from two sides, and that must be at the extreme other end."

There was no visible apprehension expressed in the way the girls landed
at the point, and if they experienced such emotion, it was thoroughly
disguised, for as a troop they simply besieged the strip of land, with
one grand, vigorous yell.

No Tenderfoots seemed included, but rather seasoned woodsmen; eager to
climb, to beat down trails, "to confront the enemy" with open or closed
fists--such daring indeed was manifested in their act of possession.

"I'm so glad we came in at this end," said Cleo. "With all that shouting
the little woman at the ice cream stand might take fright and go. Then
what would we do for eats?"

"Oh, there comes the carrier pigeon!" explained Grace. "Come on to the
birches. See, he is going to land in there, same as he did before."

"Yes, that's Lovey," declared Cleo. "I'm so glad all the girls will have
a chance to see him. Hurry, and don't make too much noise."

The graceful little gray dove was floating through the air, without a
flutter of wing--just sailing on the breeze. Following Cleo's lead the
girls made their way through the thicket, and presently were in the low,
soft, velvety patch, the sort of maiden-hair grass that grows under the
trees.

"Here we are," almost whispered Isabel, for the bird was about settled
on a tuft of meadow grass.

"Oh, here's Kitty!" exclaimed Grace. "Kitty girl, what are you hiding
from?"

And there, crouched at the foot of a tree was Kitty. She looked like
nothing so much as a toad-stool, a bit of human fungus growth, at the
foot of that gentle birch tree. Her knees drawn up, and bare feet hiding
in her bedraggled gingham skirt, Kitty was truly a sorry looking figure.

"What is it?" asked Isabel. The girls had grouped themselves around in
semi-circle, and even Lovey, the waiting messenger, was for the moment
forgotten.

Kitty raised her head and confessed to a pair of very red eyes. Her lips
were trembling and the little cords of her face twitching.

"I heard a racket, and thought she had sent them after me," stammered
Kitty. "But it was only you," and just the glint of a smile played
through her grief.

"Who was coming after you? Whom did you fear, Kitty? Tell us!" asked
Louise, slipping down on the green, beside the crouching figure.

"Aunt Hannah. She came back from New York, and we didn't expect her.
Somehow she found out about--about the accident, and she was furious."

"Your A