"I swear it."

"All right," bubbled Linda. "Judge Whiting, allow me to present to
you Jane Meredith, the author and originator of the Aboriginal Cookery
articles now running in Everybody's Home."

Linda stood up as she made the presentation and the Judge arose with
her. When she bowed her dark head before him the Judge bowed equally as
low, then he took the hand he held and pressed it against his lips.

"I am not surprised," he said. "I am honored, deeply honored, and I am
delighted. For a high school girl that is a splendid achievement."

"But you realize, of course," said Linda, "that it is vicarious. I
really haven't done anything. I am just passing on to the world what
Alexander Strong found it interesting to teach his daughter, because he
hadn't a son."

"I certainly am fortunate that my son is getting the benefit of this,"
said Judge Whiting earnestly. "There are girls who make my old-fashioned
soul shudder, but I shall rest in great comfort whenever I know that my
boy is with you."

"Sure!" laughed Linda. "I'm not vamping him. I don't know the first
principles. We're not doing a thing worse than sucking 'hunters' rock
leek' or roasting Indian potatoes or fishing for trout with cactus
spines. I have had such a lovely time I don't believe that I'll
apologize for coming. But you won't waste a minute in making sure about
Oka Sayye?"

"I won't waste a minute," said the Judge.

CHAPTER XXII. The End of Marian's Contest

Coming from school a few days later on an evening when she had been
detained, Linda found a radiant Katy awaiting her.

"What's up, old dear?" cried Linda. "You seem positively illumined."

"So be," said Katy. "It's a good time I'm havin'. In the first place the
previous boss of this place ain't nowise so bossy as sue used to be, an'
livin' with her is a dale aisier. An' then, when Miss Eileen is around
these days, she is beginning to see things, and she is just black with
jealousy of ye. Something funny happened here the afternoon, an' she
was home for once an' got the full benefit of it. I was swapin' the aist
walk, but I know she was inside the window an' I know she heard. First,
comes a great big loaded automobile drivin' up, and stopped in front
with a flourish an' out hops as nice an' nate a lookin' lad as ever you
clapped your eyes on, an' up he comes to me an' off goes his hat with a
swape, an' he hands me that bundle an' he says: 'Here's something Miss
Linda is wantin' bad for