between Brian's former chief and Betty Jo. Neither Auntie
Sue nor Betty Jo, for several very good reasons, was ready for Brian to
know the whole truth about his stenographer. It was quite enough, they
reasoned, for him to love his stenographer, and for his stenographer
to love him, without raising any more obstacles in the pathway of their
happiness.

As the busy weeks passed, several letters came from the publishers of
Brian's book,--letters which made the three in the little log house
by the river very happy. Already, in the first reception of this new
writer's work, those who had undertaken to present it to the public saw
many promises of the fulfillment of their prophecies as to its success.
When the third letter came, a statement of the sales to date was
enclosed, and, that afternoon, Betty Jo went to Brian where he was at
work in the clearing.

When they were comfortably, not to say cozily, seated on a log in the
shade at the edge of the forest, she announced that she had come for a
very serious talk.

"Yes?" he returned; but he really looked altogether too happy to be
exceedingly serious.

"Yes," she continued, "I have. As your accredited business agent and--"
she favored him with a Betty Jo smile--"shall I say manager?"

"Why not managing owner?" he retorted.

"I am glad you confirm my promotion so readily," she returned, with a
charming touch of color in her cheeks, "because that, you see, helps me
to present what I have to say for the good of the firm."

"I am listening, Betty Jo."

"Very well; tell me, first, Brian, just exactly how much do you owe that
bank, reward-money and all, and Auntie Sue, interest and everything?"

Brian went to his coat, which lay on a near-by stump, and returned with
a small pocket account-book.

"I have it all here," he said, as he seated himself close beside her
again. And, opening the book, he showed her how he had kept a careful
record of the various sums he had taken from the bank, with the dates.

"Oh, Brian, Brian!" she said with a little cry of delight, "I am so
glad,--so glad you have this! It is exactly what I want for my wedding
present. It was so thoughtful of you to fix it for me."

Thus by a characteristic, Betty Jo turn she made the little book of
painful memories a book of joyous promise.

When they again returned to the consideration of business matters,
Brian gave her the figures which answered her questions as to his total
indebtedness.

Again B