guessed right. I brought that pig home. Somebody had to—he was so lonesome.”
“But didn’t I tell you—”
“You didn’t say pigs. You said any of Charles’s family.”
“Hum—so I did. And you kept that animal in your room?”