The Merriweather Girls in Quest of Treasure

tation where the long string of Pullman coaches stood ready.

et Baxter, her blond hair in disarray, caught the girl by

ley Williams. "That's Joy's good-bye.

've been planning on this western trip all winter. We've thought

the luxury of a private car, why it's twice as thrilly." Joy choked as a laugh and a sob got mixed up together. Then making a

again," laughed Bet. "

is h

e in Lynnwood on the Hudson, and the promise of a summer of adventure in the

is only child and the responsibility of looking after her and trying to make up for the loss of her mother, was sometimes a heavy burden on Colonel Baxter. There was an anxious look i

ut for herself under any circumstances. Her straight young body had poise and assurance

there was her father, the very best chum she had, and to be going away wh

periencing and stepping to her s

onel. I'm going to t

t of her hands during a trip, and now as the shutter clicked she said to Bet

shouldn't feel so frightfully homesick for

exclaimed Shirley. "He is

e not to have the boys

r happene

ls and always included in their activities when boys were wanted at all. The week before,

e. It didn't seem like going away at a

back at her father and waved until a curving

the insistent calls of

rge blond girl whose serious face told of trouble lived through that h

er chum, a tall dark-eyed girl, grabbed her

t Patten exclaimed. "Yo

ordinary train. It gave the impression of a very homey living room in a small house, w

th a happy sigh. "I'd love to sit rig

things to see in this marvelous train. And Kit was demanding he

isplayed a small bedroom beaut

anything?" asked Kit as she he

ils of the room. "I always thought it was a lower berth if you were lucky and an upper one if

," said Enid. "She

ted Bet. "But where do we g

look of surprise she went on: "You didn't know ther

wandered from one thing to another. The e

know what half of them

dressed here." And as Kit spoke a trim little c

l right?" she ask

to take second place," thought Bet. But in her heart she was glad to see Enid in the position of hostess. Her life had been full of tragedy. Sto

belonged to Enid's father, and the girl was

, and opposite is one with three beds

d Kit and I in one and Shi

into a chair in front of the dressing table. "Sit

at clung close to her head. Bet Baxter, with her straight, blond hair always en

a darling little dining room! Why it's-it's..." And Enid stopped because in all her experienc

said Joy Evans. "And let me tell you, it c

ce you can eat everything! And still you're thin!" Shirley was inclined

once more, Bet dropped into an

before we get to Arizona. Come on, let's see if we can peek into the kitchen. T

pect you to think, J

rd the kitchen compartment, then gave a shrug of di

nd for it." Then a spirit of mischief overcame Bet. She tiptoed toward the door and shoved it

was bringing in a large tray of ice water. There was a loud crash. Two

that sign, nohow?" he demanded pointing a

re all the time? Imagine me not seeing it!" There was remorse in

t read yet," he

d with her sweetest accent. "I'll promise never to come in here again-that

t, he was willing to do anything for Bet Baxter. He

drawing room a few minutes later, Eni

with you, Bet Baxter. No o

ith Whalen?" B

!" said Enid c

ve one exception. She

wonder where she is th

s just nothing in my young life. She belongs to the dim and dista

d see what happened! Edith was there and managed to make our lives miserable

d Kit Patten. "She will not be in Lost Canyon.

hard during the winter. She was the level headed, business girl. She was always ready for a good time, but if she were asked

ood time that was right at hand. Now she was looking forward to h

off. I can hardly wait

ey must be

the mountain girl, replied. For Kit had lived most of her life in Arizona at the head of Lost Canyo

wo years and at present was all excit

Shirley. "Joy wants to see the cowboys, I want

have a home, girls," Enid replied, and the girls gave her a

adventure," teased Joy. "Problems

and rope a steer like her friend, Seedy Saunders. There are heaps of thing

re a thing of the past," Kit answered decidedly. "In the early days, Lost

nt to catch a western bad man, single

particular plan or desire of her own, as far apart as they could possibly be, y

ok its name from Colonel Baxter's estate, Merriweather Manor, a delightful old mansion on the Hudson with its romantic story of Revolutionary days whe

these four girls solved the problem of the stolen fan. They had tense mo

as Tilly, The Waif of the Woods. The girls with quick thinking, daring and devotion were able to discover the girl's parents

e staring at her. Each knew that the other had been looking back for a moment and being

and hastened to help her invalid mother to the table. Years of anxiety and worry over her daughter's disappearance had bro

e was aglow with happiness. Virginia Breckenridge was still young and the white hair only emphasized the yout

iastic way, waving her hand toward the passing

d Joy. "But when do

as all ready with her camera in case some interesting bit presented itself. Shirley was in her glory. Colonel Baxter's partin

ixture, but it's wonderful!" Joy's face was expressive and Sam noticed her approval of his lunch so during

rain pulled into the station at Washington. They were shunted about for a few minutes and

m of delight. "There it is, girls!" she cried. "The dom

re of it," said Shirley. "I might

ridge. "You'd better wait. That dome is visible from all

ardly wait until I

nal Librar

I hope they'll be making thousand dollar bills. I think that wo

had not wasted her film on the other view of the Capitol. In th

ed Bet. "And see, the street in front

hotel. They were anxious not to miss any of the sights

be so slow," called

ke to look at it foreve

Bet was always wishing

ot stood the trip as we

y tired out and Enid

, but without their friend they felt they could not enjoy anyth

s weary with excitement and new scenes

ow, if we want to see everything we plan

n hour they w

he strenuous day ahead. She scrambled out of bed, gave Kit a shak

l sleeping. But

are gone!" exclaimed Bet in vexed tone

they went down st

oyer were empty at this hour. No one h

imply dis