wanted to be left in
peace to read it.

"Because something has to be done about Olive at once," Jean insisted
valiantly. "You know perfectly well, that it isn't fair for us to keep
her in suspense about what is to become of her and then maybe turn her
off and send her back to old Laska in the end. We must find out if there
is any chance of her not being Laska's real child and if not, what right
she has to her. Aunt Sallie says she will keep Olive here as a maid for
Laura if we don't want her at the ranch and we can get her away from
the Indians."

"Maid for Laura!" Jack bit her lips indignantly. Jean kept her face
turned away, so that Jack could not see her expression. She knew that
her cousin was very undecided about what they ought to do with their
protegee and was anxious to influence Jack for Olive's sake.

"I don't think that Olilie--I mean Olive--is very well suited for such a
distinguished position as maid to Miss Laura Post," Jack replied. "I
think if I were the Indian girl I should prefer to remain with the
Indians. Of course I will go over to the village with you and Aunt
Sallie whenever you like."

Jean put her arm around her cousin. "You won't be cross about something
if I tell you, will you?" she urged coaxingly.

Jack frowned. "I don't know, Jean Bruce, what is it now?" she demanded,
for she could guess by the half mischievous, half conciliatory
expression in Jean's brown eyes, that she had something to confide which
would not be to her liking.

"Aunt Sallie has asked Frank Kent to drive over to the Indian village
with us," Jean returned. "You see he has never seen an Indian village,
and being an Englishman, Aunt Sallie naturally thought he would be
curious about one. So after all he is going to help us to find out about
Olive, although you refused to allow him. Funny, isn't it?"

This was a very unwise fashion for Jean Bruce to have explained the
situation to Jack, for if there was one thing which Miss Jacqueline
Ralston did particularly like, it was to have her own way. Having said
that she desired no assistance from their new acquaintance in their
efforts for Olilie, she was not going to be forced into accepting it
against her will.

Jack quietly removed her big Mexican hat, sat down comfortably in her
chair and reopened her book. "Oh, very well," she remarked carelessly.
"Then I won't go with you at all. My presence won't be in the least
necessary. You and Aunt Sallie and Mr. Kent can make al