y
trouble now. We can do what we've got to do and get away. Got the files?"

"Here they are," responded Jukes; "just let me lay her down here while I
hand 'em to you."

He deposited Peggy's limp form on a long box on which some sacks had been
strewn. The next instant the sharp rasping of a file could be heard in
the silent workshop.

"I guess this Golden Butterfly will have its wings clipped for some time
to come," chuckled Jukes' companion, whom Peggy, of course, had not yet
seen.

"I guess that's right," laughed the other; "just wait a jiffy while I lay
down this gun of mine and I'll give you a hand."

He stepped over and put down a wicked-looking pistol on the rough bench
on which Peggy lay. Then he turned and began to help his companion. The
two worked by the light of a dark lantern which they had brought with
them on their rascally expedition to ruin the Golden Butterfly.

But suddenly a slight noise behind him made Jukes turn his head. As he
did so he gave a startled yell. Peggy, her eyes bright and wild-looking,
was standing up behind them. In her hand was the pistol which Jukes had
laid down beside her when she had seemed to faint a few moments before.
But Peggy's faint had been a simulated one. Realizing that harm was meant
to the Golden Butterfly, she had imitated unconsciousness as a means to
possible escape and giving the alarm.

"Don't move, either of you," said Peggy, in a firm voice. "I'm only a
girl, but I can use a pistol."

But Jukes and his companion, with a wild yell, made a dash for the door.

"Good gracious, I can't shoot them," thought Peggy.

"Help! help!" she began to cry at the top of her voice.

But the next instant the whirr and roar of a motor from the road apprised
her that the two rascals had made their escape in an auto and that
pursuit was useless. Thus it was that when the aroused household came
pouring excitedly out of the house they found a brave, if a rather
tremulous, girl awaiting them with a pistol in her hand on the stock of
which were engraved the initials "F. H."

"So that's who Jukes's companion was," exclaimed Roy, angrily. "Oh, if
you had only awakened me, sis."

"My dear Roy," rejoined Peggy, with dignity, "don't you think that I am
capable of taking care of myself?"

CHAPTER XXIV.

HESTER MAKES AMENDS--CONCLUSION.

A few days later Peggy borrowed Jess's car and went out for a long,
lonely spin along the country roads. She wanted to think. Roy an