dy had slept; but 'Phemie's coming
to bed aroused her.

The younger girl was too shaken by what had transpired to hide her
excitement, and Lyddy quickly was broad awake listening to 'Phemie's
story. The latter told all that had happened, including her experiences
on the night they had come to Hillcrest. There was no sleep for the
two girls just then--not, at least, until they had discussed Professor
Spink and the secret of the rocks at the back of the farm, from every
possible angle.

"I shall tell him that his absence will be better appreciated than his
company--at once!" declared Lyddy, finally.

"But sending him away isn't going to explain the mystery," wailed 'Phemie.

In the morning, before many of the other boarders were astir, the two
girls caught the oily professor just starting off with a handbag.

"You'd better get the remainder of your baggage ready to go too, sir,"
said Lyddy, sharply, "for we don't want you here."

"It's packed, young lady," returned Professor Spink, with a sneer. "I
shall send a man for it from the hotel in town."

"Well, _that's_ all right," quoth the girl, warmly. "You've paid your
board in advance, and I cannot complain. But I would like to have you
explain what your actions last night mean?"

"I don't know what you are talking about. I heard people moving about the
house and--naturally--I went to see----"

"Oh, you story-teller!" gasped 'Phemie.

"Ha! I can see that you have both made up your minds not to believe me,"
said the odd boarder, haughtily. "Good-morning!"

"I honestly believe we ought to get a warrant out and have him arrested,"
observed the older girl, thoughtfully.

"What for? I don't believe he took anything," said 'Phemie.

"Well! he was trying to break into grandfather's desk, just the same,"
said Lyddy, and then Harris Colesworth joined them.

Now, Lyddy believed that this young man was altogether too prone to
meddle with other people's affairs; yet ever since the Widow Harrison's
vendue she had been more friendly with Harris.

And now when he began to talk about the professor and his strange actions
over night, she could only thank the young chemist for his assistance.

"Of course, we have no idea that that man took anything," she concluded.

"But you know that he is after _something_. There is a mystery about his
actions--both here at the house and up there in the rocks," said Harris.

"Well--ye-es."

"I have been talking to father about it. Fat