ct, she did not know her
cousin very well, for Linda did not reside in Chicago. At her cousin's
harsh exclamation Pearl cried:

"Hush, Linda! how can you say such things? That can not possibly be
true."

"'Tis, too! And Nan won't dare deny it," whispered Linda. "She knows what
her father is, too! Mr. and Mrs. Mason can't have heard about Nan's
father being in trouble for taking a man's watch and money in a sleeping
car. Oh! _I_ know all about it."

Walter Mason's ears were sharp enough; but Linda spoke so hurriedly, and
the boy was so amazed, that the cruel girl got thus far in her wicked
speech before he turned and vehemently stopped her.

"What do you mean by telling such a story as that about Nan?" demanded
the boy, hoarsely. "And about her father, too? You are just the meanest
girl I ever saw, Linda Riggs, and I'm sorry you're in this party. I wish
you were a boy--I'd teach you one good lesson--I would!"

They stood just at the entrance to the theatre, where the electric lights
were brightest. A few flakes of snow were falling, like glistening
particles of tinsel. There were not many patrons entering the moving
picture house at this late hour, but the remainder of the Masons' guests
crowded forward to hear and see what was going on.

Nan was white-faced, but dry-eyed. Walter stood partly in front of her as
though he were physically defending her, and held one of her hands while
his other hand was tightly clenched, and his face ablaze with
indignation.

"Oh, Nan! What is the matter?" cried Bess Harley, running to Nan's side
and taking her other hand.

"What has happened?" asked Grace Mason. "What is it, Walter?"

"My goodness!" broke in Bess, before there could be any other
explanation. "Here's that horrid Linda Riggs. What brought _her_ here,
I'd like to know?"

"I've as much right here as you have, Harley," cried Linda. "I don't
have to worm myself into society that is above me, as you and your
precious friend do. My father is as rich as any girl's father here, I'd
have you know."

"Oh, hush, Linda!" murmured Pearl Graves, very much ashamed of her
cousin.

"Walter! Grace! What does this mean?" demanded the governess, hurrying
forward. "Don't make a scene here, I beg. Have no quarreling."

But Walter was too greatly enraged to be easily amenable to the mild
lady's advice.

"What do you think of this, Miss Hagford?" he cried excitedly. "Nan
Sherwood has been at our house since the first day she and