riends of
Eileen's. It's a near banquet, lassie."

"Then I'll wait," said Linda. "I want the keys to the garage."

Katy handed them to her and Linda went down the back walk beneath an
arch of tropical foliage, between blazing walls of brilliant flower
faces, unlocked the garage, and stood looking at her father's runabout.

In the revolution that had taken place in their home after the passing
of their father and mother, Eileen had dominated the situation and done
as she pleased, with the exception of two instances. Linda had shown
both temper and determination at the proposal to dismantle the library
and dispose of the cars. She had told Eileen that she might take the
touring car and do as she pleased with it. For her share she wanted
her father's roadster, and she meant to have it. She took the same firm
stand concerning the Library. With the rest of the house Eileen might do
as she would. The library was to remain absolutely untouched and what it
contained was Linda's. To this Eileen had agreed, but so far Linda had
been content merely to possess her property.

Lately, driven by the feeling that she must find a way in which she
could earn money, she had been secretly working on some plans that she
hoped might soon yield her small returns. As for the roadster, she as
well as Eileen had been horror-stricken when the car containing their
father and mother and their adjoining neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Thorne,
driven by Marian Thorne, the playmate and companion from childhood
of the Strong girls, had become uncontrollable and plunged down the
mountain in a disaster that had left only Marian, protected by the
steering gear, alive. They had simply by mutual agreement begun using
the street cars when they wanted to reach the city.

Linda stood looking at the roadster, jacked up and tucked under a
heavy canvas tent that she and her father had used on their hunting and
fishing trips. After a long time she laid strong hands on the canvas and
dragged it to one side. She looked the car over carefully and then, her
face very white and her hands trembling, she climbed into it and slowly
and mechanically went through the motions of starting it. For another
intent period she sat with her hands on the steering gear, staring
straight ahead, and then she said slowly: "Something has got to be done.
It's not going to be very agreeable, but I am going to do it. Eileen:
has had things all her own way long enough. I am getting such a big gi