Part 11 (1/2)

Mr. Bill frowned at the royal bodyguard. ”Look here, Ka-kee-ta,” he said sharply, ”didn't I tell you that I would take care of the queen?”

Much Ka-kee-ta cared what Mr. Bill had said. He arranged himself in a graceful loop on the running board, close to Tessie's elbow, and there was every indication that he meant to stay there as long as Tessie remained in the car.

”Oh, dear!” Tessie was almost in tears. What a lot queens did have to endure!

”Here!” Mr. Bill threw open the door of the tonneau. ”If you will insist on going where you're not wanted, sit there!” And he waved his hand toward the rear seat.

With a look that measured the distance between the front seat and the back, Ka-kee-ta stepped into the car and settled himself with a grunt.

He held his ax straight before him. He did look so silly that he made Tessie feel silly, too. She wanted to cry.

”Comfy?” Mr. Bill asked tenderly, as he put his finger on the self-starter.

She stopped wanting to cry because she discovered that she wanted to smile. ”Awfully comfy! But I do hate to be tagged around by 'that' all the time!” And she frowned as she jerked her head back to indicate the watchful bodyguard.

”We'll forget all about him. And about queens, too, shall we?” As he bent to hear her answer, he all but ran into a car which had raced toward them.

With a snarl Ka-kee-ta was on his feet, his ax suspended over Mr. Bill's head.

”Ka-kee-ta!” Tessie grasped his arm and held it with all of her might.

”What's the matter?” demanded Mr. Bill with a deep breath. ”That was a close shave. Looked as if that machine was deliberately trying 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-ta, ”and watch your ax.

I'd kill myself before I'd let anything happen to your queen. I mean that!” he told Tessie in a husky voice.

”You're awfully kind,” murmured Tessie, her heart beating so fast and so loud that she was sure Mr. Bill must hear it.

”I wish you weren't a queen!” Mr. Bill exclaimed impulsively.

”Why?” Tessie's eyes widened.

”Why? Do you like to have Ka-kee-ta trailing you all the time?” He gave her just one reason why she might wish she were not a queen.

”No, but I like to be a queen,” she answered truthfully.

”I suppose a girl would,” in disgust. ”We could have a lot more fun if you were just a--just a--”

”n.o.body!” Tessie finished the sentence for him. ”But when I was a n.o.body, Mr. Bill, you never saw me! You never knew I was on earth until I was a queen!”

”That isn't fair!” stammered Mr. Bill, when he was confronted with the truth. ”That isn't fair!”

”It's true, isn't it?” demanded Tessie triumphantly. ”I should say I am glad I'm a queen!”

”So I would know you are on earth?” asked Mr. Bill softly, and quite forgetting the gulf which is supposed to yawn between queens and floorwalkers.

But Tessie would not admit that that was the reason she was glad to be a queen. No girl would.

”The idea!” she said instead, and sat up straighter and refused to exchange tender glances with him. ”Is this a good car?” she asked in a most matter-of-fact voice. ”I have to buy a car, and I don't know which is a good one.”

”I do!” exclaimed Mr. Bill emphatically. ”And I'll help you buy a car.