BETTY GORDON IN WASHINGTON

OR

Strange Adventures in a Great City

BY

ALICE B. EMERSON

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I THE GORED COW

II HOSPITALITY UNDER DIFFICULTIES

III BOB HAS GREAT NEWS

IV AT THE VENDUE

V CONSEQUENCES

VI THE RUNAWAY MISSED

VII A BELATED LETTER

VIII GOOD-BY TO BRAMBLE FARM

IX NEW FRIENDS

X FELLOW TRAVELERS

XI A SERIOUS MIX-UP

XII STRAIGHTENING THINGS OUT

XIII WASHINGTON MONUMENT

XIV LIBBIE IS ROMANTIC

XV OFF TO INVESTIGATE

XVI WHAT HALE HAD TO TELL

XVII MORE SIGHTSEEING

XVIII BETTY UNDERSTANDS

XIX AN UNEXPECTED MEETING

XX MUTUAL CONFIDENCES

XXI THE ACCIDENT

XXII BEING RESCUED

XXIII ANOTHER RESCUE

XXIV BOB IS CLEARED

XXV FUTURE PLANS

BETTY GORDON IN WASHINGTON

CHAPTER I

THE GORED COW

For lack of a better listener, Betty Gordon addressed the saucylittle chipmunk that sat on the top rail of the old worn fence andstared at her with bright, unwinking eyes. 

"It is the loveliest vase you ever saw, " said Betty, busily sortingthe tangled mass of grasses and flowers in her lap. "Heavy oldcolonial glass, you know, plain, but with beautiful lines. "

The chipmunk continued to regard her gravely. 

"I found it this morning when I was helping Mrs. Peabody clean thekitchen closet shelves, " the girl went on, her slim fingers selectingand discarding slender stems with fascinating quickness. "It was onthe very last shelf, and was covered with dust. I washed it, andwe're going to have it on the supper table to-night with this bouquetin it. There! don't you think that's pretty?"

She held out the flowers deftly arranged and surveyed them proudly. The chipmunk cocked his brown head and seemed to be withholding hisopinion. 

Betty put the bouquet carefully down on the grass beside her andstretched the length of her trim, graceful self on the turf, buryingher face luxuriously in the warm dry "second crop" of hay that hadbeen raked into a thin pile under the pin oak and left thereforgotten. Presently she rolled over and lay flat on her back, studying the lazy clouds that drifted across the very blue sky. 

"I'd like to be up in an airplane, " she murmured drowsily, hereyelids drooping. "I'd sail right into a cloud and see--What was that?"

She sat up with a jerk that sent the hitherto motionless chipmunkscurrying indignantly up the nearest tree, there to sit and shake hishead angrily at her. 

"Sounds like Bob!" said Betty to herself. "My goodness, that was Mr. Peabody--they must be having an awful quarrel!"

The voices and shouts came from the next field, separated from herby a brook, almost dry now, and a border of crooked young willowtrees grown together in an effective windbreak. 

"Anybody who'll gore a cow like that isn't fit to own a single dumbcreature!" A clear young voice shaking with passion was carried bythe wind to the listening girl. 

"When I need a blithering, no-'count upstart to teach me mybusiness, I'll call on you and not before, " a deeper, harsh voicesnarled. "When you're farming for yourself you can feed theneighbors' critters on your corn all you've a mind to!"

"Oh, dear!" Betty scrambled to her feet, forgetting the bouquet socarefully culled, and darted in the direction of the willow hedge. "Ido hope Mr. Peabody hasn't been cruel to an animal. Bob is always sofurious when he catches him at that!"

She crossed the puttering little brook by the simple expedient ofjumping from one bank to the other and scrambled through the willowtrees, emerging, flushed and anxious-eyed, to confront a boy aboutfourteen years old in a torn straw hat and faded overalls and a tall, lean middle-aged man with a pitchfork in his hands. 

"Well?" the latter grunted, as Betty glanced fearfully at him. "Whatdid you come for? I suppose you think two rows of corn down flat issomething to snicker at?"

They stood on the edge of a flourishing field of corn, and, following the direction of Mr. Peabody's accusing finger, BettyGordon saw that two fine rows had been partially eaten and trampled. 

"Oh, that's too bad!" she said impulsively, "What did it--a straycow?"

"Keppler's black and white heifer, " answered Mr. Peabody grimly. "Bob here is finding fault with me because I didn't let it eat itshead off. "

"No such thing!" Bob Henderson was stung into speech. "Because thepoor creature didn't get out fast enough to suit you--and youbewildered her with your shouting till she didn't know which way toturn--you jabbed her with the pitchfork. I saw the blood! And I saynobody but an out and out coward would do a thing like that to a dumbanimal. "

"Oh!" breathed Betty again, softly. "How could you!"

"Now I've heard about enough of that!" retorted Mr. Peabody angrily. "If you'd both attend to your own business and leave me to mind mine, we'd save a lot of time. You, Bob, go let down the bars and turn thatcritter into the road. Maybe Keppler will wake up and repair hisfences after all his stock runs off. You'd better help him, Betty. Hemight step on a grub-worm if you don't go along to watch him!"

Bob strode off, kicking stones as he went, and Betty followedsilently. She helped him lower the bars and drive the cow into theroad, then put the bars in place again. 

"Where are you going?" she ventured in surprise, as Bob moodilytrudged after the animal wending an erratic way down the road. 

"Going to take her home, " snapped Bob, "Peabody would like to seeKeppler have to get her out of the pound, but I'll save him thattrouble. You can go on back and read your book. "

"Just because you're mad at Mr. Peabody is no reason why you shouldbe cross to me, " said Betty with spirit. "I wasn't reading a book, and I'm coming with you. So there!"

Bob laughed and told her to "come on. " He was seldom out of sortslong. Indeed, of the two, Betty had the quicker temper and cherisheda grudge more enduringly. 

"Just the same, Betty, " Bob announced, as he skillfully persuadedthe cow to forego the delights of a section of particularly sweetgrass and proceed on her course, "I'm about through. I can't stand itmuch longer; and lately I've been afraid that in a rage I mightstrike Mr. Peabody with something and either kill him or hurt himbadly. Of course, I wouldn't do it if I stopped to think, but when hegets me furious as he did to-day, I don't stop to think. "

"Well, for mercy's sake, Bob Henderson, " ejaculated Betty in aninstant alarm, "don't kill him, whatever you do. Then you'd be put inprison for life!"

"All right, " agreed Bob equably, "I won't kill him--just nick him ina few places--how will that do?"

"But I'm really serious, " insisted Betty. "Don't let the cow turn upthat lane. Think how awful you would feel if you were sent to prison, Bob. "

Bob took refuge in a masculine stronghold. 

"If that isn't just like a girl!" he said scornfully. "Who said Iwas going to prison? I merely say I don't want to lose my temper anddo something rash, and you have me convicted and sentenced for life. Gee, Betty, have a little mercy!"

Betty's lips trembled. 

"I can't bear to think of you going away and leaving me here, " shefaltered. "I'm not going to stay either, Bob, not one minute after Ihear from Uncle Dick. I'm sure if the Benders knew how things weregoing, they would think we had a right to leave. I had the loveliestletter from Mrs. Bender this morning--but it had been opened. "

Bob switched an unoffending flower head savagely. 

"You come out of that!" he shouted to the perverse cow that seemeddetermined to turn to the left when she was plainly asked to turn tothe right. "Wait a minute, Betty; here's Fred Keppler. "

The half-grown boy who accosted them with "What are you doing withour cow?" grinned fatuously at Betty, showing several gaps in a rowof fine teeth. 

"Keep your cow at home where she belongs, " directed Bobmagnificently. "She's been making her dinner off our corn. "

"Oh, gee, " sighed the boy nervously. "I'll bet old Peabody was in atearing fury. Look, Bob, something's tore her hide! She must havebeen down in the blackberry bushes along the brook. "

"Well, see that it doesn't happen again, " commanded Bob, gracefullywithdrawing by walking backward. "Corn that's as high as ours isworth something, you know. "

"You never told him about the pitchfork, " said Betty accusingly, assoon as Fred Keppler and the cow were out of earshot. "You let himthink it was blackberry bushes that scratched her like that. "

"Well, his father will know the difference, " grinned Bob cheerfully. "Why should I start an argument with Fred? Saving the cow from thepound ought to be enough, anyway. Mr. Keppler has had to buy morethan one animal out before this; he will not pay attention to hisfences. "

Betty sat down on a broad boulder and leaned up against an oldhickory tree. 

"Stone in my shoe, " she said briefly. "You'll have to wait just aminute, Bob. "

Bob sat down on the grass and began to hunt for four leaf clovers, an occupation of which he never tired. 

"Do you think Mr. Peabody opened your letter?" he asked abruptly. 

Betty paused in the operation of untying her shoe. 

"Who else would?" she said thoughtfully. "It wasn't even pastedtogether again, but slit across one end, showing that whoever did itdidn't care whether I noticed it or not. I'll never mail anotherletter from that box. I'll walk to Glenside three times a day first!"

"Well, the only thing to do is to clear out, " said Bob firmly. "You'll have to wait till you hear from your uncle, or at least tillthe Benders get back. We promised, you know, that we wouldn't runaway without telling them, or if there wasn't time, writing to themand saying where we go. That shows, I think, that they suspectedthings might get too hot to be endured. "

"I simply must get a letter from Uncle Dick or go crazy, " sighedBetty feverishly. She put on her shoe and stood up. "I wish he wouldcome for me himself and see how horrid everything is. "

CHAPTER II

HOSPITALITY UNDER DIFFICULTIES

Betty Gordon had come to Bramble Farm, as Mr. Peabody's home wasknown, early in the summer to stay until her uncle, Richard Gordon, should be able to establish a home for her, or at least know enoughof his future plans to have Betty travel with him. He was interestedin mines and oil wells, and his business took him all over the country. 

Betty was an orphan, and this Uncle Dick was her only livingrelative. He came to her in Pineville after her mother's death andwhen the friends with whom she had been staying decided to go toCalifornia. He remembered Mrs. Peabody, an old school friend, andsuggested that Betty might enjoy a summer spent on a farm. Theseevents are related in the first book of this series, called "BettyGordon at Bramble Farm. "

That story tells how Betty came to the farm to find Joseph Peabody adomineering, pitiless miser, his wife Agatha, a drab woman crushed inspirit, and Bob Henderson, the "poorhouse rat, " a bright intelligentlad whom the Peabodys had taken from the local almshouse for hisboard and clothes. Betty Gordon found life at Bramble Farm verydifferent from the picture she and her uncle had drawn inimagination, and only the fact that her uncle's absence in the oilfields had prevented easy communication with him had held her throughthe summer. 

Once, indeed, she had run away, but circumstances had brought herand Bob to the pleasant home of the town police recorder, and Mr. AndMrs. Bender had proved themselves true and steadfast friends to theboy and girl who stood sorely in need of friendship. It was theBenders who had exacted a promise from both Bob and Betty that theywould not run away from Bramble Farm without letting them know. 

Betty had been instrumental in causing the arrest of two men who hadstolen chickens from the Peabody farm, and at the hearing before therecorder something of Mr. Peabody's characteristics and of theconditions at Bramble Farm had been revealed. 

Anxious to have Betty and Bob return, Joseph Peabody had practicallyagreed to treat them more humanely, and for a few weeks, during whichthe Benders had gone away for their annual vacation, matters atBramble Farm had in the main improved. But they were graduallyslipping back to the old level, and this morning, when Peabody hadgored the cow with his pitchfork, Bob had thought disgustedly that itwas useless to expect anything good at the hands of the owner ofBramble Farm. 

As he and Betty tramped back after delivering the cow, Bob's mindwas busy with plans that would free him from Mr. Peabody and set himforward on the road that led to fortune. Bob included making afortune in his life work, having a shrewd idea that money rightlyused was a good gift. 

"Where do you suppose your uncle is?" he asked Betty, coming out ofa reverie wherein he bade Bramble Farm and all the dwellers therewith a single exception a cold and haughty farewell. 

"Why, I imagine he is in Washington, " returned Betty confidently. "His last letter was from there, though two days ago a postal camefrom Philadelphia. I think likely he went up to see his lawyer andget his mail. You know it was held there while he was out West. Ihope he has all my letters now, and last night I wrote him another, asking him if I couldn't leave here. I said I'd rather go to thestrictest kind of a boarding school; and so I would. I'll mail theletter this afternoon in Glenside. "

"It's too long a walk for you to take on a hot afternoon, " grumbledBob. "I'm going over to Trowbridge, and I'll mail it there for you. "

Betty pulled the letter from her blouse pocket and handed it to him. 

"Where's Trowbridge?" she asked, as they came in sight of theboundary line of Bramble Farm and sighted Mr. Peabody in conversationwith the mail carrier at the head of the lane. "Can I go with you?"

"We'd better hurry, " suggested Bob, quickening his steps. "Trowbridge is four miles beyond Laurel Grove. You've never beenthere. No, you can't go, Betty, because I have to ride the sorrel. Isuppose in time old Peabody will buy another wagon, but no one cantell when that will come to pass. "

The wagon house had burned one night, and the master of Bramble Farmcould not bring himself to pay out the cash for even a secondhandwagon. As a result, the always limited social activities of the farmwere curtailed to the vanishing point. 

"What are you going for?" persisted Betty, who had her fair share offeminine curiosity with the additional excuse that interesting eventswere few and far between in her present everyday life. 

Bob grinned. 

"Going to a vendue, " he announced. "Now how much do you know?"

Betty tossed her head, and elevated her small, freckled nose. 

"A vendue?" she repeated. "Why, a vendue is a--a--what is it, Bob?"

"A sale, " said Bob. "Some farmer is going to sell out and Peabodywants a wagon. So I have to ride that horse fourteen miles and back--and he has a backbone like a razor blade!--to buy a wagon; that is, if no one bids over me. "

"And Mr. Peabody won't pay more than six dollars; he said so at thesupper table last night, " mourned Betty. "You'll never be able to buya wagon for that. I wish I could go, too. Bob, I never saw a countryvendue. Please, can't I?"

"You cannot, " replied Bob with unaccustomed decision. Betty usuallywheedled him into granting her requests. "Haven't I just told youthere is nothing to go in? If you see yourself perched on that raw-bonednag with me, I don't, that's all. But I tell you what; there'sa sale to-morrow at a farm this side of Glenside--I'll take you tothat, if you like. I guess Peabody will let me off, seeing as howthere are wagons advertised. We can easily walk to Faulkner's place. "

This promise contented Betty, and she ate her dinner quietly. Bobrode off on the old horse directly after dinner, and then for thefirst time Betty noticed that Mrs. Peabody seemed worried aboutsomething. 

"Don't you feel well? Won't you go upstairs and lie down and let medo the dishes?" urged the girl. "Do, Mrs. Peabody. You can have anice, long rest before it's time to feed the chickens. "

"I feel all right, " said Mrs. Peabody dully. "Only--well, I foundthis card from the new minister back of the pump this morning. It's aweek old, and he says he's coming out to call this afternoon. There'sno place in the house I can show him, and I haven't got a decentdress, either. "

Betty swallowed her first impulse to say what she thought of ahusband who would make no effort to see that his wife received hermail, and instead turned her practical mind to consideration of theimmediate moment. The so-called parlor was hopeless she knew, and shedismissed it from the list of possibilities at once. It was asparsely furnished, gloomy room, damp and musty from being tightlyclosed all summer, and the unpainted, rough boards had never beencarpeted. 

"There's the porch, " said Betty suddenly. "Luckily that's shady inthe afternoon, and we can bring out the best things to make it lookused. You let me fix it, Mrs. Peabody. And you can wear--let me see, what can you wear?"

Mrs. Peabody waited patiently, her eyes mirroring her explicit faithin Betty's planning powers. 

"Your white shirtwaist and skirt, " announced the girl at length. "They're both clean, aren't they? I thought so. Well, I'll lend you aribbon girdle, and you can turn in the high neck so it will be morein style. You'll see, it will look all right. "

While Mrs. Peabody washed her dishes with more energy than usualbecause she had a definite interest in the coming hours, Betty flewto the shabby room that was titled by courtesy the parlor. She flungup the windows and opened the blinds recklessly. She would take onlythe plain wooden chair and the two rockers, she decided, for thestuffed plush furniture would look ridiculous masquerading as summerfurnishings. The sturdy, square table would fit into her scheme, andalso the small rug before the blackened fireplace. 

She dashed back to the kitchen and grabbed the broom. She did notdare scrub the porch floor for fear that it would not dry in time, but she swept it carefully and spread down the rug. Then one by one, and making a separate trip each time, she carried out the table andthe chairs. With a passing sigh for the bouquet abandoned in thefield and probably withered by this time, she managed to get enoughflowers from the overgrown neglected garden near the house to fillthe really lovely colonial glass vase she had discovered that morning. 

"It looks real pretty, " pronounced Mrs. Peabody, when she wasbrought out to see the transformed corner of the porch. "Looks as ifwe used it regular every afternoon, doesn't it? Do you think it willbe all right not to ask him in, Betty?"

"Of course, " said Betty stoutly. "Don't dare ask him in! If he wantsa drink of water, call me, and I'll get it for him. You must besitting in your chair reading a magazine when he comes and he'llthink you always spend your afternoons like that. "

"I'll hurry and get dressed, " agreed Mrs. Peabody, giving a lastsatisfied glance at the porch. "I declare, I never saw your beat, Betty, for making things look pretty. "

Betty needed that encouragement, for when it came to making Mrs. Peabody look pretty in the voluminous white skirt and stiffshirtwaist of ten years past, the task seemed positively hopeless. Betty, however, was not one to give in easily, and when she hadbrushed and pinned her hostess's thin hair as softly as she couldarrange it, and had turned in the high collar of her blouse andpinned it with a cameo pin, the one fine thing remaining to Mrs. Peabody from her wedding outfit, adding a soft silk girdle of gray-blue, she knew the improvement was marked. Mrs. Peabody stared atherself in the glass contentedly. 

"I didn't know I could look that nice, " she said with a candor atonce pathetic and naive. "I've been wishing he wouldn't come, but nowI kinda hope he will. "

Betty gently propelled her to the porch and established her in oneof the rocking chairs with a magazine to give her an air of leisure. 

"You'll come and talk to him, won't you?" urged Mrs. Peabodyanxiously. "It's been so long since I've seen a stranger I won't knowwhat to say. "

"Yes, you will, " Betty assured her "I'll come out after you'vetalked a little while. He won't stay long, I imagine, because he willprobably have a number of calls to pay. "

"Well, I hope Joseph stays out of sight, " remarked Joseph Peabody'swife frankly. "Of course, in time the new minister will know him aswell as the old one did; but I would like to have him call on me likeother parishioners first. "

CHAPTER III

BOB HAS GREAT NEWS

The new minister proved to be a gentle old man, evidently retired toa country charge and, in his way, quite as diffident as Mrs. Peabody. He was apparently charmed to be entertained on the porch, and sawnothing wrong with the neglected house and grounds. His near-sightedeyes, beaming with kindness and good-will, apparently took comfortand serenity for granted, and when Betty came out half an hour afterhis arrival, carrying a little tray of lemonade and cakes, he wasdeep in a recital of the first charge he had held upon his graduationfrom the theological seminary forty years before. 

"There, that's over!" sighed Mrs. Peabody, quite like theexperienced hostess, when the minister's shabby black buggy was wellon its way out of the lane. "You're dreadful good, Betty, to help methrough with it. He won't come again for another six months--it takeshim that long to cover his parish, the farms are so far apart. Let mehelp you carry back the chairs. "

Betty longed to suggest that they leave them out and use the porchas an outdoor sitting room, but she knew that such an idea would besure to meet with active opposition from the master of Bramble Farm. Long before he came in to supper that night the chairs had beenrestored to their proper places and Mrs. Peabody had resumed the graywrapper she habitually wore. Only the vase of flowers on the tablewas left to show that the afternoon had been slightly out of theordinary. That and the tray of glasses Betty had unfortunately lefton the draining board of the sink, intending to wash them with thesupper dishes. 

"Whose glasses, and what's been in 'em?" demanded Mr. Peabodysuspiciously. "There's sugar in the bottom of one of 'em. You haven'tbeen making lemonade?" He turned to his wife accusingly. 

Bob had not come home yet, and there was only Ethan, the hired man, Betty, and the Peabodys at the supper table. 

"I made lemonade, " said Betty quietly. "Those are my own glasses Ibought in Glenside, and the sugar and lemons were mine, too. So werethe cakes. "

This silenced Peabody, for he knew that Betty's uncle sent her moneyfrom time to time, and though he fairly writhed to think that sheCould spend it so foolishly, he could not interfere. 

As soon as it was dark the Peabody household retired, to savelighting lamps, and this evening was no exception. Betty learned froma stray question Mrs. Peabody put to Ethan, the hired man, that Bobwas not expected home until ten or eleven o'clock. There was nothought of sitting up for him, though Betty knew that in alllikelihood he would have had no supper, having no money and knowingno one in Trowbridge. 

She was not sleepy, and having brushed and braided her hair for thenight, she threw her sweater over her dressing gown and sat down atthe window of her room, a tin of sardines and a box of crackers inher lap, determined to see to it that Bob had something to eat. 

There was a full moon, and the road lay like a white ribbon betweenthe silver fields. Betty could follow the lane road out to where itmet the main highway, and now and then the sound of an automobilehorn came to her and she saw a car speed by on the main road. Sittingthere in the sweet stillness of the summer night, she thought of hermother, of the old friends in Pineville, and, of course, of heruncle. She wondered where he was that night, if he thought of her, and what would be his answer to her letter. 

"Is that a horse?" said Betty to herself, breaking off her reverieabruptly. "Hark! that sounds like a trotting horse. "

She was sure that she could make out the outlines of a horse andrider on the main road, but it was several minutes before she waspositive that it had turned into the lane. Yes, it must be Bob. Noone else would be out riding at that hour of the night. Betty glancedat her wrist-watch--half-past ten. 

The rhythmic beat of the horse's hoofs sounded more plainly, andsoon Betty heard the sound of singing. Bob was moved to song in thatlovely moonlight, as his sorry mount was urged to unaccustomed spiritand a feeling of freedom. 

 "When in thy dreaming, moons like these shall shine again, And, daylight beaming, prove thy dreams are vain. "

Bob's fresh, untrained voice sounded sweet and clear on the nightair, and to Betty's surprise, tears came unbidden into her eyes. Shewas not given to analysis. 

"Moonlight always makes me want to cry, " she murmured, dashing thedrops from her eyes. "I hope Bob will look up and know that I'm atthe window. I don't dare call to him. "

But Bob, who had stopped singing while still some distance from thehouse, clattered straight to the barn. 

Betty hurried over to her lamp, lit it, and set it on the window sill. 

"He'll see it from the barn, " she argued wisely, "and know that I amnot asleep. "

Her reasoning proved correct, for in a few minutes a well-knownwhistle sounded below her window. She blew out the light and leanedout. 

"Oh, Betty!" Bob's tone was one of repressed excitement. "I've gotsomething great to tell you. "

"Have you had any supper?" demanded Betty, more concerned with thatquestion than with any news. "I've something for you, if you'rehungry. "

"Hungry? Gee, I'm starved!" was the response. "I didn't dare stop toask for a meal anywhere, because I knew I'd be late getting home asit was. The horse was never cut out for a saddle horse; I'm so stiffI don't believe I can move to-morrow. Where's the eats?"

"Here. I'll let it down in a moment, " answered Betty, tying a stringto the parcel. "Sorry it isn't more, Bob, but the larder's gettinglow again. "

Bob untied the can and cracker box she lowered to him, and Bettypulled in the string to be preserved for future use. 

"Thanks, awfully, " said Bob. "You're a brick, Betty. And, say, whatdo you think I heard over in Trowbridge?"

"Don't talk so loud!" cautioned Betty. "What, Bob?"

"Why, the poorhouse farm is this side of the town, " said Bob, munching a cracker with liveliest manifestations of appreciation. "Coming back to-night--that's what made me late--Jim Turner, who'spoormaster now, called me in. Said he had something to tell me. Itseems there was a queer old duffer spent one night there a while back--Jim thought it must have been a month ago. He has a secondhandbookshop in Washington, and he came to the poorhouse to look at someold books they have there--thought they might be valuable. Theyopened all the records to him, and Jim says he was quite interestedwhen he came to my mother's name. Asked a lot of questions about herand wanted to see me. Jim said he was as queer as could be, and allthey could get out of him was that maybe he could tell me somethingto interest me. He wouldn't give any of the poorhouse authorities aninkling of what he knew, and insisted that he'd have to see me first. "

"Where is he?" demanded Betty energetically. "I hope you didn't comeaway without seeing him, Bob. What's his name? How does he look?"

"His name, " said Bob slowly, "is Lockwood Hale. And he went back toWashington the next day. "

Betty's air castles tumbled with a sickening slump. 

"Bob Henderson!" she cried, remembering, however, to keep her voicelow. "The idea! Do you mean to tell me they let that man go withoutnotifying you? Why I never heard of anything so mean!"

"Oh, I'm not important, " explained Bob, quite without bitterness. "Poorhouse heads don't put themselves out much for those under 'em--though Jim Turner's always treated me fair enough. But Lockwood Halehad to go back to Washington the next day, Betty. There honestlywasn't time to send for me. "

"Perhaps they gave him your address, " said Betty hopefully. "But, oh, Bob, you say he was there a month ago?"

Bob nodded unhappily. 

"He hasn't my address, " he admitted. "Jim says he meant to give itto him, but the old fellow left suddenly without saying a word to anyone. Jim thought maybe he had the name in mind and would writeanyway. I'd get it, you know, if it went to the poorhouse. But Iguess Hale's memory is like a ragbag--stuffed with odds and ends thathe can't get hold of when he wants 'em. No, Betty, I guess the onlything for me to do is to go to Washington. "

"Well, if you don't go to bed, young man, I'll come down there andhelp you along, " an angry whisper came from the little window upunder the roof. "You've been babbling and babbling steady for half anhour, " grumbled the annoyed Ethan. "How do you expect me to get anysleep with that racket going on? Come on up to bed before the old manwakes up. "

Thankful that it was Ethan instead of Mr. Peabody, Bob gathered uphis sardines and the remnants of the crackers and tiptoed up theattic stairs to the room he shared with the hired man. 

Betty hastily slipped into bed, and though Bob's news had excitedher, she was tired enough to fall asleep readily. 

In the morning she watched her chance to speak to Bob alone, andwhen she heard him grinding a sickle in the toolhouse ran out to tellhim something. 

