oices dismayed them and they became silent. Finally Eleanor, who had been leaning against Madge's shoulder, laid her head in her cousin's la

ink? She won't have the least idea in which direction to look for us. Goodness knows

ungry that makes things appear so dreadful. I have been thinking about our plight, and when daylight comes I am going to try to climb up the wall to th

ig with, Madge? We

must, Phil. Sh-sh, Nellie is waking.

creeping in at the windows found them fast asleep. It was Phil who first opened her eyes. She touched Madge, who s

ing yourself, Madge. You will surely fall," exp

now to get out of this dreadful place. Phil, if you will tr

le cry of surprise. "O, girls! I have something that may help. H

ons of joy. They were very small embroidery

few big, rusty nails and an old brick she had picked up out of the tumbled down fireplace. "If y

nail above her head and dig a new opening. At last she actually did climb up the side of the wall, but her hands were scratched and ble

came to the final stretch, and let go the last ri

ely find a way out for us. Please don't be frightened, Nellie, darling, if I have to jump. It is not so bad." She gave a little inward shudder as she looked through the tiny window frame. She could easily wrench the broken bars away. That was not the trouble. But

It gave way. She seized hold of another, clinging to the sill

miled, as she swung herself up to

hil and Lillian watched their

. Then she uttered a quick, sharp cry, and dropped back to her resting p

ply. "I was afraid you'd find the di

ng through the window. "I don't believe I sha

y, red brown body and a tail standing out tense and straight. It was a brown setter, and Madge knew

thick foliage of the woods they had trave

oung man in a hunting jacket, with a gun swung over his

the sky: "Please unbar the door of t

ck, light hair. He was too old to believe in fairies or elves. But he heard the v

ith an aureole of dark red curls around it, staring at him through the broken window frame of th

three times from that window, so I will know you are not a spook,"

swered Madge, trying to keep from bursting into tears. "Plea

t him. But the face he had seen at the window was not among them. Clinging to the old window frame, he

help me down, Phil?"

" ordered the stranger quietly. "Don't

oolly, when she got her breath. Then she staggered a little, and

ve not the least idea who could have played such a trick on

ded. "The poor woman will be dreadfully worried. Do you girls feel strong enough to walk? You see"-this time Phil turned to their rescuer-"it

. "At last I am convinced you are not fairies. And for once I am glad

sk. "Here is some good, strong coffee. I am sorry it is cold, but i

e flask wistfully. "I won't drink first. I

he young man watched them, smiling with satisfaction. He was tall and strong, and not particularly handsome, but he had fine brown eyes, a firm

urged, handing the op

illian. "We thank you for the coffee. That w

ure that I am, I believe I can exist on that amount of refreshment for another hour or so. But whenever I go out on a few hours' hunting trip, my mother insists that the steward at the hotel put me up a luncheon. She is forever ima

ction, then by common consent they

nce, then Madge said abruptly, "Who do

, clenching his fist. "But wouldn't I like

the neighborhood only yesterday. We have met only

om returned. "I expect to be in this neighborhood all summer. My mother isn't very well, and

hood too slow, and that if she didn't object he would be glad to move on. But a g

t ask you to come with us this morning, but we shall be very glad to have you come aboard our boat to-morrow. We haven't named her yet, but

d for a moment at the edge of the woods. Below them the blue waters of the ba

ancing with the pride of possession. "See, Mr. Curtis, it is

rtis warmly, "and I really mu

us soon," invite

ffer any bad effects from your strenuous night." The young man r

boy," comme

er mind dwelt upon their chaperon, and the long,

the dinner, then set it in the oven to warm. At seven o'clock she trudged up the hill to the farmhouse to make inquiries. No one had seen the young women since they passed through the field

rry to the nearest town and inform the authorities of the strange disappearance of the girls. As she lay with half-closed eyes trying to imagine

a voice, and in the next instant the bewildered tea

us and give us some breakfast, Miss Jennie Ann Jones, for we were never so hungry in all our lives

s. At that moment, to the little, impulsive girl, Miss Jennie Ann Jones seemed particularly dear, in spite of