CHAPTER XXV

CAUGHT--CONCLUSION

Billie Bradley and her three companions were without wraps, though they

were too excited to think of that. Also, they had had no time to inform

the boys at Boxton Military Academy as to their purpose and enlist

their help. They were too excited to think of that, either.

They followed Maria Tatgood, always at a discreet distance, through the

school gates and along the dusty road.

“Where do you suppose she’s going?” Laura whispered.

“Home!” said Billie “I’ve a notion we are going to make a real

discovery this time!”

Maria Tatgood lived in an old house, set well back from the road and

surrounded by tall trees. There had been no attempt to cut the grass

that grew in reedy abundance to the very steps of the porch. The house

itself was in a state of considerable disrepair. A little carpentry

work and a coat or two of paint would have made it a much more

habitable place.

All these things impressed themselves more or less vividly on the minds

of the girls as they watched Maria Tatgood ascend the worn steps of the

porch and disappear into the house.

The day had turned dismal and chill. The sun had disappeared under the

clouds that by this time had risen from a streak low on the western

horizon and covered the zenith. A light, misty rain was falling. There

among the trees it was gloomy and dark.

Evidently, the occupants of the house were also in semi-darkness, for,

as the girls watched, they saw a light flash up in a room at the rear.

From this same room presently came the sound of angry voices.

Billie tugged Vi’s sleeve.

“Come along! Tell Laura and Edina. The folks inside have forgotten to

pull the shade down at that window. Thanks to them, we can both see and

hear.”

Silently, keeping to the shelter of the trees, the girls crept toward

that lighted window. The angry voices were becoming intelligible. The

girls could hear phrases, scraps of sentences.

“You’ve spent it! You had no business----”

“I had no business, didn’t I? I like that! Ain’t I your mother?”

Billie put finger to lips in a gesture of caution and crept closer to

the window. Laura pinched Vi’s arm. Edina’s face looked very white in

the dusk.

“Just the same,” came the younger voice sullenly, “you ain’t keepin’ to

your end of the bargain. We was to split, wasn’t we?”

“Split, is it?” The voice of the older woman rose waspishly. “I should

have the big half, anyways. Ain’t I your mother?”

“It was me took all the risks. It was that way in the old days, too,

wasn’t it? It was me opened the pocketbooks of the rich women in the

stores while you took the money I got out of ’em! Well, it ain’t goin’

to be so no more. We split, or I quit!”

A sullen silence fell upon the room and its occupants. Outside the

girls held their breath to listen. After a moment the more youthful

voice continued:

“How much you got left of the money?”

“Two hundred dollars. That’s all exceptin’ a few cents in silver--a

half a dollar, maybe.”

“You’ve already spent sixty dollars? Well, if that ain’t a rum go!”

Suddenly Edina clutched Billie’s arm.

“Quick! Hide!” she cried. “Somebody’s comin’!”

The watchers had barely time to gain the shelter of the trees when a

thick-set figure loomed up through the gloom. A man brushed past them,

a man with hunched shoulders and a week’s growth of stubble on his face.

This person stumped around to the rear of the house, a door opened and

closed, and soon the two voices within the room were joined by a third.

“Hello, you cats at it ag’in, scratchin’ and clawin’? Where’s my

dinner? That’s what I’d like to know. When are you goin’ to git me some

grub?”

Billie turned to her companions. They could see her eyes shining in the

dull light.

“We’ve heard enough!’” she whispered. “Let’s be getting back.”

They fairly ran down the road to Three Towers Hall. They were scarcely

aware that they were cold and dishevelled and pretty well soaked by

the misty drizzle. In their minds two facts loomed paramount. They

had positively identified Maria Tatgood as the thief, and two hundred

dollars of the Gift Club fund still remained in the custody of the

unsavory Tatgood family. If they hurried, they still might save that

two hundred dollars.

Up the steps of the school they rushed and into the hall, to be met by

a group of horrified girls.

“Where have you been?”

