e no effort to conceal how intensely disagreeable she
considered a lack of money, freely announcing that poverty always had
been the bane of her past existence and that she asked nothing more from
the future than to be safely delivered from it.

Occasionally some one would whisperingly question whether Mrs. Burton
would continue her bounty to Gerry when the Camp Fire holidays were
over; yet no one had sufficiently bad taste to make this inquiry. Mrs.
Webster knew no more than the others. She made no effort to keep up with
her Sister Polly's many generosities, which were frequently as erratic
as the lady herself. Only to her husband would Mrs. Burton confide the
extent of her efforts to help other people. She preferred doing things
in her own way.

One circumstance was freely discussed between Mrs. Burton and her
protege. During the past winter Gerry had developed a desire to study
art and Mrs. Burton had arranged for her lessons. Yet Gerry made no
pretense of having any especial talent or of being very deeply
interested in her work. She was also frank in stating that she did not
care a great deal for the outdoor camping life, aside from the fact that
Mrs. Burton considered the influence of living with the other Camp Fire
girls of value to her. The great attraction in the experience for Gerry,
as she freely stated, was the opportunity it offered to be near her
famous friend.

Nevertheless, after a winter's study at the Art Institute in Chicago,
Gerry had learned to make pretty outdoor studies of flowers and other
small objects. She had a good deal of feeling for color and design,
which she declared due to her interest in clothes. Her Camp Fire
guardian encouraged her attention to art as much as possible, often
excusing Gerry from everyday tasks, that she might give more time to her
sketching.

Just why she should be thus favored the other Camp Fire girls did not
understand, yet Gerry appreciated the reason.

Also less was always expected of her, and her weaknesses were more
readily forgiven. The one foolish act of revenge upon Bettina had caused
the only serious difficulty with her Camp Fire guardian, and apparently
even this had been forgotten.

On the morning of their excursion Gerry had announced that she wished to
spend the day sketching along the coast and that Sally had been kind
enough to agree to accompany her.

The greater part of the time the two girls were extremely intimate and
if now and then a slig