s have been
so full of joy at the prospect of a sale."

"And, Bet dear, isn't it good that we found it before he got back? It
has saved him a lot of worry. I do think we are the luckiest girls in
the world," cried Shirley Williams.

"The lucky Merriweather Girls! We're living up to the ideals of our
club, and Lady Betty!" Joy kissed the tips of her fingers toward the
portrait, then whirled about on her toes.

Bet rushed up to her room and taking her father's picture from her
desk, whispered, "Oh Daddy, you can trust me!" She looked at it a long
time, then kissed it as she replaced it on the desk.

"So far, so good!" exclaimed Kit as she joined Bet. "We've found the
fan but we haven't found the thief, and until that is done we won't be
able to clear the suspicion against Phil. Everybody in town is blaming
him." Kit's voice showed her indignation.

"Let's phone him! He'll sleep better tonight if he knows the fan has
been found," suggested Joy as she and Shirley came into the room.

"Girls, do me a favor, don't tell anyone tonight. If it gets around
town that we have the fan, the thief may come and try to get it again.
Until it is in the safety deposit box at the bank, I've not kept faith
with Dad. And tomorrow is Sunday. I have to guard the fan for two
nights instead of one."

"That's true. Someone might try to steal it again. Wish we were
staying all night with you, Bet," said Kit.

"Please do, girls. I don't want to be left alone, I'll phone and ask!"
and Bet ran to the telephone.

Bet needed their presence to keep her from brooding over something that
she could not talk about with them, for the handkerchief that had been
wrapped around the fan, bore the initials P.S.G. in one corner. She
recognized it as one of Phil's handkerchiefs. There was no doubt about
it.

Now that the fan was in her possession she was so relieved that she did
not care to lay the blame on him, but with the proof in her pocket, she
felt weighed down as if she were the guilty one.

"'How could Phil do such a thing!" she thought. "No wonder he didn't
stop to talk to me! I should think he _would_ slink by without hardly
speaking!" Bet's indignation was at fever heat. At this moment she
wished he were there to make him face the evidence she had against him.

The three girls had no difficulty in getting permission to stay with
Bet. Mrs. Stacey laughingly suggested that Kit be adopted by the
Baxters and then she woul