"You must let me lend you some money, Bob, " she said earnestly. "Iknow you haven't enough to go to Washington on. I've been saving, thanks to your advice, and I have more than I need. Besides, I couldborrow from the Guerins or the Benders. You will take some, won't you?"

"I have enough, really I have, " insisted Bob. "You know Dr. Guerinsold every one of those charms I carved, and I haven't spent a cent. It's all buried in a little canvas bag under the rose bush, just likea movie. I hate to take money from a girl, Betty. "

"Don't be silly!" Betty stamped her foot angrily. "It's only a loan, Bob. And you'd feel cheap, wouldn't you, if you had to come backafter you ran away because you didn't have enough money? You takethis, and you can pay it back as soon as you please after you haveseen the old bookstore man. "

She pushed a tight little wad of money into the boy's perspiring hand. 

"All right, " he capitulated. "I'll borrow it. I would like to know Ihad enough. Sure I'm not crippling you, Betsey?"

Betty shook her head, smiling. 

"I've enough to buy a ticket to Washington, " she assured him. "That's all we need, isn't it, Bob? Oh, how I wish Uncle Dick wouldsend for me!"

CHAPTER IV

AT THE VENDUE

"You, Bob!"

The shout awakened Betty at dawn the next morning, and running tothe window she saw Bob disappear into the barn, Mr. Peabody close onhis heels. 

"Oh, goodness, I suppose he's scolding about something, " sighed thegirl. "There always is something to find fault about. I hope Bob willkeep his temper, because I want him to be able to take me to thevendue this afternoon. "

Joseph Peabody came into breakfast in a surly frame of mind, amental condition faithfully reflected in the attitude of his hiredman who jerked back his chair and subsided into it with a grunt. Betty's irrepressible sense of humor pictured the dog (the Peabodyskept no dog because the head of the house considered that dogs atemore than they were worth) tucking his tail between his legs andslinking under the table as a port in the storm. The dog, shedecided, glancing at Mrs. Peabody's timid face, was all that wasneeded to set the seal on a scene of ill-nature and discomfort. 

Bob, when he came in late with the milk pails, wore a black scowland set his burden down with a crash that spilled some of theprecious fluid on to the oilcloth top of the side table. 

"Be a little more careful with that, " growled Mr. Peabody, takingthe last piece of ham, which left nothing but the fried potatoes andbread for Bob's breakfast. "The cows are going dry fast enoughwithout you trying to waste the little they give. "

Bob, looking as though he could cheerfully fling the contents ofboth pails over his employer, sullenly began to pump water into thehand basin. This habit of "washing up" at the kitchen sink while ameal was in progress always thoroughly disgusted Betty, and Bobusually performed his ablutions on the back porch. This morning hewas evidently too cross to consider a second person's feelings. 

"Always ready enough to throw out what doesn't belong to you, " wenton Mr. Peabody grumbling. "Born in the poorhouse, you're in a fairway to die there. If I didn't watch you every minute, you'd wastemore than I can save in a year. "

Bob, his face buried in the roller towel, lost his temper at thispoint. 

"Oh, for Pete's sake, shut up!" he muttered. 

But Mr. Peabody had heard. With a quickness that surprised even hiswife, for ordinarily he slouched his way around, he sprang from hischair, reached the side of the unconscious Bob, and soundly boxed hisears twice. 

"I'll take no impudence from you!" he cried, enraged. "Here, comeback!" he yelled, as Bob started for the door. "You come back hereand sit down. When you don't come to the table, it will be because Isay so. Sit down, I say!"

Bob, his face livid, his ears ringing, dropped into a chair at thetable. Ethan continued to eat stolidly, and Betty kept her eyesresolutely fastened on her plate. 

"Just for that, you stay home from the Faulkner sale!" announced Mr. Peabody who was more than ordinarily loquacious that morning. "I'llfind something for you to do this afternoon that'll keep your handsbusy, if not your tongue. Eat your breakfast. I'll have no mincingover food at my table. "

Poor Bob, who had often been forbidden a meal as punishment, nowmechanically tried to eat the unappetizing food placed before him. Betty was terribly disappointed about the sale, for she had set herheart on going. There were few pleasures open to her as a member ofthe household at Bramble Farm, and, with the exception of the Gueringirls in town, she had no girl friends her own age. Bob had provedhimself a sympathetic, loyal chum, and he alone had made the summerendurable. 

"Don't care!" she cried, to console the boy, as Peabody and hishelper went out of the house to begin the field work for the day. "Don't care, Bob. I really don't mind not going to the sale. "

Mrs. Peabody was in the pantry, straining the milk. 

"We're going, " whispered Bob. "You meet me right after dinner at theend of the lane. I'm sick of being knocked around, and I think JimTurner will be at the sale. I want to see him. Anyway, we're going. "

"But--but Mr. Peabody will be furious!" ventured Betty. "You knowwhat a scene he will make, Bob. Do you think we had better go?"

"You needn't, " said Bob ungraciously. "I am. "

"Of course, if you go, so will I, " replied Betty, swallowing a sharpretort. Bob was badgered enough without a contribution from her. "Perhaps he will not miss us--we can get back in time for supper. "

Immediately after dinner at noon Mr. Peabody sent Bob out to the hayloft to pitch down hay for the balers who were expected to come andset up their machine that night, ready for work the next day. Hecould not have selected a meaner job, for the hay loft was stiflingin the heat of the midday sun which beat down on the roof of thebarn, and there were only two tiny windows to supply air. Mr. Peabodyhimself was going up in the woods to mark trees for some needed fencerails. 

Bob departed with a significant backward glance at Betty, which senther flying upstairs to get into a clean frock. Mrs. Peabodymanifested so little interest in her activities that the girlanticipated no difficulty in getting safely out of the house. As ithappened, her hostess made the way even easier. 

"If you're going to Glenside, Betty, " she remarked dully, stoppingin the doorway of Betty's room as the girl pulled on her hat, "I wishyou'd see if Grimshaw has any meat scraps. Joseph might get me a bitthe next time he goes over. Just ask how much it is, an' all--thehens need something more than they're getting. "

Betty knew that Joseph Peabody would never buy meat scraps for hiswife's hens. Indeed, she had priced stuff several times at Mrs. Peabody's request and nothing had ever come of it. But she agreed togo to Grimshaw's if she got that far in her walk, and Mrs. Peabodyturned aside into her own room without asking any questions. 

"Gee! thought you never were coming, " complained Bob, when the slimfigure in the navy serge skirt and white middy met him at the end ofthe lane road. "The sale starts at one sharp, you know, and we'llmiss the first of it. Lots of 'em will come in overalls, so I'll bein style. "

Before they had walked very far they were overtaken by a rattlingblackboard, drawn by a lean, raw-boned white horse and driven by acheerful farmer's wife who invited them to "hop in, " an invitationwhich they accepted gratefully. She was going to the Faulkner vendue, she informed them, and her heart was set on three wooden wash tubsand seven yards of ingrain carpet advertised in the list of householdgoods offered for sale. 

"My daughter's going to set up for herself next fall, " she saidhappily, "and that ingrain will be just the thing for her spare room. "

When they reached the Faulkner farm, a rather commonplace group ofbuildings set slightly in a hollow, they found teams and automobilesof every description blocking the lane that led to the house. 

Bob tied the white horse to an unoccupied post for the woman, andshe hastened away, worried lest the ingrain carpet be sold before shecould reach the crowd surrounding the auctioneer. 

Betty, for whom all this was a brand-new experience, enjoyed theexcitement keenly. She followed Bob up to the front porch of thehouse where the household effects were being put up for sale, Bobexplaining that the live stock would be sold later. 

"Well, look who's here!" cried a hearty voice, as a man, movingaside to give Betty room, allowed the person standing next to him tosee the girl's face. "Betty Gordon! And Bob, too! Not thinking ofgoing to farming, are you?"

Gray-haired, kindly-faced Doctor Guerin shook hands cordially, andkept a friendly arm across Bob's thin shoulders. 

"Friends of yours coming home next Tuesday, " he said, smiling as onewho knows he brings pleasant news. "The Benders are due in LaurelGrove. Mrs. Guerin had a postal card last night. "

Betty was glad to hear this, for she did not want Bob to leaveBramble Farm without seeking the advice of the fine young policerecorder who had been so good to them and whose friendship both sheand Bob valued as only those can who need real friends. 

"I came to bid on a secretary, " Doctor Guerin confided presently. "It's the only good thing in the whole house. Rest of the stuff isnothing but trash. That antique dealer from Petria is here, too, andI suspect he has his eye on the same piece. Don't you want to bid forme Bob, to keep him in the dark?"

Bob was delighted to do the doctor a service, and when the mahoganysecretary was put up for sale the few other bidders soon dropped out, leaving the field to the Petria dealer and the lad in the fadedoveralls. The dealer, of course, knew that Bob must represent somebuyer, but he could not decide for whom he was bidding, and so was inthe dark as to how high his opponent would go. Had he known thatDoctor Hal Guerin was bidding against him, he would have beenenlightened, for the doctor's collection of antiques was reallyfamous and the envy of many a professional collector. 

"I suppose some rube wants the desk for his sitting room, " thoughtthe Petria man lazily, his eye, keen as it was, failing to see thedoctor in the crowd. "Let him have it, and I'll buy it from him forten dollars more before he leaves the sale. He can't resist turningover his money quick like that. "

So when the auctioneer boomed "Sold for forty dollars, " and inanswer to his request for the buyer's name Bob said clearly, "DoctorGuerin, " in his own language, the man from Petria was "just plainsick. "

After the household things were sold--and Betty noted withsatisfaction that the three tubs and the ingrain carpet went to thewoman who had so coveted them--she and Bob went out to the barn andwatched the horses and cows, wagons, harnesses and farm machinerysold. It was an absorbing and colorful scene, and the boy and girl, fascinated, lingered till the last item was checked off. Then, with astart, Bob heard a farmer announce that it was half past five. 

"Oh dear!" sighed Betty nervously, "you ought to be milking thisminute. Oh, Bob, let's not go home! Couldn't we stay overnight withDoctor Guerin?"

"Now don't you be afraid, there won't anything happen to scare you, "responded Bob soothingly. It must be confessed that the knowledge ofthe little sum of money tucked away under the rosebush gave him abolder outlook on the future. 

Hiram Keppler, who owned the farm just beyond the Peabody place, gave them a lift as far as their lane, and as they hurried down theroad Betty tried her best to master her dread of the cominginterview. She had not a doubt but that Bob's absence would have beennoticed. Looking ahead fearfully, she saw a sight that confirmed herworst forebodings. 

Joseph Peabody stood at the barnyard gate, a horsewhip in his hand

CHAPTER V

CONSEQUENCES

"Oh, Bob!" Betty clutched the boy's sleeve in a panic. "And thebalers have come!"

"So!" began Mr. Peabody, in tones of cold fury. "That's the way youcarry out my orders! Not one forkful of hay pitched down, and the menready to go to work to-morrow. You miserable, sneaking loafer, wherehave you been?"

"To the vendue, " said Bob defiantly. 

"Flatly refuse to mind, do you? Well, I'll give you one lesson youwon't forget!" the man reached over and gripped Bob by his shirtcollar. Struggling violently, he was pulled over the five-barred gate. 

"I'll learn you!" snarled Peabody, raising the whip. 

Betty sprang up on the gate, her eyes blazing. 

"How dare you!" she cried, her voice shaking with anger. "How dareyou strike him! I'll scream till some one comes if you touch him. Those men at the barn won't stand by and see you beat a boy. "

"Hoity toity!" sputtered the amazed farmer, confronting the angrygirl in the middy blouse with the blazing cheeks and tangled darkbraids. 

Bob tried to pull himself free, but was brought up short by a quicktwist. 

"I'm not through with you, " Peabody informed him grimly. He glancedquickly toward the barn and observed the men watching him covertly. It was the better part of discretion, something told him, not to flogthe boy before so many witnesses. 

"I'm through with you!" declared Bob through clenched teeth. "I'mgoing! You've had all out of me you're going to get. Let go of me!"

For answer, Peabody tightened his hold on the worn shirt collar. 

"Is that so?" he drawled. "Let me tell you, Mr. Smarty, you'll goout to that barn and pitch down the hay you were supposed to do thisafternoon or you'll go back to the poorhouse. You can take yourchoice. The county has a place for incorrigible boys, and if you gofar enough you'll land in the reform school. Are you going out to thebarn or not?"

"I'll go, " agreed Bob sullenly. 

"Then see that you do. And you needn't bother to stop for supper--you've several hours' lost time to make up, " said Peabody nastily. "Now go!"

He shook the boy till his teeth rattled and then released him with apowerful sling that sent him spinning into the dust. Bruised andshaken, Bob picked himself up and started for the barn. 

"You hold your tongue a bit better, or something'll come your way, "said Peabody shortly, eyeing Betty with disfavor and turning on hisheel at a shout of "Ho, Boss!" from the foreman of the balers. 

"Hateful!" cried Betty stormily, climbing down from the gate. "He'sthe most absolutely hateful man that ever lived! I wonder if he couldsend Bob back to the poorhouse?"

The same thought was troubling Bob, she found, when after supper shewent out to the barn and climbed the loft ladder to see him. She hadbrought him some bread and water, the latter contributed by thePeabody pump and the bread saved from Betty's own meal. 

"Do you know, Betty, " confided the boy, wiping the heavyperspiration from his face with a distressingly hot looking redcotton handkerchief, "I've been thinking over what old Peabody said. He might take it into his head to send me back to the poorhouse. Hereally needs a younger boy, one he can slam about more. I'm gettingso I can fight back. I don't fancy hanging on here till he makes uphis mind to get another boy, and running away from the poorhouseisn't a simple matter. I'd better make the plunge while there's goodswimming. "

It was stifling in the loft, and Betty felt almost giddy. She sat atthe top of the ladder, her feet hanging over the edge of the floorand regarded Bob anxiously. 

"Well, perhaps you had better go early next week, " she saidjudiciously. "It would be dreadful if he did return you to thepoorhouse. "

"Therefore, I'm going to-night, " announced Bob coolly. "There's aneleven-thirty train from Glenside that will make some sort ofconnection with the southern local at the Junction. Wish me luck, Betty!"

"To-night!" gasped Betty in dismay. "Oh, Bob! don't go to-night. Wait just one night more, ah, please do!"

Betty had the truly feminine horror of quick decisions, and she wasfrankly upset by this determination of Bob's. Even as she pleaded sheknew he had made up his mind and that it was useless to ask him tochange it. 

"I don't see how you can go--you're not ready, " she arguedfeverishly. "Your shirts are on the line; I saw them. You're deadtired after all this work, and it's a long walk to Glenside. Waitjust till to-morrow, Bob, and I won't say a word. "

"No, I'm going to-night, " said Bob firmly. "I haven't so muchpacking to do that it will take me over fifteen minutes. I'll helpmyself to the shirts on the line as I go in. By to-morrow morningI'll be as far away from Bramble Farm as the local can take me. "

"But--but--I'll miss you so!" protested Betty, the catch in hervoice sounding perilously close to tears. "What shall I ever do allalone in this hateful place!"

"Oh, now, Betty!" Bob put a clumsy hand on her shoulder in an effortto comfort her. "Don't you care--you'll be going to Washington assoon as you get word from your uncle. Maybe I'll be there when youcome, and we'll go sightseeing together. "

"Are you going right to Washington?" asked Betty, drying her eyes. "And are you sure you have enough money?"

"Oceans of cash, " Bob assured her cheerfully. "That's right, braceup and smile. Think what it will mean to have one peaceful breakfast, for the last week Peabody has ragged me every meal. Sure I'm going toWashington to dig out a few facts from this Lockwood Hale. Now I'llthrow down a little more hay for good measure and we'll go on in. Mustn't rouse suspicions by staying out too long. Peabody willprobably sit up for me to come in to-night. "

Betty waited till the hay was pitched down, then followed Bob to themain floor of the barn. 

"Couldn't I walk just a little way with you?" she asked wistfully. "How soon are you going to start? I could go as far as the end of thelane. "

"I'd rather you went to bed and to sleep, " said Bob kindly. "Youcouldn't very well traipse around at night, Betty, and I'm not goingtill it is good and dark. There's no moon to-night, and you mighthave trouble getting back to the house. "

"Well--all right, " conceded Betty forlornly. "There doesn't seem tobe anything I can do. Whistle under my window, please do, Bob. I'llbe awake. And I could say good-by. I won't make a fuss, I promise. "

The boy's packing was of the simplest, for he owned neither suitcasenor trunk, and his few belongings easily went into a square of oldwrapping paper. He had earned them, few as they were, and felt nocompunctions about taking them with him. 

After the bundle was tied up he waited a half hour or so, purely asa precaution, for the Peabody household went to bed with the chickensand, with the possible exception of Mrs. Peabody, slumbered heavily. Bob slipped down the stairs, waking no one, unfastened the heavyfront door, never locked and only occasionally, as to-night, boltedwith a chain, and stepped softly around to the bush where hisprecious tin box was buried. 

This box was Bob's sole inheritance from his mother, and he had onlya vague knowledge of the papers entrusted to it. Among the yellowedslips was the marriage certificate of his parents, and he knew thatthere were one or two letters. When Joseph Peabody had taken him fromthe poorhouse, the lad had buried the box for safekeeping, and duringthe three or four years he had been with Mr. Peabody had never takenit up. 

It was not buried very deeply, and he easily uncovered it, smoothingdown the earth to hide the traces of his hasty excavating. He wentaround to Betty's window and whistled softly, half hoping that shemight be asleep. 

"Hello, Bob dear!" she called instantly, leaning from the window, her vivid face so alight with affection and hope for him that it wasa pity he could not see her clearly. "I'm wishing you the best ofluck, and I hope the old bookstore man has splendid news for you. Youwait for me in Washington. "

"I will!" whispered Bob heartily. "And you tell Mr. Bender, won'tyou? He'll understand. I'll write him the first chance I get, and DocGuerin, too. Good-by, Betty--I--I--"

To his surprise and confusion, Bob suddenly choked. 

"Here's something to take with you, " said Betty softly, dropping alittle packet that landed at his feet. "Good-by, Bob. I just knowthings will turn out all right for you. "

The dark head was withdrawn, and Bob, picking up the little package, turned and began his long walk to the Glenside station. A hoot-owlscreeched at mournful intervals, and the night sounds would havetried a city lad's nerves in that long dark stretch that led himfinally to the station. But Bob could identify every sound, andnature had always proved kind to him, far kinder than many of thepeople he had known. He trudged along sturdily, and, twenty minutesbefore the train was due, found himself the solitary passenger on theGlenside platform. 

He stood under the uncertain rays of the lamp to examine the partinggift Betty had given him. Tucked under half a dozen chocolate waferswas a five dollar bill folded into the tiniest possible wad. Thechoky feeling assailed Bob again. 

"She certainly is some girl!" he thought with mixed gratitude andadmiration. 

CHAPTER VI

THE RUNAWAY MISSED

Bob's absence was not discovered till breakfast time, for Ethan, whowas a sound sleeper, when he woke and saw Bob's empty cot, supposedthe boy had risen earlier than usual and gone to the barn. Mr. Peabody, too, took it for granted that the boy was milking, and itwas not until they were seated at the table and half way through themeal that anything out of the ordinary was suspected. 

"Why in tarnation doesn't that good for nothing bring in the milk?"grumbled Mr. Peabody. "I declare he gets later and later everymorning. The balers will be over to start work at seven, and if hethinks he's going to spend half an hour dawdling over his breakfastafter they get here, he's much mistaken. "

The men who were to bale the hay had slept at the adjoining farm, according to the agreement made, and would be at Bramble Farm fordinner and supper and to spend that night. 

"You're finished, Ethan. Go hurry him up, " ordered Joe Peabody. "Send him in here flying and turn the cows out to pasture. "

"He hasn't milked!" Ethan cleared the porch steps at a single boundand burst into the kitchen, shouting this intelligence. Excitementwas scarce in Ethan's life, and he enjoyed the pleasurable sensationof carrying unusual tidings, even if unpleasant. "The barn door wasshut and the cows were bellowing their heads off. Not a one of 'em'sbeen milked!"

"I want to know!" said Joseph Peabody stupidly. "Was he in bed whenyou came down, Ethan?"

"No, he wasn't, " answered the hired man. "I thought he'd gone onout. Do you suppose something's happened to him?"

Mr. Peabody stepped to the porch and gave a quick glance at thebench where the milk pails were usually left to air and dry. Theywere there, just as they had been left the night before. 

"I think he's cleared out!" he announced: grimly. "Betty, do youknow what this young scoundrel is up to?"

Betty's eyes brimmed over, and she flung herself blindly into Mrs. Peabody's arms which closed around her, though that good woman wasunaccustomed to demonstrations of affection. 

"There, there. " She tried to soothe the girl, for Betty's convulsivesobbing really alarmed her. 

"Don't you go to feel bad, dearie. If Bob's gone, he's gone, andthat's all there is to it. "

Peabody, milk pail in hand, motioned to Ethan to go out and beginmilking. 

"That isn't all there is to it, not by a long shot!" he growled athis wife. "If I get my hands on that boy he'll rue the day he everset foot off this farm. He'll go back to the poorhouse and therehe'll stay till he's of age. "

Betty sat up, pushing the tumbled hair from her hot forehead. 

"I'm glad Bob ran away!" she cried recklessly. "He's gone where youwon't catch him, either. You never treated him fairly, and you knowit. "

Peabody banged the kitchen door by way of relieving his feelings, but the latch did not fasten so that he heard Betty's next sentenceaddressed to his wife. 

"I'm only waiting for a letter from Uncle Dick, " confided Betty. "Then I'm going to Washington. Things will never be any differenthere, Mrs. Peabody; you've said so yourself. I wish Uncle Dick wouldhurry and write. It's been a good while since I heard. " And there wasa catch in the girl's voice. 

The man slouched off the porch, a peculiar smile on his lean, shrewdface. One hand, thrust into his ragged coat pocket, rested on aletter there. As he felt it beneath his fingers, his crafty eyesbrightened with a gleam of mockery. 

Mrs. Peabody may have been curious about Bob's departure, but sheasked no questions, somewhat to Betty's surprise. 

"I'm glad she doesn't ask me, " thought Betty, helping mechanicallyin the preparations for dinner which were more elaborate than usualbecause of the presence of the three balers. "Bob must be half way toWashington by now, and I don't believe they have the slightest ideahe is headed for there. " The Peabodys, she reasoned, knew nothing ofLockwood Hale, and of the attraction the capital of the country heldfor the orphan lad. 

Betty insisted on doing a fair share of the extra work after thenoon meal, and then ran upstairs to get ready to go over to Glenside. She wanted to tell the Guerins that Bob had gone, and from theirhouse she knew she could telephone to those other good friends, theBenders. Laurel Grove was too far to walk, even for a practised hikerlike Betty. 

To her dismay, as she left the house, Mr. Peabody joined her andfell into step. 

"I'll go as far as Durlings with you, " he announced affably, Durlingbeing their neighbor on the south, his farm lying along the road inthe direction of Glenside. "Sorry the horses haven't shoes, Betty, oryou might drive. "

Betty shot him a suspicious glance. The three horses never wereshod, except when a certain amount of traveling had to be done on thestone road. In all the weeks she had spent at Bramble Farm a horsehad never been offered for her convenience, and all of her trips totown had been either afoot, or taken with Bob in the rattling, shabby, one-horse work wagon. 

"Where did you say Bob was going?" came next. 

Betty bit her lip. 

"I didn't say, " she said evenly. "I--I don't think it's fair to askme. "

"But you know, " snapped Mr. Peabody. "I guess I have a right to knowwhere he's gone. I'm responsible for him. I've got papers that showit. The poorhouse folks are going to ask me what becomes of him. Youjust tell me where he went, and I'll satisfy 'em. I won't follow himand try to bring him back, Betty. He's too old for that. Making hisbed, he'll have to lie on it. I won't follow him. "

The girl twisted her handkerchief nervously. She was not afraid ofthe man. That is, she feared no physical violence at his hands, buthe was capable, she knew, of forcing her back to the farm and lockingher up in her room till she furnished him with the requiredinformation. And what harm could it do Bob? It was not likely thatPeabody could find the boy in a large city. 

"He won't be made to come back, " repeated her tormentor. 

"I wish I could believe you, " said Betty pitifully. 

She looked so young and helpless, trying to pit her girlishintelligence and strength against the wily miser, that another manwould have been ashamed to press her. Not so Peabody--he had alwaysconsidered that he was entitled to whatever he could get from others, information, cash, or work, it mattered not. 

They were approaching the Durling farm now, and suddenly Betty'spointed chin lifted. 

"I won't tell you!" she said firmly. "I do know where Bob went, buthe was perfectly justified in leaving a place where he was treatedworse than a dog. You would do him no good--I'm sure of that. And ifthe poorhouse authorities make a fuss about his running off, I'lltell them what he had to endure. "

Joseph Peabody's mouth dropped in astonishment. He had seen Bettylose her temper before, but she had never so openly defied him. 

"You think you're high and mighty, " he sneered. "Let me tell you, Miss, there's more ways than one of getting what you want in thisworld. Joe Peabody isn't checkmated very often, and it takes morethan an impudent girl to do it. I'm going into Lem Durling's andtelephone Jim Turner, the poormaster. I kind of surmise he can giveme a line on the direction Bob's taken. "

Betty walked on, disdaining to answer, her head very high in the airbut her heart in her shoes. Jim Turner would be sure to tell ofLockwood Hale, and Mr. Peabody would be astute enough to guess thatBob's destination was Washington. 

When she reached Doctor Guerin's house, between the heat and thedust and the long walk and her anxiety, she was in a highly excitedstate, and the doctor's wife made her lie down on the couch and restbefore she would allow her to telephone to the Benders. Mrs. Bender'ssister answered the telephone. The recorder and his wife had made adetour on their homeward trip that would extend their absence foranother week. 

"Betty, you'll be ill if you're going to get all worked up likethis, " scolded Mrs. Guerin, for Betty was crying as she hung up thereceiver. "I never saw you so unstrung, my dear. You won't be fit togo to your uncle when he does send for you. I wonder if the doctorhadn't better see you?"

Norma and Alice Guerin, two pretty girls, the former about Betty'sage, the latter a year or two older, looked at her anxiously. Bettyin tears was an unusual sight to them. 

"I'm all right, " gulped that young person, inwardly alarmed at thethought of being too ill to travel when the word came. "I didn'tsleep very well last night, thinking of Bob. Is that the secretary hebid on at the Faulkner sale?"

