he
power of this wicked person by making him executor of his will."

"Well, now you know your children are safe and well and no matter what
Mr. Hunt tries to make you believe concerning them, you will know he is
lying," said Josie. "He is going to try to work on your feelings about
them to make you marry him. Why have you not tried to get help through
your friends, Mrs. Waller?"

"I have written and written but never an answer from a soul and now I
realize the letters were always seized by this man Harper. When no
answers came I felt I had been deserted by God and man and was to be
left forever in this place--never to see my children or husband again.
Now you have come, my dear, everything will be all right. To think I
don't even know your name! I never can thank you enough."

"I don't need any thanks if I can just unravel the mystery--not that it
is a real mystery--just a tangle. I was willing to do anything for
Polly and Peter from the minute I saw them and now I am willing to do
just that much more for their mother. Besides I shall be rather glad to
get even with Chester Hunt for calling me so many kinds of fool."

CHAPTER XVI
JOSIE GETS A RIDE

Josie made herself so useful to Mrs. Stark, the head nurse, that in a
few days time she was high in that person's favor. Poor Mrs. Waller was
so cheered by the news brought to her that she became much more
tractable and less trouble to Dr. Harper and he, too, was grateful to
Josie for this change that had been wrought in one of the patients.

"The girl has a cheerful way with her that makes all the poor souls
less miserable," Mrs. Stark told the doctor. "She is trustworthy too. I
do hope we can keep her. She is not at all above doing maid's work. In
fact, she asked to be allowed to take care of some of the rooms when
she found we were short of servants. She is quick and orderly."

Of course Josie saw to it that Mrs. Waller's room was one to be cleaned
by her. It gave her opportunity to talk to the poor lady in private and
many times must she tell everything she could recall concerning Polly
and Peter. Josie produced the photograph of Stephen Waller and the
children and it proved a great comfort to the wife and mother. She had
not been allowed to bring from home a single thing to remind her of her
loved ones.

Josie had an afternoon off. She was anxious to inquire for mail at the
hotel. Also to get some things from the suitcase she had left in her
room. She had h