CHAPTER XXV
THE MYSTERY SOLVED
For a moment there was silence in the two rooms while the girls let thissink in. Then Laura and Vi jumped out of bed, and, running into Connie'sroom, fairly pounced upon Billie.
They were all so excited that for a moment they could not speak. And thenthey all spoke at once.
"Miss Arbuckle's album!"
"Billie, you must be crazy!"
"I never heard anything----"
"Billie, are you sure?"
These, and a dozen other wild questions like them fairly smothered poorBillie, and it was a long time before she could get a word in edgewise.
"Please keep still a minute," she cried at last. "You're making so muchnoise you'll wake the children."
"Goodness! who cares about the children?" cried Laura impatiently."Billie, if you don't say something, I'll scream."
"Well, give me a chance then," retorted Billie.
"What did you mean by saying that you saw them in Miss Arbuckle's album?"asked Connie.
Billie looked at her soberly and then said very quietly. "Just that!"
"But, Billie, when did this happen?" cried Laura, fairly shaking her inher impatience. "For goodness sake, tell us everything."
"Why, I know!" Vi broke in excitedly. "Don't you remember what Billiesaid about Miss Arbuckle's crying over the pictures of three children inthe album----"
"And said," Connie took up the tale eagerly, "that she had lost her dearones, but didn't want to lose their pictures too? Oh, Billie, now it is amystery!"
"But if you are sure these are the same children you saw in the album,Billie," said Laura, walking up and down the room excitedly, "you willhave to do something about it."
"Of course," said Billie, her eyes shining. "I'll write to Miss Arbuckleand tell her all about it. Oh, girls, I can't wait to see her face whenshe sees them. I'm sure it will make her happy again."
They talked about Billie's remarkable discovery late into the night,until finally sheer weariness forced them to go to bed. But in themorning they were up with the first ray of sunlight.
They told Connie's mother and father about it at the breakfast table, andbefore they got through the meal the two older people were almost asinterested and excited as the girls.
As soon as she could get away Billie flew upstairs to write her letter,leaving the others still at the table. The children had already had theirbreakfast--for like all children they woke up with the birds--and wereout playing on the front porch.
"Why, I never heard anything like it!" said Connie's mother to herequally astonished husband. "It seems like a fairy tale. But, oh, I dohope it is true--for the kiddies' sake and for that of that poor MissArbuckle."
Again and again Mrs. Danvers had tried to question the children abouttheir parents and where they lived, but the little things had seemed tobe thrown into such terror at the very first questions and had refused soabsolutely to say a word that might lead to the discovery of theirrelatives that she had been forced to give up in despair. Just the verynight before Mr. Danvers had decided to go over to the mainland and putan advertisement in all the leading papers.
"Although I rather dread to find their guardians," he had confided to hiswife that night, as they had stood looking down at the sweet littlesleeping faces. "I'm falling in love with them. It's like having Connie ababy all over again."
And Connie's mother had patted his arm fondly and reached down to draw acover up over one little bare arm.
"I feel that way too," she had said softly.
When Billie had finished her letter Mr. Danvers volunteered to take itover to the mainland for her and send it special delivery.
"You won't put the ad in the paper then, will you?" his wife asked as hestarted off.
"No," he said, stooping down to pat the little boy's dark head. "I'llgive Billie a chance to clear up her mystery first." And with a smile atBillie he swung off down the walk while with quickened hearts the girlsand Mrs. Danvers watched him go.
Suddenly the little fellow got up from the hollow in the sand where heand his sisters had been making sand pies and ran up to Billie, wavinghis shovel excitedly.
"Him goin' 'way?" he asked, pointing down the beach toward Mr. Danvers.
"Yes. But he's coming back," said Billie, catching the little fellow upand kissing his soft rosy cheek. Then she looked at the girls and hereyes filled with tears. "Oh, girls," she cried, "I don't see how I'mgoing to give him up!"
Then followed days of anxious waiting for the girls. Every night when themail came in on the _Mary Ann_ they were at the dock to meet it. Butthough they searched for a letter postmarked Molata with eager eyes, dayafter day went by and still there was no word from Miss Arbuckle.
