ut our host and his blessed nephew were
certainly pleased at your interest. Mrs. Latham showed Aunt Sallie and
Ruth and me over the house. They have an art gallery and rooms full of
curios, just like a museum. The house is a perfect palace."

"There was an older Mr. Latham once!" Ruth announced, sticking her head
in from the door of her bedroom to join in the conversation. "But I don't
think he was a credit to the family. They are silent about him. I asked
one of the girls we met this afternoon if Mr. Winthrop Latham and his
nephew were all of the Latham family. Just as she started to tell me,
Reginald Latham came up to us, and she stopped talking in a hurry."

"Miss Ruth Stuart, I believe I was talking," interrupted Grace severely.
"Kindly allow me the floor! Mollie is most certainly not interested in
the Latham family history. Who is? Nor does she care a fig for Mr.
Reginald Latham and his toy balloons. But, Mollie, I was endeavoring to
tell you about the wonderful curios they have in their house. The late
lamented brother, we were informed, has left behind him one of the most
famous collection of Indian relics in the world. If I am obliged to
mention the stupid subject of family history, I must say that the Lathams
are an old family up in this part of the country. They do not belong to
the 'newly rich.' The queer elder brother devoted his life to the study
of the history of the Indians in this part of the world, and has written
a book about them."

"Grace, have you finished making your speech?" inquired Ruth, with mock
politeness. "Poor Mollie must be bored stiff with all this useless
information. How did you spend the afternoon, dear? We have talked so
much about coon hunts and Indian relics and the Lathams that you have had
no chance to answer."

"Oh, I took a nap!" responded Mollie, vaguely, and led the way into
supper.

Late that evening, as the girls sat by the fire, they heard a sudden
knocking at their cabin door. Miss Sallie, who was in bed, bounded out
again. For the first time since their arrival in the woods the camping
party was alone. Naki had been obliged to go down the hill on an errand.
No one had dreamed of any possible danger in his absence.

The knocking continued. "Open! Open!" cried the voices of two men.

"Who on earth can they be?" Grace asked of the circle of girls. No one
answered. Ceally came hurriedly in from the kitchen. Miss Sallie stood at
her door.

The knocks were repeated in