“To the wars, if looks count for anything!”

“You big sillies! You are soaked through!”

Connie Danvers pushed through the crowd and plucked Billie anxiously by

the sleeve.

“Listen! Eliza Dilks saw you girls leave by the front gate a little

while ago. She reported to Amanda. Of course Amanda promptly reported

to Miss Walters. She’s up there in Miss Walters’ office now. I’m

afraid you are in for it, Billie!”

“Where are you going?” she added, as Billie broke from her and made for

the stairs.

From the first step Billie looked down upon the group of curious,

upturned faces.

“I am going to see Miss Walters on an important mission,” she said,

with a challenging laugh. “You may come, too, if you like!”

Many of the girls availed themselves of this permission and trooped

after her. There was a mysterious air about Billie Bradley and her

companions that roused their curiosity and warned them to expect

developments of an extraordinary character.

The group was joined on the way by new recruits, so by the time Billie

and her friends reached the door of Miss Walters’ office about half the

student body was trailing at her heels.

“You all wait here,” said Billie to her escort. “I’ll leave the door

open just a crack so that you can hear what happens.”

Billie tapped on the door of the office. After a brief pause, Miss

Walters’ pleasant voice called, “Come in!”

As Billie pushed open the door she gestured to Vi and Laura and Edina

to follow her.

“I can see Amanda in there,” she whispered. “I don’t intend to take my

medicine alone!”

Miss Walters looked up as the girls entered. The troubled frown on her

face deepened.

“Amanda has just been telling me about you,” she said, tapping her

desk with a pencil. “Did you four students leave these grounds without

permission?”

“Yes, Miss Walters,” said Billie meekly, and added unnecessarily: “We

have just got back.”

“So it seems!” Miss Walters’ frown deepened. She continued the

ra-ta-ta-tat with the pencil on the edge of her desk. Amanda’s

triumphant smirk grew until it seemed to spread over all of her face.

“You have some explanation?” said Miss Walters, at last.

This was the opportunity for which Billie had waited. Making sure that

the door of the office was open so that the girls outside could hear

everything she said, she addressed the white-haired, gracious head of

Three Towers Hall.

“Miss Walters, I have an explanation. When you hear it I think you will

forgive us for leaving the grounds without asking permission.”

Miss Walters inclined her head, half-smiling at Billie’s earnestness.

“Let me hear the explanation,” she said.

Billie drew a long breath and plunged into her story. She began with

the founding of the Gift Club and Edina’s elevation to the post of

treasurer. She went on through the strange disappearance of the Gift

Club fund, dwelling upon Edina Tooker’s distress upon finding herself

suspected of the theft.

When she came to the account of her day in town, including the

identification of the blotted five dollar bill, Miss Walters’ interest

visibly increased. There was an audible sigh from the girls grouped

close about the office door. Amanda’s triumphant grin grew slightly

less triumphant.

“So you see, the evidence all pointed to the dormitory maid, Maria

Tatgood,” Billie pleaded.

Miss Walters nodded.

“Yes,” she said, “I see. Please go on.”

“Well, when we saw Maria leave the Hall to-night we felt that

there, perhaps, was the chance to establish real evidence--police

evidence--against her. We should have asked your permission, Miss

Walters, to leave the school grounds, but we really hadn’t time.”

Billie was still pleading her case. Miss Walters nodded as though she

understood--as, indeed, she did.

“Go on!”

As Billie proceeded she was vividly aware of the keen interest that

greeted her account of the happenings leading up to the positive

identification of Maria Tatgood as the thief.

At the startling revelation Amanda’s jaw dropped open. Billie,

happening to glance at her, choked back a laugh, which brought on such

a dire attack of coughing and strangling that Miss Walters inquired

with a smile on her own lips whether she would not feel better for a

glass of water.

“No, th-thanks,” stuttered Billie. “I--I’m all right now.”

“About this Maria Tatgood,” said Miss Walters, her face suddenly stern.

