ing the bitterness in her heart,
but it sometimes seemed to her that her loyalty to her father was
weakening.

It was fortunate matters at home demanded her thoughts. Plans for the
winter, getting the boys off to school, and the many small cares of the
housekeeper left little time for brooding.

At the station Belle, in her eagerness to be the first to greet Rosalind,
had to be dragged back out of harm's way by the baggage master, as the
long train swept around the curve.

"You'll find yourself killed one of these days if you don't look out,"
remarked Jack, descending from the trunk.

But Belle gave small heed. "I am so glad you have come," she cried,
seizing upon Rosalind almost before she had her foot on the ground. "Such
lots of things have happened."

"Aren't you glad to see me too?" asked Mr. Whittredge.

"Yes, I am especially glad to see you, because I have something to tell
you. Something I can't tell any one else."

"Bless me! this is interesting. Just wait till I find my checks, and we'll
walk up town together."

Belle, however, was not destined to relate her story just then, for no
sooner had they started out, she in front with Mr. Whittredge, and
Rosalind and the boys following, than Mr. Molesworth joined them and began
talking about the paper mills. There was nothing for her but to fall back
with the others, and this was not without its compensation, for now she
could have a share in telling Rosalind about the detective.

"It's all nonsense. I don't believe he was a detective at all, but it was
fun taking his picture," said Jack.

"I'll have it to show you to-morrow," added Maurice.

"Why don't you ask Cousin Betty who he is?" suggested Rosalind.

Belle's deep sense of the mystery of things had kept her from thinking of
this simple method of solving the problem.

"Of course we might," she acknowledged.

"I want to stop at Morgan's a moment," Allan looked back to say.

At the magician's corner Mr. Molesworth left them; but as it was only a
step to the shop, the secret still remained untold.

Morgan seemed delighted beyond all reason at sight of them. He greeted
Allan as if he had been away years instead of days; and tapping his own
breast, he exclaimed, looking from one to another, "I am Morgan, the
magician!" Then pointing to the nail where the children had hung the brass
ring, he added, "I have broken the spell!" With this he disappeared for a
moment into the back room, but he was with th