This state of affairs continued for over a week until the girls had begunto give up in despair. And then one night it came--the letter they hadbeen waiting for.
They did not wait to get home, but sat down on the edge of the dock whileBillie read it aloud.
The letter was such a mixture of joy and hope and fear that sometimes thegirls had hard work making anything out of it. However, this much wasclear: Miss Arbuckle intended to leave Molata Friday night--and this wasFriday night--and would probably be at Lighthouse Island Saturdaymorning. And to-morrow was Saturday!
"She says," Billie finished, her voice trembling with excitement, "thatthe reason she didn't write to us before was because she was out of townand didn't receive my letter for almost a week after it reached ThreeTowers Hall. She says----"
"Oh, who cares about that?" cried Laura impatiently. "The main thing isthat she will be here to-morrow."
"Only a little over twelve hours to wait."
The girls did not sleep very well that night, and they were up anddressed and at the dock almost an hour before the steamer was due.
They were so nervous that they could not stand still, and it was just aswell that the _Mary Ann_ was a little early that morning, or the dockwould have been worn out completely, Connie declared.
"Oh, Billie, suppose she doesn't come?" whispered Vi as the boat slidinto the dock. "Suppose----"
"No suppose about it," Billie whispered back joyfully. "Look, Vi! Thereshe is."
"But who is the man with her?" cried Laura suddenly, as Miss Arbucklewaved to them from the upper deck and then started down the narrowwinding stairway, followed by a tall, rather stoop-shouldered man whoseemed to the girls to have something vaguely familiar about him.
"He may not be with her," Billie answered. But suddenly she gasped. MissArbuckle had stepped upon the dock with hands outstretched to the girls,and as the tall man followed her Billie got her first full look at hisface.
It was Hugo Billings, the mysterious maker of fern baskets whom they hadfound in his hut in the woods!
As for the man, he seemed as much astonished as the girls, and he stoodstaring at them and they at him while Miss Arbuckle looked from one tothe other in amazement.
"What's the matter?" she cried. "Hugo, have you met the girls before?"
"Why, why yes," stammered the man, a smile touching his lips.
"You see we were lost in the woods and he very kindly showed us the wayout," said Billie, finding her voice at last.
"Oh," said Miss Arbuckle.
Then she introduced her companion to the girls as "my brother" and oncemore the girls thought they must be losing their minds. But this timeMiss Arbuckle did not seem to notice their bewilderment, for her wholemind was on the object that had brought her here.
"The children?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion. "Are theyhere?"
"They are at my house, Miss Arbuckle," said Connie, recovering from herbewilderment enough to realize that she was the hostess. "I supposeyou're crazy to see them."
"Oh yes! Oh yes!" cried the teacher. Then, as Connie led the way ontoward the cottage, she turned to Billie eagerly.
"Billie," she said, "are you sure you recognized my children? If I s
houldbe disappointed now I--I think it would kill me. Tell me, what do theylook like?"
As Billie described the waifs Miss Arbuckle's face grew brighter andbrighter and the man whom the girls had called Hugo Billings leanedforward eagerly.
"I guess there's no mistake this time, Mary," he said, and there wasinfinite relief in his tone.
When they reached the cottage the children were playing in the sand asusual, and the girls drew back, leaving Miss Arbuckle and her brother togo on alone.
Miss Arbuckle had grown very white, and she reached out a hand to herbrother for support. Then she leaned forward and called very softly:"Davy, Davy, dear."
The children stopped playing and stared up at the visitors. But it wasthe little fellow who recognized them first.
"Mary! My Mary!" he cried in his baby voice, and ran as fast as hislittle legs could carry him straight into Miss Arbuckle's arms. Then thelittle girls ran to her, and Miss Arbuckle dropped down in the sand andhugged them and kissed them and cried over them.
"Oh, my children! My darling, darling children!" she cried over and overagain, while the man stood looking down at them with such a look of utterhappiness on his face that the girls turned away.
