to go----"

"I do want to, Daddy, but poor Will----"

"Oh, I'll find him. He has just gone off on some little trip, perhaps.
Very likely he has written to us and the letter has miscarried. Or he
may be carrying it around in his pocket, thinking he has mailed it. Yes,
I think you may go, Grace, if the others do. Don't worry about your
brother. We'll have trace of him soon."

"I'm sure we all hope so," said Mollie, impulsively. "We are thinking of
taking Betty's boat down with us."

"A good idea. I wish I could go. And it is fortunate that, on account of
a change in the school system, you will not miss a term." For following
a shift in the educational work of Deepdale, had come a reconstruction
of the system. The outdoor girls were sufficiently advanced to permit of
their taking several months' vacation, and still remain up to the
standard required by the State regents.

"And to think of going to Florida!" cried Betty, as she walked about the
room. "I know we shall just love it there."

"Young folks waste a lot more time than I did when I was young," said
Mr. Ford, Sr., with a sniff.

"Perhaps we should have been better off if we had 'wasted' a little more
time, as you call it," remarked his brother, as he thought of his
missing son.

"Humph!" snorted Uncle Isaac.

"Well, let's get down to my office," suggested Will's father, after a
pause. "I'm going to have my hands full. To trace a missing boy--though
really I don't imagine that will be serious--and have a daughter go to
Florida is 'going some,' as the boys say. But I guess I can manage it.
Now, Isaac, if you're ready----"

He was interrupted by a ring at the bell, and the shrill call of the
postman's whistle.

"I'll go," Grace exclaimed, intercepting the maid. She brought back
several letters, and at the sight of the handwriting on the envelope of
one she exclaimed:

"It's from Will! It's from my brother. Oh, Daddy, here's a letter from
Will!"

CHAPTER IV

"COME HOME!"

Grace's announcement caused a flutter of excitement among her chums, and
Mr. Ford's face showed his pleasure and surprise. But a moment later he
had steeled his features into a non-committal mask, for he was really
much provoked by his son's conduct, and if this was an appeal for
forgiveness he wanted to be in the proper censuring attitude. At least
so he reasoned.

"We'll see you again, Grace," spoke Betty, as she led the way for the
other two girls to follow. She felt t