y, and
Rebecca was therefore allowed to re-enter the house without objection.

In a short time she reappeared carrying an umbrella, two flower-pots,
and a folded newspaper.

"There!" she panted, as she came up to her sister and opened the gate.
"Now I guess I've got everythin'!"

Silently and swiftly the two women sped northward, following the
imaginary burglar, while the devoted Mrs. Allen ran breathless in the
opposite direction for Si Pray and his gun.

"We'll hev to go more careful here," said Rebecca as they turned into
the lane leading down to the swamp.

With many a stumble and some scratches they moved more slowly down the
rutted track until at length they reached the point where they were to
turn into the swamp.

Here the sisters leaned against the wall to rest and recover breath.

"My goodness, but that was a narrow escape!" murmured Phoebe.

"Yes," said Rebecca, with reproachful sadness; "but I'm afraid you paid
a heavy price fer it, Phoebe!"

"What do you mean?"

"Why, 's fur's I could make out, you told Mis' Allen a deliberate wrong
story, Phoebe Wise."

"What did I say?" said Phoebe, in shocked surprise.

"You said you hed told me you'd heerd a burglar!"

"Did I say that? Those very words?"

"Why, you know you did."

"Wasn't it a question, Rebecca?" Phoebe insisted. "Didn't I _ask_ you
ef I hadn't told you I heard a burglar?"

"No, it was a plain downright wrong story, Phoebe, an' you needn't to
try to sneak out of it."

Phoebe was silent for a few moments, and then Rebecca heard her laugh.
It was a very little, rippling thing--but it was genuine--there was real
light-heartedness behind it.

"Phoebe Wise!" exclaimed Rebecca, "how ken you laugh so? I wouldn't
hev the weight of sech a thing on my mind fer a good deal."

"Well, Rebecca," tittered her sister, "I didn't have it on my mind
yesterday, did I?"

"Course not--but----"

"An' won't it be yesterday for us mighty soon--yes, an' a heap longer
ago than that?"

She laughed again merrily and began to climb over the wall, a proceeding
not rendered easier by the various articles in her hands.

A few minutes later the two women had joined Copernicus within his
mysterious machine and were standing in the brightly lighted antechamber
at the head of the stairs.

"Well--well!" cried Droop, as he caught sight of the two women for the
first time in the light. "Where ever did ye get them funny dresses? Why,
your sleeves is all puffed