"Come on," whispered Billie, and they slipped past the two and into thehouse.
Connie's mother and father were in the library, and when the girls toldthem what had happened they hurried out to greet the newcomers, leavingthe chums alone.
"Well, now," said Laura, sinking down on the couch and looking up atthem, "what do you think of that?"
"I'm so dazed, I don't know what to think of it," said Billie, adding,with a funny little laugh: "The only thing we do know is that everybody'shappy."
"Talk about mysteries----" Connie was beginning when Connie's mother andMiss Arbuckle came in with the clamoring, excited children. And to saythat Miss Arbuckle's face was radiant would not have been describing itat all.
"Oh girls, girls!" she cried, looking around at them, while her eyesfilled with tears, "do you know what you've done for me--do you? But ofcourse you don't," she answered herself, sitting down on the couch whilethe children climbed up and snuggled against her. "And that's what I wantto tell you."
"Ob, but not now," protested Connie's mother. "I want to get you a cup oftea first."
"Oh, please let me tell the girls now. I want to," begged Miss Arbuckle,and Connie's mother gave in.
"You see," the teacher began while the girls gathered around eagerly,"only a few months ago Hugo--my brother--and I were very happy. That wasbefore the dreadful thing happened that changed everything for us. I wasnurse and governess," she hugged the children to her and they gazed up ather fondly, "to these children at the same house where Hugo was headgardener. Our employers were very wealthy people, and, having too manysocial duties to care for their children, Hugo and I sort of took theplace of their father and mother. Indeed we loved them as if theybelonged to us."
She paused a moment, and the girls stirred impatiently.
"Then the terrible thing happened," she continued. "One night thechildren disappeared. I had put them to bed as usual, and in the morningwhen I went in to them they were gone."
"Oh!" cried the girls.
"But that wasn't enough--Hugo and I weren't sorrow-stricken enough," shewent on, a trace of bitterness creeping into her voice. "But they--Mr.and Mrs. Beltz--must accuse us--us--of a plot to kidnap the children.They accused us openly, and Hugo and I, being afraid they had enoughcircumstantial evidence to convict us, innocent though we were, fled fromthe house.
"That's about all," she said, with a sigh. "Hugo built himself a littlerefuge in the woods and made fern baskets, selling enough to make him ascanty living, and I went as a teacher and house matron to Three TowersHall. That is why," she turned to Billie, who was staring at herfascinated, "I was so desperate when I lost the album, and why," sheadded, with a smile, "I acted so foolishly when you returned it."
"You weren't foolish," said Billie. "I think you were awfully brave. Iunderstand everything now."
"But I don't--not quite," put in Connie's mother, her pretty foreheadpuckered thoughtfully. "Of course you didn't kidnap the children,"turning to Miss Arbuckle, "but it is equally certain that somebody musthave done it."
"Oh, but don't you see?" Connie broke in eagerly. "The kidnappers,whoever they were, must have gone down on the ship out there on theshoal."
"And they bound the children on that funny raft and set them adrift,probably thinking they would be able to get away themselves," added Vieagerly.
"And then the ship went down before they could follow," said Billie,adding, as she turned earnestly to the teacher: "Oh, Miss Arbuckle, itwas awful--that poor ship out there going down with all the people onboard!"
"Yes, it must have been horrible. I read about it in the papers," noddedMiss Arbuckle soberly. Then a great light broke over her face as shelooked down at the three children who were still not much more thanbabies. "But some good comes of almost everything. I have my preciouschildren now, and I can take them back to their family and prove myinnocence--and Hugo's. Oh I'm so happy--I'm so happy!"
"But won't you come back to Three Towers any more?" asked Laura, her faceso long that Miss Arbuckle laughed delightedly.
"Yes, my dear," she said, a joyful light in her eyes that made her quitea different person. "Hugo will probably go back to his old position, butI--oh, I could not desert Three Towers now after all you girls have donefor me."
Then Connie's mother had her way and whisked joyful Miss Arbuckle awayupstairs to "take off her hat" while the children trailed after, leavingthe girls alone.
