The Camp Fire Girls on the Farm | Page 5

pay up their

mortgages as soon as they're due. It's pretty bad business, but that's the
way things are. I'm afraid we're going to have a lot of trouble, and until
I know just what's what, I've got to do a lot of my work in the dark. But
I'm going to do my best."
"I know how Jake Hoover found I was here, I bet," said Bessie, who
had been thinking hard.
"How, Bessie?"
"Well, you know General Seeley thought I'd frightened his pheasants
and taken the eggs. And then, later, I found Jake was the one. General
Seeley didn't punish him, but let him go with a warning."
"He's too soft-hearted," commented Jamieson, angrily. "A lad like that
ought to be sent to the reformatory--proper place for him!"
"Well, anyhow," Bessie resumed, smiling at the young lawyer's
vehemence, and at the look of approval that Zara shot at him, since she
had felt just the same way about Jake, "he was turned away, and I guess
he just hung around to see what I'd do, and where I'd go. I think he'd
like to get even with me, if he could."
"He'd better behave himself if he's going to stay around here," said
Jamieson. "His mother won't be around to make people believe that he
hasn't done anything wrong, and he won't find everyone as lenient and
forgiving as General Seeley when he's caught in the act of doing
something he can be sent to jail for. Not if I've got anything to say
about it, he won't!"
"I don't believe he'll be able to stay around here very long," said Bessie,
pacifically. "It must cost him a lot of money to stay here in the city, and
I don't know how he can manage that. Maw Hoover always gave him
money whenever he wanted it, if she had it, but she never had very
much."
"That's good," said the lawyer. "We'll hope that he'll be starved out
pretty soon, and have to go home. But I guess we'd better not count

very much on that. He may find someone who's anxious enough to
make trouble for you two to pay him to stay here for a while. He'd be
pretty useful, I imagine."
"I think we're foolish to do so much guessing," said Eleanor, suddenly.
"You can know much better what to do when you've really found
something out, Charlie. Now, listen. I was thinking of letting these two
go to work for a little while before we went to the farm, so that they
could earn some money for themselves."
"Yes," said Bessie and Zara, in one breath, eagerly. "We're so anxious
to do that. We mustn't keep on living here and taking charity--"
But the lawyer shook his head vigorously.
"Not right away," he said. "It's just because I'm doing so much guessing
that we mustn't take any chances, Eleanor. You want to keep them
close to you for a while. I spoke about that before Bessie saw our
young friend Hoover, and I think so more than ever now. Don't you see
that they're being spied on already?"
"I certainly do," said Eleanor. "And I just want to do whatever is best
for them. Bessie, you mustn't think you're getting charity when you stay
here. You're here as my guests, and we love to have you--both of you."
"That's right, Bessie," said Jamieson, smiling. "She means that, or she
wouldn't say it. I can tell you you were mighty lucky when you ran into
Eleanor the way you did."
"We know that, Mr. Jamieson; we do, indeed!"
"Nonsense!" said Eleanor, flushing, but not really displeased by the
compliment, which was evidently sincere. "I believe anyone would
have done just what I did."
"I wish I had your faith in human nature, Eleanor, but I haven't and I
know that mighty few people would have been willing to do it, even if
they'd been able. You've got to remember that, too. Lots of people

couldn't have done what you did. Well, I've got to be going."
"You'll call for us tomorrow, though, won't you, Charlie, to take Zara to
see her father?"
"Yes, indeed. I won't fail you. He's looking forward to it, and I've got
an idea, or I hope, at least, that when he finds I've kept my promise and
brought Zara to see him, he'll feel more like trusting me."
"I'm sure he will when I tell him how good you've been to us, Mr.
Jamieson," said Zara.
"Better not tell him about my goodness until I've done something
beside talk, Zara. But I'm going to do my best anyhow, and I'm sure
things will come out right in the end. Just keep smiling, be cheerful,
and don't worry any more than you can help."