BARRY
Nancy presented such a picture of bewilderment and unbelief that the
others all laughed--except Peter; his face was very grave.
"You see I thought the only way I could get you--to forgive me--was by
bringing them all back with me."
But Nancy had no intention of forgiving--at least, at once--the trick
that had been played upon her. She lifted her chin with meaning
disdain and turned to the others.
"Let's go up to the house. My aunts will be so glad to see you all,"
and slipping one hand through her father's arm and another into Anne's
she turned up the path, leaving Claire and her brother to follow.
Miss Sabrina had seen the car stop at the gate and had come to the
door. She knew at once that this was Nancy's father. A color swept
her cheeks and faded. She tried to say some word of welcome but her
trembling lips could not frame a single syllable. But almost instantly
her fears were set at rest, for Eugene Leavitt took her two hands in
his clasp and lightly kissed her cheek in a cheery way that put aside
forever the trouble that had separated them.
In the hub-bub and chatter that followed, Nancy did not realize that
Peter Hyde had slipped away; not until Aunt Sabrina had carried her
father off to Aunt Milly's room and B'lindy, radiant, had gone back to
the kitchen to prepare a supper "fit for folks," leaving the three
chums together. Claire gave her friend an affectionate shake.
"Now, Nancy Leavitt, don't be silly and stay cross at Barry. It's my
fault. I knew he was here and that you were here, and that he knew you
and you knew him, and neither of you----"
"Please, please Claire," begged Nancy, trying to stop her friend. Her
face turned scarlet. Of course she could not be offended at his
deception, had she not, herself, been masquerading? But burning in her
mind was the recollection of that afternoon when she had opened her
heart to Peter and had told him how she despised Barry Wallace and his
kind. And he had let her talk--she could not forgive that, ever.
"After you'd been here a few weeks," Claire went on, "Barry wrote to
me. I suppose he'd gotten to the point where he simply had to confide
in someone. You can imagine, I nearly dropped when I saw the postmark
and knew what he was doing, but picture how I felt when he wrote that
he'd met the 'best girl ever--no frills and fropperies like mother's
crowd, but a regular girl.' Of course I knew he meant you. I let him
write a few more letters--I don't think Barry ever wrote so often to me
before--and then, I told him everything."
"You did?" exclaimed Nancy. "Then----" she stopped short. Now she
understood why he had refused to accept her answer as final--that last
evening they had been together.
"And I made him promise on his honor not to tell you that I had told.
So don't be cross at him," Claire pleaded, a little worried at Nancy's
expression. "He has gone back to Judson's and he said--he asked me to
ask you if you would go out to Bird's-Nest--after supper--and----"
Claire, failing in words, threw her arms around Nancy's neck and kissed
her. Anne, who had been impatiently waiting for an opportunity, took
up her part of the story.
"Goodness, Nancy, you can be thankful you've been up here and not at
the apartment--it's unbearably stuffy and hot. Although it ought to
have seemed like paradise after my quarters in London," snapping her
lips together. Poor Anne, her dream of service was now only a bitter
recollection. "I was sitting there as forlorn as could be when in
blew--no other word could describe it--Claire's brother. You wouldn't
have dreamed from the way he acted that he'd never laid eyes on me
before. He told me about the confession you'd written him and he said
he knew you were unhappy up here because of your false position and
that I ought to come back up here with him and get you out of it. He
didn't want me to lose a moment. Then, while we were talking, your
letter came with its astonishing news. Isn't it all like some
nightmare--all the aunts and things mixed up the way they were? We had
to read your letter over and over to understand it. Then when we
finally got it through our heads, we decided we'd get Claire and start
the next day for North Hero."
"But Dad?" asked Nancy.
"We were all ready to go when a taxi drove up to the door and out
jumped your father. Of course he had to hear the whole story way back
to the letter Noah brought to our room. Barry didn't give him a chance
to even wash his face, he bundled him straight into the automobile as
though it were a matter of life and death. And here we are. And this
place looks like Heaven," Anne finished.
It was a merry party that gathered around Miss Sabrina's table.
B'lindy wanting to express all that was in her heart, had spread a
supper fit for the gods. Nancy's father had carried Miss Milly
downstairs and sat between her and Nancy. Every now and then Nancy
slipped her hand into his, under the tablecloth. Miss Sabrina, at the
head of the table, beamed down upon them all in a pathetic ecstasy of
happiness. From the kitchen came the insistent "goo's" of the smallest
Hopworth, to the accompaniment of a silver spoon beating against a
silver mug.
