r Miss Marcia's knitting. It was a very tiny little store, kept by
a tiny, rather sleepy old lady, who took a long time to find the articles
her customers required. It seemed as if she would never, never locate the
box with the right shade of wool in it!

While they were waiting, not altogether patiently, a handsome automobile
drew up in front of the store. Its only occupant was a young girl
scarcely older than Leslie and Phyllis, and by the ease with which she
handled the car, it was plain to be seen that she was an accomplished
driver. In another moment she had entered the store and was standing
beside the two girls, waiting to be served.

She was short and slender in build, with a pink-and-white complexion, of
marvelous clearness, and fluffy, red-brown hair. Under the heavy coat
which she had unbuttoned on entering the store could be seen a stylish
suit of English tweeds, very tailor-made and up-to-date, and a smart tam
crowned her red-brown hair.

After the pleasant manner of the villagers and accustomed summer people,
Phyllis bade her "Good morning!" But, to the astonishment of both girls,
instead of replying in an equally pleasant manner, she stared at them
both up and down for a moment, then turned away with only an ungracious
nod. The indignant pair left her severely alone after that, except for a
furtive glance or two when she was looking the other way. But when they
had at last ascertained that old Mrs. Selby had, after all, _no_ wool of
the shade required, Leslie hurried Phyllis out with what seemed almost
unnecessary haste.

"The little wretch!" sputtered Phyllis, once safely outside. "Did you
_ever_ see worse manners? But she's--"

"Never mind about her manners!" whispered Leslie, excitedly. "Did you
notice anything else?"

"Noticed that she was very smart looking and quite pretty--that is, I
thought so at first. But after she acted that way, she seemed positively
_hateful_!"

"No, no! I don't mean that. Did you notice anything about her dress--her
clothes?"

"Oh, do tell me what you mean!" cried Phyllis. "How you do love to
mystify a person!"

"Well," whispered Leslie, her eyes still on the door of the little store,
"when she threw open her coat I just happened to glance at her dress, and
noticed that it had a girdle of some dark green, crepe-y material, and
the two ends had fringes of beads--_and the beads were just like the ones
in Curlew's Nest_!"

Phyllis simply stared at her, open-mouthed