ll just brazen it out. I know we're entirely
dependent on the creature for the comforts of life, but I won't let her
bully me. Well, Alberdina," she called, as the car drew up at the camp
door, "have you been lonesome?"

"Lonesome?" repeated Alberdina, not moving from her ridiculous trunk.
"I no time haf had for lonesomes. Many peoples to dis house come--crazy
peoples--men and vimmen, hein? They haf my moneys took already
yesterday! Ach, Gott! They haf me tied wid ropes. They have nogged and
nogged in the night times. Dos vimmens, I hear the boice already yet. I
no lig dees place. I to my home go bag to-day. Dey have robbed dis
house. Dey haf made to turn red dos vite clothes."

In dead silence they descended from the motor car and filed into the
house to investigate Alberdina's wild, incoherent story.

There were certainly signs of an invasion in the locker rooms,
everything tipsy turvy on the floor. Alberdina showed them the ropes
that had bound her. With rivers of tears she mentioned her loss of ten
dollars.

"And the red clothes?" asked Billie doubtfully.

This had been reserved to the last by the wily-innocent Swiss girl.
With cries of sorrow they beheld their underclothing and blouses all
tinged a deep pink.

Suddenly Miss Campbell marched up and stood in front of the girl with a
very cold steely look in her cerulean eyes.

"Answer me this instant," she said, "and speak the truth. You boiled
those clothes with a red silk handkerchief?"

Alberdina broke down and wept copiously.

"I knew not about dos red," she exclaimed.

"But when you saw the clothes were turning red, why didn't you take them
off the fire?" asked Billie.

"I did nod see."

"Not see? And why not, pray?" demanded Miss Campbell.

"I was asleeb and when I wog, I was wit rope tied."

"Who cut the rope?" asked Dr. Hume, beginning to doubt the whole story.

"A gentlemans who mag to play music on the zither."

"Phoebe's father!" exclaimed the girls.

They glanced at each other with a wild surmise.

"It couldn't have been----"

"No, no, I'm sure he never would----"

"Hush," said Ben, "here comes Phoebe."

The mountain girl, looking pale and distraught, her hair flying, her
face and hands scratched from contact with brambles, rushed into their
midst.

"My father," she cried. "He has been lost all night. I have looked and
looked and I cannot find him. Oh, if he should be in the marshes----"

She fell on her knees at Billie's fee