f I do--we can identify her."

"I hope we do find her," spoke Betty sympathetically. "What sort of a
mark is it?"

"It is the letter 'V' on her left arm, just above the elbow," returned
Mr. Blackford.

"That ought to be easy to see--especially in summer time when the girls
wear short sleeves," said Will. "But in winter it would be rather
awkward going about asking a girl if she had the letter 'V' tattooed on
her elbow. She might think you were trying to jolly her."

"It isn't a tattoo mark," said Mr. Blackford, as he consulted the
description, the torn-off piece having been pasted on to make it
complete. "It's a red birth-mark, this paper says, and is in the shape
of a 'V'. I do hope it will lead to something. If you girls----"

"Why--why!" cried Betty springing to her feet. "Amy, you have a mark
like that--at least it looks like a mark on your arm. I have often seen
it!" Betty was much excited, and Amy turned pale.

"Is this--is this so?" faltered Mr. Blackford eagerly. "Have you such a
mark?"

"Not such as you describe," replied Amy with a blush. When the young man
had first spoken of a birth mark a rush of hope had flooded her heart.
Now it had receded, leaving her disappointed.

"See," she said, rolling up her sleeve just above her elbow. "It is a
mere scar. I have had it ever since I was a child. I don't know how I
came by the thing, and neither--neither do--any of my friends." She
hesitated at the word.

"No, I'm afraid the mark I am looking for isn't that kind," said Mr.
Blackford slowly. "The one spoken of in the missing part of the letter
is very definite. I am sorry."

Amy was too, but she did not speak.

"Oh, isn't this too bad!" exclaimed Betty contritely. "I am sorry I
spoke, and raised false hopes. But I remembered that mark on Amy's
arm----"

"Well, better luck next time," said Mr. Blackford, as cheerfully as he
could. "If you girls will continue to be on the lookout----"

"We'll do all we can for you," said Mollie, Amy did not speak again. It
might be that she was wishing she had some such clue so that she could
locate her missing parents or relatives, whoever they might be.

Mr. Blackford, who had been in Deepdale a few days before setting out
for the camp, told the news and gossip of the village.

"Did you hear anything as to why Mr. Jallow brought his folks up here?"
asked Grace.

"Nothing definite--no. There was talk that they had come here, and folks
were speculating as to why.