ons and disputes arising shall be settled by Helen Eustace
Campbell, Captain of Sunrise Camp.'"

"Three cheers for Captain Campbell," cried Percy.

Miss Campbell rose and lifted her little crinkled hand for silence.

"I accept the responsibility of Sunrise Camp," she said, "under the
conditions I am about to state: that I am not asked to go canoeing in
one of those tippy little boats without seats; that I am not persuaded
against my better judgment to climb to the top of a mountain, for I
simply won't, I tell you beforehand; and that nothing shall interfere
with my afternoon nap."

"I am sure that these mild requests will be agreeable to all concerned,"
said Mr. Campbell. "Will the company state objections, if any?"

There was a dead silence.

"Captain Campbell, consider yourself installed as absolute ruler in this
camp."

"Papa, why be so businesslike?" asked Billie.

"Because there must always be a certain amount of system in a camp or it
won't run. I've lived in camp so much more than in houses that I know,
and since I can't be with you until later, I think it wise to get things
started in this way before I go----"

"The car is ready, sir," said the village chauffeur at the door.

The Motor Maids had begun to learn by this time that it was invariably
Mr. Campbell's way to leave his guests in a cheerful frame of mind, and
they all knew perfectly well that "Rules for Sunrise Camp" had been
prepared chiefly for Billie's sake, that she would be still laughing
when her father kissed her good-by and still smiling when he turned to
wave his hat for the last time. She had been very homesick for him
lately during his absences from West Haven, perhaps because she had been
run down in health and tired out. And to-day, in spite of all the
laughing and joking, her eyes filled with tears as she watched the car
creep down the mountain road to the valley.

For a little while the camp seemed lonely and remote.

"The truth is," thought Mary, wandering down the path to look at the
view, "Mr. Campbell is so splendid that when he goes away he always
leaves a big empty space that doesn't seem to fill up. And Billie is
just like him. Nobody ever could fill the emptiness she would leave."

As if drawn by these loyal and devoted thoughts, Billie had followed
Mary, and the two girls stood with clasped hands watching the distant
motor, now a black speck in the valley.

"Dearest, dearest Papa," exclaimed Billie under her breath,