Laura and Connie and Vi fairly hugged each other over the marvelousclearing up of their mystery, but Billie turned away and looked out ofthe window, while sudden tears stung her eyes.
She did not notice that the little boy whom Miss Arbuckle had called Davystopped at the foot of the stairs and crept softly back to her, she didnot know he was anywhere around, till a soft little hand was slipped intohers and a baby voice said plaintively:
"Me loves my Billie, too."
"You darling!" cried Billie, kneeling down and catching him close to her."I suppose they will take you away now where you belong, honey, but don'tever forget your Billie."
And when the girls went over to her a few minutes later they weresurprised to find that her eyes were wet.
"Why, Billie, you've been crying!" Laura exclaimed. "And you ought to beas happy as the rest of us."
"I am," said Billie, wiping her eyes hard. "Only I was thinking of littleDavy."
"Well, don't, if it makes you cry and gets your nose all red," scoldedConnie.
"Never mind, honey," said Vi, putting an arm about her. "We are all sorryto see the kiddies go, of course. But we can see them again some time ifwe want to."
"And just think," added Laura happily, "the boys are coming back nextweek. And that means Teddy, too," she added slyly.
"Yes, I'm glad he--_they_ are coming," stammered Billie, and the otherslaughed at her confusion. Then suddenly she wiped away the last trace ofher tears and her eyes began to shine, making her look like the Billiethe girls knew and loved best. "We _will_ have some good times when theboys come, girls. Why," as if making a surprising discovery, "our fun hasjust begun!"
And that Billie was speaking the truth and that there were moreadventures in store for the boys and girls than even the girls dreamed ofon that beautiful summer day, will be shown in the next volume of theseries.
In the due course of time the three Beltz children were restored to theirparents. It was learned that they had been kidnapped by three men who hadthought to make a large sum of money out of their scoundrelly game. Butall three kidnappers had lost their lives in the wreck.
At first it was supposed that many had gone down in the foundering of the_Daniel Boley_, as the ship was named. But later on it was learned thatthree small boats had got away in safety and the survivors had beenpicked up by a vessel bound for Halifax. So the loss of life was, afte
rall, small.
Mr. and Mrs. Beltz were heartily ashamed of having suspected MissArbuckle and her brother of wrong doing, and they offered both theirpositions back at increased salaries. Hugo returned to the Beltz estate,but not so his sister.
"I love the children very, very much," said Miss Arbuckle. "But I alsolove Three Towers Hall and the girls there. I shall remain at theschool." And she did, much to the delight of Billie and her chums.
And now the sun shining brightly once more and happiness all around them,let us say good-bye to Billie and the other girls on Lighthouse Island.
THE END
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BILLIE BRADLEY SERIES
by JANET D. WHEELER12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colorsPrice per volume, 65 cents, postpaid
1. BILLIE BRADLEY AND HER INHERITANCE
or The Queer Homestead at Cherry Corners
Billie Bradley fell heir to an old homestead that was unoccupied andlocated far away in a lonely section of the country. How Billie wentthere, accompanied by some of her chums, and what queer things happened,go to make up a story no girl will want to miss.
2. BILLIE BRADLEY AT THREE-TOWERS HALL
or Leading a Needed Rebellion
Three-Towers Hall was a boarding school for girls. For a short time afterBillie arrived there all went well. But then the head of the school hadto go on a long journey and she left the girls in charge of two teachers,sisters, who believed in severe discipline and in very, very plain foodand little of it--and then there was a row! The girls wired for the headto come back--and all ended happily.
3. BILLIE BRADLEY ON LIGHTHOUSE ISLAND
or The Mystery of the Wreck
One of Billie's friends owned a summer bungalow on Lighthouse Island,near the coast. The school girls made up a party and visited the Island.There was a storm and a wreck, and three little children were washedashore. They could tell nothing of themselves, and Billie and her chumsset to work to solve the mystery of their identity.
