'll get
your picture of a deer."

The bus had never seemed to go so slowly. It stopped at every street
corner, or so it appeared to Bet Baxter. At the corner where they
alighted, Smiley Jim came bounding over the hard snow, barking his
welcome. "Smiley Jim, I'm glad you're here, I've never been so happy
to see you, in all my life!" Bet exclaimed.

As if the dog knew that Bet needed him, he walked by her side, and
growled as he always did when strangers came to the Manor.

"I believe he knows!" said Bet softly as she patted the dog's head.

But when she stumbled into the kitchen a few minutes later, she fell
into Auntie Gibbs' arms and sobbed hysterically.

"Now, what's the matter child? Have you had more bad luck? Your
father can't get home too soon to suit me!"

At last Bet got her breath:

"Auntie Gibbs! Uncle Nat! We've found the fan!"

CHAPTER XVII

ON GUARD

Bet was still clutching the precious fan in a tight grip that had not
relaxed for a second since she found it in the Hermit's Hut.

"I just knew you'd find it, Bet," said Auntie Gibbs. "I told you so
over and over again!"

Even Bet, whose nerves were at the snapping point, had to smile at the
old lady who was always in the right and sure to exclaim: "Didn't I
tell you so!"

"Now let's have a look at that queen's fan. I never rightly noticed
it, before it was stolen." The old man held out his hand.

"Here it is, Uncle Nat," said Bet proudly, as she unwrapped the
treasure from the dusty handkerchief. Then she gave a little gasp
which was immediately smothered in a cough, as she stuffed the
handkerchief into her sweater pocket.

"What's the matter now, Bet?" Kit cried excitedly.

"Nothing at all. Must have taken a cold. My throat seems raw." Bet
took the fan, opened it and held it out to Uncle Nat.

"Well, well, well!" exclaimed the old man. "So that's the queen's fan!
Are you quite sure it's the one, Bet? Doesn't seem fancy enough to be
worth all that money."

"All I can say is that it ain't much to look at," sputtered Auntie
Gibbs. "It's a nice enough fan, but I wouldn't give a dollar for it.
If I were a queen I'd want one with ostrich plumes and lots of gold on
it."

"Queens are funny like that!" Uncle Nat shook his head. "But I can't
understand how anyone would want it at a price like that. I wonder if
Colonel Baxter isn't joking with you about it?"

"You know Daddy wouldn't do a thing like that. His letter