n. It read:

"I know you have been prompt in looking after the fan as I told you to
do. It is the greatest satisfaction that in matters of this sort I can
trust you implicitly. I am rejoicing that the money I will receive
from the fan will meet the demands of my creditors and that I'll not
have to sell the Manor. The lucky little fan has saved us!"

"Girls, what am I going to do?" Bet sobbed as she finished reading the
letter to them.

"I know one thing, Bet Baxter. A Merriweather Girl doesn't waste time
and energy in tears! Lady Betty scorned tears!" declared Shirley.

"She looks as if she had never had a trouble in the world," sighed Bet,
looking up at the picture.

"Laugh and the world laughs with you!" hummed Joy. "Cheer up, the
worst is yet to come!"

"Keep quiet, Joy Evans. Those are about the silliest speeches a human
being can make. I wish you'd go home--oh no, Joy, I don't mean that,
I'm just worried."

"Of course you are, old dear. We all know it and want to help you, if
we can. Come on out and have a snowball match."

It was a glorious day, sharp and sparkling and the snow crunched under
their feet as they walked.

"This is the sort of weather when I long to go on a hike," said
Shirley. "If it wasn't for this trouble we're having I'd suggest it."

"Let's go tomorrow anyway!" exclaimed Bet impulsively. "That is,
unless something very important comes up. We're not accomplishing
anything by hanging around the house and brooding."

"Right you are, Bet!" shouted Joy, as she threw a snowball at Kit. "If
we take a brisk hike through the woods maybe the wind will blow the
cobwebs out of our brains and we'll be able to think of some way to
find that fan."

"The detective is on the job. I'm sure he'll find a clue," remarked
Shirley quietly.

They returned to the house and found Uncle Nat disturbed over a visit
from Amos Longworth. "Why that man was quizzing me up just as if he
thought _I_ stole the fan!"

"That detective is loco," laughed Kit, using a term from her beloved
mountains.

"What does loco mean, Kit?" asked Joy.

"It means he's crazy! The horses get crazy in the mountains from
eating a weed by that name. That's the way with Mr. Longworth; he's
been eating loco weed."

"I'll say he has," Joy agreed merrily.

When the girls separated for the night they had made their plans to
start the next day at eleven o'clock for a hike. That would give them
plenty of time to hea