rumpled
bill that Paw Hoover had left in it. And then, to her amazed delight,
she saw that it was a five-dollar note--more money than she had ever
had. She showed it to Wanaka.

"I oughtn't to take it," she said. "He thinks I burned his woodshed
and--"

"But you know you didn't, and I think maybe he knows it, too," said
Wanaka, "You needn't think anything of taking that money. You've worked
hard enough to earn a lot more than that. Now I've found out that what
you told me was just right. I knew it all the time, but I made sure.
Bessie, how would you and Zara like to stay with us, and come back to
the city when we go? I'll be able to find some way to look after you.
You can find work to do that won't be so hard, and you can study, too."

"Oh, I'd love that, Wanaka," For the first time Bessie used the name
freely. "And can we be Camp Fire Girls?"

"You certainly can," said Wanaka.

CHAPTER V

AN ALARM IN THE NIGHT

Bessie, overjoyed by Paw Hoover's kindness and his promise to do nothing
toward having her taken back to Hedgeville, spent the rest of the
afternoon happily. Indeed, she was happier than she could ever remember
having been before. But her joy was dashed when, a little while before
supper, she came upon Zara, crying bitterly. Zara had gone off by
herself, and Bessie, going to the spring for water, came upon her.

"Why, Zara, whatever is the matter? We're all right now," cried Bessie.

"I--I know that, Bessie! But I'm so worried about my father!"

"Oh, Zara, what a selfish little beast I am! I was so glad to think that
I wasn't going to be taken back that I forgot all about him. But cheer
up! I'm sure he's done nothing wrong, and I'll talk to Wanaka, and see
if there isn't something I can do or that she can do. I believe she can
do anything if she makes up her mind she will."

"Did she hear anything about him in Hedgeville?"

"Only what we knew before, Zara, that they'd come for him and taken him
to the city. But Wanaka said she was sure that it is only gossip, and
that he needn't be afraid. And we're going to the city, too, you know,
so you'll be able to see him."

"Will I, Bessie? Then that won't be so bad. If I could only talk to him
I'm sure it would seem better. And you must be right--they can't punish
a man when he hasn't done anything wrong, can they?"

"Of course not," said Bessie, laughing.

"In the country where we came from they do, sometimes," said Zara,
thoughtfully. "My fa