take part in our plans at all. We'll discharge you as Legal Adviser."

"Oh then I'll be good! I'll be good! I could never stand that."

"So it's secrets and things!" suggested Phil.

"Just the opposite of that! It's something we want you to shout from
the house tops."

Bob gave a bound to the seat of an old chair and flapping his arms up
and down wildly he crowed, "Cock-a-doodle-doo! Don't know what I'm
crowing about, but I'm crowing!"

"And that's what we want you to do. The Merriweather Girls are
starting in business!" announced Kit.

"You don't say so!"

"It's to be known as Shirley's Shop!" Kit exclaimed.

"Oh you mean Shirley is going into business. That sounds more sane.
Shirley has some sense," laughed Bob.

"Out you go, Bob Evans!" and without giving him time to catch his
breath the girls shoved him outside the door.

"When you promise to be good, you may come back, Bob, and not until,"
threatened Joy.

Finally after many promises to be good, they opened the door and let
Bob come in. The boys got a somewhat jumbled account of the business
venture of the Merriweather Girls and they approved to such an extent
that they rolled up their sleeves and wanted to get to work at once.

"Where's a broom and we'll sweep the place out for you," suggested Phil.

Shirley objected, saying that the following Saturday morning would be
time enough, then if they wanted to, the girls would be glad of their
help.

"And they'll want flattery before they start the work and flattery
after it's done just the way Smiley Jim does," said Kit with a laugh.

"Why Kit Patten!" exclaimed Bob. "And we thought you were our friend!"

"Meow, meow! What a kitten to scratch!" teased Phil.

"Deny it, if you can," said Bet.

Colonel Baxter looked from one young face to the other, enjoying the
friendly bickering and feeling happy that he was no dampener to their
fun, for they accepted him as one of themselves. Mrs. Williams' hearty
laugh urged them on to further efforts at cleverness.

"Wish we had a broom, I'd really like to see this place swept out!"
Bet was impatient to see results.

"Why not go over and borrow one from your neighbor, Peter Gruff? He's
so friendly he'll give you the shop."

As old Peter Gruff was notoriously stingy, everybody laughed at the
joke.

"We'll do better than that," exclaimed Bet. "Come on Kit, let's go
over and buy a broom. We'll need it!"

In a few minutes Bet and Kit came runn