Knowing that the quickest way for Betty to get control of her nerveswas to forget her troubles, Mrs. Guerin entered into an enthusiasticdescription of the beauties of the old desk, showing the secretdrawer and the half score of carved pigeonholes and dwelling on thedoctor's delight in securing such a treasure at a bargain. Mrs. Guerin succeeded in having Betty more like her old self before DoctorHal Guerin came in from a round of calls. 

He was delighted to see Betty, who was an especial favorite of his, and much interested in her account of Bob's flight. 

"Did the lad have money enough?" he growled. "I suppose he'd walkbefore he'd borrow from me. "

"He had enough, " Betty assured him. "All the charms you sold for himamounted to quite a lot, and he had saved every cent of that. "

"And you probably helped him out, " commented the doctor shrewdly. "Well, well, the lad may yet whittle his way to fame and fortune. "

He referred to Bob's knack for fashioning pretty and quaint littlewooden charms and pendants, which he polished to satin smoothness andpainted and stained in bright colors. Norma Guerin had worn one atboarding school, and it was through her and her father that Bob hadsecured a large number of orders which had netted him a tidy littlesum. 

When the time came for Betty to go, the doctor insisted that hewould take her as far as the lane, and on the trip she told him thatas soon as she heard from her uncle she meant to pack her trunk andleave for Washington. 

"I don't like the idea of your making the journey alone, " grumbledDoctor Guerin; "but I don't see who there is to go with you. Onething, Betty girl, brushing up against the Peabodys has given you apractical fund of self-reliance. You're better fitted than Alice tofind your way about alone. Not that I would have chosen to have youget your knocks just in the manner they've been handed to you, butthe results leave nothing to be desired. You're standing squarely onyour own feet, Betsey, and it's this summer's grilling training thathas done it. "

CHAPTER VII

A BELATED LETTER

The hay was all baled by the next morning, and the balers, atop thelumbering machine, caroled loudly if not musically as the fat horsesdragged them slowly up the lane. Neat bales of hay were piled high onthe barn floor, to be carted over to Hagar's Corners and loaded on afreight car. That would be Ethan's job, and he grumbled at theprospect of doing it without Bob's help. 

Betty, coming in from the garden, stumbled over something in thenarrow entry. It was a man's coat--Mr. Peabody's, she recognized whenshe picked it up and shook it slightly to free it from dust. A letterfell from the pocket as she replaced it on the hook where it usuallyhung, and, stopping to pick it up, she saw to her surprise that itwas addressed to her. 

"From Washington!" she said aloud, deciphering the postmark. "Andmailed five days ago! He's carried it in his pocket ever since itcame!"

At first she feared it had been read, but evidently Mr. Peabody hadnot troubled to open it; so hastily tearing the envelope, she readthe brief note. A check was enclosed for her, and Mr. Gordonsuggested that she go to Pineville and visit old friends there for aweek or two until his plans were definitely shaped. 

"I know the Arnolds are in California, " he wrote; "but theBensingers will be glad to have you, or any of your mother's oldfriends. You do not have to stay one minute where you are unhappy. "

Betty looked up as a shadow fell across the sunny floor. It was Mr. Peabody, and he had the grace to show confusion when he saw theletter in her hand. 

Betty sprang to her feet. 

"Why did you keep my letter?" she demanded hotly. "How did you dareto hold back mail? This must have been in your coat pocket three orfour days. It was mailed five days ago!"

"Been rummaging in my coat pocket, have you?" sneered the farmer. 

"I have not! The coat was on the floor, and I fell over it. Theletter fell out while I was trying to hang it up. No one has a rightto hold back another person's mail!"

"Now hold your horses, " advised Peabody pacifically. "Who's beenholding back mail? If a body takes the mail out of the box andcarries it around in his coat a day or two, because he doesn'tremember it, that ain't such a crime that I ever knew. I just forgotthere was a letter for you. "

Betty turned away in disgust and went out to her favorite apple treeto think things over. She did not believe for one moment that Mr. Peabody had forgotten her letter. Indeed, absent-mindedness was farfrom being one of his traits. However, there was absolutely nothingto be gained by arguing, and the way was now clear for her to leaveBramble Farm. Surely the worst of her troubles were over. 

"I might go to Pineville, " she thought meditatively. "I'd love tosee the Bensingers again and the dear little house where we lived. I'll pack this afternoon. "

Betty was an orderly little person, and at her work that afternoonshe stopped frequently to sew on a button here, to mend a rip in thisgarment or to whip a frayed edge that might mar an otherwise daintybelonging. Singing softly over her task, a timid knock at her doorwakened the girl from a happy reverie. 

"Come in, Mrs. Peabody, " she called cheerfully. "Do sit down andgive me advice about where things should go. I thought I hadn'tbought anything this summer, but I seem to have a great deal morestuff than I brought with me. "

"You're packing then?" asked Mrs. Peabody, taking a chair near thebed and regarding Betty oddly. "Are you really going, Betty?"

"Oh, yes, " Betty answered matter-of-factly, "Uncle Dick wants me tostop in Pineville and visit old friends for a bit. And there's no usein pretending, Mrs. Peabody, that--that--"

"No, I suppose not, " sighed the woman, understanding only too well. "Land knows, if I could get away I'd have no misgivings about theright of it. I'll miss you, though. You've been a sight of companythis summer, and no one could have been sweeter to me, Betty. "

"Agatha!" came a stentorian shout from the front hall. "Are yougoing to stay up there all day?"

"My stars, I forgot what I came up for!" Mrs. Peabody rosehurriedly. "Joseph sent me up to tell you he wanted to ask yousomething, Betty. And here I sit right down and him waiting there allthis time!"

Betty was far from concerned over Mr. Peabody's wasted time, but shewondered uneasily what he could wish to ask her. Something connectedwith Bob, doubtless. She followed Mrs. Peabody downstairs and foundthe master of Bramble Farm striding up and down impatiently. 

"Never saw the beat of women, " he muttered. "Gabble, gabble, and anhour right out of a day's work means nothing to 'em. Oh, here youare, Miss. You know that gray alpaca coat of mine you took the letterfrom this morning?"

"The coat the letter fell out of?" corrected Betty, knowing thatsuch quibbling was foolish On her part and might provoke seriousirritation in her questioner, yet unable to refrain. "Of course Iremember it; what about it?"

Peabody accepted her description of the coat. He was plainly excitedand nervous, and betrayed a curious disposition to conciliate Betty, instantly detected in his change of tone. 

"Did you pick up any other papers?" he asked quite politely. "Anyfolded sheets, I mean, or a long envelope? I thought you might haveput them back of the clock or somewhere for safe keeping andforgotten to mention them to me. "

Betty looked her astonishment. Automatically her eyes traveled tothe clock which was pulled out of its place against the wall. So theman had actually looked there, believing that out of chagrin shemight have concealed his papers from him!

"Nothing fell out of your pocket except my letter, " she saidearnestly and with a quietness that carried conviction. "I sawabsolutely nothing else on the floor. If I had picked up otherpapers, I should have returned them to you, of course. "

Mrs. Peabody cleared her throat, usually a sign of coming speech onthe rare occasions when she did open her mouth in her husband'spresence. 

"What you lost, Joseph?" she asked eagerly. "Something missing outo' your pocket?"

"Yes, something out of my pocket!" said her husband savagely. "Youwouldn't know if I told you, but it's an unrecorded deed and worth agood deal of money. And I'll bet I know who took it--that measlyrunaway, Bob Henderson! By gum, he carried the coat up to the housefor me from the barn the day before he lit out. That's where it'sgone. I see his game! He'll try to get money out of me. But I won'tpay him a cent. No sir, I'll go to Washington first and choke thedeed out of his dirty pocket. "

"Did Bob go to Washington?" quavered Mrs. Peabody, her mind seizingon this concrete fact, the one statement she could understand in herhusband's monologue. "How'd you find out, Joseph?"

"Not through Betty, " returned Peabody grimly. "She's willing to takethe scoundrel's part against honest folks any time. Jim Turner toldme. Leastways he told me of some old duffer who runs a crazy shopdown there, and he thinks Bob's gone looking him up to find out abouthis parents. Just let him try blackmailing me, and he'll learn athing or two. "

Betty had kept still as long as she could. 

"Bob is no thief!" she said bravely. "You ought to be ashamed tosay such a thing about him. I know he didn't take your old deed. Whatearthly use would it be to him? Besides, Bob would never touch athing that wasn't his!"

"I don't believe he would take anything, Joseph, " urged Mrs. Peabodywith perfectly amazing temerity. As a rule she took neither side in acontroversy. "Besides, as the child says, what good would anunrecorded deed do him? Unless--Joseph, have you bought the Warrenlots?"

"You tend to your housework, and I'll manage my own affairs, "snapped Peabody, turning a dull brick red, however. "I meant to putthe thing in the safety deposit box over to the bank, and then thatsick cow took my mind completely off it. If Betty didn't take it, Bobdid. It's gone, and they're the only two that could have put hands onit. "

"I tell you that I haven't seen the deed, " said Betty firmly. "And Iam equally certain that Bob never took it. He's the soul of honor, whatever you may think, and he would no more take what wasn't histhan he would lie to you about it. "

Peabody caught hold of her right hand suddenly. 

"What you carrying?" he demanded suspiciously. "A trunk key? Looksmighty funny, doesn't it, to be packing up with something prettyvaluable missing? The law would likely give me the right to searchyour trunk. "

"What a dreadful old man you are!" cried Betty, involuntarily, shrinking from the sinister face that grinned malevolently into hers. "You have no right to touch my trunk. "

"Well, no call to look like that, " muttered Peabody, turning towardthe door. "I knew that other young one took it, and I aim to make ithot for him. "

"Bob didn't take any deed!" stormed Betty to Mrs. Peabody, herpacking forgotten for the moment. "Why does he keep insisting Bobstole it? And why, oh, why did that poorhouse man have to tell whereBob had gone?"

Mrs. Peabody's natural curiosity had to be satisfied, and as it wasno longer a secret Betty told her of Lockwood Hale and Bob'sdetermination to find out more about himself. 

"He doesn't want any deed, " she finished scornfully. "Can't you makeMr. Peabody see how foolish such an accusation is?"

Mrs. Peabody leaned against the kitchen table wearily. 

"I know what he's thinking, " she said dully. "I know more than Iwant to know, Betty. Joseph has bought the Warren lots, and thatmeans he's got 'em for his own price. Old man Warren is in his dotageand these lots have been surveyed and cut up into building plots onthe stone road over t'other side of Laurel Grove where the trolley'scoming through this spring. Joseph will probably sell 'em for threetimes what he's paid for 'em. That's why he doesn't have the deedrecorded; Warren's children will get hold of it, and I doubt if thesale would hold in court. Everybody knows the old father isn'tcompetent to handle his property. There was talk of having one of thesons made his guardian some months ago. Joseph has just talked himinto selling. If he wasn't my husband, I should say the sale was aplain swindle. "

CHAPTER VIII

GOOD-BY TO BRAMBLE FARM

Betty was still mystified. 

"What has Bob to do with it?" she urged. "I don't see how the deedwould be of any use to him; he couldn't claim the lots. "

"No, he couldn't claim the lots, " admitted Joseph Peabody's wife. "But he could hold the deed and threaten to notify George Warren, ifJoseph didn't pay him a good round sum of money. Mind you, I'm notsaying he would do that, Betty, but he could. That's what Josephthinks he means to do. "

"Well, I call that very silly, " said Betty briskly. "Bob Hendersonisn't a thief or a blackmailer, whatever Mr. Peabody chooses tothink. That deed is probably in another coat pocket this minute, orelse he's lost it over in Glenside. "

"I expect that worries him some, too, " confided Mrs. Peabody. "Hewould hate to have it known that he's bought the Warren lots. But Iguess it would have been better to have had the deed recorded than torun the risk of losing it and the whole town likely to pick it up onthe street. "

Before supper that night Betty had her trunk packed and her simplebelongings gathered up. She knew that Peabody was fully aware of herintention to leave, but, as her board was paid for nearly a week inadvance, he could make no possible objection. It was sheerperversity, she decided, that kept him from mentioning the subject toher. 

"I'm going to-morrow, Mr. Peabody, " she said pleasantly at thesupper table, having waited till Ethan had gone to the barn to milk. "What time would be most convenient to take my trunk over to Glensideor to Hagar's Corners?"

"I'm not going to either place to-morrow, " was the composed answer. "Don't know exactly when I shall be going over again, either. Ethanand me's got our hands full right here with the late-seasoncultivating. "

"But I have to get to the station, " protested Betty. "I can walk, ofcourse, but some one will have to take my trunk. You met me at thestation when I came, or rather Bob did, you know. Why aren't youwilling to help me go now that the summer is nearly over?"

"You haven't done me so many favors that I should put myself out foryou, " retorted Peabody sourly. "I don't care how you get to thestation, but none of my rigs go off this place to-morrow, that'sflat. And you haven't got that thieving nimble-fingers to plot andplan with you now. You'll have to manage by yourself. "

"What are you going to do, Betty?" asked Mrs. Peabody anxiously, following the girl to the door after the meal was over. "You're notgoing to walk to Glenside to-night to try to get a team to come afteryou?"

"No, I'm only going over to Kepplers, " replied Betty capably. "I'msure one of the boys will drive me over, if not to Glenside, toHagar's Corners, where I can get some kind of train for the Junction. All the through trains stop at Hagar's Corners, don't they? I camethat way. Perhaps that station is better than Glenside, after all. "

The walk across the fields tranquillized her, and she was able toenlist the aid of the Keppler's oldest boy without entering into toodetailed an account of Mr. Peabody's shortcomings. Indeed, theKepplers, father and sons, having been the nearest neighbors toBramble Farm for eleven years, had a very fair idea of what went onthere. 

"Sure, I'll take you, and the trunk, too, " promised Fred Kepplerheartily. "Any time you say, Betty. There's a good train forPineville, not too many stops, at twelve-three. How about that?"

It was settled that he should come for her about half past ten, andBetty walked home filled with thoughts of the little home town towhich she would be speeding on the morrow. 

"If Uncle Dick knew the things I've had to endure, I'm sure he'd saythat I haven't lost my temper often, considering, " she mused. "Isthat something sticking out of the mail box? Why. It is, and anewspaper. I guess Mr. Peabody forgot to come down to the box to-day. "

She opened the box and found the paper was addressed to her. Thefamiliar wrapper and type told her it was the _Pineville Post_, towhich she had subscribed when she left the town, and, tucking it underher arm, she went on to the house, intending to read an hour or sobefore going to bed. 

Lighting the lamp in her room, Betty glanced toward her trunkmechanically. She had left it locked, but the lid was now ajar. Hadsome one been tampering with the lock?

"He's opened it!" she cried to herself, making a hasty examination. "How did he dare! And look at the mess everything's in!"

Alas for Betty's hour of neat and careful packing! Dainty garmentswere tossed about recklessly, her shoes rested on her cleanhandkerchiefs, and it was plain that no attempt had been made toconceal the fact that a heavy hand had thoroughly explored thecontents of the trunk. 

"I'm only thankful he didn't break the lock, " said Betty, trying tofind a ray of brightness. "Whatever he opened it with, nothing isbroken. I suppose the only thing to do is to take everything out anddo it all over. And to-morrow morning I'll sit on the top till FredKeppler comes. "

Taking out her clothes and repacking was a tiresome job, and allthoughts of reading well gone from Betty's mind when the task wascompleted and the trunk locked for a second time. With the feelingthat, in view of what the next day might bring, she ought to go tobed early, she began at once to prepare for bed. Brushing her thick, dark hair, her eyes fell on the unopened paper. 

"I suppose I'll be there to-morrow night, " she thought, picking itup and slitting the wrapper with a convenient nail file. 

She opened and smoothed out the first page. The first words thatcaught her attention, in large black headlines across four columns, were:

 GYPSY BAND STRICKEN WITH SMALL-POX:

 WHOLE TOWN QUARANTINED!

Then followed the account of the discovery of illness among a bandof gypsies camped on the outskirts of Pineville, of the diagnosis ofsmallpox, and of the strict quarantine immediately put in force. Theissue of the _Post_ was only two days old. 

"Well, I never!" gasped Betty, doing some rapid thinking. "I'm gladit didn't happen after I got there. I might be held up for weeks. Ican't stay here, that's certain. There's nothing to do but drive toGlenside and take the train for Washington. I guess Fred will bewilling to change his plans. "

She decided that she would say nothing to the Peabodys about thealteration of her traveling schedule, fearing that if Mr. Peabodyheard she was going to Washington he might accuse her of a conspiracywith Bob in connection with the lost deed. 

Bright and early the next morning she was up, her pretty travelingbag, the gift of her uncle, packed, her room in perfect order. Therewas really no one or nothing to say good-by to, for she felt morepity than affection for Mrs. Peabody, and the Bramble Farm animalshad been too unused to petting to respond readily to her overtures. Betty, at the breakfast table, had a swift conviction that she wouldbe leaving with far different feelings if Bob had been there to staybehind. 

Mr. Peabody asked her no questions about her plans and stalked offas usual to the barn with Ethan when he had finished the meal. 

"I declare I'm going to miss you, Betty, " said Mrs. Peabody once, inthe middle of the dishwashing, with which Betty insisted on helping. 

That was a good deal for her to say, and the girl, who had a naturallonging to be missed, was grateful. And when Fred Keppler drove intothe yard, promptly at half-past ten, and went upstairs for her trunk--for neither Peabody nor his hired man was in sight--Mrs. Peabodykissed her warmly and with tears in her eyes. 

"Hop right in, Betty, " said Fred cordially. "Got a nice day for yourtrip, haven't you? All fixed? All right, then. "

He gathered up the reins and had turned the horse's head when, apparently from the clouds, Mr. Peabody appeared on the scene. 

"Long as you're going over to Hagar's Corners you won't mind givingme a lift, will you?" he drawled. "I have an errand over at thestation, and it won't take me a minute. I can come right back withyou. Go on, Fred; I'll sit in here with the trunk and you and Bettyneedn't mind me. "

Without waiting for an invitation, he swung himself up on top of thetrunk, and smiled pleasantly. He was saving his own horse a longdrive and getting a necessary errand done at the expense of aneighbor, always a desirable consummation in the Peabody mind. 

Fred opened his mouth and closed it wordlessly. His father wouldhave known what to do, but fifteen-year-old Fred did not know how todeal with such a display of assurance. There seemed nothing to do butto take this unwelcome passenger to Hagar's Corners and back. 

Betty, for her part, could have cried with vexation. Gone was herchance of asking Fred to take her to Glenside, and with it the hopeof getting to Washington. She knew that after the noon train atHagar's Corners there were no more till four o'clock. She wanted tosay good-by to the Guerins and to cash her uncle's check. No wondershe was assailed by a strong desire to tumble the satisfied Mr. Peabody out head over heels. 

The drive was taken almost in silence, each of the three busy withhis own thoughts. At the station Betty and her trunk were put down, and then she had a few minutes to speak to Fred while Mr. Peabody wastalking to the freight agent, who was also the passenger agent, thetelegraph clerk and the janitor. 

"Don't you want some money?" whispered Fred hurriedly. "Mother toldme to ask you. And she sent you this. "

He thrust into her hands a box of lunch. 

"I have a check I want to cash, " said Betty nervously. "Will thestation agent do it, do you suppose? It's for fifty dollars. And, Fred, Pineville is quarantined for smallpox and I want to go toWashington, but I didn't want Mr. Peabody to know. Hush! Here hecomes now!"

Fred Keppler had what his fond mother called a "good head, " and asPeabody and the agent stopped in the station doorway to continuetheir discussion he proceeded to bear out her theory by thrusting awad of bills into Betty's hand. 

"Money for the calves, " he explained. "Just fifty there. Haven'tseen Dad to turn it over to him. Give me the check and it will be allright. And you ask Dan Gowdy, the agent, about trains. I guess he candope out a way to get you to Washington. You still have ten minutes. "

"Good-by, and thank you heaps!" cried Betty warmly, shaking hishand. "I don't know what I should have done without you, Fred!"

CHAPTER IX

NEW FRIENDS

Her hands filled with the bank bills Fred had thrust into them, herbag under one arm and the lunch box under the other, Betty stoodforlornly on the platform and watched the horse and wagon out ofsight. Mr. Peabody had merely nodded to her by way of farewell, andBetty felt that if she never saw him again there would be little toregret. As a matter of fact, she was to meet him again and not undermuch more favorable aspects. But of that she was happily ignorant. 

The whistling of the lanky young station agent, who was covertlystaring at her under pretense of sweeping up the already neat boardsbefore the door, roused her. She remembered that she did not want togo to Pineville. 

"Why, I guess I can fix it up for you, " said Dan Gowdy cheerfully, when she had stated her predicament, withholding only the reason fornot telling Mr. Peabody. "Let me see--twelve-three stops atCentertown. But you don't want to spend the night on the train. Goingfrom Centertown, you'd get to Washington about ten in the morning. "

"I'd rather not sleep on the train, " answered Betty timidly, hopingthat she was not unreasonable. Aside from the expense, she was notused to traveling, and the idea of a night alone on the train for thefirst time rather daunted her. 

"Well, then--Wait a minute, I've got it!" shouted the agententhusiastically. "You buy a ticket up the line to Halperin. That'squite a town, and the through trains all stop. My brother-in-law'stelegraph operator there, and I'll send him a message to look out foryou, and he and my sister will keep you over night. They've got apretty place right in the country--trolley takes you to the door--anda baby that's named for me and some kid if I do say it. Then in themorning you can take the seven-forty-five for Washington and getthere at five-fifty-two if it isn't late. How's that?"

"But your sister!" stammered Betty. "She doesn't know me. What willshe say?"

"She'll say you have eyes just like Juliet, the little sister whodied when she was about your age, " declared Dan Gowdy gently. "Don'tyou fret, Sister, she'll be glad to have you. Now here's your ticket, and I'll talk to Steve as soon as you're on board the train. That'sher smoke now. "

Betty was conscious that there was something else on her mind, butit was not until she was seated in the train and had had her ticketpunched that she remembered. She had thanked kind Dan Gowdy ratherincoherently, though as warmly as she could, and had only half heardhis explanation that she was taking the 12:01 train up the lineinstead of the 12:03 down, and it was no wonder that in the bustle ofboarding the train she had forgotten her intention of telegraphing toher Uncle Dick. He had given her his address as the Willard Hotel, and the letter was already six days old. 

"But I really think in the morning will be better, " decided Betty, watching the flying landscape. "He wouldn't have given me the addressif he didn't expect to be there for some time. Before I take theWashington train I'll telegraph him and let him know when to meet me. "

The train made three stops before Halperin was reached, and Bettystepped down to find herself before a pretty, up-to-date stationbuilt of cream-colored brick, with a crowd of stylish summer folkmingling on the platform with farmers and townspeople. Severalautomobiles were backed up waiting for passengers, and there were oneor two old-fashioned hacks. A trolley car was rounding the streetcorner, the motorman sounding his bell noisily. 

"Betty Gordon, isn't it?" asked a pleasant voice. 

A round-faced man was smiling down at her, a young man, Bettydecided, in spite of the white hair. His keen dark eyes werepleasant, and he held out his hand cordially. 

"Dan told me you had cornflowers on your hat, " he said quizzically, "and I, knowing that Dan calls all blue flowers cornflowers, pickedyou out right away. Only they are forget-me-nots, aren't they?"

"They're supposed to be larkspur, " answered Betty, laughing andfeeling at ease at once. "Perhaps the milliner didn't have a garden. "

"Well, anyway, they're blue, " said the brother-in-law comfortably. "Don't suppose Dan told you my name?"

He was guiding her around the station toward the trolley tracks ashe spoke. 

"He said the baby was named for him, but he didn't say what yourname was, " admitted Betty dimpling. 

"Just like him!" grinned her companion. "Dan's so all-fired proud ofthat youngster he never lets a chance slip to tell we named himDaniel Gowdy Brill. Though Dan senior usually forgets to add theBrill. "

"Does--does Mrs. Brill know I'm coming?" ventured Betty. 

"She sure does! I telephoned her the minute I heard from Dan, and Isuspect she and the baby are sitting out on the fence now watchingfor you to come along. Sorry I can't go with you, but I've just comeon duty. You tell the conductor to let you off at Brill's, and I'llsee you at supper to-night. "

He helped her on the car, tipped his hat, and ran back to thestation, leaving Betty with the comfortable feeling that the Brillswere used to company and rather liked it. 

She repeated her instructions to the conductor, who nodded silently, and, after a quarter of an hour's ride, signaled to her that herdestination was reached. They had passed the town limits, and were inthe open country. Betty had noticed several farmhouses, of theartistic remodeled type, evidently summer homes of the well-to-do, asthe car rattled along. 

She saw one of these as she stepped from the trolley car, and also, under a tree, a young woman holding a beautiful, rosy baby. These twoimmediately swooped down upon her. 

"I'm so glad you've come!" Mrs. Brill kissed her unaffectedly. "KissDanny, too! Isn't he a nice baby? We waited lunch for you, and ifyou're half as starved as we are--"

Still chattering, she led the way into the house. Mrs. Brill was anelder sister of the Hagar's Corner's agent and very like him in face, manner, and bright, cheery way of speaking. The house was tastefullyfurnished, and a white-capped maid could be seen hovering over thetable as they went upstairs. Betty learned long afterward that Mr. Brill's father was wealthy and idolized his son's wife, who had giventhe younger man the ambition and spur his career had lacked until hemet and married her. It was lovely Rose Gowdy who persuaded SteveBrill to take the job of telegraph operator, forgetting hisprematurely white hair, and she who encouraged him to work his way tothe top of the railroad business. Rose, and Rose's son, were givenall the credit of that ultimate success by the older Brill. 

"I had a little sister once who looked just like you, " said Mrs. Brill, as she watched Betty smooth her hair at the mirror in thechintz-hung guest room. "Her name was Juliet. Poor old Dan nearlybroke his heart when she died. "

"He said something about her, " replied Betty shyly. "Oh, look atthat cunning baby! He thinks he can eat his own foot!"

"He will, too, if he doesn't get his bottle soon, " said the baby'smother, rising. "Come, dear, we'll go down. Danny has his bottle inhis wheeler right in the dining-room. "

The little maid served them a dainty meal, and the round-eyed babyfell asleep as they ate and talked, lying in blissful content in awhite-enameled contrivance that was like a crib on four wheels, andsucking quietly on his bottle. 

"Now if you want to lie down, you may, " said Mrs. Brill when theyhad finished. "I'll be busy for the next couple of hours with two ofmy neighbors who are planning a minstrel show for the country club. They had already planned to come when Steve telephoned. If you're nottired, perhaps you'll enjoy looking over our farm. Even if you'vespent your summer on one, you may find things to interest you. "

Betty was not tired, and she had been longing to explore the belt ofgreen fields that encircled the old farmhouse. Hatless, but carryingher sweater over her arm, she went happily out. 

