d at her practical words, and Mrs. Fabian agreed with
her. "But it will do no harm to stop just a moment to ask the attendant
at the Library if she knows of any place in New Jersey where we might
indulge our craze of collecting."

Carl then turned around and they were soon back at the Library. The girls
remained in the car while Mrs. Fabian went indoors to ask questions of
the agreeable lady at the desk.

"I'm sure you will find a few old bits, here and there, about the
country-side," said the lady, in reply to Mrs. Fabian's questions. "In
fact, my friend furnished her old-fashioned house that she recently
bought of an old 1776 family, by driving about through the Mendham
country, down through New Vernon and Baskingridge--all famous
Revolutionary places, you know--and by visiting places as far away as
Bound Brook, Plainfield, and the country about Trenton. I was amazed at
the number of old things she managed to secure."

Being given a pencil sketch of what roads to follow to reach Mendham, or
Baskingridge, Mrs. Fabian thanked her informer most graciously. Suddenly
the lady said:

"Now that you are in town, why not drive down to a little auction room
I've heard of, just off Washington Street, and see if you can find
anything in that Paradise for old stuff?"

"We will! Where is it, and how do we get there?"

"The man's name is Van Styne, and he used to be a magnet for attracting
the oldest pieces to his store-rooms! People used to commission him when
they wanted anything in particular, and in some super-natural manner, he
used to have it for them in a few days' time. It would have taken
ordinary individuals years, with plenty of money and energy, to
accomplish the same result."

Again Mrs. Fabian thanked her interested informer, and left the library.
The girls were told of the conversation and they all voted to go to Van
Styne's old auction rooms first, and then try to locate an old farm-house
along the road to Mendham, or in the opposite direction, towards
Baskingridge.

The building where "Van Styne--Auctioneer and Appraiser" had his sign
displayed, for the public's guidance, was a long low place that had been
used as the carriage house of "Liberty Stable" years before. The tiny
windows, high up in a row along the front, were stall-marks that told
what it had been in the past. Now it was an "Emporium" for all who needed
second-hand furniture at a bargain; or for those who sought antiques of
any kind, to add to