Through all the light chatter in the room there was an undertone of
deep happiness and contentment. Only occasionally Claire's eyes
flashed a worried, pleading message to Nancy that Nancy wilfully
ignored. But when, after supper, the others all went to the Hollyhock
porch and Nancy slipped away, the watchful Claire drew a sigh of relief
and proceeded to feel riotously happy.
As Nancy walked slowly down the path to the orchard she felt her heart
grow inexplainably, foolishly light. She was so glad that Peter Hyde
had come back.
The gladness shone in her eyes as she let him clasp her two hands. He
did not even ask her if she would forgive him; they both laughed
joyously, like two children.
"Wasn't it funny? Both of us up here pretending to be someone else."
"But it wasn't fair. You knew--and I didn't."
Peter hastened to defend himself. "I didn't--at first. And then
Claire made me promise not to let on that I knew. Anyway, I'd grown so
downright sick of that Barry Wallace that I wanted to just see if I
could make someone like plain Peter Hyde. Did I?" he asked.
Nancy ignored the direct question and avoided the pleading in Peter's
eyes.
"Why did you come here, Pet--Barry?"
"I wonder if you will understand, Nancy?" Peter's voice was serious.
"Mother thought I was crazy and Claire would have, too--at the time.
But when I heard you tell--that afternoon--what you thought of Claire's
brother, I decided I'd done just about the right thing. You see, when
I came back from the other side, just because father and mother are
quite prominent, I found that a lot of stuff had been printed about all
the things I'd done----"
"But you did do them," cried Nancy, warmly.
"Oh, yes, I did them, and I have got three or four medals--but then so
were a lot of other fellows doing the same things and a lot of 'em were
killed, doing them. You see, I just looked at it that everyone of us
went over to do our duty and most all of us did--and that's all there
was to it. So when I came back it was a sort of a shock to fall into
the mess I found waiting for me. I couldn't turn around that I wasn't
asked to appear at a tea or a reception or a banquet or a church circle
or something or other to speak. Every other minute I was dodging a
photographer. And you see the worst of it all was that they were all
my mother's friends, and my mother was always around looking as though
she was at last reaping the reward for her sacrifice. I suppose any
mother would have been the same. But you can see the hole it put me
in. I hated it, but I couldn't bear to offend her. I wanted to go to
work at something; I tried a week in my father's office, but I couldn't
stand the confinement indoors. So I ran away--it was my only escape.
I headed for the mountains--somewhere where no one would know me. At
Burlington I saw Judson's ad. and this idea came to me. I'd hire out
to him for awhile and get a chance to work out some theories that were
pets of mine--before the war. I shipped my car back to Merrycliffe and
wrote to mother of my plan, begging her to tell no one. I picked the
name Peter Hyde at random--out of the hotel telephone book."
"I shall never, never think of you as anything but Peter Hyde," broke
in Nancy.
"I don't ever want you to," assured Barry.
Nancy's eyes rested for a moment on the outline of the Judson barns.
"Are you going to help Judson with his harvesting?" she asked, suddenly.
"Sure thing I am--I wouldn't think of leaving him, just now. Nancy,
will you listen to a plan I've been making? I've got some money--it
was my grandmother's--and I want to buy up some farms in different
parts of the state, the kind of farms that are sort of run down at the
heels, and experiment with them and see what can be done with them, as
a sort of outright demonstration for other farmers. Do you think that
worth while?" he asked so anxiously and with such humility that Nancy
colored.
"Oh, Peter--why ask me? It sounds pleasant and--and like you." She
suddenly seemed to see him going on with this new work--without her.
The thought brought a wistful look into her face. Barry Wallace read
it there.
"Nancy, I'm afraid I sort of made a mess of things--the other night.
When you told me you were going away--I lost my head. Tell me--you
said you'd always care more for your work than for anything or anyone
else--couldn't you share your work? Like I'd like to share mine?"
Nancy lifted a protesting hand that Barry promptly imprisoned in both
of his own.
"Oh, Peter, don't repeat all that--silly stuff--I said."
"Didn't you mean it, Nancy?" Barry cried.
