e.

The picture showed a small girl, probably about ten or eleven; a fat
little girl with chubby legs only half covered with socks, and with
dimples in the knees; a little girl with very wide open eyes and a plump
face, a firmly shaped mouth and a serious expression; a little girl with
frizzly hair and freckles that the photographer had failed to retouch, in
a costume consisting of a short skirt, middy, and tam-o'-shanter.

"I wouldn't call her a trouble maker," said Hard, laughing, "unless she's
changed a lot in ten years."

CHAPTER III

EN ROUTE

To say that the days which followed Miss Street's unconventional decision
passed in a whirl is to be both trite and truthful. In fact, it was not
until she had crossed the border that she found leisure to reflect.

To begin with, the parents had been difficult, as good parents usually are
when youth begins to chafe at restriction, especially if youth happens to
belong to the weaker but no longer the less adventurous sex. The Streets
were easy-going people who liked to live by the way. They were not
ambitious and they were not adventurous and they hated letting go of their
children. It was bad enough to have a son marooned in a mining camp
without losing a daughter in the same way. Only downright persuasion by
the daughter, combined with remembrance of quite unalarming letters from
the son resulted in the desired permission.

"After all, if Emma's parents let her go down there, I suppose we needn't
be afraid," said Mrs. Street, who disliked argument.

"In my opinion, Emma's parents are fools," replied Mr. Street, sternly.
"Or else, like us, they've raised a daughter they can't control."

"I wouldn't put it that way, Elbridge!"

"I would. You might as well look things in the face."

"But, Father, you know Bob's part of the country has been very calm; and I
never get a chance to do anything interesting! You sat down on me when I
wanted to drive a motor truck in France----"

Any father can continue this lament from memory. The discussion had ended
as discussions with spoiled children usually end. There had been a hurried
packing and the familiar trip across the continent. It was only when she
alighted at a border town and after some anxious hours waiting to have her
passports vised and her transportation arranged, embarked on the shabby
south-bound train on the other side, that Polly fully realized the
expedition to which she was committed.

Up to this time