ould make away
with four big loaves without being noticed."

"If Ernest Morton took that bread, I'll never forgive him as long as I
live!" Chicken Little's jaw set ominously. "You just watch me get even."

"Come now, Chicken Little, we're merely guessing the boys took it. Annie
may have put it away in a new place, forgetting that you would want it
to-night," her father tried to pacify her.

Gertie didn't say much, but it was plain that she sympathized with Jane.
An hour later the three girls went out to the road to watch for the
boys' return. The lads were evidently taking their time. Nine o'clock
came--half-past nine--still no boys! Mrs. Morton came out and sent the
girls in to bed. They were just dropping off to sleep when the lads
drove up.

At breakfast the next morning the entire family fell upon Ernest and
Sherm and demanded news of the bread. Annie had returned and assured
Mrs. Morton that it had been safely stored in the bread box before she
left the house the evening before.

"Bread? What bread?" asked Ernest, rather too innocently.

"Ernest Morton, you did something with that bread I was going to send
the Captain. You have got to tell me where you hid it."

"Chicken Little Jane Morton, I give you my word of honor I didn't touch
your old bread and I don't know where it is."

Ernest assumed a highly injured air. Sherm took a hasty swallow of water
and nearly choked.

The family had come near believing Ernest, but Sherm's convulsed face
roused their suspicion afresh.

"If you didn't, you got Sherm to," said Katy shrewdly. "That's what you
were laughing about last night--I know it was."

"That's like a girl always suspecting a fellow of being up to some
deviltry. Maybe you think we'll keep on feeding your old pigs if you
treat us this way."

Dr. Morton scanned the boys closely, but did not say anything.

Jane and Katy turned on Sherm.

"Did you take the bread?" Chicken Little had fire in her eye.

Sherm tried guile. "Chicken Little, do I look hungry enough to steal
your bread? Mrs. Morton has been feeding me on good things ever since I
came, why should I want to make away with four loaves of bread?" Sherm
was almost eloquent.

"Nevertheless," observed Katy, "you don't deny that you took it."

Try as they would, they could get no satisfaction from the boys.

"Well, I know they did and I'm going to make 'em wish they hadn't."
Chicken Little puckered up her brow to think hard.

"Of course they