the legal proceedings. Nothing
will be done, anyhow, until Spring. Then I'll see what can be
accomplished. I only want a legal representative in the camp, in case
Jallow tries any more sharp tricks. He has won the first skirmish,
however, so I don't believe he'll make another move until I do. It only
complicates matters, though.

"Now, if you girls think you'd like to go winter camping, why, say the
word, find out if your folks will let you," and Mr. Ford looked at
Mollie and Betty, "and I'll arrange with Ted Franklin and his wife."

"Of course we'll go, Daddy!" cried Grace, dancing about the room. "It
will be just lovely; won't it, girls?"

"Scrumptious!" agreed Mollie.

"I'm sure I can go!" declared Betty. "Now let's go tell poor Amy!"

"Yes, I think the change will do her good," said Mr. Ford, reflectively.
"Those Jallows--well, perhaps the least said about them the better."

Talking excitedly over the chance that had been offered to them, Grace,
Mollie and Betty were soon on their way to the home of Amy Stonington.
They found their chum in better spirits. The gloom of the day had
passed, and she smiled, though wanly.

By common, though unspoken, consent, the little episode of the afternoon
was not referred to.

"But, oh! we've got the finest news!" cried Betty, enthusiastically.
"We're going winter camping! Think of that! Winter camping!"

"Tell me about it!" commanded Amy, her face brightening. And they told
her.

The description had been nearly finished, and from Mr. and Mrs.
Stonington had been exacted a tentative promise that Amy could go if the
rest did, when the telephone bell rang.

"It's Will on the wire," said Amy to Grace. "He wants to speak to you."

"How did he know I was here?" asked Grace, as she took the receiver from
her chum. "Oh, papa must have told him. Yes, what is it, Will? What! Mr.
Blackford there? And he has some strange news of his missing sister?
Yes, you and he can come right over!"

She turned and gazed with startled eyes at her chums.

"I--I wonder if he has found her?" faltered Mollie.

CHAPTER IV

MR. BLACKFORD'S CLUE

"Hope I didn't disturb any family party," apologized Mr. Blackford, when
he and Will called at the Stonington home a little later that evening.

"Not at all," greeted Amy. "Come in. We are planning another season of
activity."

"I might have guessed," answered the young man who had been so
peculiarly involved in the five hundred dollar bi