There was a small but well-kept poultry yard with some handsomewhite leghorns lazily sunning themselves; a gentle-eyed Jersey cowstood close to the first pair of bars; and a fat, lazy collie snoozedunder a cherry tree but declined to accompany Betty on herexplorations, though she petted and flattered and coaxed him with allher powers of persuasion. He wagged his tail cordially and beamedupon her good-naturedly, but as to getting up and walking about sosoon after dinner--well, he begged to be excused. 

"You're a lazy thing!" said the girl indignantly, finally giving upthe task as hopeless and climbing the fence into a larger pasture. 

Over in one corner of the field she spied something that quickenedher steps with pleasure. A baby colt, long-legged, sleek of head andaltogether "adorable" as Betty would have said, ambled more or lessungracefully about enjoying the shade of a clump of trees andsampling the grass at intervals. 

"Oh, I do hope you're tame!" whispered Betty softly. 

She was fond of animals, and Bramble Farm, with the exception of afew lambs, had had no young life in its pastures and stables. Thelittle calves were always sold as early as possible that there mightbe more milk for butter, and Betty was fairly aching to pet something. 

She walked cautiously up to the colt, who sniffed at hersuspiciously, but stood his ground. He pricked his ears forward andlooked at her inquiringly. 

"You dear!" said the girl quietly. "You little beauty! You wouldn'tmind if I patted you, would you?"

She put out one hand and touched the rough side of the littleanimal. He stood perfectly still, and she stroked him for a minute ortwo, speaking gently to him. Presently he nuzzled her playfully. 

"Oh, you darling!" she cried delighted. "Wouldn't I love to take youwith me and have you for a pet! If you wouldn't grow any larger thanyou are now, I'd take you everywhere just like a dog. "

She had both arms around the colt's neck now, and he seemed to enjoybeing petted. All at once Betty thought she heard hoof-beats on theground, and at the same time the colt raised his head and whinnied. 

Betty looked up and across the field toward the house. She stoodback from the colt and stared in dismay and astonishment at what shesaw. 

Tearing across the ground, headed directly for her, was a fierceanimal with flashing red nostrils, huge mouth open wide and showingtwo great rows of strong yellow teeth bared to the gums. Sparksseemed to fly from the hoofs and a coarse black tail streamed in thewind. 

"Good gracious!" gasped Betty weakly. "That must be the colt'smother!"

The colt whinnied again in welcome and delight, but Betty feltrooted to the earth. 

CHAPTER X

FELLOW TRAVELERS

It is sometimes said that in moments of danger one's whole lifepasses swiftly in review through the mind, but Betty always declaredthat she had just a single thought when it seemed that in anothermoment she would be trampled under the mare's hoofs; she had nottelegraphed to her uncle and he would not know where she had gone. 

The horse continued to cover the ground rapidly, and then, when ithad almost reached the terrified girl, fear lent sudden wings toBetty's leaden feet. She turned and ran. 

Speeding over the field toward the fence at the other end, she couldhear the steady pounding of the mare's hoofs, though she did not dareto glance over her shoulder. Her thoughts worked busily, trying tofigure out a way to climb over or under the fence, and she had alively fear of those terrible teeth nipping her as she tried toclimb. As the fence seemed to her strained vision to rise suddenlyfrom the ground and come to meet her, a way to safety opened. 

Before she began to run she had unconsciously stooped to gather hersweater from the ground where she had dropped it, and now she turnedand waved the garment frantically in the furious animal's face. Bewildered and confused, the mare stopped, and, as Betty continued toflap the sweater, she turned and dashed back to her colt. Weakly thegirl tumbled over the fence and the adventure was over. 

"She thought you were going to hurt Pinto, " said Mrs. Brill, whenshe heard the story. "Goodness, I certainly am glad you had thepresence of mind to shake your sweater at old Phyllis. Wouldn't ithave been dreadful if she had bitten you!"

The next morning, Betty said good-by to the hospitable family whohad been so wonderfully kind to her, and, much refreshed after aluxurious hot bath and a night's sleep in the pretty guest room, tookthe trolley car into town with Mr. Brill, who at the station doorbade her farewell in his capacity of host and two minutes later astelegraph operator sent her message to Uncle Dick in Washington. 

The 7:45 was on time to the minute, and as the long train pulled inand the porter helped her on, Betty drew a long breath of relief. Surely there could be no more delays and in a comparatively few hoursshe might hope to be with her uncle and know the comfort of tellinghim her experiences instead of trusting their recital to letters. 

The train had been made up late the night before and many of thepassengers were still sleepy-eyed after restless hours in theirberths. A good many of them were at breakfast in the dining car, andas there was no parlor car Betty had to take half a section alreadyoccupied by a rather frowsy young woman with two small children. 

"We take on a parlor car at Willowvale, " the porter assured Betty, only too sympathetically, for he had been waiting on the woman andher children since the afternoon before. "I'll see that you get achair then, Miss. "

Betty settled herself as comfortably as she could and opened hermagazine. 

"Read to me?" suggested a little voice, and a sticky hand caressedher skirt timidly. 

"Now don't bother the lady, " said the mother, trying to pull thechild away. "My land, if I ever live to get you children to yourgrandmother's I'll be thankful! Lottie, stop making scratches on thatwindow sill!"

Lottie pursed her pretty mouth in a pout and drummed her small heelsdiscontentedly against the green plush of the seat. 

Betty smiled into the rebellious blue eyes and was rewarded by asudden, radiant smile. She closed her magazine and found the mothergazing at her with a look almost as childlike in its friendlycuriosity as her little daughter's. 

"You've got a way with children, haven't you?" said the womanwistfully. "I guess everybody on this train will be glad when we getoff. The children have been perfect torments, and Lottie cried halfthe night. We're none of us used to traveling, and they're so mussedup and dirty I could cry. At home I keep 'em looking as neat as wax. We're going to see my husband's mother, and I know she'll think Istarted with 'em looking like this. "

Betty was far older than many girls her age in some things. She wasself-reliant and used to observing for herself, and she had a richfund of warm and ready sympathy that was essentially practical. Shesaw that the mother of these lively, untidy children was very young, hardly more than a girl, and worn-out and nervous as a result oftaking a long journey with no help and little traveling experience. She was probably, and naturally, anxious that her children shouldimpress their father's mother favorably, and it took littleimagination to understand that in her home the young mother had beenused to praise for her excellent management. Betty, added to herqualities of leadership and sound judgment, had a decided "knack"with children. In Pineville she had been a general favorite with thelittle ones, and many a mother had secretly marveled at the girl'sability to control the most headstrong youngster. Now she seized theopportunity presented to help a fellow-passenger. 

"Have you had your breakfast?" she asked. "No? I thought not. Well, I had mine before I got on the train. If you are willing to trust thechildren with me, I'll amuse them while you go into the diner andhave a quiet meal. You'll feel much better then. "

"Oh, it's been a nightmare!" confided the young mother with a suddenrush of feeling. "Nobody ever told me what it would be like to travelwith two children. Lottie upset her milk and Baby spilled her supperon the floor. And people just glare at me and never offer to help. Itwill be heavenly to eat my breakfast without them, but I feel thatI'm imposing on you. "

Betty managed to send her off convinced that everything was as itshould be, and to the mother's surprise the children snuggled downlike little mice to listen to the honorable and ancient story of theThree Bears. By the time a rested and radiant mother came back tothem, for she had stolen a little time in the dressing room andrearranged her fair hair and adjusted her trim frock, something shehad found it impossible to accomplish with two restless childrenclinging to her skirts, Lottie and Baby were firm friends with MissBetty. 

"I never knew any one as lovely as you are!" The gratitude of thewoman was touching. "I was just about crazy. My husband tipped theporter, and he did try to look after me, but he didn't know what todo. Usually there is a maid on this train, they told us, but she wastaken sick, and there wasn't time to get any one to fill her place. Now don't let the children bother you. They had their breakfastearly, and I can read to them till we get to Willowvale where theirgrandmother will meet us. "

But Betty had not finished. She loved the feel of soft little armsabout her neck and there was not much connected with a baby's welfareshe did not know about. Many a Pineville baby she had washed anddressed and fed as correctly as a model baby should be. 

"Let me take them one at a time and tidy them up?" she suggested. "They'll take to it kindly, because I am new and that will lend tothe washing a novelty. If we go in relays, we can't upset the wholecar. "

So first with Lottie, and then with Baby, who seemed to be withoutother name, Betty went into the dressing-room and there washed pinkand white faces and hands till they shone, and brushed silk lockstill they lay straight and shining. Clean frocks were forthcoming, and two spick and span babies emerged to beam upon a transformedworld no longer seen through a veil of tears. This new friend couldtell the most wonderful stories, invent delightful games, and singdozens of foolish little rhymes in a low sweet voice that disturbedno one and yet allowed every word to be distinctly understood. 

Both children went to sleep during the morning, and then Betty heardthat Mrs. Clenning, as the mother introduced herself, lived in theWest and that this journey to Willowvale was the first she had takensince the birth of the babies. 

"My husband's mother is crazy to see them because they are her onlygrandchildren, " she explained. "I didn't want to come without Mr. Clenning, but he couldn't get away for a couple of months. He is tocome after us and take us home. If he didn't, I'm sure I'd live Eastthe rest of my days, or at least till the children are grown up. I'llnever have the courage to try a long train trip with them again. "

Before Willowvale was reached Betty helped Mrs. Clenning get herwraps and bags together and tied the babies into bewitching whitebonnets with long fluted strings. The porter came for the bags, butBetty carried the younger child to the car door and handed her downto the mother, who had gone first with Lottie. She saw a tall, stately, white-haired woman, dressed all in white from her shoes toher hat, gather all three into her arms, and then went back to herseat satisfied that the mother's troubles were over. 

"Parlor car's ready, Miss, " announced the porter, coming up to her. "Shall I take you on in?"

Betty followed him, to be established comfortably on the shady sideof the car, with the window adjusted at the most comfortable height. She did not hear the porter's comment to the conductor when he passedhim in the vestibule of the parlor car. 

"That girl in seat fourteen, she's one perfect little lady, " saidthe dusky porter earnestly. "You jest observe her when you takes herticket. 'Member that lady with the two children what racketed all dayand all night? Well, she done fix those two kids up till you wouldn'tknow 'em, and cheered their mother up, too. And all jest as prettyand like a lady. That mighty fine lady in the red hat (I give her aseat on the sunny side of the car a-purpose) wouldn't do nothingyesterday when I axted her to hold a glass of milk while I went toget a extra pillow. Said she wasn't going to be nursemaid to nostranger's brats!"

So Betty was zealously looked after by the whole train crew, for thestory had spread, and the siege of Clenning had been a protracted onewith a corresponding fervency of gratitude for release; and at sixo'clock that night the attentive porter handed her down the steps tothe platform of the beautiful Union Station in Washington. 

She had only her light traveling bag to carry, so she followed thecrowd through the gates, walking slowly and scanning the facesanxiously in order that she might not pass her uncle. She did notwish to go through the station out on the plaza, lest she make itmore difficult for him to find her, and she was keenly disappointedthat he had not been at the gate, for the train was half an hour lateand she had confidently expected him to be waiting. She took up herstand near the door of the waiting room and scanned the eddyingcircles of travelers that passed and repassed her. 

"Something must have delayed him, " she thought uneasily. "Hecouldn't miss me even in a crowd, because he is so careful. I hope hegot the telegram. "

She had turned to compare her wrist-watch with the station clockwhen a voice at her back said half-doubtfully, "Betty?"

CHAPTER XI

A SERIOUS MIX-UP

"You are Betty, aren't you?" the girlish voice insisted, and thistime Betty identified it as belonging to a girl a year or two olderthan herself who stood smiling uncertainly at her. 

"Yes, of course I'm Betty, " said Betty Gordon smiling. 

The face of her questioner cleared. 

"All right, girls, " she called, beckoning to two others who stood alittle way off. "She's Betty. I was sure I hadn't make a mistake. "

Betty found herself surrounded by three laughing faces, beaming withgood-will and cordiality. 

"We must introduce ourselves, " said the girl who had first spoken toher. "This is Louise, " pointing to a gray-eyed miss apparently aboutBetty's age. "This is Esther. " A girl with long yellow braids andpretty even white teeth bobbed a shy acknowledgment. "And of courseI'm Roberta, Bobby for short. "

"And if we don't hurry, we'll be late for dinner, " suggested thegirl who had been called Louise. "You know Carter isn't as patientas he once was; he hates to have to wait. "

Bobby thrust her arm through Betty's protectingly. 

"Come on, Betty, " she said comfortably. "Never mind about your trunkcheck. Carter will drive down after it early in the morning. "

Betty's bewildered mind was vaguely appreciative of the wide sweepof open plaza which lay before them as they came out on the otherside of the station, but before she could say a word she was gentlybundled into a handsome automobile, a girl on either side of her andone opposite, and the grim-faced, silver-haired old chauffeur, evidently slightly intolerant of the laughter and high spirits of hisyoung passengers, had started to thread his way through the lane oftaxicabs and private cars. 

Betty was intensely puzzled, to put it mildly. Her uncle hadmentioned no girls in his letters to her, and even supposing that shehad missed some letters, it was hardly possible that he should nothave let fall an explanatory word or two from time to time. 

"I thought Uncle Dick would come down to meet me, " she said, voicingher surprise at last. 

"Oh, poor dear, his heart is almost broken to think he has to staycooped up in the house, " answered Bobby, who seemed to be the generalspokesman. "But how stupid of us--of course you don't know that hehurt his foot!"

"Is he hurt?" Betty half rose from her seat in alarm. "Is he badlyinjured? When did it happen?"

Bobby pulled the excited girl down beside her. 

"You see it happened only yesterday, " explained Louise, finding hervoice with a rush. "You'd better believe we were frightened when theybrought him to the house in the ambulance. His foot has some littlebones broken in it, the doctor says, but he'll be all right in amonth or so. He has to hobble around on crutches till the bones knit. "

"But it isn't serious, so don't look like that, " urged Bobby. "Why, Betty, your lips are positively white. We're so thankful it was hisfoot and not his head--that would have been something to worry about. "

"How--how did it happen?" gasped Betty, anxious and worried in spiteof these assurances. "Was he in an accident?"

"He was the whole accident, " announced Bobby cheerfully. "You seehe's completely wrapped up in these new buildings they're putting upon the outskirts. We'll take you out to see 'em while you're here andperhaps you'll understand the construction, which is more than I do. Anyway, the whole firm and every workman is absorbed in theexperiment, and they're burnt as red as the bricks from workingoutdoors all day. "

"Uncle Dick does love to be outdoors, " murmured Betty. 

"He sure does, " agreed Bobby. "Well, nothing would do yesterday butthat he must climb up on the roof of one they've just started andtake a peek at the chimney. I guess it needed looking after, for thewhole thing tumbled over on him, coming down full-weight on his rightfoot. Forcet, the foreman, had an awful time getting him down fromthe roof, and instead of telephoning for the car, some nervous personsent for the ambulance and scared us all into fits. "

Betty blinked again. No mention of building houses had been made inUncle Dick's letters to her. 

"Did he get my telegram?" she asked, leaning forward to look at amonument they were passing. 

"A little before noon, " replied Bobby. "Louise and Esther and I hadsuch a violent argument as to which of us should come to meet youthat we didn't even dare draw lots; it seemed safer for us all tocome along. "

Esther, who sat opposite Betty, had noticed her interest in theWashington Monument. 

"We're going to take you sightseeing to-morrow, " she promised. "Aren't we, Bobby? And I don't see why we don't go home by way ofFort Myer. It doesn't take any longer, and dinner isn't till seven, you know. "

"All right. " Bobby leaned forward and spoke to the chauffeur. "Takeus round by Fort Myer, please, Carter, " she directed. 

The car turned sharply, and in a few minutes they were rattling overan old bridge. 

"We live out in the country, Betty, I warn you, " said the volubleBobby. "But it has its compensations. You'll like it. "

Betty, a stranger to Washington, decided that the Willard must be acountry hotel. It would be like Uncle Dick, she knew, to shun theheart of the city and establish himself somewhere where he could seegreen fields the first thing every morning. 

"What is Fort Myer?" she asked with lively curiosity, as the carbegan to climb a steep grade. "Is that where they had training campsduring the war?"

"Right, " said Bobby. "It's an army post, you know. See, here aresome of the officers' houses. I only hope we live here when Louiseand I are eighteen--they give the most heavenly dances and parties. "

Betty looked with interest at the neat houses they were passing. Thenames of the officers were conspicuously tacked on the doorsteps, andthere was a general air of orderliness and military spic and spannessabout the very gravel roads. Occasionally a dust-colored car shotpast them filled with men in uniform. 

"Do you ride?" asked Betty suddenly. "Uncle Dick has always wantedme to learn, but I've never had a good chance. "

"Well, you can begin to-morrow morning, " Bobby informed her. "We'vethree ponies that are fine under the saddle. Betty, I do wish you'dmake up your mind to live in Washington this winter. There's noreason in the world why you shouldn't, and we were talking it overlast night, making plans for you. "

"Why! that's entirely as Uncle Dick says, " returned Betty, surprised. "I haven't any say in the matter. "

Bobby shot a triumphant glance toward the other girls. 

"He said he hadn't much right to dictate, but I told him I knewbetter, " she said with satisfaction. "He wants you as much as we do, and that's considerable, you know. "

Again a wave of doubt swept over Betty. Uncle Dick had said he hadnot much right to dictate! When he was her only living relative!

"Uncle hasn't a fever or anything, has he?" she asked apprehensively. "I mean the injury to his foot hasn't, it didn't--" she floundered. 

"Oh, that old hurt to his head never amounted to anything, " declaredBobby with convincing carelessness. "No, indeed, he's perfectly wellexcept for the crutches, and the doctor says keeping him indoors fora few days will give him a much-needed rest. "

Betty recalled the accident in which her uncle had been stunned whenhe had slipped down a bank into an excavation made along a road onwhich they had been driving. Bobby evidently referred to that oldinjury. 

"Now you can begin to watch for the house, " said the silent Esther, as Carter swung the car around another curve in the beautiful road. "I don't see why I couldn't have been named Virginia!"

"Esther has a personal grievance because she's the only one of usborn in the South, and she had to be named for an aunt like the restof us, " laughed Bobby. "Every tenth girl you meet down here seems tobe named Virginia. "

"But was she born in Virginia?" asked Betty. "Where did you livethen?"

Bobby stared. Then she laughed. 

"Oh, I see, " she said. "We lived at Fairfields. Of course you knowthat. But, like so many friends, you have always thought of us asliving in Washington. We're in Virginia, Betty, didn't you know that?"

"No. " Betty's puzzlement was plainly written on her face. 

"When we crossed the bridge, we left the District of Columbia, "explained Bobby. "Of course we're very close to the line, but stillwe are not in Washington. "

"There's the house!" exclaimed Louise. "I wonder if mother got backfrom shopping. I don't see her on the porch. "

Betty saw a beautiful white house, dazzlingly white against abackground of dark trees, with a broad lawn in front circled by awide white driveway. A terraced garden at the side with a red brickwalk was arranged with wicker chairs and tables and a couple ofswings protected with gay striped awnings. It was a typical Southernmansion in perfect order, and Betty reveled in its architecturalperfections even while she told herself that it did not look in theslightest like a hotel. What was it Bobby had called her home?"Fairfields"--that was it; and she, Betty, wanted to go to theWillard. Had they made a mistake and brought her to the wrong place?

There was no time to ask for explanations, however. The girls swepther out of the car and up the low steps through the beautifuldoorway. A well-trained man servant closed the door noiselessly, andthe three bore Betty across the wide hall into a room lined withbooks and boasting three or four built-in window seats, in one ofwhich a gentleman was reading. 

"We found her! Here she is!" shouted the irrepressible Bobby. "Don'ttell us we can't pick a girl named Betty out of a crowd!"

The gentleman closed his book, and, steadying himself with a canelying near by, rose slowly. There was no recognition in the gaze hefastened on Betty, and she for her part hung back, staring wildly. 

"You're not Uncle Dick!" she gasped accusingly. 

CHAPTER XII

STRAIGHTENING THINGS OUT

Betty's speech was shock number one. Another quickly followed. 

The gentleman tugged quizzically at his short gray mustache. 

"And you, " he announced quietly, "are not my niece, Betty Littell!"

Esther and Louise stared, round-eyed, while Bobby collapseddramatically on a convenient couch. 

"Have we kidnapped anybody?" she asked, a bit hysterically. "Goodgracious, Dad, don't tell me I've forcibly run off with a girl?Haven't you made a mistake? She must be Betty--she said so. "

"My darlings, I'm sorry to be late, " said a new voice, a rich, sweetcontralto, and a stout woman with a kindly, florid face swept throughthe doorway. "Why, what is the matter?" she demanded hurriedly, confronting the tense group. 

"Momsie!" exclaimed Bobby, hurling herself upon the newcomer. "Oh, Momsie, isn't this Betty Littell? We went to meet her and she saidher name was Betty, and all the way home she talked about Uncle Dick, and now she says dad isn't her uncle! I'm afraid I've made a mess ofthings. "

"Yes, I think you have, " said Betty, with blazing cheeks. "I came toWashington to meet my uncle, Mr. Richard Gordon, who is stopping atthe Willard. Of course my name is Betty. I'm Betty Gordon, and he'smy Uncle Dick. And goodness only knows what he is doing now--he'll beabout crazy if he came to meet me. "

Bobby began to laugh uncontrollably. 

"I never heard of such a thing in my life!" she giggled, wiping hereyes. "Dad's name is Richard Littell, and we've been expecting ourcousin Betty Littell to arrive to-day from Vermont for a long visit. We haven't seen her since she was six years old, but I took a chanceon recognizing her. And then there was the name! How could I guessthere would be two Bettys looking for two Uncle Dicks! Don't be mad, Betty; you can see a mix-up like that wouldn't happen twice in a lifetime. "

"She isn't mad, " interposed Mr. Littell, lowering himself carefullyto the window seat, for he had been standing all this time and hisfoot began to pain again. "After she knows you a little better, Bobby, she will expect this sort of denouement to follow whatever youundertake. I say we ought to have some dinner, Mother, and then talkat the table. "

"Of course, of course, " agreed motherly Mrs. Littell. "The poorchild must be famished. Take Betty--you don't mind if I call youBetty, do you, dear?--up to your room, Bobby, and when you come downdinner will be served. "

"But my uncle!" urged Betty. "He will be so worried. And the othergirl--where do you suppose she is?"

"By George, the child has more sense than I have, " said Mr. Littellenergetically. "I'd give a fortune if Bobby had half as level a head. Our Betty is probably having hysterics in the station if she hasn'ttaken the next train back to Vermont. "

His keen eyes twinkled appreciatively at Betty, and she knew thatshe liked him and also sensed instinctively that his eldest daughterwas very like him. 

"Why, Father, how you do talk!" reproved Mrs. Littell comfortably. "I'll call up the station while the girls are upstairs and then Bettyshall call the Willard, or you do it for her, and then perhaps we caneat dinner before the souffle is quite ruined. "

The girls took Betty upstairs to a luxurious suite of rooms theyshared, and when she had bathed her face and hands and brushed herhair, they came down to find that Mr. Littell had called up the UnionStation and discovered that because of a freight wreck the Vermontexpress had been delayed and would not be in before nine o'clock thatnight. 

"So our Betty is probably having a comfortable dinner on the train, "he announced. "Now just a minute, and I'll have the Willard for theother Betty. We'll tell your uncle you are safe and that we'll bringyou into Washington to-night. "

In a few minutes he had the connection, and they heard him ask forMr. Richard Gordon. His mobile face changed as the clerk answered, and Betty, watching, knew that he had disconcerting news. He turnedto them, covering the mouthpiece with his hand. 

"Mr. Gordon left early this morning for Oklahoma, " he said. "He leftan address for mail, and there's a telegram which came after he left. It was sent from Halperin and was received at eleven-thirty thismorning. "

"That's the one I sent!" answered Betty. "And Uncle Dick's gone toOklahoma! What on earth shall I do?"

"Do!" repeated Mr. And Mrs. Littell in concert. "Why, stay righthere with us, of course! Do you suppose we'd let a young girl likeyou knock around alone in a city? We'll be glad to have you stay aslong as you will, and you mustn't be uncomfortable another second. When you hear from your uncle there'll be plenty of time to makeother plans. "

Betty did not try to express her gratitude to these new kindfriends, for she knew that she could never say one-half the thanksshe felt toward them. They were cordiality itself, and did everythingin their power to make her feel at home. An excellent dinner wasserved in the charming dining-room with a mixture of formality andsimple home courtesy that was as unusual as it was delightful, and inthis atmosphere of good breeding and tact, Betty bloomed like alittle rose. 

"A charming girl, whoever she is, " said Mr. Littell to his wife, ashe smoked his cigar after dinner and the girls drew Betty to thepiano. "She has plenty of spirit, but lacks Bobby's boisterousness. It will be a good thing for the girls to have some one like her, self-reliant and quiet and yet with decided snap, to chum with. "

"I like the idea of five girls in the house, " beamed Mrs. Littell, who was the soul of hospitality and fairly idolized her threedaughters. Whatever discipline they had came from their father. "Andnow I think I had better go to the station, after our Betty, don'tyou?"

"Oh, Mother!" came in concert from the piano, where Bobby wasrattling off a lively waltz. "We all want to go. Please? There'splenty of room in the car. "

Mrs. Littell looked undecided. 

"One of you may go with your mother, " said Mr. Littell decisively. "I think it had better be Louise. Now, there is no use in arguing. One girl is enough. Betty will be tired after traveling all night andall day, and she will be in no mood for talking and carrying on. I'lltell Carter to bring the car around, Mother. "

Bobby pouted for a few moments after her mother and sister had gone, but her good-nature was easily restored and she and Betty and Estherwere deep in an exchange of confidences when Mrs. Littell returnedbringing the missing Betty with her. 

"Now stand up for a minute, you two Bettys, " commanded Bobby, whengreetings had been exchanged and explanations made. "I want to see ifI made such a dreadful mistake in taking Betty Gordon for BettyLittell. "

The two girls stood side by side, and though they both had dark eyesand hair, there the resemblance ceased. Betty Littell was a dumplingof a girl with curly hair, a snub nose and round face. She looked thepicture of good-nature, and her plumpness suggested a fondness forsweets that subsequent acquaintance with her fully sustained. 

