fort without a helper, and their first aim was to find a letter box. They had nearly reached one when Franz noticed that he had n

surance that his parents would receive it if the address were written with

the box, "remember to always direct a letter, postal or package clearly, and

, and the gentleman bade them goo

l we go first?"

ir home neighborhood they saw a soldier only now and then when home upon a furlough; but a regiment, or a company even, they had neve

ral came walking along in a stately, dignified manner, and

ountry boys were making fun of him; but his angry stare was positive proof to

uld ride upon a splendid horse.

, and at that moment they met a drummer, and

itz. "No instrument makes such beautiful music as a dru

drummer," said Paul, "and a gen

ads the way. All the others have to follow him. I always think o

" replied both of his compan

des envy

n deny

er of the

n my ha

ap, or drum

diers f

, even, has

ws, too,

had not b

a drum

ould be

ith half

boys, "and when we are so

under the shade of a great linden to watch the swan swimming about in the lake. They had scarcely been seated when a sold

ts to a common soldier!" they cried, and gathere

from to be so green?

know, therefore no need for u

eep it until its owner tells me what I asked," and he grasped Paul's hat, intending to

the sleeve of one of the boys, snarling savagely, as if he were a terribly dangerous dog, indeed. The frightened boy tore himself loose with such force that he fell to the ground and Pixy, as though scorning to attack a fallen enemy, grasped the seat of the pants of another boy, tore a piece out, which released the boy, and he and the other

was not so foolish after all in bringing his dog to Frankfort, to which they agreed,

these rough boys may collect a larger company and come back and fight

ld be all right if we only knew a General should he come along for then it would certainly be good form to raise our hats to him. But we don't know, so we won't raise our hats to an

kinds," said Fritz delightedly. "A man could go in there in a morning-gown, and come out in a quarter of an hour dressed like a gentle

oughtful Paul. "Surely they would not

I will stay here with Pixy. After you have been th

ass front, and examined with the eyes of an experienced cl

could not afford to sell them at that price. But then who knows whether they are well mad

hat a tall, handsomely dressed and gentlemanly-looking stranger was gazing up

g friend," he said in a winning tone, and

in Frankfort before; an

is much to see and to hea

country, and this is the f

enjoy it so

They have gone into this clothing house, and when t

the company of young people. I will also be a protection

s of the cunning rogues, and I am on the lookout for them. My comrades could be more easily deceived

are of yourself. I wish other boys would read more about these light-fingered people and they would be on their guard. Now you might be seeing something wh

, who pointed out with his cane objects of interest and at times laid his hand on the

ll column upon which was pa

he new acquaintance, pointing

, s

w, read

ogical Aquarium,

this

of pick-

have my money," and he touched his p

s, my dear young friend? I hope your money is in

eep in the safest place in my pocketbook. I am not intending to spend it for I have enough witho

vidently a kind a

y nickels in my vest pocket that I need not

d advise that you put it all in one place. If all your money is in your pocketbook you c

o marks were taken from his vest pocket and put in his p

. Just see how easily one expert pick-pocket could have gotten your mo

ger and when he saw his hand glide do

n enemy? Excuse my dog's bad manners, please; he is not in a good

friend, he would have a still sharper eye upon an enemy if one should happen alo

ket and offered it, but Pixy scorne

the candy back in his pocket. "Now I must away. Bye-bye, my boy,

follow, but the bo

as he walked along back to the store, "it was real kind in him to warn me, for he did not know but I was a stupid country boy who had never heard of pocket-took thieves. I would like to see a thief that could put his hand in my pocket without

the store, and wondered what

himself, "and I am terribly hungry. There is a baker

h bread, cakes and pretzels filled the place. He bought a rol

he cried, turning

her pocket," said the sal

done, but it wa

n, angrily, "but took that planning to get the rol

d the boy, with tears st

ee my aunt. She is Mrs.

imer s

telling me the exact truth that

as stolen from me by a man w

t you may have a chance of getting your money

m. I am afraid of a policema

protectors. Only bad boys need fear them; hones

tore," and he ran to the door and called them, an

ranz. "Have the street boys been fig

ppearing gentleman who was a thief and stole my money. I am so ashamed that I was d

taking out their pocketbooks. "Here is your mo

te out of his roll, "eat your roll and c

how can I forget my loss whe

impatiently. "The money is gone, and crying will not

your pocket. But mine is gone. Even the few nickels that were in my vest pock

id the saleswoman. "Had you m

t. My father got it in trade, and he put it on the Christmas tree for me. It was new and bright a

anz. "This is the third time you have called them. They w

ol: 'Happy are we if we forget what we can

re not in trouble, but it will not bring ba

"No thief would have gotten the chance to fool me that way. I would not have been so f

y his smooth, sleek speech. The rascal was so pleasant and kind! It is a lesson to me, b

z. "Don't you see that people

will be quiet, but we m

ad enough of Fran

bakery they went in the wrong direction, and had g

r street," said a policeman whom they accosted. "Face about and enquire

r them. They ran up the steps and Franz and Paul left explanations to Fritz, who

me, my little Frit

the picture of Kaiser Frederick on it, and my two hard dol

plenty of honest people in the world who would be glad to return it if they could find the owner. We will

anybody could steal from me," and he poured forth the whole story, concluding with

allowing yourself to be robbed, for you spoke of reading so much about pick-pockets. It is evident that your dog

nd me of that! I know

on guard without hurting the feelings of any stranger. Now I will hurry to the police station and give the information. No doubt you are not the only one the rascal has robbed, but if I can help it you will be the last,

a girl of fifteen. The boys in the meantime were in the kitchen, Fritz being so comf

said, "and I certainly

veal and the b

if I had not lost my money. Oh, m

if you tell it a thousand times, it will not make the thief bring it back and put it in your pocket. No

ed to save every penny of it and now it is gone! No wonde

Fanny returned, and brou

ns to trap him. And now, Fritz, don't grieve any more. You shall not feel the need of money if I can help it, for when y

t each plate. The kind little hostess was glad to see that they ate heartily and enjoyed their dinner. As she glanced at Fritz she said to he

d like mist, and before they arose from the table

fied!" was the u

y!" she said, a

Aunt Fanny?

cupboard which I intended for dessert. But as you ar

crestfallen, and for a

he rescue with

I do not know that they could be called food. In

for that brilliant opinion. As you say that you are satisfied that you have suf

n four heaps of cherry stones prove

lingly. "One that you will appreciate quite as much as the r

from home," cried the boys in a breath;

the postals. Now you can read them wh

not there to help. But all are well, and they send love to Aunt Stein

ot have brought Pixy. He says that he will not only be a tro

you got Pixy," remarked his aunt,

old water upon him and he ran to our door. Father took him in, fed and dried him, and the first week kept saying, 'If I only knew of some one who wants a good, gentle, young dog.' After another week he said, 'I will keep the dog. I

that nothing may happen,"

write a line in my letter and say that yo

at we will take the best

l right, but my beautiful

exclaimed Franz. "You have been robbed of yo

an talk of ple

grieving; but go out and see something of the city. My old friend and cousin, Gotfried Braun, is coming to go with you and will

" said Paul, and he had scarcely finished speaking when the

, and I think he will be pleased to have my boys call him that

now let us set out, f

xy, Uncle Brau

buildings to-day, but when we visit them he cannot go

ir hats, and they were off. Mrs. Steiner, standing upon t

to do that cannot be put off any longer," she said to herself, as she set to w