ll out of a tree. And as for the strange manifestations
in the mysterious old mansion--but there, it would not be fair to betray
the secret in such a fashion.

The beautiful Fall weather gave the girls a chance to make long tours in
the car, and they enjoyed every minute spent in the open. And now they
were on the edge of winter.

A cold snap had frozen over the Argono River, on the pleasant banks of
which was located Deepdale, the thriving town where our friends lived.
And they were out enjoying the sport when Amy overheard the cruel words
that sent her off crying.

I might add something about the personal lives of the four chums, by
saying that Betty was an only child, that Grace had a lovable brother
Will, and Mollie a small brother and sister--Paul and Dodo--twins, who
were alternately called the "cutest" and the "most mischievous"
youngsters in existence. Of Amy's mystery I have already hinted.

When Will Ford saw the danger in which his sister's chum was
unconsciously placing herself he fairly raced forward. There was need to
act promptly, and Will did so. Skating in a diagonal direction he fairly
collided with the girl, and forced her out of her course, and away from
the dangerous hole that yawned there just before her.

"Amy!" Will cried. "What is the matter?"

Amy looked up with a start, and Will saw that she had been crying.

"I--I don't know," she stammered. "I guess I wasn't looking where I was
going."

"I should say not!" cried Will. "Look there!" and he pointed to the open
water that seemed so black and ugly in contrast with the pure ice.

"Oh--oh!" she gasped. "Was--was I skating toward that?"

"Right toward it!" exclaimed Will. "I couldn't do anything else than
shove you to one side. I hope I didn't hurt you."

"Oh, no, Will, it was good of you. I--I didn't know what I was doing. I
was thinking--thinking----"

She hesitated, and again tears came into her eyes.

"Can I do anything for you--has anything happened?" he asked, eagerly.
"Has anyone----"

"Oh, no, Will. It is--nothing."

"Then let's go back to the others," he proposed. "They may be getting
anxious about you."

"No, Will, I'd rather not go back--just now. I'll go on--home." Amy
hesitated over the word. "I can take a short cut across the fields."

"Then let me take off your skates," he said, gently. Perhaps he guessed
at something that had occurred. "Come over to shore and I'll have them
off in a jiffy. Then I'll walk home wi