"I meant it--then. But that was--young." Barry could not know that
she was using the master's words. "I know--I think--that--that----"
"What, Nancy?"
Nancy looked wildly around. She wanted to run away, but Barry Wallace
was holding her hand very tight.
"That--I'll work better if--that--oh, I'm just glad you came back," and
Nancy could not have said anything more, for her face was smothered
against Barry's shoulder.
After a little, Barry had to hear all about the rejected manuscript,
the master's letter and the redemption of the Hopworth's. There in the
sun-lit orchard a golden world seemed to stretch around them.
"How foolish we used to be," laughed Nancy, with a rapturous sigh. "I
never doubted but that my first play was going to make my fortune."
"And I, after facing death in every one of its worst forms, ran away
from a pack of fussy women," added Barry.
"Never mind, let's bury those two children out here under the apple
trees and begin real work----"
"Together."
"Finding the little things to do in our very own corner," added Nancy,
dreamily.
Across the twilight stillness came the familiar whistle that had been
the special signal among the three chums at college.
"It's the girls," cried Nancy. "Let's go back. I can't bear to have
them come here--just now. It's--it's----" she blushed, but met his
eyes squarely. "I want this to be--just ours--for awhile."
As they walked slowly back to the house, Nancy stopped suddenly in the
path.
"Doesn't Happy House look beautiful?" she whispered. And in fact the
fading glow of the sun was touching the old walls with a shadowy beauty.
"It seems to speak to one," added Nancy. She was thinking of that
other Anne Leavitt who had come there bravely intent upon building a
happy home in the heart of the wilderness. Though she said not a word,
in her heart she was making a solemn pledge--that she and Barry, would
add, through useful lives, their bit to the traditions of Happy House
and the little Island, traditions rich with bravery, sacrifice and
loyalty.
Again came the girls' whistle--insistent. Nancy slipped her hand into
Barry's.
"Let's hurry."
Hand in hand they went along the path to the house--and to their future
together. As they reached, the edge of Jonathan's raspberry patch
Nancy turned with shining eyes and whispered: "Pals."
And Barry, teasingly recalling Nonie's pet plan, answered tenderly:
"Dearest."
_There is the high, happy spirit of youth in these famous_
BOOKS FOR GIRLS
by JANE D. ABBOTT
BARBERRY GATE
A boy flyer opened the Barberry Gate, closed since the day
great-grandfather Colfax locked it, and Winsome learned the romantic
story behind it all.
LAUGHING LAST
Sidney finds adventure in Provincetown--she takes part in the capture
of modern pirates, and much to her surprise plays an unexpected part in
her sister's romance.
APRILLY
The charming story of a young girl, child of the circus, and the
adventures which led to her goal of happiness.
HIGHACRES
A school story of Jerry Travis and her chum Gyp Westley. A thread of
romance and mystery in Jerry's life runs through the tale.
KEINETH
How Keineth Randolph kept a secret--a war secret--for a whole year
makes one of the best stories ever written for girls.
RED ROBIN
In attempting to bring happiness into the lives of mill workers, Robin
Forsythe, heir to a fortune, has many strange adventures.
HEYDAY
Twenty-three! The heyday of life. Jay, a small town girl, finds
happiness in New York.
LARKSPUR
Especially interesting to any Girl Scout because it is the story of a
Girl Scout who is poor and has to help her mother.
HAPPY HOUSE
How an old family quarrel is healed through a misunderstanding and an
old homestead becomes a "happy house" in reality.
GROSSET & DUNLAP _Publishers_ NEW YORK
THE NANCY DREW MYSTERY STORIES
By CAROLYN KEENE
Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself.
Here is a thrilling series of mystery stories for girls. Nancy Drew,
ingenious, alert, is the daughter of a famous criminal lawyer and she
herself is deeply interested in his mystery cases. Her interest
involves her often in some very dangerous and exciting situations.
THE SECRET OF THE OLD CLOCK
Nancy, unaided, seeks to locate a missing will and finds herself in the
midst of adventure.
THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE
Mysterious happenings in an old stone mansion lead to an investigation
by Nancy.
THE BUNGALOW MYSTERY
Nancy has some perilous experiences around a deserted bungalow.
THE MYSTERY AT LILAC INN
Quick thinking and quick action were needed for Nancy to extricate
herself from a dangerous situation.