“If your story is to be trusted--and I have never yet found occasion

to question any statement of yours--then this Maria Tatgood and her

infamous family must be brought to the attention of the police, and at

once. I will attend to it.”

Miss Walters was silent for a moment, tracing thoughtful figures on a

scrap of paper. When she looked up the troubled frown had completely

vanished from her face.

“You left the school grounds without permission, which is against the

rules and so merits rebuke.”

“Yes, Miss Walters,” murmured Billie, her eyes demurely lowered.

“However,” continued the principal in her pleasant, flowing voice,

“your conduct was prompted by such exemplary motives that I am

tempted to waive punishment for this time. In fact,” Miss Walters

flung out her hand toward Billie in a gracious, impulsive gesture,

“I must congratulate you, my dear girl, on the persistent loyalty

and friendliness you have shown toward Edina Tooker, this sorely

misunderstood girl. You are a friend such as I would choose for

myself.”

This praise flooded Billie with an emotion that robbed her of words.

She could only look her love and gratitude.

Miss Walters said softly:

“Edina! Edina Tooker, come here, my dear.”

Edina approached uncertainly and stood before the gracious,

white-haired lady who held her own fate and the fate of all the

students of Three Towers Hall in the hollow of her hand.

Miss Walters searched among the papers on her desk and drew forth a

letter.

“This communication came to me to-day, Edina. It is from your father

and it contains news that I am sure you will be glad to hear.”

Edina looked big and awkward and pitiful as she stood there, nervously

twisting her fingers together.

“Your father has struck oil again on his property--a genuine gusher

this time. I imagine you will be very, very rich, Edina.”

Miss Walters smiled, as though at some secret thought of her own.

Reaching into the letter she drew forth a long yellow slip.

“Your father asked me to give you this check--to help him celebrate, he

said.”

Edina took the slip of paper without pausing to read the illiterate

scrawl across its face. Her eyes were on Miss Walters’ face.

“You been so awful good to me,” she muttered.

“You are worth being good to, Edina,” said Miss Walters, smiling.

“Billie and I have always believed that--haven’t we, Billie?”

Miss Walters held out a hand and Edina slipped her clumsy red one into

it. At the touch, all the iron in Edina’s nature suddenly melted before

a turbulent flood of emotion.

She flung herself to her knees beside Miss Walters, and buried her face

in her lap, harsh sobs tore at her aching throat.

Miss Walters stroked the dark hair and glanced with gentle meaning at

the other girls.

“You may go now,” she said. “I’ll send Edina down to you. She will feel

better presently.”

As the girls passed from the office to be met by a group of deeply

moved and silenced students in the outer hall, Amanda Peabody was heard

to mutter vindictively:

“Billie Bradley has all the pull in this place! She can get away with

anything!”

* * * * *

It was the night of the big dance at Boxton Military Academy. Billie

was there and Laura and Vi and, yes--oh, of course--Edina Tooker.

Billie was a dream--Teddy told her so--in a rose-colored chiffon

evening dress. Scarcely less lovely were Laura in a dainty lavender

chiffon dress and Vi in a clinging crêpe that brought out her pretty

figure to perfection.

Edina in her gold-colored taffeta with gold slippers on her feet, her

hair a shining, blue-black cap for her shapely head, was quite the

rage with the young cadets at Boxton. She could not dance very well,

but she was learning. In truth, there appeared to be no dearth of

dancing instructors, prominent among these being the good-looking Paul

Martinson.

Billie and her chums discussed these--and other things--during a

temporary lull in the festivities. Teddy and Chet and Ferd Stowing had

gone to fetch ice-cream and some of those “ducky little almond-flavored

cakes.”

“Well,” said Laura as she patted a soft bow of her chiffon frock into

place, “I can only remark what I believe a gentleman called Shakespeare

has already remarked before me, ‘All’s well that ends well!’”

“Which sentiment we echo heartily,” agreed Billie. “I crave your

indulgence for a moment while I sum up our reasons for gratitude.

