rged because I was too slow on account of my lame foot. I worked
in a store over at Butler." This was a place about five miles from
Cresco.

"I thought maybe I could get work in your store," went on Arthur to Mr.
Martin, "so I started to walk here again from Butler. I wasn't going to
run away from you this time. But the storm came up, I lost my way and in
the dark I crawled into the snow-covered house back of yours. First I
thought it was a part of the stable. I found some things to eat in it."

"We left them from our play party," said Teddy.

"I'm glad you did," went on the lame boy with a smile, "for that is all
I had. Then my foot got worse when it began to storm. Then I saw I was
snowed in and I knew I'd have to stay. But I got hungry and I had only a
crust of bread left, for I ate all the rest of your things, and I had to
let snow melt in my hand and drink the water. Then the goat came in. I
knew he was your goat, 'cause Hal had told me about Nicknack. The goat
stayed with me all last night, and I snuggled up to him and kept warm.
Then I thought maybe I could send him for help. I'd read of men in the
mountains doing that with the dogs.

"I had a pencil, a paper and some string in my pocket. So I wrote a note
and tied it on the goat's neck. Then I tore loose a board in the side of
the little house and the goat began to burrow out through the snow. The
hole he came in by was snowed shut. Then I guess I must have gone to
sleep for that's all I remember until I heard you calling to me just
now."

"Well, you have had a hard time," said Mr. Martin, "but now we will take
care of you. Don't worry any more."

And Arthur did not. After a good meal to make him forget his hunger, he
was put in a warm bed, and the next day he was much better. The storm
was over now, and people were beginning to dig themselves out after
having been snowed in for so long a time.

One of Mr. Martin's clerks came up from the store to say that everything
was all right down there, and he brought other good news.

"That pocketbook we thought the lame boy took," he said, "has been
found."

"Where?" asked Mr. Martin, eagerly.

"It had fallen under a box and I saw it there when I cleaned the store
and moved the box," was the answer.

"Oh, I'm so glad!" cried Teddy, when he heard the news.

"So'm I!" added Janet

They did not tell Arthur that, at one time, it was thought he might have
taken the money. They did not want to make him feel bad