s, and they may
sleep in the lockup to-night. They certainly deserve to. And I shall
have a hand in settling with them, too. I can't have my sister treated
that way and let it go easily. They've got to answer to me. There,
kid!"

He stooped down, and kissed her gently on her hot, wet forehead; and
Leslie caught his hand and nestled her own in it.

"O Allison! It's so good to be home!" she murmured, squeezing his hand
appreciatively. "I'll never, never, _never_ go with a girl again that
you don't like. I'm just going to stick to Jane. She's the only one up
there I really love, anyway."

Allison seemed quite satisfied with these sentiments, and they had a
beautiful time eating their supper before the fire, for no one had had
any appetite before; and Cherry was as pleased to have the anxiety
over and wait upon them all as if Leslie had been her own sister.

Into the midst of their little family group broke a hurried, excited
knock on the door, and there stood Howard Letchworth with anxious
face.

"I heard that your sister and one of the college girls had gone off in
a car and got lost. Is it true? I came right around to see if I could
help."

Leslie sat up with her teary eyes bright and eager, and her cheeks
rosy with pleasure, all her pretty hair in a tumble about her face and
the firelight playing over her features in a most charming way.

"Oh, it's awfully good of you," she called eagerly. "But I'm perfectly
all right and safe."

He came over to the couch, and took her offered hand most eagerly,
expressing his delight, and saying he had been almost sure it was some
town gossip, but he could not rest satisfied until he was positive.

But Allison would not let it go at that.

"I'm going to tell him, Leslie," he said. "He won't let any one be the
wiser; and, if people are saying anything like that, he can help stop
their mouths." So Allison told the whole story. When it came to the
part about Fred Hicks and Bartram Laws, Howard's face grew dark, and
he flashed a look that boded no good to the two young ruffians.

"I know who that Laws fellow is," he said gravely. "He's rotten! And I
shouldn't wonder if I could locate his friend. I get around quite a
bit on my motor-cycle. May I use your 'phone a minute? I have a friend
who is a detective. They ought to be rounded up. Miss Leslie, would
you tell me carefully just what roads you took, as nearly as you
know?"

So Leslie told in detail of the wild ride once mor