The strange girl opened her eyes, looked about in fear, and then, seeing
herself surrounded by the friendly faces of our girls, on her own
countenance there came a look of relief.
"What--what happened?" she gasped. "Oh, I remember. I fainted. I heard
someone in the house, and I thought it was--I thought he was coming for
me. Oh, he isn't here; is he?"
"We don't know who you mean," said Mollie, gently.
"My--the man who calls himself my guardian, but who has used me very
cruelly," she said. "I ran away from him, and then I learned that there
might be a way to escape him forever. I came back to get certain
papers--but I heard noises in the old house, and----"
"I guess we made the noises," said Betty, with a smile. "We were looking
for a--ghost!"
"A ghost!" cried the strange girl, starting up.
"There! I am sorry I said that!" exclaimed Betty, who thought, too late,
of the effect it might have on the overwrought nerves of the stranger.
"But really there isn't any ghost, you know."
The girl smiled weakly.
"Take some more water," urged Mrs. Mackson. "And smell these ammonia
salts."
"I'll go get some of that cold chocolate in the vacuum bottle,"
volunteered Grace.
"No, please," said the girl. "I shall be all right presently. I can go
on. I didn't find the papers I wanted. I was sure he had hidden them
here."
"We hope you won't go until you have told us a little something about
yourself," said Betty, with an inviting smile.
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