upted Cleo, "what do you think will be best to do about
the orchids? We are almost home, and I think it would be better to
have some suggestion to offer Aunt Audrey."

"Oh, it all seems so hopeless now," sighed Mary, "and just when Grandie
is getting better and I felt so--so--happy!"

"Now don't you go worrying like that," Grace put in quickly. "These
things are just new--new adventures," she declared, "and you will see
how they all help to clear up the big mystery which is back of the
whole thing," offered Grace. "Don't you think, Mary, we might get
someone to go live in the studio, and take care of it? Someone whom
you could trust, of course."

"If we only could--but then, you see, Grandie feels he is guarding
something----"

As Mary faltered Cleo filled in the hesitation with a suggestion that
they lay the whole story before Mrs. Dunbar and see what she might
propose. It struck the girls as queer that the Professor should be
"guarding" something in the deserted studio, but they were too
considerate of Mary's feelings to press that point.

Cleo was carrying the hand-made basket, and in it the bundle of
jewelry, tied up in Reda's black silk shawl, while each of the other
girls was burdened with the most important of the articles unearthed in
the search at the studio.

"I am so afraid someone may suspect we are carrying valuables," said
Grace. "Cleo, do be careful, don't tip your basket, some jewel might
slide out."

"No danger. They are all secure in the shawl," replied Cleo.

"Of course it is lovely to have these things if they all prove to be
Loved One's," Mary said gently, "but do you know I really believe I
care more about the pictures than anything else. They make me feel as
if--as if--I just visited with daddy and mother again."

"There's Michael out in the back lots. Let's go through that way and
we won't be apt to meet people on the road," suggested Grace, plainly
anxious to get the jewels into Cragsnook without any possibility of
molestation.

Greeting Michael pleasantly, they were attempting to hurry along, past
the garage, when he called them to wait a moment.

"If you are going up to the house," he said, "would you mind telling
Jennie that my cousin got in from Long Island to-day--a woman looking
for a place out here? And ask Jennie if she can make room for her
until I get a chance to look around for a place. I am sorry she came
without giving me more time, but I just got the card o