A Campfire Girl's First Council Fire / The Camp Fire Girls In the Woods

!" cried Bessie. "I must, I mean. Zara trusted me, and

d up you won't help Zara, and you'll only get into trouble yourself. You say she trusted you-now you must

says so! None of the men would work for him in harvest time. They

he pick Zara up that

d all around that they had to do just what he told them, or he'd sell their land and their horses and cattle. And he said he'd make

e a good guardian, but if he had such influence over t

for a minute,

, Bessie? He seemed to be dr

and he goes over there quite often. Almost every time they hold court, I guess

. If I talk to him, perhaps I can make

es. But if you go,

back to the Hoovers, you know. No, I'll go alone. If it's only two miles, it w

owded a

her. I'll get back as soon as I can. And while I'm gone you can clear up the mess we made with

w a chance to get a good deal for nothing, or almost nothing. If the general opinion about Silas Weeks was anywhere near true, it would cost him migh

cer, she knew the ways of Silas Weeks too well to be really confident. And she couldn't get rid of the feeling that she, and no one else, was responsible fo

Suppose Farmer Weeks didn't go to Zebulon at all? It was possible, for Bessie remembered now that three-quarte

t where Zara had been taken. She might not be able to help her herself, but she could get the news, the true news, for thos

y, others might follow in his wake, and Bessie was fiercely determined not to le

making the best progress she could, although the going was rough. She could see, without being seen. If an

armer Weeks had turned off. He might very well, as she

ssroad! If he's gone to Zebulon Wanaka will find him, and if he hasn't, he must have gone

d, she followed the pointer on the signb

railroad crossing there was a little settlement and an inn that was very popular with automobilists. And Bessie thought it was possible that Farmer Weeks might have stopped there. Miser as he was, he was fond of good food, and, since he

till jest before meal time. Then he comes over post haste, and nothin'll do but Paw's got to stand out there l

ut then the smoke of the inn came in sight, and Bessie forgot everything but the need of caution. If Fa

wanted to get a look at the horses and carriages that were tied in the shed for she would know Farmer Weeks' rig anywhere, she was sure. But she had to be careful, for the inn was a busy spot

aking plenty of noise, to screen her movements, that wasn't so difficult. Bessie managed it all right, and, when she got to the far end, and had a chance to peep at the horses, her heart leaped joyfully, for she saw within a few feet of

thing yet. I don't believe he's got any right to keep her that way, not unless the people at the poor-farm give him

for her to take, and she heard someone moving quite close to her. But then, as the one who had frightened her came into view, she sm

said, star

come from? And wherever did yo

my pop owns that hotel there. What's your name? Do you like cherries? Can

me," laughed Bessie. "I love

ed to satisfy him thoroughly, and he pulled out a great handful of

aid. "Say, do you kn

in. She felt that she had

the question, her heart sank again. He couldn't mean

her skin was dark. So she didn't look like you at all, you see. She wa

to eat the cherries. But she saw that she had hurt his feelings by her neglect of hi

best I've eaten this year. I think

as del

and I'll give you some of th

other girl, with black hair. I think perhaps

ble. And she was with her pop, I guess. So I s'po

you think

idn't say anything-she just cried. And my pop says, 'Well, I've got just the place for her. Too bad to send her off

pened the

e, right over the tree with the branch torn off. See

she have a

e. He was just joking. That's why he winked at her.

oking man brough

e-glasses. Say, that's his rig right there in the co

anything he could for her. But he was only a little boy, and it seemed as if th

t old man isn't her father at all. He wants to make her do something horrid-something

st saw him! I'd hate to have him f

an she

all, hardly, from my room. The branches of that big tree stick

oesn't know I'm here to help her. She'd

p and tell her, if

here for her? Will you show her how to get down, and how

back here that's the peachiest hiding-place you ever saw!

her, and she couldn't see what happened at the window. But before she had waited more than two minutes, although it seemed like hours to poor Bes

ad-so glad!" she cried

there was a s

Don't be scared! I'll show you where to hide so he'

while Farmer Weeks