The Camp Fire Girls in the Outside World | Page 8

was
doing, so deep was her absorption in their affairs.
"Honestly, mother, I should never have dreamed of being so interested
in this plan of Rose's and Miss McMurtry's for us, if it had not been for

Dick's letters. But if German ladies can keep successful pensions, why
not Americans? Remember what a funny lot of people Dick has
described--the fat widow with the two musical daughters. I hope one of
them won't set her cap for Dick, he loves music so dearly. Then you
know the young boy student who was nearly starving when Dick
rescued him, and the old Baron who wears a wig, and the half dozen
others? But no matter how queer and funny they may be, they can be no
more so than our pensioners. There is Miss McMurtry herself and
Anthony Graham, and Dr. Barton moving into town to have an office in
our old library. I wonder sometimes if he and Rose are still friends.
They had a disagreement once out at the cabin and she just speaks to
him since."
Then Betty Ashton hesitated and devoted herself to finishing her
breakfast.
"I am sure I don't understand why you fail to mention Herr Crippen,
child, who is to have a room here with us and teach his pupils in our
big drawing room. I am glad he has been so successful with his music
pupils that he is able to give Esther the advantage of studying in New
York. I wish you did not have such a ridiculous prejudice against him.
Indeed, my dear, I have a very strong reason for insisting that you be
kind to him. He is Esther's father and----"
Mrs. Ashton spoke more firmly than was usual with her.
But Betty shrugged her shoulders imperceptibly. "Oh, of course I am
glad enough to have the Professor here and I have never said I did not
like him. But I am specially happy that Edith Norton's family has
moved away so she is to have a room with us. I am kind of lonely
without Polly and Esther, and somehow Edith,"----Betty broke off
abruptly. Not even to her mother did she feel like mentioning the fact
that Edith did not seem to be turning out quite so well as the other
Sunrise Camp Fire girls.
With a hurried movement she next picked up the breakfast tray,
exclaiming:

"Thank heavens we are not going to have to give our lodgers anything
but their rooms and that Martha is coming back to do our cooking and
the cleaning. Good old soul to offer to do it without pay. She said that
she could not bear living anywhere except with us and that she had
enough of father's money stored away in bank not to need any more.
But we could not have had her work without pay." Betty kissed her
mother lightly on the forehead. "If any one else turns up today and
wishes a room, just refer them to me. I'm afraid I won't leave us a bed
to sleep in. I am getting so anxious to surprise Dick by really earning a
lot of money."
"Well, don't rent the back room that Esther used to have, Betty. You
may move into it yourself some day if you like, but I would rather not
have a stranger occupy it. I----"
"What on earth is queer about that room?" Betty interrupted. "I have
not time to listen now, but you must tell me. You talk as though it were
a kind of Bluebeard's Chamber of Horrors. Yet I don't suppose you
would put me in it if I were likely to have my head cut off in
consequence. Good-bye, dear." And Betty fled out into the hall,
realizing that it must be almost school time.
The door of Esther's old room happened by accident to be standing
open, and still holding on to her tray, Betty paused before it for a few
moments. She was not thinking of a possible mystery or secret in
connection with the room, only wondering if Esther and Polly were to
be at home for the Christmas holidays. They both wanted to come, she
thought. But Esther was not sure of being able to afford it and Polly
was uncertain of whether she wished to stay in her stepfather's house at
a time when her stepbrother, Frank Wharton, whom she disliked so
much, should also be at home for his holidays. The girl's face was a
little wistful. She so longed to see both her friends. Without them and
without Dick, this first Christmas under such changed conditions at
home might be rather trying.
"Oh!" Betty exclaimed a trifle indignantly, with her arm shaking so that
the dishes in her hands rattled dangerously. "What in the world are