the
handwriting expert might in some way be connected with the Chicago firm to
which Tavia had written, and through which she had made her
financial--mistake.

"But how would she know me?" asked Tavia, deeply perplexed.

"You said she saw your name on the envelope that dropped in the car," Nat
reminded her, "and she might have had an envelope with your name on.
Those--sharks send names all over the country."

"Then do you think I ought to go see her?" asked Tavia in a whisper.

"Certainly. She can't eat you," replied the young man, "and she might be
able to help you."

"Then I'll go--next Thursday," decided Tavia. "But I'll have trouble to
slip away from Dorothy."

"Course you will," Nat assured her promptly; "and you'll have trouble all
along the line if you don't do as I say, and make a clean breast of it."

But Tavia, having so long delayed that telling, felt unequal to going
through with it now. She would simply "await developments," as Dorothy
herself had suggested doing in the other matter.

CHAPTER XI

GATHERING EVERGREENS

"I have it all planned," announced Mrs. White the next morning. "The boys
are to go for evergreens, and the girls are to assist me here. It is
rather early, but it is best to have the greens on time."

Ned and Nat groaned. It would be dull enough to go for evergreens, but
with the possibility of "a scare in the woods" for Dorothy and Tavia it
might be bearable, whereas, if the girls would be obliged to remain at
home--

But Mrs. White's sons did not object. She had "planned the day," and that
settled it.

Joe and Roger were delighted. They felt that girls often proved unequal to
all "the bear hunts and wild beast chasing," so dear to the hearts of
healthy, young boys.

"We might build a campfire," suggested Roger enthusiastically when Joe
told him he was to go to the woods.

"Too cold for camping," Joe reminded his small brother. But the fact of
it being very cold seemed to Roger all the more reason why a campfire
should be built, and he said so.

"Well, I'll ask Ned," agreed Joe, "and if he says so we'll take bacon and
things to roast."

Ned and Nat thought seriously over the prospect of hunting evergreens with
two "kids." They liked their little cousins--in fact, were very fond of
them--but it did seem to the larger boys that there would not be much fun
in scouring the woods for greens, and answering small boys' questions,
unlimited.

"Let's ask Roland Scott