THE GIRLS WIN.
Mrs. Graham looked uncomfortable--not ashamed or abashed. Doubtless the
conflict within her was between the cruelty of her nature and the fear
of financial reverses in consequence of that cruelty. She did not answer
the rebuke of her confederate attorney.
The latter drew a knife from his pocket and in a moment was severing the
rope that bound the child to the chair. After he had released the boy,
who looked gratefully toward him as a protector, the man threw cold
water on little Glen's natural feeling of confidence toward him by
saying:
"Now, mind you, Mrs. Graham, my interference is not moved by any
sentiment of sympathy for the kid. I merely want to inform you that
things are coming to such a pass that I may be forced to drop out of
this game purely as a move of self-salvation. For instance, it appears
very unwise to make any further attempts to frighten that bunch of
girls. They simply don't scare. See that?"
Langford indicated the object of his question by taking off his hat,
which he had neglected to remove when he entered the house, and
caressing gently with two or three fingers a badly swollen wound on the
side of his head almost directly over his right ear. Mrs. Graham looked
at it curiously, not sympathetically.
"Where did you get that?" she inquired.
"Those girls did it, or one of them, I presume. I thought my make-up
would paralyze them, but instead they nearly paralyzed me. I think they
fired some rocks at me, for something of that description struck my
head, and you see the result.
"I drove my machine into the timber a little farther up the road and put
on my ghost outfit. Then I walked through the woods to the girls' camp
and stalked past them. You would have thought my appearance was enough
to freeze their veins and arteries. Well, they pretty nearly put mine in
cold storage for eternity. Now, what do you know about 'first aid to the
injured?' Will you get some cold water and alcohol or liniment? I'm
going to have a fierce swelling. I don't suppose I can keep it down much
now, but I'm going to have an awful headache and I'd like to prevent
that as much as possible. Let the kid go to bed, and do something for
me."
Glen took advantage of this suggestion and went into another room. Mrs.
Graham and the lawyer returned to the living room. Katherine and Hazel
watched them for about twenty minutes, but heard little more
conversation. Then Langford left the house and Mrs. Graham and her son
prepared to retire. As it appeared that they would be able to get no
further information of interest to them at the Graham cottage that
night, Katherine and Hazel and the other two girls who waited at the
edge of the clearing returned to their camp and reported the success of
their expedition.
* * * * *
Early next day, Miss Ladd, Katherine, and Hazel went by boat to Twin
Lakes and appeared before a magistrate and swore out a warrant for the
arrest of Mrs. Graham on a charge of cruel and inhuman treatment of a
child in her custody. Before leaving Fairberry she had been given
authority to take this move if in her judgment such emergency action
were advisable. She also asked that Glen Irving be removed from the
custody of the Grahams. Then Miss Ladd sent a telegram to Mrs. Hutchins
asking her to "come at once."
Mrs. Hutchins arrived at Twin Lakes next day. Meanwhile Mrs. Graham was
arrested and the boy was taken temporarily as a ward of the court. When
she was confronted with the charges against her and the evidence of the
two Camp Fire Girls who had witnessed one instance of outrageous
cruelty, her cold resistance was broken and she promised to accede to
Mrs. Hutchins demands if the prosecution were dropped.
This seemed to be the best settlement of the whole affair, and it was
accepted. By order of court Glen was turned over to Mrs. Hutchins who
assumed the obligation of his care and custody.
Mrs. Hutchins remained with the girls a week at their camp at Stony
Point, and then all returned to Fairberry, where the tents were pitched
again in the broad and scenic ravine known as Fern Hollow. Here they
camped again for another week, summarized, tabulated, and classified the
achievements of the last few weeks, conferred honors, and finally
adjourned to their several homes, there to remain until the autumn
opening of school.
But the adventures of the year for this Camp Fire were not complete.
More of equally stirring character were in store for three of the girls,
and those who would follow these events should read the volume entitled:
CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON A HIKE;
or,
LOST IN THE GREAT NORTHERN WOODS.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
MOTOR BOAT BOYS SERIES
By LOUIS ARUNDEL
1. The Motor Club's Cruise Down the Mississippi; or The Dash for Dixie.
2. The Motor Club on the St. Lawrence River; or Adventures Among the
Thousand Islands.
3. The Motor Club on the Great Lakes; or Exploring the Mystic Isle of
Mackinac.
4. Motor Boat Boys Among the Florida Keys; or The Struggle for the
Leadership.
5. Motor Boat Boys Down the Coast; or Through Storm and Stress.
6. Motor Boat Boy's River Chase; or Six Chums Afloat or Ashore.
7. Motor Boat Boys Down the Danube; or Four Chums Abroad
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
MOTOR MAID SERIES
By KATHERINE STOKES
1. Motor Maids' School Days
2. Motor Maids by Palm and Pine
3. Motor Maids Across the Continent
4. Motor Maids by Rose, Shamrock and Thistle.
5. Motor Maids in Fair Japan
6. Motor Maids at Sunrise Camp
For sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of 75c.
M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY
701-733 S. DEARBORN STREET CHICAGO
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
THE EDWARD S. ELLIS SERIES
STORIES OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN; MYSTERY, ROMANCE AND ADVENTURE
Every red blooded American Boy and Girl will be greatly pleased with
these books. They are written by the master writer of such books, Edward
S. Ellis. There is mystery, charm and excitement in each volume. All the
following titles can be procured at the same place this book was
procured, or they will be sent postpaid for 25c per copy or 5 for $1.00.
Astray in the Forest
River and Forest
Lost in the Rockies
Bear Cavern
The Lost River
Boy Hunters in Kentucky
The Daughter of the Chieftain
Captured by the Indians
Princess of the Woods
Wolf Ear: The Indian
Read every one of the above Titles
You will enjoy them
M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY
Manufacturers and Publishers Since 1861
701-733 SOUTH DEARBORN STREET CHICAGO
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
THE AEROPLANE SERIES
By JOHN LUTHER LANGWORTHY
1. The Aeroplane Boys; or, The Young Pilots First Air Voyage
2. The Aeroplane Boys on the Wing; or, Aeroplane Chums in the Tropics
3. The Aeroplane Boys Among the Clouds; or, Young Aviators in a Wreck
4. The Aeroplane Boys' Flights; or, A Hydroplane Round-up
5. The Aeroplane Boys on a Cattle Ranch
THE GIRL AVIATOR SERIES
By MARGARET BURNHAM
Just the type of books that delight and fascinate the wide awake Girls
of the present day who are between the ages of eight and fourteen years.
The great author of these books regards them as the best products of her
pen. Printed from large clear type on a superior quality of paper;
attractive multi-color jacket wrapper around each book. Bound in cloth.
1. The Girl Aviators and the Phantom Airship
2. The Girl Aviators on Golden Wings
3. The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise
4. The Girl Aviators' Motor Butterfly.
For sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of 75c.
M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY
701-733 S. DEARBORN STREET CHICAGO
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[Transcriber's Note:
At least four variations of the title of the book are present in the text:
book cover: "Camp-Fire Girls at Twin Lake
frontispiece: "Campfire Girls at Twin Lake"
title page: "Campfire Girls at Twin Lakes"
main text heading: "Camp Fire Girls at Twin Lakes"
Distinct original spellings have been retained.]
End of Project Gutenberg's Campfire Girls at Twin Lakes, by Stella M. Francis