be done."

"I dunno what, Maw," groaned the big man, hopelessly.

"What city have they gone to?" asked Bess, abruptly.

"Why, Miss," explained Mr. Morton, "they could go to half a dozen cities
from Littleton. Of course they didn't stay there, although Littleton's a
big town."

"Chicago?" queried Bess.

"Perhaps. But they could get to Detroit, or Indianapolis, or even to
Cincinnati."

"There are more picture making concerns in Chicago," suggested Nan,
quietly, "than in the other cities named, I am sure. And the fare to
Chicago is less than to the others."

"Right you air, Miss!" agreed Si Snubbins. "That's where them pesky gals
have set out for, I ain't a doubt."

"And how are we goin' to get 'em back?" murmured Mr. Morton.

"The good Lord won't let no harm come to the dears, I hope and pray,"
said his wife, wiping her eyes. "Somebody'll be good to 'em if they get
sick or hungry. There! We ain't showin' very good manners to our guests,
Peke. These girls are off that train where there ain't a bite to eat, I
do suppose; and they must be half starved. Let's have supper. You pull up
a chair, too, Si."

"All right, Miz' Morton," agreed Mr. Snubbins, briskly.

Nan felt some diffidence in accepting the good woman's hospitality. She
whispered again to Bess:

"Shall we stay? They're in such trouble."

"But goodness!" interrupted Bess. "I'm hungry. And we want to get her
interested in the kiddies aboard the train."

"Yes, that's so," agreed Nan.

"Come, girls," Mrs. Morton called from the other room. "Come right in
and lay off your things--do. You are pretty dears--both of you. City
girls, I'spect?"

"No, ma'am," Nan replied. "We live in a small town when we are at home.
But we've been to boarding school and are on our way home for Christmas."

"And after that," Bess added briskly, "we're going to Chicago for
two--whole--weeks!"

"You air? Well, well! D'you hear that, Peke?" as her husband came heavily
into the room.

"What is it, Maw?"

"These girls are going to Chicago. If our Sallie and Si's Celia have gone
there, mebbe these girls might come across them."

"Oh, Mrs. Morton!" cried Nan. "If we do, we will surely send them home to
you. Or, if they are foolish enough not to want to come, we'll let you
know at once where they are."

"Of course we will," agreed Bess.

"If you only had a picture of your daughter?" suggested Nan.

"Of Sallie? Why, we have," said Mrs. Morton. "She's some bigger now; bu