"Thank you," the girls replied. They told her about their pledge.

"Better write to Bob and ask him to telegraph you if he will buy two shares. I think he can buy that many," suggested Mrs. Cameron.

"I'll do it at once," said Mary Lee, and proceeded to suit action to words.

"Here comes Mr. Cameron's car," Letty called.

Mr. Cameron came in almost at once and greeted Mary Lee warmly.

"It's good to see you again," he remarked as he removed his gloves.

Mary Lee did not allow much time to elapse before she stated the purpose of their call.

"I'm sorry, girls. Of course, I've already bought the bonds. They are too good an investment to let pa.s.s."

"What's more, I've bought some for Mrs. Cameron, too. However," and he paused, "between us we should be able to buy forty or fifty bonds.

Don't you think so, mother?"

Mrs. Cameron smiling a.s.sented.

"Will that do?" he asked.

"Do? Do? Why, you're a dear," Mary Lee replied.

They stayed for tea and had a pleasant visit. The girls promised to call when they returned from Mount Hope.

"If we go," said Letty. "We may not be successful in getting the subscriptions."

"We simply must," replied Mary Lee.

"Tell you what I'll do," said Mary Lee. "I feel as if I should go out to see the Quinns. I owe them a call. Perhaps I can make Mr. Quinn understand how good these bonds are and if he has any savings he might want to buy some of them."

"I'll go with you," Letty replied.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "h.e.l.lO, MARY LEE, HAVE YOU COME TO STAY?"]

The call on the Quinns was made the next day. The girls took the train and walked to the home from the station. Mary Lee was delighted with the farm; it showed great improvement over the year before.

Mrs. Quinn came to the door, one hand shading her eyes and the other partly lifting the ap.r.o.n which she wore while busy in the kitchen.

"Well, if it isn't Mary Lee and Miss Saunders!" she exclaimed.

Hearing the exclamation, two st.u.r.dy boys rushed past her and were shaking hands with the girls before the mother had a chance.

"h.e.l.lo, Mary Lee," they greeted her joyfully. "Have you come to stay?"

"No, but I'm glad I'm here."

Mrs. Quinn took Mary Lee in her arms. "I'm so glad to see you, dear, so glad."

"I'm going for father," announced Tom. He was off with a rush, the other boy close at his heels.

CHAPTER XXIII

BACK ON THE FARM.

The girls sat on the porch during the entire afternoon. Mr. and Mrs.

Quinn were with them.

"It is so comfortable and cheerful out here," Mary Lee remarked.

"It's a wonderful place, isn't it?" added Letty as she looked about.

"Yes, and it will always seem like home to me," Mary Lee replied.

"We had a great summer last year. The farm did very well. This year promises to be much better. I tell you, it's a great place," and Mr.

Quinn beamed.

"Mr. Quinn has been waiting for Dr. Anderson to come out. He has saved considerable money and he wants Dr. Anderson to deposit it for him,"

volunteered Mrs. Quinn.

Letty looked at Mary Lee who in turn looked at her.

"That's a queer coincidence," said the girl. "One reason why we came out was to find out if you and Mr. Quinn didn't want to buy some Liberty Bonds." Mary Lee then went on to explain about them and also told about the investments everyone she knew had made. "It pays fairly well, you see."

"More than that," replied Mr. Quinn, "it's for Uncle Sam. I know something about it, but just hadn't decided that it applied to me.

When you get back, Mary Lee," he continued, "will you get Dr.

Anderson's consent? I have seven hundred dollars I can put into these bonds."

"I will ask Dr. Anderson to write you about this investment," Mary Lee readily replied. "He'll probably buy yours with his own."

The important business completed, the girls reluctantly disturbed their own comfort to follow the boys about the entire farm. The baby, over three years old now, was awake by this time.

Mary Lee was quite disappointed over the fact that the child did not remember her, but she made friends very quickly with both of them.

When the girls reached home it was close to eight. The next two days were hurried ones.

A telegram came for Mary Lee Monday night. At first she was greatly alarmed.

"It's from Bob, of course," Letty reminded her.

"Why, to be sure." She tore open the envelope as she spoke.

"He is going to buy three bonds," she cried delightedly as she handed the telegram to Letty.