Mabel read the letter over several times.

"I guess it is all right," she said at last. "There is only one thing I would suggest."

"What is it?"

"I would add a line and say, 'Under no circ.u.mstances write me!'"

"Good," said Shirley. "I'll do it."

She did, and then addressing an envelope, the two girls walked up to the mail box at the pike and waited the pa.s.sing of the rural mail carrier.

They did not wish the letter to remain in the box unguarded, because some one might see it.

But with the letter in the mailman's hands, Shirley felt more comfortable. The two girls walked back to the house.

"With good luck," said Shirley, "that is, if Dad doesn't object, we should be able to leave here Thursday morning. We will send Clara a telegram from town telling her to meet us. Now we'll go and see what Dad has to say."

"So you want to go away again, eh?" said Mr. Willing, after Shirley had suggested the trip. "And how long do you want to be gone?"

"Until Sunday or Monday, Dad," said Shirley.

"Well," said Mr. Willing, after a long pause, "I can see no reason why you cannot go if Mr. Ashton doesn't object."

"I am sure he won't," said Mabel.

"Better go and ask him then," said Mr. Willing.

Mabel hurried to obey, and returned in a few moments with her father's consent.

"You want to go Thursday?" asked Mr. Willing. "Why, that's day after to-morrow."

"I know that," said Shirley with a smile.

"All right," said Mr. Willing. "I am going to town this afternoon. I'll send Clara a telegram myself to meet you."

The matter settled, Shirley and Mabel began their preparations for the trip.

"I don't antic.i.p.ate much trouble," said Shirley. "Of course you never can tell just what will happen, and for that reason I am going to take my little pocket revolver."

"Then I shall take mine, too," said Mabel.

"That is hardly necessary," said Shirley, "for, of course, I shall see Mr. Jones alone."

"Aren't you going to let me go with you?" demanded Mabel.

"No," said Shirley, "that might spoil everything. Mr. Jones might suspect something even if he didn't recognize either of us."

"But I can't let you face the danger alone," protested Mabel.

"Who said anything about danger?" demanded Shirley.

"Why, didn't you?" asked Mabel.

"No."

"Then why do you take your revolver?"

"Well," said Shirley with a smile, "it is always best to be prepared for the unexpected."

"Well, I suppose you will have it your own way," said Mabel.

Shirley smiled.

"In this, yes," she replied.

The two days pa.s.sed slowly for both girls, but at length the time came to go. The first thing in the morning, making sure that Jimmy was in the stable, Shirley made her way to his room and appropriated one of his old suits-one that she was sure he would not miss. This she packed in her suitcase.

"I shall have to buy a wig in Cincinnati," she told Mabel.

Clara met the girls at the train, and they were soon whirled to her Walnut Hills home in a large automobile. There they were to remain until the following afternoon, when Mabel would accompany Shirley downtown.

The next day, shortly before five o'clock, Shirley slipped her dress on over her suit of boy's clothes, and leaving Clara behind in spite of many protests, the two girls took the street car down town. On Fourth Street they found a little store where Shirley was fortunate enough to find a wig of the right shade.

In a secluded corner in the railroad station, when there was no one near, Shirley quickly stripped off her dress and stood revealed in her boy's clothing. Donning wig and cap, she handed Mabel the discarded dress to put into the satchel brought for that purpose.

"Now," said Shirley, "go back to Clara's and, under some pretext or other, wait on the porch for me after every one has gone to bed. I'll not come until I am sure they have all retired."

"All right," Mabel agreed, "and, Shirley, be very careful."

"I shall be, never fear," was the reply, and the young girl bade her friend good-bye and started for the rendezvous.

CHAPTER XI.-THE MEETING.

It was fifteen minutes to six when Shirley reached the hotel. At the Vine Street entrance she hesitated a few moments, for now that the time for action was at hand, she grew nervous. It took her but an instant to shake off this uneasy feeling, however, and she entered the hotel boldly.

She took a seat in a far corner of the lobby, where she could see all who came and went without being too exposed, and then she waited. Six o'clock came, but there was no sign of Jones.

"I reckon he is a little late," said Shirley to herself.

A quarter after six; half-past six and still no Jones.

Shirley arose to go.

"I guess he didn't get my letter in time," she said.

She made her way to the door. But just as she would have pa.s.sed out a hurrying figure b.u.mped into her. Shirley drew back to let the man pa.s.s, and cried out suddenly: