en when all the rest of us thought he was all right. If it
hadn't been for that, Mr. Jamieson would never have looked up the
records that gave him the clue to where Mr. Holmes had hidden Zara."

"I think Bessie would make a pretty good detective," said Dolly. "They
do have women detectives now, don't they? And she seems to be able to
tell from looking at people whether they can be trusted or not."

Bessie laughed heartily at that suggestion.

"I can't do anything of the sort," she said. "And, even if I could, I
wouldn't be a detective, Dolly. The trouble with you is that you read
too many novels. You think people behave in real life just the way the
people in the books you read do, and they don't."

The return of old Andrew, the guide, who had rowed across the lake on
his return from carrying Eleanor's note to Miss Drew, was the signal to
complete the preparations for departure.

"I caught her, all right, Miss Eleanor," said Andrew. "Says she won't
be able to come over here till after lunch, but she'll be right over
then with a bundle of sticks to keep the young ladies in order till you
get back yourself."

"Good!" laughed Eleanor. "That's all right, then, and I can leave here
with a clear conscience. Andrew, you'll sort of keep an eye on things
till I get back, won't you?"

"Leave it to me, ma'am," said Andrew. "Say, me and some of the boys
was thinking maybe you'd like to have some of us turn up, sort of
casual like, down at Hamilton?"

"Why, it's very good of you, Andrew, but I don't believe we'll need any
help from you, thanks."

"You can't always sometimes tell," said Andrew, sagely. "Now, this
here Rogers is a good fellow enough, but obstinate as a mule, and the
sheriff might be his twin brother for that. They're birds of a
feather, see? And onct they get it into their heads that a thing's so,
there ain't nothin' I know of, short of a stick of dynamite, will make
them change their minds. So we thought that mebbe it wouldn't be a bad
idea to have some of us within call."

"I'll let you know if we need any help, Andrew," promised Eleanor.
"And it's very good of you to offer to come. But Mr. Jamieson will be
there--you know him, don't you?"

"Mister Charlie? Indeed I do, ma'am, and a fine young chap he is, too.
I've often hunted with him through these woods up here. If he's goin'
to look after the law part of this for you, you'll have a good chance
to beat them sharks down there. Some p