e for it," said Amy.

"Good girl!" cried Mollie, slapping her on the back with a violence that
nearly threw her from Lady's back and caused that gentle little animal
to turn her head inquiringly. "We little thought we had a genius in our
midst!"

CHAPTER XV

ALLEN ARRIVES

Amy was delighted with the praise she received from the girls and the
first thing she did after they returned to the ranch was to write home
to her guardian for the concert program she had so luckily saved.

Naturally the girls were more curious than ever after this second trip
to his little cabin in the woods and longed to find out about this
strange musician who hid himself so persistently from the world.

"Of course," Grace said, during one of the many times when they talked
the matter over, "we're not at all sure that the Hermit is the same man
who played at our benefit."

"Of course we're not," Mollie agreed with her. "There must be a great
many musicians who can play those same selections that we heard him
play."

"That's all very true," said Betty argumentatively. "But if he is really
this same musician that played at our benefit, then that explains the
queer hunch I've had of having seen him somewhere before."

"Well," said Mollie resignedly, "I guess all we can do for the present
is to wait until Amy gets her program. When we find out the name of the
violinist that played for us then we can decide what to do next about
the Hermit."

Reluctantly they admitted that what she said was true, and for the time
being let the discussion rest there.

Then came the day when Betty received a letter from Allen announcing
that he would reach Gold Run the following afternoon on the
four-thirty-five train. The letter ended by begging her to meet the
train herself and please not to send any one else, for no one else would
do!

Betty's pretty face flushed a deeper pink and her eyes shone brighter as
she read this passage--and two or three others--several times over. Then
she went to find the girls and tell them the good news.

They also had received mail from the other boys and some of the folks at
home, and she found them all together on the eastern porch having the
time of their lives. Mollie and Amy were perched on the railing while
Grace and a box of candy reposed in a hammock.

"Well, have you finished reading yours already?" Mollie greeted the
Little Captain as she swung up the steps. "It was such a fat one I
thought it would t