ary, she discovered her father busy over a mass
of papers on the table.

"That's all right," he invited. "Come right in. It's only a little legal
tangle I'm trying to straighten out," for Mr. Ford was a well-known
lawyer.

"Anything we can help you with?" asked Betty, with a smile.

"I'm afraid not," he answered, laughing. "I've just been appointed
receiver of a bankrupt lumber camp up in the North Woods, and I've got
to arrange for some one to stay there during the winter to see that it
isn't disturbed. It comes just at the wrong time, too. I'm so busy I
don't know how I can spare the time to go up there and straighten things
out. Where are you going, Grace?"

"Over to see poor Amy Stonington. It's too bad! She heard something more
about her mystery to-day, Daddy, and she nearly skated into an
airhole--she was so upset. Isn't it horrid?"

"Yes, it is too bad about Amy," said Mr. Ford, for he knew the story, as
did many in Deepdale. "She ought to get out and away from the
influences around here. Stonington ought to take her away."

He was musing for a moment. Then a queer expression came over his face.

"Girls!" he cried. "I think I have something that will just fill the
bill!"

"Oh, Papa!" cried Grace, clapping her hands. "When you talk that way I
know something is going to happen!"

"Well, we'll see," he answered. "As I understand it, the High School
won't open until late this winter, on account of the repairs not being
finished."

"That's right, Daddy!" cried Grace. "Not until after Christmas. Go on!"

"Well, about this lumber camp that I've got to get someone to take
charge of. It seems that there are some bungalows or cabins in it that
can be hired out to campers. Now if----"

"Daddy, I've guessed it!" cried Grace, jumping up and putting her arms
about his neck. "You're going to let us go up there to a winter camp.
Aren't you?"

"I was thinking of it," he confessed. "It seems to me to be a fine
chance for you to get all the fresh air you want. And I suggest that you
take Amy along. What she needs is a change of environment. She has had
too much of Deepdale of late. Could you take her with you?"

"Of course, Daddy!" cried Grace. "Oh, what a lovely opportunity! We
could get Cousin Jane to go with us, perhaps," and she looked at Mollie,
whose cousin had chaperoned them on the auto tour.

"Yes, she could," said Mr. Ford, slowly. "And I was thinking of an old
lumberman and his wife whom I might appoin