Betty Gordon had grown tall through the summer, and she was of aslender, wiry build that hinted of a fondness for outdoor life. Herheavy straight hair was wrapped around her well-shaped little head inbraids, and her exquisite little hands and feet, so far her one claimto beauty, though later promises lay in her glowing face, gave her, as Louise afterward confided to her mother, "an air like an Indianprincess. "

"No, you don't look much alike, " conceded Bobby, after a prolongedscrutiny. "But Betty Gordon looks the way I thought Betty Littellwould look, so I don't see that I am to blame. "

"Trust Bobby to excuse herself from a scrape, " chuckled her father. "By the way, how are you going to arrange about names? Two Bettys inthe family will involve complications. "

"I think we'll have to call Betty Littell, 'Libbie'" suggested Mrs. Littell, smiling. "That was your mother's name at home, always, Betty. "

"Yes, I know it; and that's why they called me Betty, " replied theLittell girl. "Two names, the same names, I mean, do make confusion. I'm willing to be called Libbie, Aunt Rachel, if you let me have alittle time to get used to it. If I don't answer right away, you'llunderstand that I'm listening for 'Betty. '"

"Well, Mother, I think at least two of these girls need sleep, "announced Mr. Littell. "Betty Gordon looks as if she couldn't keepher eyes open another moment, and Betty Littell has yawned twice. Ishould say we all might retire--it's after eleven. "

"Goodness, so it is, " said his wife hastily. "Time does fly so whenyou're talking. Come, girls, if you are going sightseeing to-morrow, you'll need a good night's rest. "

There were three bedrooms and a private bath at the disposal of thegirls, and separate beds in all the rooms. Betty Gordon shared a roomwith Bobby, Louise and Betty Littell had the one adjoining, andEsther slept alone in the third room, which was also connected withthe others. 

Long after the other girls were asleep Betty lay awake, thinkingover the happenings of the day. Finally she worked around to thesuggested change in names. 

"They must expect me to stay if they plan to avoid confusion ofnames, " she thought. "I must talk to Mr. Littell in the morning andask him if it's really all right. I feel as if it were an impositionfor me, a perfect stranger, to accept their hospitality like this. "

In the morning she was up and dressed before the rest, fortunatelyhaving a fresh blouse in her bag so that, although she had nothingbut her suit skirt, she looked well-groomed and dainty. Betty Littellwas also without her trunk, though Bobby promised that both trunksshould be brought from the station that morning. 

"I'd like to speak to your father a minute, " said Betty, when shewas dressed. 

Bobby, on the floor tying her shoes, blew her a kiss. 

"You'll find him on the terrace probably, " she said confidently. "Goahead, dear, but it won't do you any good. We're determined to keepyou to play with us. "

So the astute Bobby had guessed what she wanted to say!Nevertheless, Betty was determined to carry out her resolution. Shewent slowly down the wide staircase and stepped out through doublescreen doors on to the bricked terrace. Sure enough, there sat Mr. Littell, smoking comfortably and reading his morning paper. 

CHAPTER XIII

WASHINGTON MONUMENT

"You're up early!" the gentleman greeted Betty cordially. "Guessyou're ahead of even Esther, who usually leads the van. Sleep well?That's good, " as she nodded. "No troubles this bright morning?"

Betty gave him a grateful glance. 

"I can't help it, " she said bravely. "You know how I feel, cominghere like this--you don't know me--"

"No-o, " drawled Mr. Littell, pulling forward a gay-cushioned chairand motioning for her to sit down. ("Can't have any manners when yourfoot is smashed, " he explained in an aside. ) "No, Betty, it's true wedon't know you. But mother and I think we know a nice girl when wesee her, and we're glad to have you stay with us just as long as youcan feel comfortable and at home. If I were you, I'd just bury theseuneasy feelings you speak of. Fact is, I'll give you two good reasonswhy you should make us a little visit. One is that if we had had thepleasure of your acquaintance you would have had a regular letterfrom mother weeks ago, asking you to come and spend the summer withus. The second is that I know how your uncle would feel to think ofyou alone in the city or the country. Guess how I'd take it if one ofmy own daughters was waiting for word from me and no one made thingspleasant for her. Won't you shake hands and make a bargain with methat you'll try to see our side of it, your uncle's and mine, andthen just plan to have a happy time with the girls until we can reachhim in the West?"

Betty placed her small hand in the larger one held out to receiveit, and smiled back at Mr. Littell. He had a smile very few peoplecould resist. 

"That's better, " he said with satisfaction. "Now we're friends. And, remember, I'm always ready to give advice or listen. That's whatfathers and uncles are for, you know. And I'd like to have you lookon me as a second Uncle Dick. "

Thus encouraged, Betty briefly outlined for him her story, touchinglightly on her experiences at Bramble Farm, but going into detailabout Bob Henderson, her uncle, and her pleasant recollections ofPineville. 

By the time she had finished, the four girls had joined them on theterrace and presently a table was brought out and spread with acloth, and, Mrs. Littell following the maid with a silver coffee urn, breakfast was served. 

"The girls will want to go into town to-day, I suppose, " said themotherly lady, selecting the brownest muffin for Betty and signalingher husband to see that the maid served her an extra portion ofomelet. "I have some shopping to do, so I'll go in with them in thecar. But I absolutely refuse to 'do' the Monument again. "

"Poor mother!" laughed Bobby. "She hates to ride in an elevator, andyet I know by actual count she's gone up in the Monument a dozentimes. "

"I suppose every one who comes to Washington wants to gosightseeing, " said Betty Littell, or, as she must begin to be callednow, Libbie, "I know how it is in our little town at home. There'sjust one monument--erected to some Revolutionary hero--and I getfairly sick of reading the inscription to all the visiting aunts anduncles. "

"Well, I like to go around, " declared the energetic Bobby. "But justonce I had an overdose. We had a solemn and serious young theologicalstudent who made notes of everything he saw. He was devoted towalking, and one of his favorite maxims was never to ride when hecould walk. He dragged me up every one of those nine hundred steps inthe Washington Monument and down again, and I was in bed for two days. "

"Wait till you see the steps, and you'll understand, " said Louise toLibbie and Betty. "If you try to walk down you're apt to get awfullydizzy. "

After breakfast Carter brought the car around, and Mr. Littellhobbled to the door to see them off. 

"Betty wants to send a telegram to her uncle, " he said in an asideto his wife, while she stood at the long glass in the hall adjustingher veil. "Better help her, for she'll feel that she is doingsomething. If Gordon is in the oil regions, as I think from what shetells me he is, there isn't much chance of a telegram reaching himany quicker than a letter. However, there's no use in dampening herhopes. "

"Now we'll drop you at the Monument, " planned Mrs. Littell, as thecar bore them down the driveway. "You can walk from there to thatpretty tea-room--what is its name, Bobby?--can't you?"

"The Dora-Rose, you mean, Mother, " supplied Bobby. "Of course we canwalk. But Carter is taking the longest way to the Monument. "

"We're going to the station first, " answered her mother. "Bettywants to send her uncle a telegram, and Carter is going to leavedirections to have the trunks sent up to the house. You have yourbaggage checks, haven't you, girls?"

They produced them, and Carter slipped them into his pocket. Bettyhad leisure and opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the handsomebuilding as they approached it this perfect morning, and she couldnot help exclaiming. 

"Yes, it is fine, every one says so, " admitted Bobby, with thecarelessness of one to whom it was an old story. "Finer, daddy says, than the big terminals in New York. "

Libbie had the advantage of being the only one of the girls who hadbeen to New York. 

"This has lots more ground around it, " she pronounced critically. "Course in a city like New York, they need the land for otherbuildings. But you just ought to see the Pennsylvania Station there!"

"All right, take your word for it, " said Bobby. "Where do we go tosend a telegram, Momsie?"

Mrs. Littell smiled. 

"Betty and I are all who are necessary for that little errand, " shesaid firmly. "The rest of you stay right in the car. "

Carter opened the door for them and then went in search of thebaggage man. Betty and Mrs. Littell found the telegraph window and ina few minutes a message was speeding out to Richard Gordon, FlameCity, Oklahoma, telling him that his niece was in Washington, givingher address and asking what he wished her to do. 

"I'll write him a letter to-night, " promised Mrs. Littell when thiswas accomplished. "Then he'll know that you are in safe hands. Youmust write to him, too, dear. Flame City may consist of one shack anda hundred oil wells and be twenty miles from a post-office, you know. "

Carter reported that the trunks were already on their way toFairfields, and now the car was turned toward the gleaming Monumentthat seemed to be visible from every part of the city, Betty, hermind relieved by the sending of the telegram, abandoned herself tothe joys of sightseeing. Here she was, young, well and strong, in aluxurious car, surrounded by friends, and driving through one of themost beautiful cities in the United States. Any girl who, under thosecircumstances, could remain a prey to doubts and gloom, would indeedbe a confirmed misanthrope. 

The car was stopped at one of the concrete walks leading to the baseof the Monument, and with final instructions as to the time and placethey were to meet her, Mrs. Littell drove away. 

"Why, there's a crowd there!" cried Libbie in wonder. 

"Waiting to be taken up, " explained Louise. "Come on, we'll have tostand in line. "

The line of waiting people extended half way around the Monument. The girls took their places, and when the crowd streamed out and theywere permitted to go inside, Betty and Libbie, the two strangers, understood the reason for the delay. The elevator seemed huge, but itwas quickly filled, and when the gates were closed the car began tomount very slowly. 

"We'd be sick and dizzy if they went up as fast as they do indepartment stores and office buildings, " said Bobby. "It takes aboutfifteen minutes to reach the top. Watch, and you'll see lots ofinteresting things on the floors we pass. "

Betty was wondering how Bobby had ever survived the climb up thestairs and the trip down again with the enthusiastic theologicalstudent, when a cry somewhere in the back of the car startled her. 

"What's the matter?" demanded the elevator operator, without turninghis head. 

"John isn't here!" declared a hysterical feminine voice. "Oh, can'tyou stop the car and go down and get him? He pushed me in, and Ithought he was right behind me. Aren't you going back?"

"Can't, Madam, " was the calm answer. "Have to finish the trip. Youcan go right back with the next load. "

"Oh, goodness gracious, " moaned the voice. "What'll I do? If I goback I may miss him. If I wait at the top it will be half an hour. Suppose he walks up? Maybe I'd better start to walk down to meet him. "

Bobby stifled a giggle with difficulty. 

"Bride and groom, " she whispered to Betty. "Washington's full of'em. Guess the poor groom was lost in the shuffle. Is she pretty--canyou see?"

Betty tried to look back in the car, though the press of passengersstanding all about her made it difficult. The bride was easilyidentified because she was openly crying. She was an exceedinglypretty girl, modishly gowned and apparently not more than twentyyears old. 

"We'll get hold of her and persuade her to wait, " planned Bobby. "I'll show her the sights to amuse her while we're waiting for thenext elevator load to come up. Here we are at the top. "

A crowd was waiting to descend, and as they walked from theelevator, the bride meekly following, Bobby plucked her sleeve. 

"Excuse me, " she said bluntly, but with a certain charm that was herown, "I couldn't help hearing what you were saying. Your husbandmissed the elevator, didn't he?"

The bride blushed and nodded. 

"Well, don't try to walk down, " advised Bobby. "I did it once, andwas in bed for two days. He'll come up with the next load. No oneever walks up unless they are crazy--or going to theologicalseminary. Your husband isn't a minister, is he?"

"Oh, no, he's a lawyer, " the bride managed to say. 

"All right, " approved Bobby, noting with satisfaction that theelevator gate had closed. "Come round with us and see the sights, andthen when your husband comes up you can tell him all the news. Thisis Betty Gordon, Libbie Littell and Louise, Esther and Bobby Littell, all at your service. "

"I'm Mrs. Hale, " said the bride, stumbling a little over the nameand yet pronouncing it with obvious pride. 

CHAPTER XIV

LIBBIE IS ROMANTIC

The girls, marshaled by Bobby, made a tour of the windows, andthough Betty was fascinated by the views of the city spread outbefore her and bought post cards to send to the Pineville friends andthose she knew in Glenside and Laurel Grove, her mind was runningcontinuously on young Mrs. Hale's announcement. 

"She couldn't be the old bookstore man's wife, " she speculated, hereyes fixed on the Potomac while Bobby cheerfully tangled up historyand geography in a valiant effort to instruct her guests. "LockwoodHale was an old man, Bob said. He didn't say he had a son, but Iwonder----Oh, Bobby, the Jesuit fathers didn't sail down the Potomac, did they?"

"Well, it was some river, " retorted Bobby. "Anyway, Miss, you didn'tseem to be listening to a word I said. What were you thinking aboutin such a brown study?"

Betty made a little face, but she had no intention of revealing herthoughts. She wanted to find out about the bookshop quietly, and ifpossible get the address. Always providing that Mrs. Hale was relatedto the man who had shown such an interest in Bob Henderson'salmshouse record. 

"Of course Hale is an ordinary enough name, " she mused. "And yetthere is just a chance that it may be the same. "

The girls were planning to take the next car down, and yet when itcame up they lingered diplomatically to catch a glimpse of thebridegroom. "John" proved to be a good-looking young man, notextraordinary in any way, but with a likeable open face and squareyoung shoulders that Libbie, who startled them all by turningpoetical late that night, declared were "built for manly burdens. "

Louise, Esther and Bobby were the last to squeeze into the car, Libbie, the prudent, having ducked earlier. As Betty turned to followthem, the gate closed. 

"Car full!" said the operator. 

"Oh, Betty!" Bobby's wail came to her as the car began to disappear. "We'll wait for you, " came the parting message before it dropped fromsight. 

Mrs. Hale laughed musically. 

"Now you know something of how I felt, " she said merrily. "May Ipresent my husband? John, those five girls have been so nice to me. And now you'll go round with us, won't you?"

But Betty knew better than that. 

"I'm going to write some of my post cards, " she said. "But I wouldlove to ask you a question before you go. Do you know a man inWashington who keeps a bookshop? His name is Lockwood Hale. "

Mr. And Mrs. Hale exchanged glances. 

"Know him?" repeated the young man. "Why, I should think we did!He's my great-uncle. "

"I'm very anxious to see him to ask about a friend of mine, "explained Betty. "Mr. Hale thought he might be able to tell himsomething of his parents who died when he was a baby. As soon as Iheard your name I hoped you could tell me where to find the bookstore. "

"Yes, uncle is a wizard on old family records, " admitted the nephew. "Sometimes I think that is why he hates to part with a book. He keepsa secondhand bookshop, you know, and he's positively insulting tocustomers who try to buy any of the books. The old boy is reallyqueer in his head, but there's nothing to be afraid of. He wouldn'thurt a flea, would he, Elinor?"

Mrs. Hale said doubtfully, no, she supposed not. 

"Elinor didn't have a very good impression of him, " laughed herhusband. "We're on our wedding trip, you know, "--he blushed slightly--"and mother made us promise we'd stop in to see the old man. Hehasn't seen me since I wore knickerbockers, and we had a great timemaking him understand who we were. Then he said that he hoped weliked Washington, and went back to his reading. "

"And the shop is so dirty!" shuddered the bride. "I don't think sheought to go to such a place alone, John. "

"I won't, " promised Betty hastily. "If you'll let me have theaddress, I'll be ever so grateful and it may be a great help to myfriend. "

Young Mr. Hale wrote down the street and number on the back of thebrand-new visiting card his wife pulled from her brand-new purse, andBetty thanked them warmly and turned to her card writing, leavingthem free to enjoy each other and the view to their hearts' content. She had directed post cards to a dozen friends before the elevatorreturned, and this time both she and the bridal couple made sure thatthey were among the first to step in. 

Betty felt of the little slip in her purse several times during theafternoon, inwardly glowing with satisfaction. If she could find BobHenderson in Washington through the old bookseller, or learnsomething definite of the lad, she would find it easier to wait forword from her uncle. 

After luncheon, which was calculated to please healthy appetites offive girls to a nicety, they went into several of the large shopswith Mrs. Littell, and then, because it had begun to rain and did notpromise pleasant weather for driving, they went to a moving pictureshow. 

"Had a full day?" asked Mr. Littell at dinner that night. "Libbie, what did you see?"

Libbie's answer provoked a gust of laughter. She was so essentiallya matter-of-fact little personage in appearance and manner that whenshe opened her red mouth and announced, "A bride and groom!" theeffect was startling. 

That started Bobby, and she told the story of the lost John, told itas her father would have, for neither Bobby nor Mr. Littell were atall inclined toward sentimentality. 

"Well, Betty, " Mr. Littell beckoned to her afterward when they wereall in the pleasant living-room across the hall, "think you're goingto like Washington, even if it is overrun with brides and grooms?"

"It's lovely, " Betty assured him fervently. "We've had the mostperfect day. And, Mr. Littell, what do you think--I've found outsomething important already. "

She had told him about Bob that morning, and he was interested atonce when she narrated what the bride and groom had told her of oldLockwood Hale. 

"Why, I know where his shop is. Everybody in Washington does, " saidMr. Littell when she had finished. "He has lots of rare books mixedin with worthless trash. Funny I didn't take in you meant that Halewhen you spoke of him. I suppose you'll want to go there to-morrowCarter will take you in the car, and you'd better have one of thegirls go with you. Bobby is all right--she may be scatter-brained butshe doesn't talk. "

For some reason none of the girls was sleepy that night, and aftergoing upstairs they all assembled in Bobby and Betty's room to talk. Libbie could not keep her mind off the bride. 

"I wonder how I'd look in a lace veil, " she said, seizing the flutedmuslin bedspread and draping it over her head. "It must be lovely tobe a bride!"

"You've been reading too many silly books, " scolded Bobby. "Anyway, Libbie, you're too fat to look nice in a veil. Better get thin beforeyou're old enough to be married, or else you'll have to wear atraveling suit. "

Libbie eyed her scornfully and continued to parade up and down inher draperies. 

"Betty would look pretty in a veil, " said Louise suddenly. "Come on, girls, let's stage a wedding. Libbie won't sleep all night if shedoesn't have some romantic outlet. I'll be the father. "

She seized a pillow and stuffed it in the front of her dressing gownso that it made a very respectable corpulency. 

"I'll be the mother!" Esther began to pin up her hair, a dignity towhich she secretly aspired. 

"I'm your bridesmaid, Libbie, " announced Betty, catching up thebride's train and beginning to hum the wedding march under her breath. 

"If you _will_ be silly idiots, I'm the minister, " said Bobby, mounting the bed and leaning over the foot rail as if it were a pulpit. 

The bride stopped short, nearly tripping up the devoted bridesmaid. 

"I don't think you should make fun of ministers, " she said, lookingdisapprovingly at her cousin. "It's almost wicked. "

"I'd like to know how it's any more wicked than to pretend awedding, " retorted Bobby wrathfully. "Weddings are very solemn, sacred, serious affairs. Mother always cries when she goes to one. "

Betty began to laugh. She laughed so hard that she had to sit downon the floor, and the more the two girls glared at each other, theharder she laughed. 

"I don't see what's so funny, " resented Bobby, beginning to snicker, too. "For goodness sake, don't have hysterics, Betty. Mother willhear you and come rapping on the door in a minute. "

"I just thought of something. " The convulsed Betty made a heroiceffort to control her laughter and failed completely. "Oh, girls, "she cried, wiping her eyes, "here you are bickering about the brideand the minister, and not one of us thought of the bridegroom. Weleft him out!"

Louise and Bobby rolled over on the bed and had their laugh out. Libbie collapsed on the floor, and Esther leaned against the bureau, laughing till she cried. 

"They say the bridegroom isn't important at a wedding, but I neverheard of ignoring him altogether, " gasped Bobby, and then they wereoff again. 

They made so much noise that Mrs. Littell tapped on the door to askwhy they were not in bed, and when Bobby told her the joke, she hadto sit down and laugh, too. 

"I'll send you up some sponge cake and milk if you'll promise to goright to sleep after that, " she told them, kissing each one goodnight all over again. "Libbie shall at least have the wedding cake, if she can't have a wedding. "

CHAPTER XV

OFF TO INVESTIGATE

Drip! drip! drip!

Betty listened sleepily, and then, as she raised herself on oneelbow to hear better, she knew the noise was made by the rain. 

"If that isn't too provoking!" Bobby sat up with an indignant jerkand surveyed Betty across the little table at the head of the beds. "I thought we'd all go down to Mount Vernon to-day, and now it's goneand rained and spoiled it all. Oh, dear! I don't think I'll get up";and she curled down in a dejected heap under the white spread. 

"Well, I'm going to get up, " announced Betty decidedly, springingout of bed with her accustomed energy. "Rainy days are just as muchfun as sunny ones, and there's something I have to do to-day, weatheror no weather. "

"She's a dear, " said Louise warmly, smiling as the sound of Betty'scarolling came to them above the sound of running water in thebathroom. "Mother says she likes her more and more every day. I wishher uncle would never write to her and she'd just go on living withus all the time. "

"And go to school with us in the fall. That would be nice, " agreedBobby reflectively. "But, of course, Betty's heart would be broken ifshe never heard from her uncle. However, we'll be as nice to her aswe can, and then maybe she will want to stay with us anyway, even ifhe does send for her. "

"What are you two plotting?" asked Betty gaily, emerging warm androsy from her vigorous tubbing. "Do you know, I've just rememberedthat I promised to show Libbie how to make mile-a-minute lace beforebreakfast? I hope there is time. "

"What on earth do you want to make lace for?" demanded the practicalBobby, as her cousin appeared in the doorway, rubbing sleepy eyes. "It's too early to begin on Christmas presents. "

Libbie was not at all confused in her ideas, and she had a veryclear reason for wishing to add this accomplishment to her ratherlimited list. 

"It's for my hope-chest, " she informed Bobby with dignity, and noteven the shout of laughter which greeted this statement could ruffleher. "You may think it's funny, " she observed serenely, "but I havesix towels and three aprons made and put away all ready. "

"My aunt!" sighed Bobby inelegantly, shaking her head. "You believein starting young, don't you? Why, I'm fourteen, and I've never givena thought to a hope-chest. "

Here Esther, the early riser of the family, created a diversion bycoming in fully dressed and announcing that Mammy Lou was willing toteach as many girls as cared to come after breakfast how to makebeaten biscuit. 

"Take Libbie, " giggled Bobby, whose sense of humor was easilytickled. "She's collecting stuff for her hope chest and I shouldthink biscuit recipes would be just the thing. Do you want to learnto cook, Betty? Esther has a kitchen hobby and rides it almost todeath. "

"I do not!" retorted Esther indignantly. "Do I, Louise? Mother lovedto cook when she was a girl, and she says she likes to see me fussingin the kitchen. "

Betty was showing Libbie how to hold her crochet hook, and now shelooked up from her pupil. 

"Why, I'd love to learn to make those wonderful biscuits Mammy Loumakes, " she said slowly, "but I really have to go into Washington to-day. That is, if it will not upset any one's plans? I can easily walkto the trolley line, and I won't be gone longer than a couple ofhours. "

A trolley line ran about half a mile from the house, and to Bettywho had frequently walked ten miles a day while at Bramble Farm, thisdistance seemed negligible. 

"Let me go with you, Betty?" coaxed Bobby. "Carter will take us inthe machine. I won't bother you, and if you have personal business toattend to, I'll wait for you in the library or some place. Cookingand making lace drives me wild, and if you leave me at home as likelyas not I'll pick a quarrel with some one before the morning is over. "

"Worse than that, she'll insist on singing while I'm trying topractice, " said Louise. "I'm three or four days behind with myviolin, and a rainy morning is a grand time to catch up. Do take herwith you, Betty. "

"Why, goodness, she will be taking me, " insisted Betty. "Of courseyou know I'll love to have you, Bobby. As a matter of fact, I wantedto ask you to go with me because it is a strange place and yourfather said not to go alone. Only I didn't want to disturb any plansyou might have made for to-day. I'll tell you about it on the way, "she added noting the look of growing curiosity on Bobby's face. 

After breakfast the girls scattered to their chosen occupations, andMrs. Littell settled herself to read to her husband on the glassenclosed piazza that extended half way across the back of the house. The car was brought round for Betty and Bobby and, commissioned to doseveral small errands in town, they set off. 

"Now where are we going?" demanded Bobby bouncing around on the seatcushions more like a girl of seven than fourteen. "Do tell me, forI'm simply devoured with curiosity. "

So Betty briefly outlined for her a little of Bob's history and ofwhat she knew Lockwood Hale had told the poorhouse master. She alsoexplained how she had obtained the old bookshop man's address fromthe bride they had met in the Monument the day before. 

The rain came down steadily, and the country road was already muddy, showing that it had stormed the greater part of the night. Carter wasa careful driver, and the luxurious limousine had been substitutedfor the touring car so that the girls were protected and verycomfortable. Quite suddenly Carter brought the car to a stop on alonely stretch of road just above a sharp turn. 

"Goodness, I hope he hasn't a puncture, " said Bobby. "I was sointerested in listening to you I never heard anything. What's wrong, Carter?" she called. 

"There's a little dog in the road, Miss Bobby, " said Carter slowlyand distinctly, as he always spoke. Bobby had once declared that shedid not believe a fire would shake Carter from his drawling speech. "A puppy, I guess you'd call it. I'll have to move it to one sidebefore we can drive past, because it is in the middle of the road. "

Bobby leaned out to look. 

"It must be hurt!" she cried. "Bring it in here, quick, Carter. Why, it's just a tiny puppy, Betty, " she added; "a black and white one. "

Carter, mingled pain and reproach in his face, brought the dog tothem, holding it gingerly away from him so as not to soil his coat. 

"It's very muddy, Miss Bobby, " he said disapprovingly. "Your motherwon't like them nice gray cushions all stained up. "

"Well, couldn't you lend me your handkerchief, Carter?" suggestedBobby gently. "I'll wipe him off. There now, he's all right. Myhandkerchief's so small it wouldn't have done one of his paws. "

Carter, minus his handkerchief, started the car and they rounded thecurve. The puppy seemed to be all right except that he was wet andshivering, and Bobby and Betty had decided that he was very young butotherwise in perfect health when the car stopped again. 

"There's another one of 'em, Miss Bobby, " groaned Carter. "You don'twant this one, do you?"

The girls thrust out their heads. Sure enough, another black andwhite puppy lay abandoned in the roadway. 

"Certainly, we'll pick it up, " said Bobby indignantly. "Do yousuppose we're going to go past a dog and let it die in the rain?Bring it here, please, Carter. "

The old man got down stiffly and picked up the dog. This time hehanded over a second handkerchief with a ludicrous air of "take-it-and-ruin-it. "

"That's the last handkerchief I have with me, Miss Bobby, " heannounced feelingly, watching his young mistress mopping water andmud from the rescued puppy. 

"Well, there won't be any more puppies, Carter, " Bobby assured himcheerfully. 

