The Outdoor Girls at the Hostess House; Or, Doing Their Best for the Soldiers

arked with a sigh. "I haven't slept a wink for two nights ju

understand how a boy like that could run away from home and stay a

racter," Mollie suggested dramatic

must say I never believed it. Give a boy t

e criminals in the world are made up of boys who were good enough to star

illie wasn't a criminal

il," retorted Mollie. "And how do you know that wasn't

wled Grace. "Here, Mollie dear,

l as if I were on a little island completely surrounded by chocolates, Grace, and whenever anything

red any such wonderful island, Mollie darling, lead me to it

ing the chocolates," Mollie ret

ssession of her, "that this is the day of our picnic, and if we don't get back to the

tion, "all this talk about criminals

k we're making a mistake in thinking that Willie Sanderson has become a criminal. I think there is probably some satisfactory explanation of why he stayed away from home; and perhaps wi

he's dead!" M

e's concerned," put in Grace before Betty could reply. "Here,

over anxiously. "This is the first time since the fateful day of our meeting that

Grace dryly. "It just occurred to me that since you will take

ly. "I have long suspected that that lovely face h

led and Grace a

t my beauty I don't care w

etty hooked an arm through hers and hustled the dramatic one i

s finally permitted a chair in the kitchen. "If you don't s

ble to pantry and back again. "Please don't be so lazy, Mollie dear. The boys will be

ing delicacies for this picnic with the boys-perhaps the thought was accompanied by a strange, panic

u, yesterday?" Mollie asked suddenly

d there were all sorts of rumors, but since they all came from equally good sources and no two of them pointed the same way, he wasn't

ver of the bread box by way of emphasis, as Amy and Grace came u

ntry. "You want to get your mind used to it by degrees, otherwise the shock might be too great. What's that, Betty-the sugar? Sur

in the kitchen mirror-a mirror, by the way, which brou

en, seeing refusal in Amy's eyes, added cajolingly: "You always loo

ay up the backstairs and p

he cried s

s attitudes of impatience, were waiting for G

you," stated Mollie, regardin

an air of resignation from the mirror. "As soon as you begin to talk every

stand for being called lots of things, but a phantom-Ouch! Now what's the idea?"

d Grace innocently, as Mollie stared indignan

sped down the stairs after Betty to b

"A lunatic is about

eady," grinned Allen, at

always called my friend, turns agin me-Never mind," she ad

rry your pocketbook,"

she retorted with a twinkle, an

behind the others. The two formed so handsome a couple that many a

carried himself with a poise and moved with a swing that spoke of perfectly tra

ved for her alone, Betty found it hard to look at this tall, bronzed soldie

," he murmured, and she glan

urs," she agreed soberly. "Wa

y. "I tell you when a fellow's to be parted from the thing

in swift alarm, "is it settled then

laughing eyes said things tha

ith a little pout, "do y

ke better than to see you scared-about that," he adde

but it was impossible to be very angry with Allen-whe

ft little laugh. "If you try that too much, I

mise you. At least," he added, straightening up, while in hi

been doing this morning?"

sympathetic laugh before s

about their ages-and look like cherubs. None of them has ever been away from home before, and they are pathetically homesick. But they have told us about their homes and their mot

you have,

"I presume it will get eas

lieve, has been showing some girls who came down to see their brother, about the place and trying to keep them interested duri

burn's eyes as he looked at th

to get you girls down here for this Hostess House