ed to promise
what he asked, and she did so.

He sauntered off, leaving the girl's head in a whirl. Who was he, and
what did he know about her family?

He was right in his assertions about Dalton, also about her father.
Surely there could be no harm in listening to his story, and the stone
bridge was not far from camp.

Dorothy and Cologne were just appearing above the hill, Dorothy's
yellow head bobbing up like some animated flower.

"Oh, you dreadful girl!" called Cologne. "We thought the gypsies had
taken you."

"No such luck," answered Tavia, as the two came up to the apple tree.
"But I did find some splendid apples. Help yourselves. I must sit down
for a minute. I've been up the tree--no, up _a_ tree," she finished
with a laugh that neither of her companions understood.

"Harvests!" cried Cologne in delight. "I never knew they were here."

"Neither did I until I found them," replied Tavia foolishly.

"The climb gave you lovely red cheeks; Tavia," said Dorothy. "You
ought to take climbing in the next school course."

"No sarcasm now, please, Doro. I don't feel a bit funny."

"But you look it," declared Dorothy, keeping up her teasing manner.
"You always look funny when your cheeks get so red--"

"Danger of ignition, I suppose," and Tavia's voice was anything but
pleasant. "Oh, there go the Lamberts!" as an auto swished around the
road. "I must run away and see them some day--just before we go home,
when Cologne won't have time, or heart, to scold."

"You wouldn't!" spoke Cologne. "Mother particularly warned me that we
were not to take up with those theatrical folks, and mother is the
boss."

"Oh, very well, if you really feel that way about it," and Tavia
shrugged her shoulders.

Dorothy was shaking a limb of the apple tree. "What ghost have you
seen Tavia?" she asked. "Someone has stolen away all your good
nature."

"He's welcome," she replied. "Stagnant good nature doesn't keep well,
and I have been keeping mine bottled up ever since you shot that
window brush. The shock to my system--" and she imitated the manner of
one affected with nerves.

"Yes, it was dreadful on all of us," agreed Dorothy, from whom the
change in Tavia's manner could not be hidden. "But you must forget it,
and think of the good time we are going to have to-morrow. Think of
it! Going out in the real mountains, with real boys for guides! Of
course you will have your pick of the boys, Cologne and I must be
satisfied with w