4. BILLIE BRADLEY AND HER CLASSMATES
or The Secret of the Locked Tower
Billie and her chums come to the rescue of several little children whohave broken through the ice. There is the mystery of a lost invention,and also the dreaded mystery of the locked school tower.
5. BILLIE BRADLEY AT TWIN LAKES
or Jolly Schoolgirls Afloat and Ashore
A tale of outdoor adventure in which Billie and her chums have a greatvariety of adventures. They visit an artists' colony and there fall inwith a strange girl living with an old boatman who abuses her constantly.Billie befriended Hulda and the mystery surrounding the girl was finallycleared up.
Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue
CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE BARTON BOOKS FOR GIRLS
By MAY HOLLIS BARTON12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. With colored jacketPrice per volume, 65 cents, postpaid
May Hollis Barton is a new writer for girls who is bound to win instantpopularity. Her style is somewhat of a mixture of that of Louisa M.Alcott and Mrs. L. T. Meade, but thoroughly up-to-date in plot andaction. Clean tales that all girls will enjoy reading.
1. THE GIRL FROM THE COUNTRY
or Laura Mayford's City Experiences
Laura was the oldest of five children and when daddy got sick she feltshe must do something. She had a chance to try her luck in New York, andthere the country girl fell in with many unusual experiences.
2. THREE GIRL CHUMS AT LAUREL HALL
or The Mystery of the School by the Lake
When the three chums arrived at the boarding school they found the otherstudents in the grip of a most perplexing mystery. How this mystery wassolved, and what good times the girls had, both in school and on thelake, go to make a story no girl would care to miss.
3. NELL GRAYSON'S RANCHING DAYS
or A City Girl in the Great West
Showing how Nell, when she had a ranch girl visit her in Boston, thoughther chum very green, but when Nell visited the ranch in the great Westshe found herself confronting many conditions of which she was totallyignorant. A stirring outdoor story.
4. FOUR LITTLE WOMEN OF ROXBY
or The Queer Old Lady Who Lost Her Way
Four sisters are keeping house and having trouble to make both ends meet.One day there wanders in from a stalled express train an old lady whocannot remember her identity. The girls take the old lady in, and, later,are much astonished to learn who she really is.
5. PLAIN JANE AND PRETTY BETTY
or The Girl Who Won Out
The tale of two girls, one plain but sensible, the other pretty but vain.Unexpectedly both find they have to make their way in the world. Bothhave many trials and tribulations. A story of a country town and then acity.
Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue
CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE LINGER-NOT SERIES
By AGNES MILLER12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colorsPrice per volume, 65 cents, postpaid
This new series of girls' books is in a new style of story writing. Theinterest is in knowing the girls and seeing them solve the problems thatdevelop their character. Incidentally, a great deal of historicalinformation is imparted.
1. THE LINGER-NOTS AND THE MYSTERY HOUSE
or The Story of Nine Adventurous Girls
How the Linger-Not girls met and formed their club seems commonplace, butthis writer makes it fascinating, and how they made their club serve agreat purpose continues the interest to the end, and introduces a newtype of girlhood.
2. THE LINGER-NOTS AND THE VALLEY FEUD
or The Great West Point Chain
The Linger-Not girls had no thought of becoming mixed up with feuds ormysteries, but their habit of being useful soon entangled them in somesurprising adventures that turned out happily for all, and made thevalley better because of their visit.
3. THE LINGER-NOTS AND THEIR GOLDEN QUEST
or The Log of the Ocean Monarch
For a club of girls to become involved in a mystery leading back into thetimes of the California gold-rush, seems unnatural until the reader seeshow it happened, and how the girls helped one of their friends to comeinto her rightful name and inheritance, forms a fine story.
4. THE LINGER-NOTS AND THE WHISPERING CHARMS
or The Secret from Old Alaska
Whether engrossed in thrilling adventures in the Far North or occupiedwith quiet home duties, the Linger-Not girls could work unitedly to solvea colorful mystery in a way that interpreted American freedom to a sadyoung stranger, and brought happiness to her and to themselves.
Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue
CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE RUTH FIELDING SERIES
By ALICE B. EMERSON12mo. Illustrated. Jacket in full colorsPrice per volume, 65 cents, postpaid
Ruth Fielding was an orphan and came to live with her miserly uncle. Heradventures and travels make stories that will hold the interest of everyreader.
Ruth Fielding is a character that will live in juvenile fiction.
1. RUTH FIELDING OF THE RED MILL2. RUTH FIELDING AT BRIARWOODHALL3. RUTH FIELDING AT SNOW CAMP4. RUTH FIELDING AT LIGHTHOUSE POINT5. RUTH FIELDING AT SILVER RANCH6. RUTH FIELDING ON CLIFF ISLAND7. RUTH FIELDING AT SUNRISE FARM8. RUTH FIELDING AND THE GYPSIES9. RUTH FIELDING IN MOVING PICTURES10. RUTH FIELDING DOWN IN DIXIE11. RUTH FIELDING AT COLLEGE12. RUTH FIELDING IN THE SADDLE13. RUTH FIELDING IN THE RED CROSS14. RUTH FIELDING AT THE WAR FRONT15. RUTH FIELDING HOMEWARD BOUND16. RUTH FIELDING DOWN EAST17. RUTH FIELDING IN THE GREAT NORTHWEST18. RUTH FIELDING ON THE ST. LAWRENCE19. RUTH F
IELDING TREASURE HUNTING20. RUTH FIELDING IN THE FAR NORTH21. RUTH FIELDING AT GOLDEN PASS22. RUTH FIELDING IN ALASKA23. RUTH FIELDING AND HER GREAT SCENARIO
Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue
CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE BETTY GORDON SERIES
By ALICE B. EMERSON12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colorsPrice per volume, 65 cents, postpaid
1. BETTY GORDON AT BRAMBLE FARM
or The Mystery of a Nobody
At twelve Betty is left an orphan.
2. BETTY GORDON IN WASHINGTON or Strange Adventures in a Great City
Betty goes to the National Capitol to find her uncle and has severalunusual adventures.
3. BETTY GORDON IN THE LAND OF OIL
or The Farm That Was Worth a Fortune
From Washington the scene is shifted to the great oil fields of ourcountry. A splendid picture of the oil field operations of to-day.
4. BETTY GORDON AT BOARDING SCHOOL
or The Treasure of Indian Chasm
Seeking treasures of Indian Chasm makes interesting reading.
5. BETTY GORDON AT MOUNTAIN CAMP
or The Mystery of Ida Bellethorne
At Mountain Camp Betty found herself in the midst of a mystery involvinga girl whom she had previously met in Washington.
6. BETTY GORDON AT OCEAN PARK or School Chums on the Boardwalk
A glorious outing that Betty and her chums never forgot.
7. BETTY GORDON AND HER SCHOOL CHUMS
or Bringing the Rebels to Terms
Rebellious students, disliked teachers and mysterious robberies make afascinating story.
8. BETTY GORDON AT RAINBOW RANCH
or Cowboy Joe's Secret
Betty and her chums have a grand time in the saddle.
9. BETTY GORDON IN THE MEXICAN WILDS
or The Secret of the Mountains
Betty receives a fake telegram and finds both Bob and herself held forransom in a mountain cave.
10. BETTY GORDON AND THE LOST PEARL
or A Mystery of the Seaside
Betty and her chums go to the ocean shore for a vacation and there Bettybecomes involved in the disappearance of a string of pearls worth afortune.
Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue
CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE GIRL SCOUT SERIES
By LILLIAN GARIS12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colorsPrice per volume, 65 cents, postpaid
The highest ideals of girlhood as advocated by the foremost organizationsof America form the background for these stories and while unobtrusivethere is a message in every volume.
1. THE GIRL SCOUT PIONEERS
or Winning the First B. C.
A story of the True Tred Troop in a Pennsylvania town. Two runaway girls,who want to see the city, are reclaimed through troop influence. Thestory is correct in scout detail.
