she sat up in bed with the feeling that it must be very late. She glanced at t

was her first thought. Then sh

e of freedom. "As the old man said: 'They ain't no sech animile.' I guess I

y bedroom slippers when she remembered the tr

f the statue. Was it really only yesterday that she had broke

began to brush her hair vigorously. "Horrid old thing!

spirits any, and it was in a rather gloomy mood

ly, including Chet, had breakfasted bright and early, which m

that a bright dining-room had more to do with making a happy home tha

utiously to see whether Debbie, their black and much pampere

it longingly. Bacon and eggs and-was it corn br

ething to eat, quick," s

favored her with a

lared, "done deserves to go hungry, Miss Billie, beggin'

rah, tyrant of the household, could never quite resist, "remember how many

to the hardships her young mistress had suffered. "You go in 'tother room an' don

n-flooded dining-room, and, going over to a window under which

she could see that a warm set of singles was in progress. One of the player

er this afternoon. So long!" and with his tennis balls in his

t!" murmured

she must get some way or other, and suddenly t

t herself for thinking it. Chet had just about as much c

h her fruit and cereal, and she t

if I starve myself to death or die of worry, there w

mp of mischief reasserte

lled to her from the doorway. She turned with a spoon h

matter of fact, her thoughts had been so far aw

his tennis racket into one chair and seating

plied Billie ruefully, at which peculia

umentative tone, leaning toward her. "Come, 'fess up, Billie. W

expectedly, and her brother's good-looking

re's only about one thing

e cried, her imp of mischief uppermost

ormation more calmly than would have been thought p

once more the cloud ban

s. "Wait til

pstairs, and was back in a mi

ried, displaying the

of the broken bits. Then

commanded. "Tell you

n to the bacon and eggs that Debbie had placed temptingly on

d finished Che

ughtfully, "it does seem as if the only s

-I must!" she int

. "A hundred dollar

greed Billi

hat made people in North Bend feel confidence in Chetwood Bradley, young as he yet was. "I he

looking up at her brother appealingly: "Chet dear, I've got to f

shness that made Billie's eyes glow. "I'll do everything I

rasping his arm as he st

tell

nd was off, up the stairs, taking them thre

t all he was back again, holding s

ing out to her all his available wealth. "I almost

nd she hugged him fondly. "You're th

when Billie interrupted him by breaking

me th

he cried in

ly, "I have seventy-five cents m

en," Chet cor

nd." And she was off up the stairs in her turn

n with the precious seventy-f

ried gayly. "It will be

e money to fill it up with?" Chet remi

h a confidence she was far from feel

d him about i

a little sinking feeling. "I hate to tell

eassuringly. "You know Dad says worry is a waste of time, bec

ke of the head w

that helps me a