First of all, Maria Tatgood and her mother are safe in jail where they

will steal no more Gift Club funds. The two hundred dollars has been

recovered----”

“It was generous of Edina to make up the missing sixty dollars from the

check her father sent her,” interpolated Vi.

“Well, Edina has plenty of money now, you know. She’ll never miss that

sixty dollars. Paw Tooker will probably be a millionaire before his new

gusher stops gushing, and what’s Paw’s seems to belong equally to his

beloved Edina. But to continue with the list of our blessings. With the

two hundred and sixty dollars, we have been able to buy Miss Geraldine

Gay a most gorgeous wedding present----”

“She was delighted with it, wasn’t she?”

“Why wouldn’t she be? There is no finer grandfather’s clock around

here.”

“When is she to be married?”

“Not before the Thanksgiving holidays. The new teacher comes then.”

“That’s not so far away. We’re not too awfully forehanded with our

gift.”

“To continue with the list of our blessings,” reiterated Billie

dreamily: “Our friend and fellow student, Violet Farrington, has

recovered from her backslidings in math to the extent of working off an

onerous condition----”

“And it _is_ a blessing, believe me!” said Vi fervently. “With that

condition off my shoulders, I feel as though I could begin to look

about and enjoy myself.”

“Here come the boys with our ice-cream.”

“I hope they have brought dozens of cakes!”

“Before they get here,” said Laura hurriedly, “there is just one little

point I’d like cleared up.”

“Any little thing we can do,” murmured Billie.

“It’s about that five dollar gold piece that Edina spent in the shoe

shop to buy a pair of shoes. If that was Nellie Bane’s five dollar gold

piece----”

“It wasn’t. It was Edina’s. She had kept it as a lucky piece but, being

short of funds, was forced to use it to buy shoes. Any more questions?”

“How about Nellie’s gold piece, then?”

“It was part of the sixty dollars spent by Maria Tatgood’s mother; she

admitted as much when pressed. Now, no more questions, please. Let joy

be unconfined!”

“It is a lovely party, isn’t it?” breathed Vi.

With her eyes on Edina Tooker’s happy face, Billie Bradley answered:

“Yes, it is. The very nicest, ever!”

THE END

BILLIE BRADLEY SERIES

BY JANET D. WHEELER

_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colors_

_Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid_

[Illustration: Billie Bradley at Twin Lakes]

1. BILLIE BRADLEY AND HER INHERITANCE

_or The Queer Homestead at Cherry Corners_

Billie Bradley fell heir to an old homestead that was unoccupied

and located far away in a lonely section of the country. How

Billie went there, 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 after Billie arrived there all went well. But then the

head of the school had to 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 food and little of it--and

then there was a row!

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 washed ashore.

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 who had 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

great variety of adventures. They visit an artists’ colony and

there fall in with a strange girl living with an old boatman who

abuses her constantly.

6. BILLIE BRADLEY AT TREASURE COVE

_or The Old Sailor’s Secret_

A lively story of school girl doings. How Billie heard of the

treasure and how she and her chums went in quest of the same is

told in a peculiarly absorbing manner.

_Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue._

CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York

THE GIRL SCOUT SERIES

By LILIAN GARIS

_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colors._

_Price per volume, 50 cents. Postage 10 cents additional._

[Illustration: The Girl Scout Pioneers]

_The highest ideals of girlhood as advocated by the foremost

organisations of America form the background for these stories

and while unobtrusive there 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. The story 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

other girls’ activities, while working nobly alone for high

ideals. How she was discovered 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 mysterious

seclusion, and Kitty Scuttle, a grotesque figure, succeeds in

keeping all others 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

Lake Hocomo. Their discovery of Peg, the mysterious rider, and

the clearing up of 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

dislike for the rugged life of Girl Scouts is eventually changed

to appreciation, when the rescue of little Lucia, a woodland

waif, becomes a problem for the girls to solve.