But they had not gone twenty rods when they found another, and, after that, a few rods further on, a fourth. 

"Here's where we use our own handkerchiefs, " giggled Bobby. "Andwhat are we going to do with a car full of dogs?"

The problem was solved, however, before they crossed the bridge intoWashington. On the hill leading to the bridge they overtook a smallcolored boy weeping bitterly. Bobby signaled Carter to stop, andleaning out asked the child what the matter was. 

"I done lost my dawgs!" he sobbed. "We-all is moving, and I had 'emin a basket with a burlap bottom. I done tol mammy that burlap wasrotten. " He held up the basket for them to see the hole in the clothtacked across the bottom. "I was going to sell them dawgs for fiftycents apiece when they was bigger, " he finished with a fresh burst ofgrief. 

His joy when the girls showed him the puppies and explained how theyhad found them was correspondingly noisy. He had an old gingham apronwith him, and into this the dogs were unceremoniously bundled andsecurely knotted. Betty and Bobby each gave him a shining ten-centpiece, and a blissful boy went whistling over the bridge, his worldchanged to sunshine in a few brief minutes. 

The car threaded a side street, turned twice, and brought up beforea quaint old house with a basement shop tucked away under a bulgingbay-window. 

"This is Hale's bookshop, Miss, " said Carter respectfully to Betty, CHAPTER XVI

WHAT HALE HAD TO TELL

The door of the bookstore opened with a loose old-fashioned latch, and one fell down two steps without warning into a long, narrow roomlined with books. Betty went first, and Bobby, stumbling, would havefallen if she had not caught her. 

"Gracious! I'm a little bit scared, aren't you?" Bobby whispered. "It seems like such a spooky place. "

It was certainly very quiet in the shop, and for a few moments Bettythought they must be alone. Then some one stirred, and, looking downthe room, they saw an old man bent over a book open on a table near adusty window. He wore big horn spectacles and was evidently extremelynearsighted, for he kept his face so near the book that his nosealmost touched the pages. 

"That must be Mr. Hale, " said Betty. "I wonder if it's all right tointerrupt him?"

"I should say the only way to make him understand you're here, wouldbe to go up and take that book away, " rejoined Bobby. 

"He can't be very anxious to sell anything, or he'd pay moreattention to his store, " giggled Betty. 

"I'll wait here, " said Bobby hastily, as Betty moved toward the rearof the store. "I'd probably say the wrong thing anyway. Let me see, I'll be reading this fat brown book. They all look alike to me, butthis may be thrilling in spots. "

Betty approached the motionless old man, whose lean brown forefingertraced the curious black characters in the book before him so slowlythat it did not seem to budge at all. 

"I beg your pardon?" she said tentatively. 

No response. 

"I want to ask you----" Betty began again, a little breathlessly. "I want to ask you about a boy named Bob Henderson. "

"Name's Hale, " said the old man, without looking up and speaking ina cracked, hoarse voice. "Lockwood Hale, dealer in new and secondhandbooks. Just look around on the tables and you'll likely come acrosswhat you want. I'll wrap it for you when you find it. Just now I'mbusy. "

Betty looked desperately at Bobby, who was listening over the top ofher book, and stifled a desire to laugh. 

"I don't want a book, " she insisted gently. "I want to ask you aquestion. About Bob Henderson. You know you were interested in therecords of the Oliver County almshouse, and you thought you mightknow something of his people. "

The old man pushed his spectacles up on his forehead fretfully andregarded the girl impatiently from a pair of near-sighted blue eyes. 

"The books weren't worth anything, " he told her seriously. "I spentnear a day going over 'em, and there wasn't a volume worth bringingback with me. Folks get the idea in their heads that a book's worthmoney just because it is old. 'Tain't so--I could fill my tables andshelves with old trash and still not have any stock. Jim Turner don'tknow a valuable book from a turnip. "

Mr. Hale gave every indication of returning to the absorbing volumebefore him, and Betty plunged in hastily with another question. 

"You know a boy named Bob Henderson, don't you?" she urged. 

"Yes, he was in here some time last week, " answered Hale calmly. "Was it Wednesday, or Tuesday--that load of old almanacs wasdelivered that same afternoon. "

"Well, I'm a friend of his. " Betty almost stuttered in her eagernessto explain before the old man should be lost again in his book. "Heworked on the farm where I spent the summer, and he told me about youand how anxious he was to see you and find out about his people. I'vebeen anxious, too, to learn if he reached Washington and whether heis here now. Do you know?"

Now that the shopkeeper's mind was fairly detached from his printedpage he seemed to be more interested in his caller, and though he didnot offer to get Betty a chair, he looked about him vaguely as thoughhe might be seeking a place for her to sit. 

"I don't mind standing. I mustn't stay long, " she said hurriedly, afraid to let him fix his attention on outside objects. "Didn't BobHenderson say where he was going? Did he mention anything aboutleaving Washington?"

"Well, now let me see, " considered the old man. "Bob Henderson? Oh, yes, I recollect now how he looked--a manly lad with a frank face. Yes, yes, his mother was Faith Henderson, born a Saunders. That'swhat caught my eye on the almshouse record book. Years ago I tracedthe Saunders line for a fine young lady who was marrying here inWashington. She wanted a coat of arms, and she was entitled to one, too. But there was a break in the line, one branch ending suddenlywith the birth of Faith Saunders, daughter of Robert and Grace. Inever forget a name, so when I read the almshouse record and saw thename of this lad's mother there I knew I had my chart complete. Yes, the boy was interested in what I could tell him. "

Betty, too, was interested and glad to know that Bob had succeededin finding the old bookseller and learning from him what he had totell. But if Bob was still in Washington, she wanted to see him. Hecould doubtless tell her what to do in case she did not hear from heruncle within a few days--and Betty was growing exceedingly anxious asno answer came in reply to her telegram. And above all, she wanted tosee an old friend. The Littells were kindness itself to her, but shecraved a familiar face, some one to whom she could say, "Do youremember?"

"Didn't Bob say where he was going?" she urged again. 

"Going?" Mr. Hale repeated the question placidly. "Oh, I believe hewent to Oklahoma. "

Oklahoma! Betty had a sudden wild conviction that her thoughts hadbeen so centered on that one locality that she was beginning to loseher mind and imagine that every one repeated the word to her. 

"Did you--did you say Oklahoma?" she ventured. "Why, how funny! Ihave an uncle out there in the oil fields. At least we think he is inthe oil fields, " she added, a sudden look of worry flashing into hereyes. "It seems so funny that Bob should go away off there. "

The old man peered up at her shrewdly. 

"Aye, aye, funny it may be, " he croaked. "But suppose I should tellyou I advised the lad to go there? Would that seem funny, eh?"

Betty stared in complete bewilderment. 

"Oh, it isn't always in the story books, sometimes it happens toreal boys, " he nodded exultantly. "Suppose I told you, in strictestconfidence, young lady, for I think you're a true friend to him, thathe has relatives out there? His mother's two sisters, both of 'emliving on the old homestead? Neither of 'em married and without nearkith or kin so far as they know? Suppose I tell you that the oldfarm, as I locate it, is in the oil section? Suppose the lad isentitled to his mother's interest in the place? Eh? Suppose I tellyou that?"

He made a question of each point, and emitted a dry cackle afterevery assertion. 

"I told the lad to go out there, and if he had any trouble provingwho he was to come back here to me, " said Hale importantly. "I canhelp him straighten out the tangles. I've untied many a knot forfamilies more tangled up than this. So he may be back, he may beback. Drop in any day, and I'll tell you whatever I know. "

Betty thanked him warmly and he followed the girls to the door, repeating that he would be glad to tell them everything he knew. 

They were going to one of the large shops to do a few errands forMrs. Littell, and since their visit to the bookstore had taken solong they agreed to separate and each do one or two commissions andthen meet at the door within half an hour. 

Betty's mind was busy with the astonishing revelations Lockwood Halehad made, and as she deftly matched wool for a sweater, she turnedthe information over in her mind. 

"I don't believe Bob has gone so far West at all, " she said toherself firmly. "He wouldn't have money enough, I'm sure. I supposehe has written to me, but my mail will go to the farm, of course, andMr. Peabody would be the last person to forward it. I must write thepostmaster to hold and redirect my mail--when I know where I am to be. "

Although she had promised herself not to worry, Betty was becomingvery anxious to hear from her uncle. She had written to the Bendersin Laurel Grove and to Norma Guerin at Glenside, explaining hersituation and asking them to let her know as soon as the quarantinein Pineville should be lifted. She knew that she could visit friendsthere indefinitely. But that did not much lighten the burden. Anxietyfor her uncle and growing fear that she might never again hear fromhim, it had already been so long a time since his last letter, attimes oppressed her. 

Their chopping finished, she and Bobby were reunited and were gladto enter the car and drive quietly home to luncheon. It was stillraining, and they found the other girls impatient for their return. 

"We know all about beaten biscuit, " boasted Esther. "And I stirredup a gold cake every bit myself. "

"Practising all done, " reported Louise. "And I'm just aching for agood lively game. No wedding stuff, Libbie, I warn you. I can see aromantic gleam in your eye. "

Libbie said nothing then, but after lunch when they were debatingwhat to do, she had a suggestion. 

"Let's play hide-and-go-seek, " she said enthusiastically. 

"Well, I didn't know you had that much sense, " approved Bobby, whowas blunt almost to a fault but undoubtedly fond of her youngercousin. "Come on, girls, we'll have one more good game before thefamily begin to hint I'm too old for such hoydenish tricks. We'll goup to the attic and make as much noise as we can. "

CHAPTER XVII

MORE SIGHTSEEING

Libbie waited till they were safely in the attic before she followedup her suggestion. 

"I read the loveliest story last summer, " she said dreamily. "It wasabout a bride--"

A shout of laughter from the listening girls interrupted her. 

"I knew there would be a bride in it somewhere, " rippled Bobby. "Now, Libbie, once and for all, this is hide-and-go-seek, not a mockwedding. "

"You might let me finish, " protested Libbie. "I only meant to saythis story was about a bride who ran away from her wedding guests forfun and hid in a great carved chest; the chest had a spring lock andit closed tight when she pulled it down. Her husband and all theguests hunted and hunted, and they never found her. Years and yearsafter, when they opened the chest, there were only some bones and thewedding dress and veil. "

"And you call that a lovely story!" Bobby's scorn was immeasurable. "Well, I think it's gruesome. And what kind of housecleaning did theyhave in those days? My mother opens every chest and trunk and box inthe house at least twice a year. "

The game started merrily, and, forewarned by Libbie's story, thegirls knew exactly where to find her when she hid from them andunerringly pulled her out of every chest into which she hopefullysqueezed her plump self. 

"You never should have mentioned 'chest' to us, " laughed Betty, whenLibbie was "it" for the third time. "We know your line of reasoningnow, you see. "

Libbie good-naturedly began her counting, and Betty looked about fora good place to hide. The attic was long and wide and a splendidplace to play. It was rather too well lighted for hide-and-seek, butthe trunks and boxes arranged neatly around the walls offered a fairchance to escape detection. A peculiar fan-shaped box near a windowattracted Betty's attention, apparently being a built-in box. 

"I'll hide there, " she resolved, running lightly over to it. 

Louise and Esther and Bobby were already stowed away in variouscorners, and Betty slipped into the box noiselessly. Libbie ceasedcounting. 

The three Littell girls reached "home" without being detected, andthen perched merrily on an old trunk to watch Libbie prowl aboutafter Betty. A five-minute search failed to reveal her, and Libbygave up. 

"All safe, you may come in!" they called in unison. 

No Betty appeared, and they shouted again. 

"Well, if that isn't queer!" Louise looked at Bobby in doubt. "Wheredo you suppose she is hiding?"

Bobby, a furrow of anxiety between her eyes, searched the attic withlevel glances, her sisters and cousin watching her apprehensively. 

"Something must have happened to her, " Louise was beginning, whenBobby gave a cry and raced for the door. 

"I'll bet I know where she went, " she flung over her shoulder. "Haven't time--to stop--don't bother me----" She flew down thestairs, the others after her at top speed. 

Down, down, down, through the third, second and first floors, thefour girls fled like a whirlwind, down, always following flyingBobby, to the laundry in the basement where modern electric equipmentmade washing clothes a scientific process. 

Bobby brought up her mad flight before a tall cupboard in onecorner, turning the catch on the door, opened it and out tumbled--Betty!

"Are you hurt?" demanded Bobby, helping her to her feet. "Oh, Betty, darling, do say you're all right! It's a wonder you weren'tsuffocated or didn't break any bones. "

"I'm all right, " said Betty, smoothing out her skirts. "But I'mstill a bit dazed. It was such a sudden drop. What have I done that Ishouldn't, Bobby?"

Libbie, too, was bewildered, and stared at the disheveled Betty withpuzzled wonder. 

"Why, my dear child, " explained Bobby, with a funny maternal manner, "you fell down the laundry shoot. It opens into the attic for goodventilation. I'm glad there were some soiled clothes at the bottomfor you to land on, otherwise you might have had a bad bump. Sureyou're all right?"

"Yes, indeed, " insisted Betty. "I thought I was climbing into a boxand went in feet first without looking. Instead of hitting the floor, I slid gently on and on. I hadn't any breath to scream with I went sofast. Anyway, there wasn't time to scream. I just sat here for a timeafter I landed. And I was wondering where I was and how I could getout when you opened the door for me. "

That ended the game for the day, and the rest of the afternoon thegirls were content to spend quietly, Betty in writing a long letterto Mrs. Arnold, one of her mother's old friends who had moved toCalifornia, and the others with books and sewing. 

The next morning was fair and sunny, and before breakfast Bobby hadit planned that they should spend the day at Mount Vernon. Of courseBetty and Libbie were very anxious to see the famous place, and thethree sisters were glad to have the opportunity to take them for thefirst time. 

"It's never the same again, " explained Louise, obligingly tyingEsther's hair-bow for her. "There's a wonderful thrill you get whenyou see the things that really were Washington's and were handled byhim that never comes again. Though we love to go there and never tireof looking at the rooms. "

"What a chatter-box you are, child!" expostulated her mother, whohad come up to tell them breakfast was ready. Indeed the gong hadsounded fully fifteen minutes before. "How nice you look, all of you!I'll be proud to take five girls to Mount Vernon. We're going to-day, aren't we?"

Dear Mrs. Littell! Betty already loved her dearly, as indeed didevery member of the household. She was so unaffected, so affectionateand generous, and she allowed money to change her simple, happynature not at all. The Littells had not always been wealthy, and themistress of the beautiful mansion did not hesitate to tell of thedays when she had done all of her own housework and taken care of twobabies. 

Soon after breakfast the party started, the plan to go by motorbeing abandoned in favor of the trip down the river. It was decidedthat Carter should come down later with the car and bring a basketluncheon, taking them home in the afternoon. 

Mount Vernon is sixteen miles below Washington, and the sail downthe Potomac was delightful in the cool of the morning, and Bettythought she had never seen anything more beautiful than the deepgreens of the trees and grass on either bank. By common consent theboatload of chattering people became silent as they came in sight ofMount Vernon, and as the glimmer of the house showed white betweenthe trees. Betty's heart contracted suddenly. Louise, who waswatching her, squeezed her arm sympathetically. 

"I know how you feel, " she whispered. "Mother told me that the firsttime she went abroad and dad took her to see the Colosseum she cried. You're not crying, are you, Betty?"

Betty shook her head, but her eyelashes were suspiciously damp. 

Libbie was staring in unaffected enjoyment at the scene before herand fairly dancing with impatience to be off the boat. 

"I do want to see Martha Washington's things, " she confided, as theywent ashore. "Her ivory fan and her dishes and the lovely colonialmahogany furniture. "

"George Washington's swords for mine, " announced Bobby inelegantly. "I've seen 'em every time I've been here, and I'd give anything tohave one to hang in my room. "

"Bobby should have been a boy, " remarked Mrs. Littell indulgently. "You're mother's only son, aren't you, dear?"

"Well, my name is as near as I'll ever come to it, " mourned Bobby. "However, I manage to have a pretty good time if I am only a girl. "

Mrs. Littell led them first to the tomb of Washington. The plainbrick building was directly at the head of the path leading from thelanding, and a reverent group stood, the men with bared heads, for afew moments before the resting place of the Father of his Country. 

High above the river, overlooking the land he loved, stands theMount Vernon mansion. From the tomb the Littell party went directlyto the house. 

Each of the girls, although interested in the whole, showed herpersonality distinctly in her choice of special relics. 

It was Betty who lingered longest in the library, fascinated by theautographed letters of Washington, his tripod used in surveying, andhis family Bible. Bobby had to be torn bodily from the room whichcontained the four swords. Esther spent her happiest hour in the oldkitchen, admiring the huge fireplace and the andirons and turnspit. 

Louise and Mrs. Littell were able to go into raptures over the oldfurniture in Martha Washington's bedroom and sitting room, thoughthey, of course, had seen it all many times before. 

Mrs. Littell herself had a collection of antique furniture of whichshe was justly proud, and mahogany furniture was sure of herintelligent appreciation. Strange to say, Libbie remained cool towardthe very things she had voiced a desire to see, and in the middle ofthe morning they missed her. 

They were on their way to the barn Washington's father had built, and Betty volunteered to run back and see if the missing girl hadstayed behind in the house. 

CHAPTER XVIII

BETTY UNDERSTANDS

Betty hurried back and began a hasty inspection of the rooms. Sherecollected seeing Libbie upstairs at the door of Washington's roomthe last time she had definitely noticed her, and she ran upstairs tosee if she might not be there. 

No Libbie was in any of the rooms. 

Downstairs she searched hurriedly, peeping under people's elbows, trying not to annoy others and yet to make a thorough hunt in a shorttime so as not to keep the others waiting. Then in the music room, orEast Parlor, as it is often called, she found the truant, gazing withrapt eyes at the quaint old harpsichord which had belonged to NellieCustis. 

"Every one is waiting for you, " announced Betty, pulling her gentlyby the sleeve. "Come on, Libbie, we're all going. We've seen thewhole house. "

Libbie followed in a sort of daze, and when they rejoined the othersshe seemed to be still in a brown study. 

"For goodness sake, " prodded Bobby impatiently, "what were you doingback there? We nearly went off and left you. Where did you find her, Betty?"

"I was in the music room, " announced Libbie with dignity. "I wantedto see the harpsichord. Say, girls, did you know Washington gave thatto Nellie Custis when she was married? He wore his uniform when hegave her away, and--"

"Well, for pity's sake!" Bobby's disgust was ludicrous. "TrustLibbie to dig up a romance wherever she goes. What else did you findconnected with weddings, Lib?"

Libbie was inclined to be ruffled, but Mrs. Littell soothed thetroubled waters by telling them that the old barn, which they hadreached by this time, was built in 1733 by Washington's father andthat the bricks were supposed to have been imported from England. 

The beautiful old formal garden further mellowed their tempers, forit was impossible to say sharp things walking along the very pathswhich George Washington had often trod and between the rows of boxbrushed by the silken skirts of Mrs. Washington. Where her rosebushes used to be are planted others, and Mrs. Littell assured thegirls that it was one of the great pleasures of the First Lady of theLand to gather rose leaves for her potpourri jars and to make aperfumed unguent for which she was famous among her friends. 

"She was a wonderful housekeeper, " added Mrs. Littell, smiling atLibbie, whose momentary resentment had quickly faded, "and a veryfine manager. We are told that she was thoroughly domestic in hertastes and that she made her husband ideally happy. "

Presently Carter came with a hamper of luncheon and their appetitesdid full justice to Mammy Lou's dainties. Betty wondered, sitting onthe grass, the Potomac flowing lazily several feet below, whether shewas dreaming and might not wake up to find herself at Bramble Farmwith Mr. Peabody scolding vigorously because something had not goneto suit him. She often had this odd feeling that her presenthappiness could not be real. 

This, too, brought the thought of her uncle to her mind, and againshe wondered if she would ever hear from him--if something dreadfulhad not happened to him, leaving her almost as much alone in theworld as Bob Henderson. She shivered a little, then resolutely threwherself into the chatter of the other girls and soon forgot all butthe present pleasure and excitement. 

After rambling about the grounds another hour or so, the party fromFairfield was ready to go, and they all found it restful to lean backin the comfortable car and spin back to the city. 

"If you're not too tired I think we might drive down PennsylvaniaAvenue, " suggested Mrs. Littell. "Our guests haven't seen the WhiteHouse yet, have they?"

Neither Betty nor Libbie had, and as the car turned into the famousthoroughfare both girls sat up alertly so as not to miss a singlesight of interest. Carter slowed down as they approached a high ironfence, and at the first glimpse of the white mansion separated fromthe fence and street by a wide stretch of lawn, Libbie shoutedjoyfully. 

"The White House!"

"Well, you needn't tell everybody, " cautioned Bobby. "Think of theweddings they've held in there, Libbie!"

"I imagine any one who has ever seen a picture of the White Houserecognizes it instantly, " said Betty, fearing a resumption ofcousinly hostilities. "How beautiful the grounds are. "

"You must go through it some day soon, " said Mrs. Littell. "And nowwe'll drive to the Capitol. Day after to-morrow would be a good timefor you to take the girls to the Capitol, Bobby. "

The Capitol reminded Libbie of a pin tray she had at home, and awokerecollection in Betty's mind of a bronze plaque that had been one ofMrs. Arnold's treasures in the stiff little parlor of the Pinevillehouse. All good Americans know the White House and the Capitol longbefore they make a pilgrimage to Washington. 

On their arrival at Fairfields they found Mr. Littell playingsolitaire, and something in his undisguised relief at seeing themmade Betty wonder if time did not hang heavily on his hands. 

After dinner Bobby proposed that they turn on the phonograph andhave a little dance among themselves. 

"Oh, that will be fine!" cried Betty. 

"Then you can dance?"

"A little--mother taught me. "

So the girls danced and had a good time generally for an hour ormore, with Mr. And Mrs. Littell looking on. Then Betty sank down onthe arm of Mr. Littell's chair. 

"I've been thinking of something, " she half whispered. "Do you liketo play checkers? If you do, I know how. "

Maybe Mr. Littell understood that she was doing it largely to keephim company. But he said nothing, and they played checkers for nearlytwo hours. Betty was a fairly good player and managed to land severalvictories. 

"With a little more practice you'll make a very good player, "declared Mr. Littell. "I appreciate your staying to play with acripple like me, " he added gratefully. "Does your Uncle Dick play?"

"I don't really know, " replied the girl, and now her face cloudedfor an instant. Oh, why didn't she hear from Uncle Dick?

The next few days were filled with sightseeing trips. Betty was kepttoo busy to have much time to worry, which was fortunate, for no wordcame from her uncle and no word reached her from Bob Henderson. TheGuerins and the Benders wrote to her, and each letter mentioned thefact that Bob had sent a postal from Washington, but that no laterword had come from him. 

"I met Peabody on the road yesterday, " ran a postscript to NormaGuerin's letter, written by her doctor father. "He hinted darkly thatBob had done something that might land him in jail, but I couldn'tforce out of him what fearful thing Bob had done. I hope the ladhasn't been rash, for Peabody never forgives a wrong, real or fancied. "

Betty knew that the farmer's action had to do with the unrecordeddeed, but she did not feel that she should make any disclosures inthat connection. Of Bob's innocence she was sure, and time wouldcertainly clear him of any implication. 

The girls visited the Capitol, seeing the great bronze doors thatare nineteen feet high and weight ten tons. Betty was fascinated bythe eight panels, and studied them till the others threatened toleave her there over night and call for her in the morning. Then sheconsented to make the tour of the three buildings. But the historicalpaintings again held her spellbound. When she reached the Senatechamber, which was empty, except for a page or two, the Senate notbeing in session, she dropped into a gallery seat and tried toimagine the famous scenes enacted there. They spent the better partof a day at the Capitol, and saw practically everything in thebuildings. They were so tired that night that Libbie went to sleepover her dessert, and Betty dreamed all night of defending the citywith a shotgun from the great gilded dome. But she and Libbie agreedthat they would not have missed it for anything. 

CHAPTER XIX

AN UNEXPECTED MEETING

"That's twice you've made a wrong play, Betty, " observed Mr. Littell. "What lies heavy on your mind this evening?"

Betty blushed, and attempted to put her mind more on the game. Shewas playing checkers with Mr. Littell, whose injured foot still kepthim a prisoner most of the time, and she had played badly all theevening, she knew. Truth to tell, she was thinking about her uncleand wondering over and over why she did not hear from him. 

After the rubber was played and the other girls who had been aroundthe piano, singing, had gone out to get something to eat, for themaids had the evening off, Betty spoke to her host. 

"I suppose you think I'm foolish, " she ventured; "but I am reallyworried about Uncle Dick now. He has never answered the telegram andthe two letters I've written. His Philadelphia lawyer writes that heis waiting to hear from him. He seems to have dropped out of theworld. Do you think he may be sick in some hospital and not able tocommunicate with us?"

"That's a possibility, " admitted Mr. Littell soberly. "But I tellyou honestly, Betty, and not simply to relieve your mind, that Iconsider it a very remote one. Business men, especially men whotravel a great deal, as you tell me your uncle does, seldom arewithout somewhere on their person, their names and addresses, anddirections about what is to be done in case of sickness or accident. I never travel without such a card. Ten to one, if your uncle wereill or injured, his lawyer would have been notified immediately. "

A weight of anxiety slipped from Betty's heart, for she immediatelyrecognized the sound common sense in this argument. Still, somethingelse was troubling her. 

"Don't you think, " she began again bravely, "that I had better go toPineville? The quarantine is lifted, I hear, and the Bensingers willtake me in till I can hear from Uncle Dick. You and Mrs. Littell andthe girls have been so lovely to me, but--but--" her voice trailed off. 

Mr. Littell leaned back in his chair and lit a fresh cigar. 

"Well, now of course, " he said slowly, "if you feel that you want togo to Pineville, we really have no right to say anything. But if Iwere you, I'd stay right here. Your uncle may be intending to comeback to Washington. In any case, he will address his letter to youhere. Of that much we are certain. You'll hear more quickly if youdon't move about. Besides, there is that Henderson lad. I'm countingon making his acquaintance. He's likely to bob up any day--though Ididn't mean to pun. If you want my advice, Betty, it is to stay herequietly with us and wait as patiently as you can. We like to haveyou, you know that. You're not a stranger, but a friend. "

He went on to explain to her in his quiet, even, matter-of-fact way, that to the disturbed girl was inexpressibly soothing, his beliefthat her uncle was on an exploration trip for oil and might easilyfind a month's accumulation of mail awaiting him on his return. 

