t Bessie before they started from the church--but you saw
how they were when they got here to-night?"

"I did, indeed, Miss Eleanor. And I'd say; Dolly has a high temper, too,
just to look at her."

"Oh, she has--and Bessie never seems to get; angry. I don't understand
that--it's my worst fault, I think. Losing my temper, I mean. Though I'm
better than I used to be. Well--good-night."

The next day was Sunday, and, of course, there was none of the work
about the farm that the girls of the Camp Fire enjoyed so much. They
went to church in the morning, and when they returned Bessie was
surprised to see Charlie Jamieson, the lawyer, Eleanor Mercer's cousin,
sitting on the front piazza. Eleanor took Bessie with her when she went
to greet him.

"No bad news, Charlie?" she said, anxiously. He was looking after the
interests of Bessie and of Zara, whose father, unjustly accused as
Charlie and the girls believed, of counterfeiting, was in prison in the
city from which the Camp Fire Girls came. Charlie Jamieson had about
decided that his imprisonment was the result of a conspiracy in which
Farmer Weeks, from Bessie's home town, Hedgeville, was mixed up with a
Mr. Holmes, a rich merchant of the city. The reason for the persecution
of the two girls and of Zara's father was a mystery, but Jamieson had
made up his mind to solve it.

"No--not bad news, exactly," he said. "But I've had a talk with Holmes,
and I'm worried, Eleanor. You know, that was a pretty bold thing he did
the other day, when he trapped Bessie into going with him for an
automobile ride and tried to kidnap her. That's a serious offense, and a
man in Holmes's position in the city wouldn't be mixed up in it unless
there was a very important reason. And from the way he talked to me I'm
more convinced than ever that he will just be waiting for a chance to
try it again."

"What did he say to you, Charlie?"

"Oh, nothing very definite. He advised me to drop this case. He reminded
me that he had a good deal of influence--and that he could bring me a
lot of business, or keep it away. And he said that if I didn't quit
meddling with this business I'd have reason to feel sorry."

"What did you tell him?"

"To get out of my office before I kicked him out! He didn't like that, I
can tell you. But I noticed that he got out. But here's the point. Are
you still planning that camping trip to Lake?"

"Yes--I think it would be splendid there."

"Well, why don't you start