automobiles, little and big, drew
up before the magnificent piece of architecture, the Louvre.

Lucile caught her breath as she and Jack joined the group already
assembled on the sidewalk. "The pictures you see give you absolutely no
idea of it," she breathed; "it must have been planned by an artist."

"Yes; and see how big it is," said Phil. "It's going to take us a long
time to explore it."

"Explore is hardly the word----" Jessie was beginning, when Evelyn
interrupted, "It doesn't make any difference what you call it, but I'm
just going to look and look and look till I can't look any more."

"Well, that's what it is here for," laughed Mr. Payton; "and now I'll
tell you what I am going to do with you young people. When we get you
well started on your sight-seeing, Mrs. Payton and I are going to run
away to hunt up this tragic hero and reinstate him and his sweetheart, if
it lies within our power. We'll be back in an hour or two, and I guess
there will be plenty to interest you for that length of time. So, in with
you; there's no time to lose," and he propelled his laughing flock before
him up the broad stone steps.

Once inside, as may be easily imagined, the girls experienced no trouble
in finding things to absorb their interest, and it was hard for them to
take time to say good-by to their chaperons. The latter laughingly left
them to their own devices, feeling sure that they were safe for the time
being, at any rate.

"Talk about spending an hour here! Why, I could spend a week in just one
room!" exclaimed Jessie, after half an hour of blissful wandering. "I
never saw so many things all at once in my life."

"I suppose you girls have never visited our great museums at home?" Jack
questioned. "I have often felt that way myself; a person could spend a
month just studying the things in one room, and still not know all he
should about them."

"By home I suppose you mean New York," said Jessie; then added, demurely,
"You forget, sir, that we are simple country maids, who have hardly
stepped outside of Burleigh until this summer."

"Yes, I guess that's one reason why we like everything so much," said
Evelyn, naively.

"Oh, the mummies, the mummies! I must see the mummies!" cried Lucile,
startling the others with the suddenness of her outburst. "Oh, Jack,
please take me to the mummies."

"There, there; she shall have her mummies if she wants them," said Jack,
soothingly. "If they haven't enough, I'll head an