had her doubts about the wisdom of the
child's being in such a place as Mrs. Grubson's boarding house, no matter
how kindly disposed that woman might be.

"Bella should stay near here," Ruth said firmly, "as long as we cannot
communicate with Mr. Pike at once."

"Let's write a notice for one of the theatrical papers," suggested Helen
eagerly. "You know--'Montague Fitzmaurice please answer.' All the actors
do it."

"But pa don't always have the money to buy the papers," said Bella, taking
the suggestion quite seriously.

"At least, if Bella is in this neighborhood he will know where to find
her," went on Ruth. "Is there nobody you know here, child, whom you would
like to stay with till your father returns?"

Bella's face instantly brightened. Her black eyes flashed.

"Oh, I'd like to stay at the minister's," she said.

"At the minister's?" repeated Ruth. "Why, if he would take you that would
be fine. Who is he?"

"The Reverend Driggs," said Bella.

"Do you suppose the clergyman would take the child?" murmured Aunt Kate.

"Why do you want to go to live with the minister?" asked Tom with
curiosity.

"'Cause he reads the Bible so beautifully," declared Bella. "Why! it
sounds just like pa reading a play. The Reverend Driggs is an educated man
like pa. But he's got an awful raft of young ones."

"A poor minister," said Aunt Kate briskly. "I am afraid that would not
suit."

"If the Driggs family is already a large one," began Ruth doubtfully, when
Bella declared:

"Miz Driggs had two pairs of twins, and one ever so many times. There's a
raft of 'em."

Helen and Jennie burst out laughing at this statement and the others were
amused. But to Ruth Fielding this was a serious matter. The placing of
Bella Pike in a pleasant home until her father could be communicated with,
or until he appeared on the scene ready and able to care for the child,
was even more serious than the matter of going without breakfast, although
Jennie Stone said "No!" to this.

"We'd better set up an auction block before the door of the hotel and
auction her off to the highest bidder, hadn't we?" suggested Helen, who
had been rummaging in her bag. "Here, Bella! If you want a shirt-waist to
take the place of that calico blouse you have on, here is one. One of
mine. And I guarantee it will fit you better than Heavy's did. She wears
an extra size."

"I don't either," flashed the plump girl, as the boys retreated from the
room. "I may not be