_Send for Our Free Illustrated Catalogue._

CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York

THE LINGER-NOT SERIES

By AGNES MILLER

_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colors._

_Price per volume, 50 cents. Postage 10 cents additional._

_This new series of girls’ books is in a new style of story writing.

The interest is in knowing the girls and seeing them solve the

problems that develop their character. Incidentally, a great deal

of historical information is imparted._

[Illustration: _The_ LINGER-NOTS and the MYSTERY HOUSE]

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, but this writer makes it fascinating, and how they

made their club serve a great purpose continues the interest to

the end, and introduces a new type 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

or mysteries, but their habit of being useful soon entangled

them in some surprising adventures that turned out happily for

all, and made the valley 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 the times of the California gold-rush, seems unnatural

until the reader sees how it happened, and how the girls

helped one of their friends to come into her rightful name and

inheritance, forms a fine story.

4. THE LINGER-NOTS AND THE WHISPERING CHARM

_or The Secret from Old Alaska_

Whether engrossed in thrilling adventures in the Far North or

occupied with quiet home duties, the Linger-Not girls could work

unitedly to solve a colorful mystery in a way that interpreted

American freedom to a sad young 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. EMERSON

_12mo. Illustrated. Jacket in full colors._

_Price 50 cents per volume._

_Postage 10 cents additional._

Ruth Fielding was an orphan and came to live with her miserly uncle.

Her adventures and travels make stories that will hold the interest

of every reader.

[Illustration: Ruth Fielding in Alaska]

Ruth Fielding is a character that will live in juvenile fiction.

1. RUTH FIELDING OF THE RED MILL

2. RUTH FIELDING AT BRIARWOOD HALL

3. RUTH FIELDING AT SNOW CAMP

4. RUTH FIELDING AT LIGHTHOUSE POINT

5. RUTH FIELDING AT SILVER RANCH

6. RUTH FIELDING ON CLIFF ISLAND

7. RUTH FIELDING AT SUNRISE FARM

8. RUTH FIELDING AND THE GYPSIES

9. RUTH FIELDING IN MOVING PICTURES

10. RUTH FIELDING DOWN IN DIXIE

11. RUTH FIELDING AT COLLEGE

12. RUTH FIELDING IN THE SADDLE

13. RUTH FIELDING IN THE RED CROSS

14. RUTH FIELDING AT THE WAR FRONT

15. RUTH FIELDING HOMEWARD BOUND

16. RUTH FIELDING DOWN EAST

17. RUTH FIELDING IN THE GREAT NORTHWEST

18. RUTH FIELDING ON THE ST. LAWRENCE

19. RUTH FIELDING TREASURE HUNTING

20. RUTH FIELDING IN THE FAR NORTH

21. RUTH FIELDING AT GOLDEN PASS

22. RUTH FIELDING IN ALASKA

23. RUTH FIELDING AND HER GREAT SCENARIO

24. RUTH FIELDING AT CAMERON HALL

25. RUTH FIELDING CLEARING HER NAME

CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York

THE RUBY AND RUTHY SERIES

BY MINNIE E. PAULL

_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid._

_Four bright and entertaining stories told in Mrs. Paull’s

happiest manner are among the best stories ever written for young

girls, and cannot fail to interest any between the ages of eight

and fifteen years._

[Illustration: Ruby at School]

RUBY AND RUTHY

Ruby and Ruthie were not old enough to go to school, but they

certainly were lively enough to have many exciting adventures,

that taught many useful 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 of them all, and, in spite of them, became a favorite in

the lively times at school.

RUBY AT SCHOOL

Ruby had many surprises when she went to the impossible place she

heard called a boarding school, but every experience helped to

make her a stronger-minded girl.

RUBY’S VACATION

This volume shows how a little girl improves by having varieties

of experience both happy and unhappy, provided she thinks, and is

able to use her good sense. Ruby lives and learns.

_Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue._

CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York

THE BETTY GORDON SERIES

BY ALICE B. EMERSON

_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colors_.

_Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid_.

