edars, in spite of all protests, Dorothy and Tavia were
"put to bed," while Norah brought from the kitchen great bowls of beef
tea, declaring each young lady should drink at least a quart, "to save
them from nemonie," and that the hot foot baths they had would be repeated
unless the girls were soon sound asleep.

So it was that now, two days before Christmas, The Cedars was suddenly
plunged into a state of subdued excitement. What might happen next not
even little Roger dared speculate about.

But that afternoon, when Major Dale was expected to return from his trip
to the hospital, and Dorothy and Tavia were sufficiently rested to be down
at the station waiting to meet them, the appearance of Miss Brooks brought
Tavia suddenly back to the realization of her own predicament.

The little woman ran into the station just in time to obtain her ticket
for a late city train, and had not a moment to spare, so that there was no
opportunity of either Dorothy or Tavia exchanging a word with her.

"Whew!" exclaimed Tavia, glancing after the woman. "What do you suppose it
all means? Did you observe the togs?"

"Didn't she look pretty?" commented Dorothy, "I never saw a person change
so with--a new outfit."

"Wonder if she found it--in somebody's bag?"

"Tavia!" exclaimed Dorothy, her voice ringing with indignation. "You must
never again speak that way of Miss Brooks. We did wrong to suspect her for
a moment. She had absolutely nothing to do with the ring."

"Oh, you know all about it, do you? Of course, she says she had absolutely
nothing to do with it."

"No, she has said nothing of the kind. The person who really took
it--that is, the one who put it in my bag--has admitted doing it."

"Who?"

"Well, you really must not ask, because, Tavia, dear, I know the person
was terribly pressed, somehow, and it does not seem right for me to spread
the story of her misfortune. I haven't even told Aunt Winnie."

"Oh, of course, you can keep it to yourself if you have a mind to,"
replied Tavia in injured tones, "but it strikes me that is rather too
interesting a story to be so selfish about."

Dorothy made no reply to this charge--she had not the slightest idea of
betraying the confidence Miss Dearing had given in her miserable
confession.

Further than this, to-morrow Dorothy was determined to go to the city and
search for Miss Dearing, even though it would be the day before Christmas.

The arrival of the city express, from wh