beginning, and don't leave anything out, however trivial. Sometimes the
little things are the most important. Cheer up, child! We'll get to the
bottom of it, never fear."

Sitting on the bank, with Mrs. Arnold's arm round her, Ulyth related the
whole of her story, mentioning every detail she could remember. It was
such a comfort to pour it out into sympathetic ears, and to one whose
judgment was more likely to be unbiased than that of anyone connected
with the school.

"You always understand," she said, with a sigh of relief, as she kissed
the hand that was holding hers.

"It certainly is a tangled skein to unravel; but, as it happens, I
really believe I can throw a little light upon the matter. You say Rona
told you that somebody came into her bedroom last night, and presumably
hid the pendant in her blouse pocket?"

"Yes; and she was sure that somebody was myself."

"Then what we have to do is to produce the real culprit."

"If we can find her."

"Just now I was wheeling my bicycle up Tyn y Bryn Hill, and I met one
of the boys from Jones's farm. He stopped me and handed me a letter. 'A
girl gave it to me five minutes ago,' he said. 'She asked me if I was
going to the village, and if I'd post it for her; so I promised I would.
But it's addressed to you, so I may as well give it to you as post it,
and save the stamp.' I read the letter, and it puzzled me extremely. I
hardly knew what to make of it; but since you've told me about the
pendant I think I begin to understand its meaning. You shall see it for
yourself."

Mrs. Arnold spread out the letter on her knee, so that Ulyth might read
it. It was written on village note-paper, in a childish hand, with no
stops.

"DEAR MRS ARNOLD

"this comes hoping to find you as well as it leves me at present i
am in dredful trubble and i cannot stay here eny longer dear Mrs
Arnold after what cook said this afternoon i am sure she knows all
and i daresunt tell miss Bowes but you are the camp fire lady and i
feel i must say goodbye to ease your mind dear Mrs Arnold wen you
get this letter I shall be Far Away as it says in the song you tort
us by the stream and you will never see me agen but i shall think of
you alwus and the camp fire and i wish i hadn't dun it only I was
skared to deth for she said she wuld half kill me and she alwus
keeps her wurd your obedient servant Susannah Maude Hawley."

"Susannah Maude!" exclaimed Ulyth