the aluminum, there was a cut of a tropical island overgrown with gigantic palm trees, and in the corner was the drawing of Tessie with a crown on h

the Gilfoolys occupied so much of the front page of Waloo's most i

the article on the Sunshine Islands, for the reporter had borrowed Tes

ock before the full-length mirror in their suite at the Waloo Hotel. "Raw fish they eat, and their gravy's made out of sea water and lemon juice

ed her grandmother. Much she cared about gravy. But there was still considerable awe in her voice as she cried, "Granny! can you

ax than it does to be alone with that Tear of God. Protector, indeed! I guess Johnny could protect us all we need protecting. Or Joe Cary! I didn't feel right, Tessie, to go off and leave Joe Cary alone in the old house, but he wouldn't come with us and

ity now, Granny, or at least he doesn't think there is. It's just a custom. Once upon a time it was necessary, Mr. Douglas said, for the king to

's all right. It certainly did make folks stare when we walked into the Evergreen with Ka-kee-ta walking behind us with his meat ax. I guess everybody in the store knew you was somebody with Mr. Kingl

essie sighed as she remembered her mail. "

e too visualized Tessie's mail, which had b

signal for an army to take to typewriters and pens, at least it seemed as if it must have taken an army to write the enormous n

umerable letters from automobile dealers, florists, dressmakers, shoemakers, milliners, jewelers, stationers, real estate dealers, railroad and steamship agents, caterers, architects, house decorators, da

ere letters from girls who wanted to be singers or dancers, and from boys who wanted to be painters or poets and who asked for

alf of them she would have time for nothing else. And after the first basketful, the reading of

o had brought Tessie a huge bunch of violets, "or thro

ight be something in one of them, you know, something I should know about." Tessie showed every s

terday, didn't she? I expect Dad would let you have her again. You know her and you like her?" Tessie nodded, and her face brightened. She would like to have Norah Lee help her. Norah was not a stran

table and ran to put on her hat. Just outside the door stood Ka-kee-ta, an object of terror to the hotel staff and of pride to the hot

Ka-kee-ta," he said careles

you can take a re

Tessie into the elevator. "Hello!" as they shot down and passed anoth

ated. "Perhaps I should go back? Perhaps he has come to tell me th

tly forgot that she was a queen and that he was only a floorwalker in the Evergreen. "What do you care? It

l around her she heard whispers. "That's Queen Teresa! She used to sell face cream at the Evergree

ed, and Tessie was settled on the front seat, there at h

r go anywhere with a gentleman friend?" She looked

here, Ka-kee-ta," he said sharply, "didn't I

ul loop on the running board, close to Tessie's elbow, and there was every i

most in tears. What a lot

If you will insist on going where you're not wanted, s

a stepped into the car and settled himself with a grunt. He held his ax straight bef

enderly, as he put his fi

"Awfully comfy! But I do hate to be tagged around by 'that' all the time!" A

o, shall we?" As he bent to hear her answer, he a

on his feet, his ax suspe

sped his arm and held i

ing to run us down. But we're all right, aren't we?" He saw that Tessie was all right. "Sit down, old friend!" he said to Ka-kee-t

her heart beating so fast and so loud

a queen!" Mr. Bill e

ssie's ey

you all the time?" He gave her just one rea

be a queen," she

sgust. "We could have a lot mor

t when I was a nobody, Mr. Bill, you never saw me!

Bill, when he was confronted wi

d Tessie triumphantly. "I shou

l softly, and quite forgetting the gulf which is

that was the reason she was gl

tender glances with him. "Is this a good car?" she asked in a most matter-

dared to put his hand on the royal fingers, they were so soft and white as they rested on her knee beside him, but

agreed Tess

stared at a car which had come so close to them that it

he shouted.

ad. "What do you mean?" he

Ka-kee-ta with anoth

anxiously. "What do you suppose he means?" And when Mr. Bill could

raped their fender, turned a

Ka-kee-ta, and drop

e started his engine. "What did he mean? He cou

jumped up and shouted. He sulked and fiddled

ave you to help me. Sometimes I wish the police hadn't been so quick about letting that other man go. It mu

g else," said puzzled Mr. Bill. "Perhaps they don't mean what we mean whe

d admiration. "I do think you are the most wonderful man

l murmured modestly. "But i

true!" exclaime