utomobile Girl" crouching there in the secret passage of
the old mansion. Barbara's face blanched as she heard and understood
what Mr. Presby was saying. She was powerless to shut her ears to the
words. Mr. Presby's further remarks were brief. He rose and stamped from
the room, followed a few seconds later by his wife.

Barbara crept forward to the panel, peered out cautiously to make sure
that there was no one there, then, throwing wide the panel, stepped into
the dining room, and, gathering her skirts about her, fled to her room
on the next floor. She could hear the girls laughing and talking in
Olive Presby's room.

Reaching her bedroom, Barbara Thurston threw herself on the bed, and
sobbed as though her heart would break.

CHAPTER IX

IN AN INDIAN GRAVEYARD

IT was Olive who found Bab there. She halted in the doorway, gazing in
in amazement.

"Why, Barbara Thurston! What can be the matter with you?" cried Olive.
"We thought you were exploring the secret passages under the old house,
and here you are crying all by your lonely little self. Where is Tom?"
demanded Miss Presby, with growing suspicion in her eyes.

"I--I don't know," confessed Barbara weakly.

"See here, Bab, did Tom play any tricks on you?"

"Nothing of any account. He went out by some other exit. I returned the
way I came. I am going back there to-morrow, if you do not object. I
must solve the mystery of that secret passage."

"You are a dear!" exclaimed Olive, kissing Bab affectionately.

At this juncture Ruth Stuart came in, having heard Bab's voice as she
was passing through the hall.

"Bab! When did you get back?" exclaimed Ruth. "Oh, I beg your pardon,"
she added, laughingly, as she discovered Olive and Bab engaged in
serious conversation. "I see I am intruding."

"Come in, Ruth," answered Olive. "I found Bab crying here. I think Tom
must have played pranks on her. Wait until I get my hands on the young
man. You say you haven't seen him since you left the passage, Barbara?"

Bab shook her head.

"I shall find him at once," announced Olive, rising and starting for the
door.

"Please, please don't scold him," begged Bab. "Really, it isn't that
that is the matter with me." But Olive insisted and went on her way in
search of the irrepressible Tommy. Ruth stepped over and sat on the edge
of the bed, gazing down at Barbara.

"Now, tell me all about it," urged Ruth gently.

"There--there isn't anything to tell," murmured Ba