ome from further back in the stream of
life and the stream was the same for us all in the beginning.

"I have merely hoped to come across a clue which might give Kara an
idea of her parentage, or perhaps, a relative who would be kind and
interested in her."

Tory looked disappointed.

"Kara has plenty of people who are interested in her, and friends may
be as satisfactory as relatives." In this sentiment Mr. Hammond may or
may not have agreed. Already he had commenced tapping on the logs with
the end of his cane and digging underneath in any stray spot that he
hoped might develop into the receptacle of a box or treasure of some
kind.

The girls went about upon their own quests. Unfortunate that there was
no greater amount of space, no secret chambers and passages to be
investigated. This would have lent a glamour, a romance that nothing
about the little evergreen cabin afforded.

An hour and the exploration became of necessity over.

Nothing of any interest had been unearthed.

Disconsolately Mr. Hammond seated himself upon an upturned stool. A
few of the Girl Scouts clustered about him; the others unwilling to
give up, were still poking about in unlikely places.

Alone Tory Drew's original ardor continued unquenched.

All day she had a vision of herself going to Kara at the old Gray
House with information that would bring a new happiness into the clear
gray eyes grown so wistful in these weeks of a summer time they had
thought to be so happy.

No one place had been more thoroughly searched than the corners of the
old brick fireplace that divided the living room and the kitchen with
a single chimney.

Yet kneeling down once more Tory began a last search, poking about
into impossible crannies.

Exhausted, she finally surrendered. No reward was to be theirs, and
they had only been wasting valuable energy and time.

Nevertheless Tory did not feel in the mood for discussing this obvious
fact with the others.

Near the old fireplace was a small collection of loose bricks.
Arranging them into a low square Tory seated herself, leaning her head
against the left corner of the chimney.

Suddenly she had a sensation of dizziness. Her head seemed to be
swimming from the fatigue perhaps and the disappointment of her futile
search.

She straightened, biting her lips and wondering why she was not more
physically uncomfortable than she felt herself to be.

Then hearing a crumbling noise behind her, Tory turned he