"That's not it, Mr. Franklin. My parents are gone. I mean they aren't living anymore."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Patty, but what about your guardian?"

"He knows where I am. You don't have to worry about that."

This puzzled me. Her guardian knew where she was, but didn't worry about her? He must be a careless guardian, but after thinking about it for a moment, could the guardian be the reason she had left home? Maybe, to put it mildly, he had gotten too 'friendly' with this thirteen year old. I could understand that and the reason why she left home, wherever that was. Well, for now, I wouldn't notify anyone.

"Okay, Patty, I'll let you stay as long as you like."

Finally she smiled. Although the rest of her little face was still sad. "I knew you would, Mr. Franklin."

"Patty, why don't you just call me Dennis?"

"I'm not allowed to do that. I have to call you Mr. Franklin. That's one of the rules my guardian insisted on."

"Then I shall call you Patience and not Patty. You don't live here in Clay City, do you?"

"No, I don't. My home is very far away."

"Well, if you're going to stay with me for a while, please, oh please, don't let Mrs. Hardy, or anyone else see you here. I would probably be jailed. Sometimes people see the worst in any situation."