"It's only here, in the heart of civilization, that we think wecan't live without four mails a day, " Mr. Littell concluded. "I'vebeen out of touch with a post-office for three weeks at a timemyself, and our sailors, you know, often go much longer withoutletters. "

On one particularly lovely morning the four girls, with Mrs. Littell, started off on the pleasant mission of seeing the WhiteHouse. Betty's and Libbie's acquaintance with it was confined solelyto the glimpses they had had from the street, but Louise and Bobbyhad attended several New Year's receptions and had shaken hands withthe President. 

The party spent a delightful morning, visiting the famous East Room, admiring the full length portraits of George and Martha Washington, about which latter the story is told that Mrs. Dolly Madison cut itfrom its frame to save it from the approaching enemy in 1814. Theywere also fortunate to find a custodian taking sightseers through theother official apartments so that they saw more than the casualvisitor does in one visit. They visited in turn, the Green Room, theRed Room, and the Blue Room, saw the state dining-room with itsmagnificent shining table about which it was easy to imagine famousguests seated, and enjoyed a peep into the conservatory at the end ofthe corridor. They did not go up to the executive offices on thesecond floor, knowing that probably a crowd was before them and thatan opportunity to see the President on the streets of the city waslikely to present itself. 

"Well, I shouldn't want to live there, " sighed Betty, as they camedown the steps, "It is very grand and very stately, but not much likea home. I suppose, though, the private rooms of the President and hisfamily are cozy, if one could see them. "

"Beyond a doubt, " agreed Mrs. Littell. 

They lunched at one of the large hotels, and afterward Mrs. Littellhad a club engagement. The girls, she announced, might spend theafternoon as they chose, and she would pick them all up at fiveo'clock with Carter and the car. 

"Esther and I want to see 'The Heart of June, '" announced Libbie, who found romance enough to satisfy her in the motion-pictures. 

Louise was interested, too; but Betty had promised to take somepapers for Mr. Littell and see that they reached an architect in oneof the nearby office buildings. Bobby elected to go with her, andthey decided that, that errand accomplished, they might do a littleshopping and meet the others at the theater door at five o'clock. 

"Mr. Waters won't be in till three o'clock, " announced the freckle-facedoffice boy who met them in the outer office of the architect's suite. 

"Then we'll have to come back, " decided Betty, glancing at herwatch. "It is just two now. "

"You can leave anything with me, " said the boy politely. "I'll seethat he gets it as soon as he comes in. "

"Yes, do, Betty, " urged Bobby. "Dad would say it was all right toleave that envelope of papers. They're not terribly important. "

"We can do our shopping and then come back, " insisted Betty, to theevident disgust of Bobby and the hardly less concealed impatience ofthe office boy. 

"Why wouldn't you leave 'em?" demanded Bobby, when they were oncemore in the street. 

"Dad hasn't any secret service stuff, I'm sure of that. Now we haveto come all the way back here again, and that means hurrying throughour shopping. "

"You needn't come, " said Betty mildly. "Your father asked me to givethose papers personally to Mr. Waters. He didn't say they wereimportant; I don't know that they are. But if I say I am going togive an envelope personally to any one, I don't intend to give thatenvelope to a third person if there's nothing in it more valuablethan--hair nets!"

The window they were passing suggested the comparison, and Bobbylaughed good-naturedly and forebore to argue further. Promptly atthree o'clock she and Betty entered the elevator in the officebuilding and were whirled up to the fifth floor to find Mr. Waters inhis private office. 

"Mr. Littell telephoned half an hour ago, " he told them, taking theenvelope and running over the papers with a practised eye as hetalked. "He hoped to catch you before you left here. I believe hewants to speak to his daughter. There's a booth right there, MissBobby. "

Bobby had a brief conversation with her father and came out in a fewminutes in evident haste. 

"He wants us to do a couple more errands, Betty, " she announced. "We'll have to hurry, for it's after three. "

The architect had written a receipt for the papers, and Bobby nowhurried Betty off, explaining as they went that they must take a carto Octagon House. 

Octagon House proved to be the headquarters for the AmericanInstitute of Architects, and Bobby's errand had to do with one of theoffices. Betty admired the fine woodwork and the handsome design ofthe house while waiting for her companion, and in less than fifteenminutes they were back on the street car bound for "the tallestoffice building in Washington, " as Bobby described it. 

"Dad wants an architectural magazine that's out of print, and hethinks I can get it there, " she said. "Afterward, if we have time, we'll go to the top of the building. The root is arranged so that youcan step out, and they say the view is really splendid. Not soextensive as from the Monument, of course, but not so reduced, either. I've always wanted to get up on the roof and see what I couldsee. "

Finding the office her father had specified did not prove as easy atask as Bobby had anticipated, and she said frankly that if she hadbeen alone she would have given up and taken another day for thesearch. 

"But if you can keep a promise down to the last dot of the lastletter, far be it from me to fall short, " she remarked. "Oh, Betty, do you see any office that looks like Sherwood and David on thisboard?"

At last they found it under another name, which, as Bobby rathertactlessly told the elevator boy, was not her idea of efficiency. Thecopy of the magazine Mr. Littell especially wanted was wrapped up andplaced safely in Bobby's hands. 

"And now, " declared that young person gaily, "as the reward ofvirtue, let's go up on the roof. It is after four, but we'll havetime if we don't dawdle. We can get from here to the theater infifteen minutes. "

They started for the elevator, and as a car came up and the gatesopened a boy got off. He would have brushed by without looking up, but Betty saw him at once. 

"Bob!" she cried in amazement "Why, Bob Henderson!"

CHAPTER XX

MUTUAL CONFIDENCES

"Betty! Oh, Betty! _Betty!_" Bob Henderson's familiar, friendlyvoice rose to a perfect crescendo of delight, and several passengersin the elevator smiled in sympathy. 

Bobby Littell, who had entered the car, backed out hastily and thegate closed. 

"Bobby, this is Bob Henderson, " Betty performed a hastyintroduction. "And, Bob, this is Roberta Littell, always called Bobby. "

The latter held out an instant cordial hand to Bob. 

"I know about you, " she proclaimed frankly. "Betty thinks you arefine. We ought to be good friends, because our names are almost alike. "

"I must talk to you, Bob, " said Betty hurriedly. "Where are yougoing? Have you heard from Bramble Farm or Uncle Dick? How long haveyou been in Washington? Did you get out to Oklahoma?"

Bobby laughed and touched Betty on the arm. 

"There's a seat over by the elevator, " she suggested. "Why don't yousit there and talk? I'll come back and get you at a quarter to five--I want to get some new hair-ribbons for Esther. "

"But you wanted to go up on the roof!" protested Betty, longing totalk to Bob and yet mindful of Bobby's first plans. 

"Plenty of other days for that, " was the careless response. "See youquarter to, remember. Good-by, Bob--though I'll see you again, ofcourse. "

She disappeared into a down elevator, and Betty and Bob sat down onthe oak settle in the corridor. 

"Wasn't it lucky we met you!" exclaimed Betty, getting a good lookat the boy for the first time. "Seems to me you're thinner, Bob. Areyou all right?"

"Couldn't be better!" he assured her, but she noticed there wererings under his eyes and that his hands, white enough now in contrastto the tan which still showed at his wrists, were perceptiblythinner. "Fact is, I work in this building, Betty. Kind of juniorclerk for a man on the fourth floor, substituting while his clerksare away on vacation. Hale got me the place. "

Betty told him of her interview with the old bookshop man, and Boblistened intently. 

"So that's how you heard about Oklahoma, " he commented. "You couldhave knocked me down with a feather when you said it. I guess Haleforgot I was working here--he really is dreadfully absent-minded--orelse he thought you weren't to be trusted with so important a secret. He's as queer as they make 'em, but he was very good to me; couldn'tseem to take enough pains to trace out what he knew of my mother'speople. "

Bob went on to explain that his money had given out and that he hadto work in order to get together enough to pay his fare out to theWest and also to board himself and pay for some new clothes. Bettyguessed that he was scrimping closely to save his wages, though shedid not then suspect what she afterward learned to be true, that hewas trying to live on two meals a day, and those none too bountiful. Bob had a healthy boy's appetite, and it took determination for himto go without the extra meal, but he had the grit to stick it out. 

"When Bobby comes back you must go with us and meet Mrs. Littell, "observed Betty. "She'll want to take you home to dinner. Oh, Bob, they are the loveliest people!"

Bob shifted his foot so that the patch on one shoe was hidden. 

"I'll go with you to meet her on one condition, " he said firmly. "Iwon't go to dinner anywhere to-night--that's flat, Betty. My collarisn't clean. And who are the Littells?"

That led to long explanations, of course, and Betty told in detailhow she had left Bramble Farm, of the mix-up at the Union Station, and her subsequent friendship with the hospitable family. She alsotold him of Mr. Gordon's sudden trip to Oklahoma and his almostinexplicable silence, but kept to herself her worry over this silenceand as to her own future if it continued. She gave him the latestnews of the Benders and the Guerins and handed over the two lettersfrom these friends she happened to have in her purse that he mightread and enjoy them at his leisure. In short, Betty poured out muchof the pent-up excitement and doubt and conjecture of the last fewweeks to Bob, who was as hungry to hear as she was to tell it. 

"They certainly are fine to you!" he exclaimed, referring to theLittells. "There isn't another family in Washington, probably, whowould have been as kind to you. I think you'll hear from your unclesoon, Betty. Lots of times these oil wells, you know, are miles froma railroad or a post-office. You take that Mr. Littell's advice--hesounds as if he had a heap of common sense. And whatever they've doneto you, you're looking great, Betty. Pretty, and stylish and--anddifferent, somehow. "

Betty blushed becomingly. She had brightened up amazingly during herstay in Washington, despite her anxiety about her uncle and, lately, Bob, The serene and happy life the whole household led under the roofof "Fairfields" had a great deal to do with this transformation, forthe bickering and pettiness of the daily life at Bramble Farm hadworn Betty's nerves insensibly. She tried to say something of this toBob. 

"I know, " he nodded. "And, Betty, what do you think? I met the oldmiser right here in Washington!"

Instinctively Betty glanced behind her. 

"You didn't!" she gasped. "Where? Did he--was he angry?"

"Sure! He was raving, " replied Bob cheerfully. "What do you think heaccused me of this time? Stealing an unrecorded deed! Did you knowanything about that, Betty?"

Betty described the incident of her delayed letter and told of themorning she had picked it from the floor and hung up Mr. Peabody'scoat. 

"He insists you took it, but I never believed it for one moment, "she said earnestly. "I'm sure Mrs. Peabody doesn't either; and Ididn't think Mr. Peabody really thought you took it. You know how heflies into a temper and accuses any one. But if he came down toWashington and said pointblank to you that you took it, it looks asif he thought you did, doesn't it?"

"You wouldn't have any doubts if you had heard him, " Bob saidgrimly. "He had me by the coat collar and nearly shook my teethloose. Perhaps he expected to shake the deed out of my pocket. Whaton earth does he think I could do with his old deed, anyhow?"

Betty explained the transaction of the lots as Mrs. Peabody hadexplained it to her, and Bob understood that the farmer, basing hisreasoning on his own probable conduct under similar conditions, suspected him of intended blackmail. 

"How did you get away from him?" asked Betty presently. "Where didhe shake you? Couldn't you call a policeman?"

"He wanted a policeman, " said Bob, chuckling. "He walked me abouttwo blocks, hunting for a cop. Then a crowd collected and I decidedit was better to wriggle out, and I did, leaving the only coat Iowned in his hands. But I never go out without looking up and downthe street first. I don't want to be arrested, even if I didn't stealanything. Besides, with Peabody, I have a feeling that he might beable to prove whatever he wanted to prove. "

"You've bought a new suit, " said Betty irrelevantly. "You don'tsuppose Mr. Peabody will stay in Washington, hunting for you, do you?"

"If he doesn't have to pay too much for board he will, " said Bob. "That deed evidently means a lot to him. I wish I could find it, ifonly to send him back to the farm. I'll bet a cookie it's in some ofhis coat pockets this minute, and he hanging down here to nab me. Sure, I bought a new suit--had to, before I could get a job. By theway, Betty, if you need some cash--" He patted his pocket invitingly. 

"Oh, I have enough, " Betty assured him hastily. "I'd feel better ifthe Littells would only let me spend a little money. Why, what's this?"

For Bob had put a small white envelope into her reluctant hands. 

"That's the loan, " he said gravely. "I've carried it just like thatfor days, ready to give you the first time I saw you. You're a greatlittle pal, Betty. If it hadn't been for you, I never should have gotto Washington. "

Betty put the money away in her purse, conscious that it meant self-denialon the lad's part, but knowing that she would hurt his pride irreparablydid she refuse to take it. 

"Have you written to Mr. Bender?" she prodded gently. "You promisedto, Bob. "

The police recorder had taken a warm interest in Bob, and Betty knewfrom his wife's letters that he was anxious to hear from him. 

"I will write, " promised Bob. "I'm tired at night, Betty, and that'sthe truth. I never seem to get enough sleep. But I will write, perhaps this Sunday. "

"Well, folks, all talked out?" called Bobby's gay voice, and shecame smilingly up to them. "Betty, mother and the girls aredownstairs in the car. I met them on the way and they know all aboutour meeting with Bob. Mother wants him to come home to dinner. "

Bob replied that while he appreciated Mrs. Littell's kindness, hecould not come that night, and, as he followed Bobby to the elevator, gave Betty a significant glare which, correctly interpreted, read:"Don't forget what I told you!"

Mrs. Littell took to Bob at once, and the bevy of girls, simple andfriendly and delightfully free from selfconsciousness, adopted him atonce as Betty's friend and theirs. When the mother found that hecould not be persuaded to come home with them that night--and Bettyloyally supported him, mindful of the collar--she would not besatisfied until she had arranged for him to spend the next Saturdayafternoon and Sunday with them at "Fairfields, " promising to send thecar in for him at noon, so that he might have lunch with them. 

"Betty hasn't tried her riding habit on once, " said Mrs. Littellwhen Bob had promised to come. "Perhaps when you come out the girlswill find time to give her, her delayed riding lesson. They've beendoing Washington pretty thoroughly. "

This reminded Betty of Bobby's plan to visit the roof of the officebuilding, and Bob had the same thought. 

"Couldn't you all come in to-morrow morning and let me take you upon the roof?" he asked them. "The view is really worth while, and I'mup there anyway half the morning looking after my employer'sexperiments. He is head of a dye house, and is always trying theeffect of sunlight on new shades. "

So it was decided that the girls should come in again in themorning. Then they drove away home, and Bob went on his errand. Luckily he had been told that he need not return to the office thatafternoon after its completion, or he might have found himselfinvolved in a maze of explanations and excuses for his lengthy absence. 

CHAPTER XXI

THE ACCIDENT

"I'd like to live up here!" It was Esther who spoke so enthusiastically, as she stood, with Bob Henderson and the four girls, on the roof of thebuilding proudly pointed out as the tallest in Washington. 

A soft breeze was blowing, and it was a cloudless day so that thecity was clearly spread before them. 

"Wouldn't I like to go up in an airplane!" exclaimed Betty. "See, they're flying over the Navy Yard now. I'd give anything to know howit feels to fly. "

"If you go much nearer that edge you'll know how it feels allright, " Bob warned her. "Come down here and I'll show you our dryingracks. Perhaps that will keep your mind off airplanes. "

The wooden racks held lengths of silk and cloth, weighted at theends to keep them from blowing away. The materials were dyed incrude, vivid colors, and Bob explained that they were brought fromthe factory after being dipped so that his employer might personallyobserve the changes they underwent after exposure to strong sunlight. 

"We only take orders and send out salesmen from the officedownstairs, " he said. "The factory is near Georgetown and employsabout two hundred hands. "

After they had made the circuit of the roof, picking out familiarlandmarks and wrangling lazily over distances and geographicalboundaries, they were ready to go down. Bob must return to work, andthe girls had planned a trip to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. 

"I tell you I was glad our office wasn't on the top floor thismorning, " Bob casually remarked as they stood waiting for theelevator. "Something was the matter, and everybody had to walk up. The fourth floor was plenty far enough up for us then. "

"Mother always says we don't appreciate conveniences till we have todo without them, " said Bobby. "Here comes the car. "

The grinning negro boy who operated the elevator smiled a wide smileas they filed into his car. 

"You-all get a nice view?" he asked sociably. 

They assured him that they had, and he seemed pleased, but his redlight glowing at that moment, he gave all his attention to stoppingat the next floor. Two women got on and, at the next floor, two men. 

The gate had just closed after this last stop, and Betty had openedher mouth to tell Bobby that her hat was tipped crookedly when with asickening speed the car began to drop!

"We's slipping! I can't stop her! Oh, good gracious, the brakes ornothin' don't work!" The frenzied wail of the negro who was workingvaliantly at his levers gave the first intimation of danger. 

Betty saw Bob spring to his aid, saw Esther sink in a miserablelittle white heap to the floor, Bobby put her hands up to her eyes asif to shut out the light, and Louise mechanically try to defendherself from the strangle hold of the woman who stood next to her. Itseemed minutes to Betty that the car was falling, and she watched theothers' behavior with a curious, semi-detached interest that wasoddly impersonal. One of the men passengers began to claw at the gatefrantically and the other kept muttering under his breath, softly andsteadily, biting off his words crisply and quite unconscious of whathe was saying. The woman who had clutched Louise was silent at first, but her companion instantly screamed, and in a fraction of a secondshe, too, was screaming. 

Now Betty had never heard the sound of women in terror, and she wasunprepared for the wild anguish of those shrill voices. 

The experience was terrifying, but it was all over very swiftly. Themechanism jammed between the third and second floors and the elevatorcame to a stop with a suddenness that jarred the teeth of thepassengers. It had begun to fall after leaving the seventh floor. 

For a moment every one stared at every one else stupidly. BobbyLittell was the first to find her voice. 

"Well, I guess we're all here, " she observed matter-of-factly. "Esther, are you hurt?"

"No-o, I think not, " said Esther slowly. "Wasn't it awful! Let's getout of here, quick. "

A hasty investigation proved that no one was injured, and as one ofthe men said, shaken nerves could not be allowed to count. 

"That was a narrow escape, a mighty narrow escape!" said the otherman. "I fully expected to be smashed in the wreck of the car when itstruck the concrete well. "

"I'll never ride in another elevator, never!" ejaculated the womanwho had seized Louise. "Why, I'll dream of this for weeks to come. "

The girls said nothing, though their lips were white and Betty'sknees were trembling. She was rather angry that she should feel thisloss of control after everything was over, but it was natural. 

"How do we get out?" Bob addressed the operator briskly. "Can youopen the doors? Come on now, nothing is going to hurt you--the dangeris over. "

The poor darky was actually gray with fright, and his face wasbruised where he had been thrown against the grating when the carstopped. 

"I doan know how you-all kin get out, Boss, " he said tremulously. "We's stuck between the floors. "

"Hello! Hello you, down there! Anybody hurt?" a friendly bellow camedown to them from the grating of the floor above. 

A crowd had collected on each floor, having heard the screams, andall these people now ran downstairs to get as close to the strandedcar as they could. They collected about the gate on the third floor, and many from the street, hearing that there had been an accident, crowded around the shaft on the second floor. They were advised thatno one was hurt and what was needed was a way of escape from thebrass cage. 

"Knock a hole in the roof, " some one advised cheerfully. "You cancrawl out on the top of the car and then shinny your way up to us. Orwe'll let down a rope to you. "

"What'll we knock a hole in the roof with?" demanded Bob, and whenoffers were made to drop an axe down to him he had difficulty incalming the woman who had so nearly strangled Louise, and who hadvisions of being accidently decapitated. 

"I cain't get the doors open, " announced the darky, after tinkeringvainly with them. "I reckon the lock's done got jammed. If I couldget 'em open the lil girl under the seat could shinny up the wall andthat would be one out, 'tannyrate. "

Attention thus focused upon her, Libbie crawled from under the seatwhere she had dived, following an ostrich-like impulse to hide herhead from coming danger. Her confusion was increased by the tactlesscomment of the operator who, seeing her "full view" for the firsttime, exclaimed:

"Lawsy, Missie, you couldn't shinny up no wall. You is too fat. "

Many suggestions were forthcoming, all of them impractical, and thealready frayed nerves of the passengers began to show evidence ofreaching the snapping point. Bob's employer was among those who hadgathered in the corridor, and he decidedly favored the axe idea. 

The plan to chop their way out gained in favor, and a boy had beendispatched for one of the fire axes when the woman who had graspedLouise created a diversion by going into hysterics and declaring thatshe would not have them dropping axes on her head. Her companiontried in vain to soothe her, but she was in a highly nervous stateand it was impossible to explain or reason with her. She began toscream again, and this was more than those imprisoned in the car withher could be expected to stand. 

"That settles it--call off the axe!" shouted the older man, exchanging a desperate glance with Bob. "If this goes on much longerwe'll be floated out on a river of salt tears. It's all right, Madam, they are not going to send any axes down. "

The women continued to sob violently for a time, but at last theygot her quieted and were free to consider other ways and means ofescape. 

Pat Kelly, the genial engineer of the building, was sent down to thebasement to see what he could do with the refractory machinery, foralthough the elevator people had been telephoned to, their men had notyet put in an appearance. Pat's contribution was to create a horribledin by hammering on every pipe he came to, stopping at three-minuteintervals to yell, "Can ye be moving now?"

"Call that man off!" shouted the younger of the two men passengers. "What do you think this is--a boiler factory? About all the goodhe'll do will be to dislodge the car, and we'll fall the rest of theway. "

This was a bad suggestion, and only by hard work were two more casesof hysterics averted. 

"I think what we need is a drink of water, " declared Betty timidly. "Do you think they could get some down to us? And, Bob, why don'tthey send for the fire department?"

"I suppose because we are not on fire, " answered Bob seriously. "What good could the firemen do?"

"Oh, I don't know, " said Betty vaguely. "Only in Pineville thefiremen get people out of all sorts of scrapes. They can climb youknow, and they have long ladders and ropes----"

"By George, the girl is right!" The elder man looked at Bettyadmiringly. "Hey, some of you who want to help! Go and 'phone thefire department. And say, send us down some water--we're dry as dustafter this rumpus. "

Half of the waiting crowd scattered to telephone to the firedepartment and the other half ran for the water coolers. Their zealoutstripped their judgment in this latter service, and the result wasan icy stream of water that poured into the car. 

CHAPTER XXII

BEING RESCUED

The water struck the lady given to hysterics, and she promptlyopened her mouth and shrieked again. 

"We're drowning!" she cried, her terrified mind picturing a brokenwater pipe. "I tell you, we're drowning!"

"And I tell you we're not!" Betty stifled a desire to laugh as oneof the men contradicted her. "Some idiot--"

The crash of the water cooler against the top of the car as itslipped from the hands of the person holding it interrupted hisassurance and weakened it hopelessly. A chorus of shrieks arose fromthose in the car. 

"Well, there's your drink, Betty, " grinned Bob, assisting the girlsto crowd on to the one seat, for the floor was soaked with ice-coldwater. "And here come your firemen--maybe they'll have better luck. "

Some of the firemen went to the third floor and others obeyed ordersto stay on the second. 

"I'd say knock 'er down, " said the grizzled old fire chief after acareful inspection of the wedged car. "We'll fix it up to break thefall. And, anyway, a drop from the third to the basement would not bedangerous. "

But the occupants of the elevator protested vigorously against thisplan. They made it quite clear that they had had all the "drop" theywanted for that day, and some of them intimated that they preferredto spend the night there rather than be experimented with. 

"Women is like that, " they heard the fire chief confide sadly to hislieutenant. "You can't reason with 'em. Well, we'll have to dope outanother scheme. "

After a consultation, it was proposed, via the chiefs voice whichhad a carrying quality that was famous throughout the city, to let aladder down from the third floor, have a fireman chop a hole in thetop of the car, and assist the prisoners up the ladder to safety. 

This plan met with the approval of all but the two rather prim andelderly women who flatly refused to walk up a ladder, even to get outof their present unpleasant predicament. 

"Well, then, you'll have to stay here, " announced the fire chiefdisgustedly. "The others are willing, and we can't hang around hereall day. If there was a fire you wouldn't be consulted. A firemanwould have you up or down a ladder before you could open your mouthto object. I ain't used to arguing with anybody. "

"There's another way that might work, chief, " suggested his aide. "If we can fix ropes and rig up a windlass, we can maybe hoist thecar up to the level of the gate. "

It was decided to try this plan, but the wily chief first extracteda promise from every one in the car that if the scheme failed, theywould submit to a ladder rescue. 

"'Cause I ain't saying this will work, and I don't aim to cook up adifferent plan every minute till you're all suited, " he declared, with commendable precaution. "You all agree to the ladder if thisain't a go?"

An unanimous chorus assured him that they did. 

It took some time to arrange the ropes, but at last, creakingly andslowly, the car began to make its ascent. 

"Bless the Lord!" ejaculated the darky operator fervently, "I doneguess our troubles is ovah!"

He changed his mind in a minute when it was discovered that the cargates were jammed. There the eleven imprisoned passengers stood, on alevel with the third floor, a crowd gathered in the corridor as faras the eye could see, a thin iron grating separating them from escape. 

"I don't know but I'd just as lief stay here as to face that mob, "murmured Bob, but some one heard him. 

"You're among friends, bub, " a man called. "Keep up a stout heart. "

There was a general laugh, and some one was dispatched to get afile. Ten minutes' work with this, and the stubborn catch was filedthrough, the gates slid back and those behind them found themselvesonce more on good solid mosaic tiling. 

Bob's employer came up to him, and was presented to the girls. Hewas a pleasant, prosperous-looking man, middle-aged, and evidentlyfond of Bob. He immediately offered him the rest of the day off, insisting that after such an experience he should rest quietly for afew hours. 

"By the way, " he remarked _sotto voce_, "those two young men overthere at the head of the stairs are newspaper reporters. One has acamera. I imagine they want to get a story on your morning'ssensations. "

Bob had not yet met Mr. Littell, but he had a lively idea of whatthat gentleman might say should he find his daughters' picturesspread over the first page of the evening papers, accompanied by amore or less accurate analysis of their emotions during the tryingperiod through which they had just passed. 

"Whisk us into your office, can't you, Mr. Derby?" he urged, "They're stopping people as they go down; they'll take no notice ofus if we go on up to the fourth floor. "

The crowd, satisfied that no one had been killed or was likely tobe, had drifted down the staircase, the two alert youths questioningeach one in an effort to get the stories of those who had been in thestalled car. The negro operator had already furnished enough copy fora half-column of thrills. 

