her troubles. The more she tried to fix her attention on the printed page before her, the more the broken s

back to the old school anyway. I might have known it would bring me bad luck. Oh, here comes Laura," and her face brightened as she saw the

e sang out, as Laura Jordon

aura, panting a little, for she had indeed been in a hur

ver to make room for her chum in the s

cried Laura, her face fl

illie! Oh, I coul

atter-of-fact tone. "We knew when we saw her looking in

itor about it." And Laura looked as if

one else to go to," re

mad about it?" asked Laur

e terribly tired of the whole subject. How she hated that imbe

said in answer to Laura's incredulous look. "If I should get th

r indignation,

ute's thought: "Billie, dear, haven't you thought of some way you might

ve started a fund with a dollar fifteen of his and seventy-five cents of mine. That's as far as we have got

g up her ears. "The uncle who used to trot y

od chums, and I think if I told him what a fix I'm in,

ly, "why didn't you think of that

sharing Laura's enthusiasm in the least. "I

id Laura, lightly adding, as unconcernedly as

n her while the color flooded her fa

ra, wide-eyed. "I'm sure I never thou

," sighed Billie, adding plaintively: "Only I

huckle, regarding Billie out of the corner of her eye. "

ost snapped Billie, and aga

can't help what Teddy does or thinks. Here he

y, which was arranged in the very best manner to set off Billie's sparkling prettiness. "L

h a little chuckle: "But I sort of ha

He was very tall, looking more like a lad of eighteen than the fifteen years he was. His fair

f on the railing. "Laura has been telling me of your escapade, Billie Bradley, and I've c

ou speak as if I were bust-pardon me, breaking busts for a living.

Laura, and before either of the others realized wh

me over and took the sea

y awfully sorry about that business. It makes me mad that you should be troubled with i

riends, Teddy. We ought to be," she added with a littl

y earnestly. "You know my allow

d him, shaking he

to do it," she said. "But I really could

he was only a boy, and just now a disappointed on

'll have to,

t of good time do you think the rest of us are going to have?" he burst

ether to laugh or be angry, but ended,

y funny," he reminded he

said Billie ruefully. "This is the first goo

ooked p

smile: "I'm glad to know I'm good for some

said Billie, patting h

ere all you w

n't let me replace the statue," said Teddy, still n

help it. Listen, Teddy," and she leaned toward

his fondness for her, and during the

adding hurriedly as Laura said good-bye to Nellie Bane and started toward them:

the brother and sister and watched them down the street wi

f the porch and was looking at her knowingly. "And isn't Teddy the handsomest boy you eve

et her mind off the broken statue. But while she was too full of life and health not to enjoy the swift, swingi

s to her father, and her heart sank as she s

aking a silence during which Billie had felt like a

eatrice, for just a few minutes' reckless fun. Of course I can pay it,

nd with a little cry she flew to him a

ed, penitently. "Please don't worry any more, dear.

still remained on his face. Billie started to leave

a smile. "About Uncle Bill," she said. "He has always gi

will be gone for an indefinite period. I thought you knew, Billie. Though, as he just left, I suppose it is not

door and closed it

sighed plaintively.