him to a hospital. Mrs. Lupo appears anxious
to make amends and will remain to cook and help generally. I think you
had better bring over the 'Comet' to take back your friend, Mr. R. Hook,
who seems strangely eager to return, although I have done my best to
entertain him. I wonder if it could be a princess disguised as a beggar
girl or a princess undisguised, who has so stirred young Richard's soul.
I need not say which princess has stirred mine.

"Faithfully, William Hume."

* * * * *

Now, what did the doctor mean by all this nonsense, Billie asked
herself. It was true that Phoebe, when she had gone in search of
Richard had put on her old faded gingham, and certainly Richard owed a
great deal to the beggar maid in disguise, but she--Billie--did wish the
doctor wouldn't tease.

Billie blessed the "Comet" that morning from the bottom of her heart. It
was a busy time and the swift, faithful machine enabled them to
accomplish in a few hours what with a horse and wagon might have taken
them at least a day to do. After breakfast he carried them down to the
village, where Dr. Hume's telegrams were sent, and where something
happened that set Billie wondering about the identity of Phoebe and her
father.

While Ben sent the telegrams and Maggie Hook and Mary looked over the
souvenir post cards in the general store, Billie sat on the steps
outside reading a letter from her father. Only Phoebe, once more attired
in the white blouse and duck skirt, remained in the car. A big touring
car containing two men and a chauffeur drew up alongside the "Comet,"
and while one of the men went into the store, the other paced up and
down outside. He was a man about Mr. Campbell's age, tall and foreign
looking with a soldierly bearing. Billie glanced at him only once and
went on reading her letter. Presently she noticed that he was standing
in front of her, his hat in his hand.

"Will you pardon me if I interrupt you?" he asked in good English with
an accent. "May I take the liberty of asking you a question?"

"Oh, certainly," answered Billie politely.

"May I inquire the name of the young lady in the motor car, if it is not
too great an impertinence? I ask not from curiosity, but because I
perceive a strong likeness."

"Her name is 'Phoebe,'" Billie answered.

"And her surname?"

Billie hesitated. After all it was absurd to assert that Phoebe's last
name was "French."

"You do not know he