. Eline had shifted her chair, unconsciously, very near the
stranger, and sat with rapt attention waiting for the continuation of the
story.

"Then," went on the woman, "when Nancy Ford was gone I saw the men come
toward me! I screamed, put my hand upon the cash I was counting--and
then--they hit me!"

"Oh!" gasped Cora, involuntarily. "They robbed you!"

"Yes, they robbed me!" repeated the woman. "Not only of my employer's
money, but of my reputation, for the story I told afterward was not
believed!"

"How dreadful!" exclaimed Bess, clasping her hands.

The boys, less demonstrative, did not interrupt with a single syllable.
But they were impressed, nevertheless.

"Yes, I was discharged! I was shocked into a nervous collapse, and ever
since I have been searching for Nancy Ford. Why did she run before any
harm was done? Why did she flee at the sight of the men, who showed no
indication of being robbers? Why did Nancy Ford not return to clear my
name? I went to the hospital and was there for months. Oh, such terrible
months! I was threatened with brain fever, from that mental searching for
Nancy, but she never returned!"

Belle was stirred to sympathy by the recital, and, while no one saw her,
brushed by the woman's chair and slid into the gaping pocket of her cape
her own little silver purse.

"My name is Margaret Raymond--Mrs. Raymond. I am a widow," went on the
woman finally, "and I am not ashamed or afraid now to have the world know
who I am. I loved Nancy: she was almost like a daughter to me, and I would
have trusted her with anything. But now--she has deserted me! And no one
else can ever clear my name!"

"No one else?" Cora repeated.

"Some of the firm members believed my story, but it was vague and one
could scarcely blame them for doubting it," said Mrs. Raymond.

"Didn't it look bad for the girl?" Jack asked. "She ran away?"

"Yes, it did, but a girl somehow has a better chance than an old woman,"
said Mrs. Raymond sadly, though she was not so very old. "They thought she
was scared into flight, and afraid to come back. Oh, when sympathy is on
one's side it is easy to make excuses! I was on my way to look for work
when the storm overtook me. I went in your garage. My hat blew away."

"We will do anything we can to assist you," Cora declared. "Your story
seems true, and we have the advantage of some leisure time."

"And a good heart, besides brains," the woman said emphatically. "My
child, you ha