Mr. Derby managed to usher the girls and Bob upstairs to his officewithout exciting suspicion, and once there the question of how to getto the street was considered. There were still enough people in thecorridors to make a quick run down impossible, and the elevator was, of course, out of commission. 

"I'll tell you, " said Mr. Derby suddenly. "Go down the fire escapeto the second floor and get in at the hall window. It's always open. I'll have to wait here for Anderson, Bob. He had an appointment ateleven, but telephoned he was delayed. But perhaps the nerves of theyoung ladies are not equal to a climb down the fire escape? In thatcase you could all remain here and I'll have lunch sent in. "

The girls, however, ridiculed the idea of nervousness. And indeed, with the elasticity of youth, they had already dismissed the accidentfrom their minds except as an exciting story to tell at home thatafternoon or evening. 

"I'll go first, " said Bob, stepping out on the fire escape. "Allthere is to do is to take it easy, don't hurry, and don't push. There's only two flights, so you can't get dizzy. "

"Isn't this a lark!" chuckled Bobby, as she and Betty waited for theyounger girls to go first after Bob. "I never had so much fun in mylife. What's Bob stopping for?"

Bob was working with the window directly over the fire escape on thesecond floor. The girls caught up with him before he turned with aflushed face. 

"The blame thing's locked, " he announced. "Isn't that the worstluck! It's a rule of the building that all hall windows be left openunless there's a storm. Well, I suppose we might as well go back. There's no window on the first floor. "

"We could climb in there, " suggested Betty, pointing to anotherwindow, half-opened. "See, Bob, I can reach it easily. "

She drew herself up before Bob could stop her, and, raising thewindow as high as it would go, scrambled over the sill. 

"It's fine--come on in, " she laughed back at the others. "Cunningoffice and no one in it. I suppose the owner has gone out to see usrescued. "

Bob lifted up Libbie, who was the shortest, and, one after theother, the girls climbed in, Bob following last. 

It was a finely furnished office and one Bob had never been in, though he had a speaking acquaintance with many of the tenants in thebuilding. A pair of tiny scales and a little heap of yellow dust layon the highly polished mahogany desk. 

The door into the corridor was partly open, and as they had to passthe desk to reach the door, it was natural that the group should drawnearer and glance curiously at the pair of scales. 

"No nearer are you to come!" snapped a sharp voice with theprecision of a foreigner who is not sure enough of his English tospeak hurriedly. "I warn you not to put a finger out. "

Libbie squawked outright in terror, and the others fell back a step. A little man with very black eyes stood facing them, and at them hewas leveling a small, businesslike looking revolver. The door hadclosed noiselessly, and he had evidently been behind it. 

"I saw you all to enter, " he informed them sternly. "I, of all inthe building, remembered that it is in excitement that sneak thievesdo their best work. Mr. Matthews is trusting, but I--I stood onguard. It is well. You are not to move while I telephone to thepolice. "

"Look here, " said Bob determinedly, almost overwhelmed with hisresponsibility and blaming himself for having placed the girls insuch an awkward position. "We're no thieves. You can telephoneupstairs to Mr. Derby and he'll vouch for us. "

"I know no Mr. Derby, " said the little man stubbornly. "Why shouldyou pick out a jeweler's office and creep in through the window?Answer me that! Are there not stairs?"

"Well we wanted to avoid some--er--men, " blurted Bob. 

"Yah--already the police seek you!" triumphed their captor. "Well, they will not have long to seek. "

"They were not the police. " Betty found her voice and spokeearnestly. "They were reporters, and we didn't want to beinterviewed. We came down the fire escape from the fourth floor, andfound the hall window locked. This window was open, and we crawledin, intending to get out into the hall. That is the absolute truth. "

CHAPTER XXIII

ANOTHER RESCUE

The black eyes of the little man suddenly disappeared. They were sobright and glistening that their disappearance was noticeable. He hadclosed them tight and was laughing!

As suddenly as he had laughed, his mirth stopped, and he staredsternly at the anxious Betty. 

"You expect me to believe that?" he asked incredulously. 

"It is true, " she said quietly. 

"True--bah!" The vehemence of his tone quite startled her. "True!When all you had to do to reach the first floor--had access to thestreet been your object--was to let down the folding flight to theground. "

Betty's jaw dropped. She and Bob looked at each other helplessly. 

"We--we never thought of that!" she faltered. 

It was true. In her excitement she had not noticed the foldingflight of steps that let down to the ground in an emergency, and forprotection against sneak thieves was always drawn up except duringfire drills. Bob had been equally careless. As for the Littell girls, like docile sheep, they had never thought to question their leaders. 

Still keeping the revolver pointed at them, the little man took downthe telephone receiver. 

"Bob!" whispered Betty. "Oh, Bob, this is dreadful! What will Mrs. Littell say? And those reporters! If they get hold of this, theelevator story will be nothing. "

Bobby and Louise and Esther and Libbie stood in a forlorn group, their gaze fixed trustingly on Bob and Betty, whom they trusted toget them out of this scrape somehow. 

As for Bob, he was handicapped by numbers. He could easily haveplanned a way to get himself and one girl out of the room, but tohope to spirit away five substantial maidens under the black eyesfastened unwaveringly upon him, was too great a problem for quicksolution. He did not fear trouble in establishing their innocence, but the notoriety accompanying such an episode could not be otherwisethan distinctly unpleasant. 

"I suppose that's gold dust in the tray, " thought Bob wretchedly. "Of all the poor luck, to pick out an office with gold dust floatingaround as free as air! Why didn't the dub lock it up in his safe?"

The little man was having trouble to get "Central. " He jiggled thehook frantically in flat defiance of all telephone rules, and heshouted loudly into the transmitter, as though enough noise couldrouse the number he sought. 

Just at this moment the outer door opened and a man entered. He wasa man of middle age with a closely clipped gray moustache and kindlygray eyes. It was Mr. Matthews, the owner of the business. 

The little man, seeing him, flung the receiver into the hook with abang and poured forth a volley of French, emphasized by wild gestures. 

After listening for a few moments, Mr. Matthews turned a wonderinggaze on the group of subdued looking young people. His expressionsoon turned to one of amusement. 

After a word or two in French to the little man, evidently of thanksfor his zeal, he said to Bob and the girls:

"Won't you please tell me your side of the story? I find it hard tobelieve that you have set forth to rob and steal. "

The tale came out with a rush, Bob, Betty, and Bobby taking turns orall talking together, the others, fortunately, being content to letthe three tell the story. 

Mr. Matthews was sympathetic and apologetic, but he was also amused, and he laughed heartily. It seemed he knew Mr. Littell. The "robberband, " as Bobby afterwards named them, laughed with him; in fact, intheir relief, laughing till the tears came. The black-eyed man, meanwhile, left the room, still, evidently, suspicious of them. 

"Monsieur Brissot, " explained Mr. Matthews, "is a Belgian diamondcutter who has just come to this country. He seems to be suspiciousof everybody, and, I fear, does not always use judgment in hishandling of such matters. I am grateful, however, for the interest hetakes in my business, and trust you young people will overlook hisexcess of zeal. "

Mr. Matthews showed them to the door, and as by this time thereporters were well away intent on other affairs, they went out ofthe building in the regular way-a more seemly way than scuttling downfire escapes and breaking into jewelry shops, so Betty declared. 

"Well, good gracious!" observed Bobby, when they were once outside. "If this hasn't been an exciting morning! First we get nearly killed, then we're rescued, and next we're almost arrested. "

They boarded a street car and went to the Bureau of Engraving andPrinting, where they spent an interesting afternoon touring theimmense plant, the best equipped of its kind in the world. 

The recital of their adventures at the dinner table that nightprovoked mingled merriment and concern. 

"Never mind, it will teach 'em self-reliance, " Mr. Littell insisted, when his wife protested that the girls would have to be more closelychaperoned on subsequent trips. "Falling into scrapes is the finestlesson-book ever opened to the heedless. "

Sunday morning the girls and Mrs. Littell motored to Washington andattended services in one of the fine old churches. There they had anexcellent opportunity to observe the President of the United Statesand his wife, who, as Libbie said disappointedly at dinner that day, "looked just like anybody. "

"I hope you didn't expect them to get up and make a speech?" teasedher uncle. "However, I'm glad you saw them, my dear. A country wherethe head of the government 'looks just like anybody' and goes tochurch as simply and reverently as any one else is the finest in theworld. "

Early in the new week Bobby announced that it was their duty, meaning the girl contingent, to go into the city and pay a call upona friend of the Littells' who was staying with an aunt at one of thelarge hotels. They had met them at church, and a tentative promisehad been given, which Bobby was determined should be kept. 

"If it wasn't for me this family would have no manners, " shescolded. "Now, I don't like Ruth Gladys Royal a bit better than youdo, Louise; but I hope I know what is the right thing to do. "

Mrs. Littell, who was hopelessly unfashionable as far as conventionsthat were merely polite went, announced serenely that she was goingto her sewing circle and that if the girls chose they might gocalling. Her engagement stood. 

"Mother thinks Ruth Royal is snobbish, " commented Bobby, as hermother serenely departed for the little sewing circle of the countrychurch in which she maintained a keen interest and which shevirtually supported. "As far as that goes, I think she is. But Louisetold her we'd come and call on her, and I think a promise ought to bekept. "

"Well, I'll go with you if Betty will, " said Louise. "I don't seewhy you pick out a perfectly lovely afternoon to martyr us all in, but if it must be done, let's get it over with. Esther and Libbiehave wheedled dad into taking them to the movies, and I suppose wecan go in the car with them. "

The three ascended the stairs to put on their best bibs and tuckersand came down again to find Mr. Littell and the other two girlsjoyously arranged on the back seat, with Carter having hard work tokeep from smiling at their jokes and quips. 

"How elegant we look, " jeered Mr. Littell, whose injured foot wasstill stiff but who began to talk about returning to his office. "Idon't suppose you could be persuaded to go to see 'The Rose-PinkCurtains' with us, and have a sundae afterward?"

Bobby shook her head sternly. 

"Don't tempt us when we're having a hard time to do our duty, " sheadmonished. "We have to go to see Ruth Royal; honestly we do. Butwe'll meet you for the sundae; won't we, girls?"

It was arranged that they should meet at quarter to five, and thenthe three callers were set down before the ornate hotel entrance. Just off the lobby was a pretty, richly furnished parlor where theydecided to wait while they were being announced. 

"Let's hope she isn't in, " suggested the irrepressible Louise. "Thenwe'd still have time to see 'The Rose-Pink Curtains. '"

Betty sat nearest the door and from her seat she could see a sectionof the lobby and one of the elevators. The boy who had taken theirnames came back in a few minutes with the information that Miss Royaland her aunt were out. 

"The clerk says they left word at the desk that they expect to beback about half-past seven to-night. "

"All right, that excuses us, " declared Bobby cheerfully, hardlywaiting till the boy had left the room. "Come on, girls, we'll go tothe movies. Betty, for mercy's sake, what are you staring at?"

Betty had risen and was peering through the velvet portieres. Sheturned and put a finger to her lips, then drew Bobby close to her. 

"Look out there in the corridor, over by the desk, " she whispered. "See that man who is shouting at the clerk?"

"I hear him, " admitted Bobby, screwing up her eyes and peepingthrough the curtains. "What do you suppose he is arguing about?"

"That, " announced Betty, unintentionally dramatic, "is JosephPeabody!"

The girls had heard about Joseph Peabody, a little from Betty, andmore from Bob, who had spoken freely to their father. They knew abouthis miserly nature and they were acquainted with the fact that hebelieved Bob had stolen something that did not belong to him. Thereal story of the unrecorded deed both Bob and Betty had told only toMr. Littell. It was characteristic of Bobby's loyal nature that herfirst thought should be for Betty. 

"You don't suppose he is down here after you, do you?" shewhispered, clutching Betty by the elbow in a sudden panic. "Oh, Betty, suppose he wanted to drag you back to Bramble Farm?"

Betty had to laugh, in spite of the anxiety she was feeling. 

"He has no authority over me, " she explained. "Besides, he wouldhave no earthly use for me if my board wasn't paid in advance. " Herface clouded involuntarily as the thought of her missing uncle thuscame to her mind. "No, " she went on, "I'm terribly afraid that he ishere looking for Bob. You know he threatened to have him arrestedthat time Bob managed to escape him. I wonder if I can't get to a'phone booth without being seen and telephone to Bob or Mr. Derby. "

Louise rather impatiently pushed her sister aside that she mighttake a peep at the unconscious Mr. Peabody. As she put her eye to thecrack between the curtains she uttered a little shriek that she triedto stifle with her hand. 

"Betty!" she cried so shrilly that those in the lobby must haveheard her if the harsh call of a siren outside had not soundedopportunely. "Betty, here comes Bob!"

Sure enough, in through the revolving door, neatly dressed andlooking every inch the intelligent young junior clerk, came BobHenderson, his eyes glued to a letter he had taken from his pocket. 

Betty would have given even her hope of a letter from Oklahoma tohave been able to call a warning. Instead, she had to standhelplessly by and watch the lad walk directly to the desk, where heput a question to the clerk. Instantly Joseph Peabody whirled and hadthe boy by the collar. 

"Got you at last, you young imp!" he chortled gleefully. "This timeI don't calculate to let go of you till I land you where you're going--behind the bars. That is, unless you hand over what you've got ofmine!"

Several people turned to stare curiously, and Betty sympathizedacutely with the crimson-faced Bob, who was protesting hotly that hehad nothing belonging to Peabody. 

"You stay here, " she ordered Louise and Bobby. "There's no need ofyou mixing in this. I'm going to see if I can help Bob. "

She sped across the hall to the desk, followed by her two faithfulshadows, who were determined to stand loyally by. 

"Well, I swan, if it isn't Betty!" ejaculated the farmer when hecaught sight of her. 

CHAPTER XXIV

BOB IS CLEARED

"Betty, you stay out of this, " commanded Bob sternly. "If there'sgoing to be a scene, two actors will be a-plenty. You go away andtake the girls with you. "

The clerk who had been regarding them curiously over his ledger nowtook a hand. 

"If this argument is likely to be prolonged, " he suggestedsarcastically, "I'd advise you either to go up to your room, Mr. Peabody, or into that card room there. That's deserted in the daytime. "

"Yes, come on in here, " said Betty, anxious to get away from thegaze of the other guests. She led the way into the card room whichopened off the lobby and was preferable to making a public journey inthe elevator. "Close the door, Louise. "

Mr. Peabody kept his hold on Bob's collar and from time to time heshook him vigorously, whether with the idea of shaking thestubbornness out of him or merely to indicate that he held the whiphand, Betty was undecided. 

"You can let go of Bob, " she said heatedly, as soon as they were inthe room with the door shut. "He isn't going to run away. "

"I'll see that he doesn't, " was the grim reply. "You hand over thatdeed, young man, or I'll call a policeman in two minutes. "

"I tell you I haven't got it!" protested Bob desperately. "I neversaw the thing. What would I be doing with a paper of yours? I haven'tgot it, and that's all there is to it. "

"Of course he hasn't!" For the life of her Betty could not keepstill, though perhaps caution dictated that she hold her tongue. "Iknow he hasn't that deed, Mr. Peabody. And having him arrested won'tgive you what he hasn't got. "

"How do you know he hasn't got it?" demanded the farmer. "Deedsdon't walk off and hide themselves, young lady. Bob happens to knowwhy I want that deed. And if he doesn't produce it, and that mightyquick, he'll find himself where they can shake the truth out of himwith no fooling. "

Bobby sprang to her feet from the leather chair where she had curledup to listen to the proceedings. 

"I'll telephone my father, " she cried. "He'll help Bob to sue youfor false arrest. If you have some one arrested and it is found hedidn't do what you said he did, he can sue you for damages. I'veheard my father say so. Don't you care, Bob, Daddy will find a way tobeat this horrid old man. "

An unpleasant smile spread over the mean, shriveled face. 

"Is that so?" queried Joseph Peabody. "Well, I don't know who youare, Miss, but you need a lesson on how to keep a civil tongue inyour head. All the fine friends Mister Bob has picked up inWashington won't stand by him long when they find out he's apoorhouse rat and a runaway at that. There'll be some explaining foryou to do before the almshouse authorities are satisfied, young man. "

Betty's anger flamed as the familiar odious phrase fell from thefarmer's lips, and added to her anger was the crystallized fear thathad been haunting her for weeks. She did not know whether Bob couldreally be returned to the poor-house or whether it was another trickof Peabody's, but she feared the worst and dreaded it. 

"You try to return Bob to the poorhouse!" she cried, her cheeksblazing, her hands clenched. She took a step toward Peabody and hefell back, dragging Bob with him so that a chair stood between themand the furious girl. "You try to return Bob to the poorhouse, andI'll tell every one what I know about that deed, " flared Betty. "Iknow all about the Warren lots and the kind of sale you forcedthrough. You--you--" to her distress and amazement, Betty burst intotears. 

"Don't cry, dear, " whispered Bobby, putting her arm around her. "Daddy won't let them do anything to Bob. You see if he does. "

Joseph Peabody was apparently impervious to verbal assaults and tears. 

"Once more I ask you, " he shook Bob violently, "are you going tohand over that paper? Yes, or no?"

"I tell you I haven't got it, " said Bob doggedly. "Shaking my teethout won't help me get a paper I never saw in my life. As for havingme arrested, you keep up this racket much longer and the hotelauthorities will send for the police on their own responsibility. "

Peabody picked up his hat. 

"All right, you come along with me, " he said sourly. "You won't gobefore a soft-headed police recorder this time, either. You'll findout what it means to face a real judge. "

He was marching Bob toward the door when a sharp rap sounded. Louise, nearest the door, had the presence of mind to open it. Abellboy stood there with a telegram on a tray. 

"Telegram for Mr. Joseph Peabody, " he announced impassively, hisalert eyes darting about the room from which such angry voices hadbeen coming for the last quarter of an hour. 

"All right--give it here. " The farmer snatched the yellow envelopeand shut the door in the boy's face without making a motion to tip him. 

His back against the door, to prevent Bob's escape, Joseph Peabodyslit the envelope and read the message. The others saw his jaw dropand a slow, painful flush creep over his face and neck. 

"I'm called back to Bramble Farm right away, " he mumbled, refusingto meet their gaze. "Being hurried, and having so much to tend to, I'm willing to drop the matter of having you arrested, Bob. But letthis be a lesson to you, to hoe a straight row. "

Bob stared at the man stupidly, frankly bewildered. But Betty'squick wit solved the sudden change of front. She had seen how quicklyPeabody folded up the telegram when he had read it. 

"Isn't that a message from Mrs. Peabody?" she demanded crisply. "Anddoesn't she say she's found the deed? Where was it--in one of yourcoat pockets?"

The farmer was taken by surprise, and the truth was shocked out ofhim. 

"She's found it under the seat in the old market wagon, " he blurted. "I recollect I put it there for safe-keeping, meaning to take it overto the deposit box the next day. Well, I've wasted more time an'money in Washington than I like to think of. Got to go home and makeup for it. "

Without another word or glance, without the shadow of an apology toBob, he swung out of the room and strode over to the desk. In amoment they heard his harsh voice demanding the amount of his bill. 

Bob looked at Betty, who stared back. Louise and Bobby were equallysilent. Then Betty snickered, and the tension was broken. Peal afterpeal of laughter rang out, and they dropped helplessly into chairsand laughed till they could laugh no longer. 

"Oh, dear!" Betty sat up, wiping her eyes. "Did you ever seeanything like that? He never said good-by, or admitted that he'd madea mistake, or--or anything! What do you suppose people in the hotelmust think of him?"

That reminded Bobby of the girl they had come to see and who wasreally responsible for their visit to the hotel. 

"The first kind thing Ruth Royal ever did for me, " she declaredfrankly. "I wouldn't have missed seeing Mr. Peabody for worlds. "

"How did you ever happen to come here, Bob?" asked Betty, who hadbeen wondering about this ever since she had seen Bob walk right intothe one man he most wished to avoid. 

"I brought a letter from Mr. Derby for one of the guests stoppinghere, " explained Bob. "That reminds me, I haven't delivered it yet. Peabody threw me off the track. I'll turn it in, and then I'll haveto hurry back to the office; they'll think I've been run over forsure. "

He went off, promising again to see them on Saturday, and the girls, feeling too upset to settle down to the quietness of a motion picturehouse, went out to walk up and down in the sunshine of PennsylvaniaAvenue until it was time to meet Mr. Littell and Libbie and Esther. 

Of course they had much to tell them, and Mr. Littell in particularwas a most appreciative listener. He was genuinely fond of Bob andinterested in him, and he got quite purple with wrath when he learnedof the indignity he had suffered at the hands of the ill-bred farmer. 

"Then he went off and never had the grace to ask the lad's pardon!"sputtered the builder when Betty reached the end of her recital. "Iwish I had him by the collar--just for three minutes. Perhaps Iwouldn't drive a little of the fear of justice into his narrow mind!"

They had lingered over their ice-cream, and although Carter drove ata good speed, they found that unless they hurried they would be latefor dinner. It was one of Mrs. Littell's few unbreakable rules thatthe girls must change into simple, light frocks for the evening meal, and they went directly upstairs to take off their street clothes, When they came down dinner had been announced and they went directlyto the table. They had so much to tell Mrs. Littell and she was sointerested that it was not until they were leaving the table that sheremembered what she had meant to ask Betty as soon as the girl came in. 

"Betty, darling, " she said comfortably, "you found your letter onthe hall table all right, didn't you?"

"Why, I never thought to look for mail, " returned Betty in surprise. "No, Mrs. Littell, I didn't stop in the hall. Was there a letter forme?"

Mrs. Littell nodded and swept her family across the hall into theliving-room, saying something to her husband in a low voice. Bettyhurried to the console table where the mail was always laid on abeaten silver tray. The solitary letter lying there was addressed toher. And the postmark, she saw as she picked it up, was a town inOklahoma!

CHAPTER XXV

FUTURE PLANS

Betty's first impulse was to run up to her room and close the door. Then she sat down on the edge of the bed and tore open the envelopeeagerly. She read the half dozen closely written sheets throughtwice, thrust them back into the envelope, and ran down to tell theLittells the good news. 

"I've heard from Uncle Dick!" she cried radiantly, facing them asthey turned at her entrance. Betty's vivid personality often betrayedher mood without a word, and to-night she was vibrant with happinessso that she fairly glowed. "He has just got back to Flame City, wherehe found the telegram and my letters. And he wants me to come out tohim, as he expects to be there for the next few months. He's been ona long prospecting trip, and he can't get East till his company sendsout another representative. You may read the letter!"

She thrust it into Mr. Littell's hands and buried her head on Mrs. Littell's broad shoulder. 

"I'm so happy!" she choked, while the motherly hands smoothed herhair understandingly. 

"It's been so long, and I was afraid he might have died--like mymother. I don't think I could stand it if Uncle Dick should die--he'sthe only one who belongs to me. "

"Why, Betty, child!" Mrs. Littell gathered her into her lap androcked her gently as though she had been a little child. "You'renervous and unstrung. We ought to have taken better care of you andnot let this waiting wear you out so. "

"If you're going to cry, Betty, so'll I, " promised Bobby, putting anawkward arm around Betty's neck. Bobby was as undemonstrative as aboy and rarely kissed any one. "What in the wide world are we goingto do without you?"

Betty sat up and pushed the damp hair from her forehead. The fourgirls were regarding her dolorously. 

"I won't stay forever, " she assured them. "Uncle Dick doesn't intendto live out there, you know. The company he represents will likelysend him East this very winter. "

"Well, that's a mighty interesting letter, " commented Mr. Littell, folding up the missive and returning it to Betty. "Though you'regoing to leave a hole in this household, Sister, when you set sail. You see, he's been out of sight and hearing of trains and post-officesfor a long time. I'd like to be able to lose myself in thedesert or a wilderness for a month or two. Think of having notelephone bell to answer!"

The next morning a letter came to Mr. Littell from Mr. Gordon, thanking him warmly for his kindness to Betty, containing theassurance of the writer's lasting gratitude, and asking him if he andhis wife would oversee her preparations for the journey, help herengage a berth, and start her on her way. A generous check wasenclosed, and Mrs. Littell and the girls immediately set abouthelping Betty do the necessary shopping, while Mr. Littell engagedher reservations on the Western Limited. She had decided to leave thefollowing Wednesday, and when Bob came out to spend the week-end, heimmediately announced his intention of going too. 

"I figure out Flame City is the nearest station to my aunt's oldplace. I have enough money saved now, and there's no reason why Ishould stay on here. Hurrah for Oklahoma!"

The preparations went forward merrily after that, and Wednesdayfound Betty on the Western Limited, bound for Flame City. Whathappened to her there and her experience in the great oil fields willbe told in another volume to be called, "Betty Gordon in the Land ofOil; or, The Farm That Was Worth a Fortune. "

Bobby insisted that they make the week-end at Fairfields a farewellcelebration to be remembered, and the six young people managed to getthe maximum of enjoyment out of every hour. Bob had been brought outto Saturday luncheon, and as soon as he had heard about the Oklahomatrip and announced his own plans, Louise insisted that Betty was tohave a lesson in riding. 

"Of course you'll want to ride out West, " she said. "They all do inpictures. Come on out to the barn, and we'll get the ponies out. "

A stable boy brought out a gentle, coal-black pony, and Bettymounted him trustingly. 

"Why, it's lovely!" cried Betty, enjoying the sensation to the full. "He goes like a rocking chair, bless his heart! I'm sure I can learnto ride. "

"Of course you can!" Bobby encouraged her swiftly. "You must try himat a slow canter in a minute. Here comes Esther with the camera. "

A picture of Betty was taken, and then the lesson was resumed. Atthe close of the afternoon Bobby announced that Betty was in a fairway to become a good horsewoman. 

Mr. And Mrs. Littell took them into Washington to the theater thatnight, and to make up the hours of lost sleep all the young peopleslept late the next morning. 

Instead of going into Washington to church, they all went to thelittle country church that Mrs. Littell attended and loved, and afterthe service they spent a quiet, pleasant day about the house andgrounds of Fairfields. 

That evening the five girls and Bob gathered on the spacious whitesteps of the house to watch the beautiful Virginia sunset. 

"Let's promise each other, " suggested Betty, her pretty face seriousand thoughtful, "to meet five years from now, wherever we may be, andcompare notes. We'll be almost grown up then and know what we'regoing to be. "

"No matter how often we meet, or how seldom, five years from to-daywe'll promise to come together, " agreed Bobby. "Here's my seal. "

She put out her hand and the hands of the six interlocked in a tower. 

"To our close friendship, " murmured Betty, as they unclasped. 

Then, the sun having set, they went into the glow and welcome of thelighted lamps. 

THE END