The Outdoor Girls in Florida; Or, Wintering in the Sunny South

he world is the matter

e. It's all so sudden. Come in. I sha

e effort at self-control too much for her, for she gave way to another outburst, sobbing this time

ce?" Betty asked, af

t-just wait," and the tall, graceful girl made

g up the path opened across the lawn through the mass of newly fallen snow. "Do you want to meet them, Gra

y and Mollie might just as well know now as later. I'll be

r a dance they were going to attend the following week, looked anxiously at her chum. Only the day before Grace had seemed like her nearly-always jolly self. S

too many chocolates? I've seen her take twice as m

e critically at her chum. Aside from the tears-which seldo

her mysterious, Betty thought-something that was hard

rd it from the library, where she and Grace had g

Grace?" inquired

news very much to heart. Let Amy and Mollie in, and then I'

t stop this! If no one is dead, and no one is hurt, then it can't be so very dreadful. You just stop no

'Little Captain' to all of us for no

becoming. Your nose is p

etty Nelson!"

-take my chamois and give it a little rub before I let in Amy and

der, though," and Grace smiled thr

and a bright look from her sparkling eyes. "Yes, I'll be there

Grace?" she called over her sh

ll-have it over with,"

the galleys for life-or some other dreadful thing such as we read of in our anc

nd cheer me, only, if you understood-but t

ie. Come in!" she greeted the other girls, at the same time endeavoring

nary had happened she did not succeed. In her eagerness to warn the newcomers

sked Mollie, in a so

id Betty, seeing that she w

is--" b

t on such a mournful look, Amy. But Grace has

s!" echo

nd?" inq

yet. She's goi

lked on tiptoe toward the library, preceded by Betty. The la

e exclaimed. "Why don

, her dark eyes flashing. "You meet us as if-as if something terrible had

y, for well she knew Mollie's fa

spoke Mollie, contrit

smile. "I don't blame you. But we must

anding near a window, looking out over the snow-covered

o put them around Grace's neck. But Grace was tall, while Amy was r

a little. She c

ather sensitive on the

wn arms around the other. "I know I am too tall, and I seem to keep on growing

tears again, seeing w

t any more. Just be brave, and tell us all about

poke Grace slowly, "but I'll tell you just

ing her breath as she gave

Betty, hoping to make it

ract public attention this time," w

n a

ed chorus from t

ome-stopped work in the cotton m

aimed Mollie. "Do

he could not sp

happen?" a

ou?" Amy wa

ac is on his way now to give us some particulars. He just telephoned to mamma, and that is what upset us all. I h

ly. "What are the particulars? Perhaps he has only gone off with so

Will with some chums had gotten into a little difficulty not long before this story opens,

Isaac mentioned it casually over the telephone. Oh, I wish he would come! We can't do a thing until we hear the particular

sharply. "You know it does no good to worry.

," urged

retort. "How would you like it, Mollie Bi

she added, with a curious shrug of her shoulders, in which she betrayed her Fr

so did her chums-that should anything happen to t

from Will himself?" as

ad. But it came like a bolt out of a blue sky-what Uncle Isaac telephoned about an hour ago. He is down town attending

he had left Atlan

posed Will had s

and it all," said Amy in a low voic

ad been off with that newly-found brother of yours. We

disgrace," said Betty in

ps he was a little too severe on Will, but mam

he do?"

ce. "But you know that new Latin teacher the Hig

no

eir lessons. Then one night he was kidnapped-taken from his boarding place and hazed. It was nothing very bad, but the faculty held a meeting, and voted to expel all the boys concerned in it.

g cotton mill down in Atlanta, Georgia, you know. Papa thought it would be a good thing for Will to see what hard work meant. At the same time it would take

go South?"

tudying law here. And for the past month or so he has

?" asked

in Atlanta, though we wondered why he didn't write. But then he never was very good at sending le

raid something had happened. But Uncle Isaac said he was here

left a note saying that he was going to quit. Of course Uncle Isaac thought Will had come back home. But when I told him we

he had spoken r

ather strange,"

easily explained when you

as papa with him. He must have stopped at the office. Oh, I'm so gl