2. THE GIRL SCOUTS AT BELLAIRE
or Maid Mary's Awakening
The story of a timid little maid who is afraid to take part in othergirls' activities, while working nobly alone for high ideals. How she wasdiscovered by the Bellaire Troop and came into her own as "Maid Mary"makes a fascinating story.
3. THE GIRL SCOUTS AT SEA CREST
or The Wig Wag Rescue
Luna Land, a little island by the sea, is wrapt in a mysteriousseclusion, and Kitty Scuttle, a grotesque figure, succeeds in keeping allothers at bay until the Girl Scouts come.
4. THE GIRL SCOUTS AT CAMP COMALONG
or Peg of Tamarack Hills
The girls of Bobolink Troop spend their summer on the shores of LakeHocomo. Their discovery of Peg, the mysterious rider, and the clearing upof her remarkable adventures afford a vigorous plot.
5. THE GIRL SCOUTS AT ROCKY LEDGE
or Nora's Real Vacation
Nora Blair is the pampered daughter of a frivolous mother. Her dislikefor the rugged life of Girl Scouts is eventually changed to appreciation,when the rescue of little Lucia, a woodland waif, becomes a problem forthe girls to solve.
Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue
CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE CURLYTOPS SERIES
By HOWARD R. GARISAuthor of the famous "Bedtime Animal Stories"12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colorsPrice per volume, 65 cents, postpaid
1. THE CURLYTOPS AT CHERRY FARM
or Vacation Days in the Country
A tale of happy vacation days on a farm.
2. THE CURLYTOPS ON STAR ISLAND
or Camping out with Grandpa
The Curlytops camp on Star Island.
3. THE CURLYTOPS SNOWED IN
or Grand Fun with Skates and Sleds
The Curlytops on lakes and hills.
4. THE CURLYTOPS AT UNCLE FRANK'S RANCH
or Little Folks on Ponyback
Out West on their uncle's ranch they have a wonderful time.
5. THE CURLYTOPS AT SILVER LAKE
or On the Water with Uncle Ben
The Curlytops camp out on the shores of a beautiful lake.
6. THE CURLYTOPS AND THEIR PETS
or Uncle Toby's Strange Collection
An old uncle leaves them to care for his collection of pets.
7. THE CURLYTOPS AND THEIR PLAYMATES
or Jolly Times Through the Holidays
They have great times with their uncle's collection of animals.
8. THE CURLYTOPS IN THE WOODS
or Fun at the Lumber Camp
Exciting times in the forest for Curlytops.
9. THE CURLYTOPS AT SUNSET BEACH
or What Was Found in the Sand
The Curlytops have a fine time at the seashore.
10. THE CURLYTOPS TOURING AROUND
or The Missing Photograph Albums
The Curlytops get in some moving pictures.
11. THE CURLYTOPS IN A SUMMER CAMP
or Animal Joe's Menagerie
There is great excitement as some mischievous monkeys break out of AnimalJoe's Menagerie.
Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue
CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE RUBY AND RUTHY SERIES
by MINNIE E. PAULL12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid.
Four bright and entertaining stories told in Mrs. Paull's happiest mannerare among the best stories ever written for young girls, and cannot failto interest any between the ages of eight and fifteen years.
RUBY AND RUTHY
Ruby and Ruthie were not old enough to go to school, but they certainlywere lively enough to have many exciting adventures, that taught manyuseful lessons needed to be learned by little girls.
RUBY'S UPS AND DOWNS
There were troubles enough for a dozen grown-ups, but Ruby got ahead ofthem all, and, in spite of them, became a favorite in the lively times atschool.
RUBY AT SCHOOL
Ruby had many surprises when she went to the impossible place she heardcalled a boarding school, but every experience helped to make her astronger-minded girl.
RUBY'S VACATION
This volume shows how a little girl improves by having varieties ofexperience both happy and unhappy, provided she thinks, and is able touse her good sense. Ruby lives and learns.
Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue
CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York
00%); -ms-filter: grayscale(100%); filter: grayscale(100%); " class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons">share
Billie Bradley on Lighthouse Island; Or, The Mystery of the Wreck Page 25
