d startled Bob by
dashing into the yard like a whirlwind. The horse was flecked with
foam and Betty was white-faced and wild-eyed.

"Oh, Bob!" she gasped hysterically, tumbling from the saddle, "those
sharpers are still here! They stopped me down the road!"

CHAPTER XXI

WHERE IS BOB?

Bob's chief feeling, after hearing the story, was one of intense
indignation.

"Pretty cheap, I call it," he growled, "to stop a girl and frighten
her. The miserable cowards! Just let me get a crack at them once!"

"Bob Henderson, you stay right on this farm," cried Betty, her alarm
returning. "They weren't trying to frighten me--at least, that wasn't
their main purpose. They wanted to find out about you. They'll kidnap
you, or do something dreadful to you. I wish with all my heart that
Uncle Dick would come."

"Well, look here, Betty," argued Bob, impressed in spite of himself
by her reasoning, "I'm pretty husky and I might have something to say
if they tried to do away with me. Besides, what would be their
object?"

Betty admitted that she did not know, unless, she added dismally,
they planned to set the house on fire some night and burn up the
whole family.

Bob laughed, and refused to consider this seriously. But for the next
few days Betty dogged his footsteps like the faithful friend she
was, and though the boy found this trying at times he could not find
it in his heart to protest.

Miss Hope and Miss Charity were very happy these days. For a while
they forgot that the interest was due the next month, that no amount
of patient figuring could show them how the year's taxes were to be
met, and that the butter and egg money was their sole source of
income. Instead, they gave themselves up to the enjoyment of having
young folk in the quiet house and to the contemplation of Bob as
their nephew. Faith had died, but she had left them a legacy--her
son, who would be a prop to them in their old age.

Miss Hope and Miss Charity were talking things over one morning when
Betty and Bob were out whitewashing the neglected hen house. Though
the sisters protested, they insisted on doing some of the most
pressing of the heavy tasks long neglected.

"I really do not see," said Miss Hope, "how we are to feed and clothe
the child until he is old enough to earn his living. Of course
Faith's son must have a good education. Betty tells me he is very
anxious to go to school this winter. He is determined to get a job,
but of cours