Billie Bradley on Lighthouse Island; Or, The Mystery of the Wreck

even heard that Miss Arbuckle had lost an album, and Laura j

and began turning over the pages. She was thinking of poor Miss Arbuckle's red nose and eyes of th

. "I felt awfully sorry for

ely, and Billie briefly told of her meeting with Miss Arbuckle in t

ecious about it," sniffed Laura. "Lo

ath, Billie holding on tight to the book. "It may have pictures in it she wants to save. It may

a wreath made out of hair of different members of the family. She says it's

e pointed out. "And I don't blame Miss Arbuckle for no

uld be seen dimly through the trees. "The woods seem a funny place.

here she goes again. Everything has t

Billie for support. "A lady says she has lost an a

the album as if it had not occurred to her before tha

likely that two people would be foolish enough to lose albums

e interrupted. "You were

ited she could not talk straight. "What was Miss Arbuckl

n looking at it," s

d at the look

nified, "why, if she only wanted to look at the pictures, s

. "If you want to ask any questions go and as

a sigh of e

dians," she cried, then turned appealingly to Billie. "Don

very mysterious. Probably Miss Arbuckle just wanted to be alone or something, and so she brought the album out into the woods to look it over by hers

fall asleep," grumbled Laura, feeling like a cat that has just had a saucer of rich crea

he added, contentedly: "But I do know one thing, and that is that Miss

upstairs to the dormitory to wash up and get ready for supper while Billi

iss Arbuckle was standing by the window looking out, and somehow Billie kn

lashed across Billie's mind a different picture, the picture of a tall lank

she thought, had Miss Arbuckle made her think of the man who c

Then her face brightened as she felt the bulky album under her arm

he suddenness with which Miss Arbuckle turne

owly a pitiful, crooked smile twitched Miss Arbuckle's lips

to-day-a little upset. What is it, Billie? Why didn't you knock?" The last words were said in Miss Arbuckle's calm, slightl

of yours, Miss Arbuckle." Her eyes fell to the volume she still carried under her

t. But she had no need to worry, for although fear sometimes kills, joy never does, and in a minute Miss Arb

ces of three of the most beautiful children she had ever seen. "My darlings, my darlings," Miss Arbuckle was saying over and o

s the room, her own eyes wet, but sh

ttle babies! I couldn't lose your pictures after losing you. They were a

oftly after her. She brushed her hand across her eyes, for there wer

n she cries and talks about her children, and says she's lost them. Goodness, I shouldn't won

she told the story to her chums

he latter, looking interested. "You say she

ie. "It seemed as if she

oud. "I'm going to find out who those children

she thinks she

d Laura wit

a's chest, if one takes Billie's word for it,

a motive-oh, well, I don't know just what the album is yet, but an album is worse than commonplace, it is plumb foolish as a center around which to work. Oh