you. Perhaps it would be a good thing to speak to Mr. Pertell about it.
Often when children have been kidnapped, you know, their pictures are
flashed on the screen in hundreds of cities, and sometimes persons in
the audiences recognize them. That might be done with you, Estelle."

"No, I wouldn't dream of doing that. Perhaps something may turn up some
day that will tell me who I really am. And perhaps I shall be sorry for
having learned."

"No, you will not!" declared Alice. "You come of good people--one can
easily tell that."

"Thank you, dear. And now I have inflicted enough of my troubles on you.
Let's talk about something pleasant."

"You haven't burdened us with your troubles, Estelle dear," insisted
Ruth. "It is a strange story, and we are interested in the outcome."

"Indeed we are," said Alice. "We want very much to help you."

"That's good of you. But I don't see what you can do. I'm just a sort of
Topsy, and Topsy I'll remain. Now please don't say anything about what I
have told you to any one--not even to your father--unless I give you
permission. I don't want to be the object of curiosity, as well as of
suspicion."

"Suspicion!" cried Alice.

"Yes, about Miss Dixon's ring."

"Oh! no one in the world believes you took that--not even Miss Dixon
herself. I believe she has found the old paste diamond, and is too mean
to admit it!" cried impulsive Alice.

"You mustn't say such things!" objected her sister.

"Well, neither must she, then. Oh, Estelle! Wouldn't it be great if you
should prove to be the daughter of a millionaire!"

"Too great, my dear. Don't let's think about it. But I feel better for
having unburdened some of my troubles on you. And if you will still be
as nice to me as you always have been----"

"Why shouldn't we be?" asked Ruth.

"Oh, I don't know, but I thought----"

"Silly!" cried Alice, as she threw her arms about the strange girl and
kissed her.

Suddenly, from a distant hill, came a dull, booming sound, that, low as
it was, seemed to make the very ground tremble.

"What's that?" cried Alice.

"Thunder," suggested Ruth.

"It sounded more like an explosion," asserted Estelle.

"There it goes again!" exclaimed Alice.

"Look!" cried her sister.

She pointed through the open window, and as the girls peered out they
saw the top of the hill fly upward in a shower of dirt and stones.

Once more the deep boom sounded.

"It's a big gun!" cried Alice. "I remember, now. Mr