THE SECRET AT SHADOW RANCH
On a vacation in Arizona Nancy uncovers an old mystery and solves it.
THE SECRET OF RED GATE FARM
Nancy exposes the doings of a secret society on an isolated farm.
THE CLUE IN THE DIARY
A fascinating and exciting story of a search for a clue to a surprising
mystery.
NANCY'S MYSTERIOUS LETTER
Nancy receives a letter informing her that she is heir to a fortune.
This story tells of her search for another Nancy Drew.
THE SIGN OF THE TWISTED CANDLES
Nancy, as mediator in a generation-old feud, divulges an unknown
birthright.
THE PASSWORD TO LARKSPUR LANE
A carrier pigeon furnishes Nancy with a clue to a mysterious retreat.
THE CLUE OF THE BROKEN LOCKET
Nancy's sympathy for adopted twins leads her into a surprising mystery.
THE MESSAGE IN THE HOLLOW OAK
In Canada, Nancy protects her new property from a crooked promoter.
THE MYSTERY OF THE IVORY CHARM
Nancy solves an Indian mystery by means of a lucky elephant charm.
GROSSET & DUNLAP _Publishers_ NEW YORK
The Judy Bolton Mystery Stories
_By MARGARET SUTTON_
Judy's adventures, every one of them, have been based on something that
actually happened. The flood, the house with the round attic windows,
the hiding place of the invisible chimes, the school fire, the camp in
the Thousand Islands, the queer old house in Parkville and the panic in
the theatre--all of them are real!
_You will not want to miss one of these thrilling stories._
THE VANISHING SHADOW--Judy is constantly pursued by a mysterious
shadow. Her brother, a timid but lovable boy, turns out to be a real
hero in this dramatic, fast moving story.
THE HAUNTED ATTIC--The Boltons move into a large rambling house reputed
to be haunted. Even brave Judy is frightened at the strange rappings
and the eerie "crying ghost".
THE INVISIBLE CHIMES--A strange girl is sheltered by the Boltons and
Judy tracks down many clues before she uncovers her real identity.
SEVEN STRANGE CLUES--Judy works out seven baffling clues to solve the
mystery of a school fire and a prize poster contest.
THE GHOST PARADE--Weird happenings at Thousand Island Camp provide
mystery, humor and adventure in this thrilling story.
THE YELLOW PHANTOM--With her quick thinking and courage, Judy rescues a
lost friend and solves the mystery of "Golden Girl."
THE MYSTIC BALL--Irene, "the engaged girl," is frightened by a crystal
gazer but Judy exposes the trickery and saves her friend's romance.
THE VOICE IN THE SUITCASE--A weird cry leads Judy into excitement and
danger in a lonely old house.
THE MYSTERIOUS HALF CAT--Judy and her friends become suspicious of a
mysterious old beggar and follow him.
GROSSET & DUNLAP _Publishers_ NEW YORK
The MARY and JERRY MYSTERY STORIES
By FRANCIS HUNT
THE MESSENGER DOG'S SECRET
The big police dog Flanders carried a strange message in his collar.
By following its directions, Mary and Jerry Denton were able to bring a
lost fortune to someone in need.
THE MYSTERY OF THE TOY BANK
Jerry Denton was saving for a bicycle, but when his little bank
strangely disappeared he had a big mystery to solve. With the aid of
Mary, several chums and a queer old sailor, this eager lad brought
about a happy solution.
THE STORY THE PARROT TOLD
A fire in a pet shop started a long chain of adventures for Mary and
Jerry Denton. The tale the talking parrot told caused plenty of
excitement and mystery before the bird was restored to its rightful
owner.
THE SECRET OF THE MISSING CLOWN
Mary and Jerry have many happy adventures at the circus while searching
for the missing clown and his beautiful pony, Silverfeet.
GROSSET & DUNLAP _Publishers_ NEW YORK
Melody Lane Mystery Stories
_By LILIAN GARIS_
Thrills, secrets, ghosts--adventures that will fascinate you seem to
surround pretty Carol Duncan. A vivid, plucky girl, her cleverness at
solving mysteries will captivate and thrill every mystery fan.
The author has written many popular mystery stories for girls and in
this new series Mrs. Garis is at her best.
