had a terrible time."

The Colonel laughed at the inconsistency of his small daughter but
remarked: "Be loyal to your friend. That's right. But will you give
me a free hand to find the thief? I think you'll be glad you trusted
me. And I'll tell you right now, I don't believe a boy who looked me
straight in the eye as he did when we met, ever stole a penny from
anyone."

"Thanks, Dad, you're so comforting. I'm proud of you. You will make
everything come out all right."

The breakfast bell rang and Bet and her father had to hurry, for Auntie
Gibbs didn't like to have them late to a meal.

"We're coming Auntie Gibbs," cried the girl. And a few minutes later
the two best chums in the world, danced down the long stairway to the
breakfast room, arm in arm, like carefree children.

CHAPTER XIX

THE REWARD

Colonel Baxter was not very sure that they would ever be able to prove
who stole the fan. He confided that much to Bet at lunch time, when he
returned from Hermit's Hut.

The girl looked relieved. "I almost wish you wouldn't. Let's drop it.
Did you get Shirley's camera, Dad? Oh I do hope she got a wild animal
picture!"

"Tell Shirley that the trap was sprung, and the flash powder had gone
off, and it is almost certain to have been a deer. Ask her to come to
the shop right after school and I'll bring the camera down."

"Won't she be happy!" Bet squealed with delight.

The school room clock had never ticked off its minutes so slowly as it
did that afternoon; each minute seemed like an hour to the excited
girls whose minds were centered on Shirley's luck. Deer got all mixed
up with their history lessons and Miss Elder cast reproving glances
more than once at the Merriweather Girls who were finding it so hard to
settle to work.

In her heart she didn't blame them. Vacation was such a glorious time
for fun and she knew the girls' capacity for getting the most joy out
of everything in life.

She thought: "The darlings! And I have to be the one to order them
back to their books!"

At five minutes to three, Bet bent her head over her book, declaring
that she would not look at the clock again until it was three. Then,
when she was certain that the minute hand must be pointing to twelve,
she looked up and gave a gasp. Only one minute had gone by! How the
time dragged!

But at last the welcome sound of dismissal bell did come and the girls
were free. They ran all the way to the shop.

"It