observed Mrs. Presby, smilingly.

"Never fear. I have had my lesson," answered Ruth, flushing a little. "I
never thought it would be possible for me to get into so much trouble
with a motor car. Shall we show the girls the Indian burying ground this
morning?"

"You take them, Ruth, if you will, please," answered Olive. "I must help
mother with some family matters. You know more about the old cemetery
than I do."

They started out shortly after breakfast, full of keen anticipation.
Just outside the house Tom joined them. He had with him Olive's big
setter dog, "General." Bab pinched Tommy's ear playfully.

"You were a naughty boy last night," she said.

"But you didn't find out where I got out, just the same," jeered Tom.

"No, but I am going to."

"I'll bet you don't."

"I shall. See if I don't. By the way, Tom, have they found out yet who
closed those gates the night we ran into them?" asked Barbara
carelessly. She and Tom had fallen behind the others.

"No-o-o-o," answered the boy, giving her a quick glance. Bab's face told
him nothing.

"I suppose you haven't the slightest idea who could have done that?"

"How should I know anything about it?"

"I thought perhaps you might have done it; you are such a very smart
young man," observed Barbara soberly. "Couldn't you even guess?"

"No. Could you?"

"I don't have to guess."

Tommy regarded her shrewdly.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't have to guess because I _know_. You closed those gates, Tom
Presby. You thought it would be a good joke to fool Olive and Ruth and
the rest of us. I'm not sure but that you thought you would be taking a
proper revenge on poor me for sitting down on you that night at Stuarts'
house. You came near causing the death of five girls with what you
thought only a prank, young man," added Bab, in her most severe tone. "I
should think you would be ashamed of yourself."

Tommy's face grew very pale. Beads of perspiration broke out on his
forehead.

"Don't tell father. Don't, please don't. He'd skin me alive if he knew I
did that. How'd you find out?"

"You told me," answered Bab, now with a merry twinkle in her eyes. "I
guessed it first, then you admitted it just now."

"That was a mean trick. Nobody but a girl would take such a mean
advantage of a fellow."

"Nobody but a mischievous boy would intentionally cause an automobile
smash-up and endanger the lives of five girls, including his sister,"
rebuked Barbara. "What do y