THE GHOST OF MELODY LANE
Mystery surrounds the great organ in the home of the "Cameo
Lady"--beloved friend of Carol and sponsor of the girls' Coral Club.
Three people see the "ghost" that wanders in the grove carrying a waxy
white rose. And Carol finds the rose! In the end she finds the ghost
too!
THE FORBIDDEN TRAIL
There was a tradition at "Splatter Castle" on Melody Lane, and Marah
Splartier, eccentric aunt of Veronica Flint determined to protect Vera
from following the long line of family tragedies that had had their
beginning on the "forbidden trail." Carol has several bad frights
before she clears up the mystery that keeps the little family at
Splatter Castle unhappy and afraid.
THE TOWER SECRET
The winking lights flashing from the old tower on the grounds of the
Bonds' new home defy explanation. There is no one in the tower--and no
electric power or connections! Had the engaging circus family that
Carol befriended anything to do with the mystery? And what interest
had Parsnips, the queer old farmer, in the "ghost" tower?
THE WILD WARNING
What power did the strange, wild warning in the woods have over Polly
Flinders? And why was she so desperately anxious to earn money? Carol
brings happiness to three families when she solves this exciting
mystery.
THE TERROR OF MOANING CLIFF
No tenant would stay in the great, bleak house on "moaning cliff" that
belonged to Carol's aunt. But Carol, courageous and determined,
finally tracks the uncanny "haunts" to their source.
THE DRAGON OF THE HILLS
When Carol runs a tea shop for a friend, a baffling mystery comes to
her with her first customer. Who has the limping man's lost
package--the gypsies, the oriental or the neighbor's boy who ran away?
GROSSET & DUNLAP _Publishers_ NEW YORK
The Carolyn Wells
Books for Girls
Fresh, spirited stories that the modern small girl will take to her
heart, these well known books by a famous author have won an important
place in the field of juvenile fiction.
Patty, with her beauty and frank good nature, and Marjorie full of
vitality and good spirits, are two lovable characters well worth
knowing, and their adventures will stir the eager imaginations of young
readers.
THE FAMOUS "PATTY" BOOKS
Patty Fairfield Patty's Motor Car
Patty at Home Patty's Butterfly Days
Patty in the City Patty's Social Season
Patty's Summer Days Patty's Suitors
Patty in Paris Patty's Romance
Patty's Friend Patty's Fortune
Party's Pleasure Trip Patty Blossom
Patty's Success Patty--Bride
Patty and Azalea
THE MARJORIE BOOKS
Marjorie's Vacation Marjorie in Command
Marjorie's Busy Days Marjorie's Maytime
Marjorie's New Friend Marjorie at Seacote
GROSSET & DUNLAP _Publishers_ NEW YORK
DANA GIRLS MYSTERY STORIES
BY CAROLYN KEENE
_Author of the_
NANCY DREW MYSTERY STORIES
Impetuous, delightful Jean Dana and her charming serious minded sister
Louise find themselves in the midst of several mysteries, when they
attempt to aid people who are in trouble. Thrilling moments come to
the girls as they follow up clue after clue in an endeavor to untangle
the knotty problems in which they become enmeshed.
BY THE LIGHT OF THE STUDY LAMP
A stolen study lamp, a fortune teller, and a distressed schoolmate
provide plenty of excitement for the Dana girls before they locate the
persons responsible for many mysterious happenings.
THE SECRET AT LONE TREE COTTAGE
While the girls are at Starhurst School, they learn that their beloved
English teacher has vanished in a strange manner. In tracing her, Jean
and Louise are able to aid the frantic relatives of a dear little
curly-haired tot, but not before they themselves are in danger of
disappearing.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE TOWER
The mingling of unusual characters, who have life interests very
different from one another, lends excitement and intrigue to a
Christmas vacation of the Dana girls. Their ability to fit together
the pieces of a strange puzzle brings happiness to several persons.
A THREE-CORNERED MYSTERY
There were three strange corners which the Dana girls successfully
rounded in their search for clues to clear up a mystery, involving
property and an international spy of many aliases.
THE SECRET AT THE HERMITAGE
When Louise is mistaken for a runaway prisoner, strange things begin to
happen, which lead the Danas to uncover the secret of a talented girl
and her crippled charge.
GROSSET & DUNLAP _Publishers_ NEW YORK