Dorothy was the only daughter of Major Frank Dale, one of the prominent
veterans of Dalton, a small town in New York state. Dorothy was in her
fourteenth year, but since her mother was dead, and she was the eldest
of the small family (the other members being Joe, age ten, and Roger
just seven), she seemed older, and was really very sensible for her
years,

The major always called her his Little Captain, and she showed such a
practical interest in his business, that of running the only newspaper
in Dalton, The Bugle, that few, if any boys could have made better
partners in the work.

At housekeeping Dorothy was relieved of the real drudgery by Mrs.
Martin, who had been with the major's children since the day when baby
Roger was taken from his mother's side; and while the housekeeper was
the soul of love for the motherless ones, it was Dorothy who felt
responsible for the real management of the home, for Aunt Libby, as the
children called Mrs. Martin, was fast growing old, and faster growing
queer, in spite of a really good-natured disposition.

"It seems to me, Dorothy," the old lady would say, "Libby can't suit you
any more. And Joe, too--he's mighty fussy about his victuals. Only my
baby Roger loves the old woman!" and she would press the younger boy to
her breast with a world of love in the caress.

Not far from Dorothy lived Octavia Travers, or Tavia as all the girls in
Dalton called her, She had the reputation of being wild; that is she
cared little for school, and less for study, but she loved her brother
Johnnie and she loved Dorothy. She also had some love left for the
woods; but like many another child of nature, she was misunderstood, and