[Illustration: BETTY GORDON at BRAMBLE FARM]

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

several unusual 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

our country. A splendid picture of the oil field operations of

today.

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.

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.

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 MEXICAN WILDS

_or The Secret of the Mountains_

Betty receives a fake telegram and finds both Bob and herself held

for ransom in a mountain cave.

10. BETTY GORDON AND THE LOST PEARLS

_or A Mystery of The Seaside_

Betty and her chums go to the ocean shore for a vacation and Betty

becomes involved in the disappearance of a string of pearls.

11. BETTY GORDON ON THE CAMPUS

_or The Secret of the Trunk Room_

An up-to-date college story with a strange mystery that is bound

to fascinate any girl reader.

_Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue._

CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York

THE CURLYTOPS SERIES

By HOWARD R. GARIS

_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colors_.

_Price per volume, 50 cents. Postage 10 cents additional._

[Illustration: THE CURLY TOPS AT CHERRY FARM]

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 Animal Joe’s Menagerie.

12. THE CURLYTOPS GROWING UP

_or Winter Sports and Summer Pleasures_

Little Trouble is a host in himself and his larger brother and

sister are never still a minute, but go from one little

adventure to another in a way to charm all youthful readers.

_Send for Our Free Illustrated Catalogue._

CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York

THE BARTON BOOKS FOR GIRLS

By MAY HOLLIS BARTON

_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. With colored jacket._

_Price 50 cents per volume._

_Postage 10 cents additional._

_May Hollis Barton is a new writer for girls who is bound to win

instant popularity. Her style is somewhat of a reminder of that of

Louisa M. Alcott, but thoroughly up-to-date in plot and action. Clean

tales that all the girls will enjoy reading._

[Illustration: Two Girls and a Mystery]

1. THE GIRL FROM THE COUNTRY

_or Laura Mayford’s City Experiences_

2. THREE GIRL CHUMS AT LAUREL HALL

_or The Mystery of the School by the Lake_

3. NELL GRAYSON’S RANCHING DAYS

_or A City Girl in the Great West_

4. FOUR LITTLE WOMEN OF ROXBY

_or The Queer Old Lady Who Lost Her Way_

5. PLAIN JANE AND PRETTY BETTY

_or The Girl Who Won Out_

6. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

_or The Old Bachelor’s Ward_

7. HAZEL HOOD’S STRANGE DISCOVERY

_or The Old Scientist’s Treasure Box_

8. TWO GIRLS AND A MYSTERY

_or The Old House in the Glen_

9. THE GIRLS OF LIGHTHOUSE ISLAND

_or The Strange Sea Chest_

10. KATE MARTIN’S PROBLEM

_or Facing the Wide World_

_Send for Our Free Illustrated Catalogue._

CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York

Transcriber’s Note:

Punctuation has been standardised. Variations in spelling and

hyphenation have been retained as they appear in the original

publication. Changes have been made as follows:

Frontispiece caption

FLUNG AN ARM ABOUT EDNA _changed to_

FLUNG AN ARM ABOUT EDINA

Page 9

it may be roses, for instace _changed to_

it may be roses, for instance

Page 16

her dress betweeen her and almost _changed to_

her dress between her and almost

Page 32

anything but poverty-striken _changed to_

anything but poverty-stricken

Page 80

begining to enjoy herself _changed to_

beginning to enjoy herself

Page 84

when the saleswoman--voluable now _changed to_

when the saleswoman--voluble now

Page 89

“I suppose it would,” she agreeed _changed to_

“I suppose it would,” she agreed

Page 104

not-to-well disguised amusement _changed to_

not-too-well disguised amusement

Page 122

they hurried up the backstairs _changed to_

they hurried up the back stairs

Page 167

dormintories and the study halls _changed to_

dormitories and the study halls

Page 168

“Get away, Billie!” One of them cried _changed to_

“Get away, Billie!” one of them cried

Billie Bradley and the School Mystery; Or, The Girl From Oklahoma · 第 25 / 25 章