COLONEL BAXTER RETURNS

“Come on girls, let’s go right away. Bet will want her father to herself and he won’t want a lot of hoodlums around!” exclaimed Bob.

“We like that, Bob Evans! In the first place we are all friends of Colonel Baxter and chums of his daughter, Bet. Therefore we are not hoodlums!” exclaimed Kit Patten.

“And Dad says to keep you here to celebrate his return. The boys too. He’s bringing a business friend, but that need not bother us.”

After Bet’s announcement, Auntie Gibbs flew to the kitchen and was already at work with mixing bowl and measuring cups. She was quite in her element at the prospect of company, and she took command like a general. Even the boys were put to work. One of the lights in the chandelier was not working, and Bob and Phil took off their coats, mounted a ladder and repaired the damage.

The girls were sent up stairs, to dust and air and arrange the guest chamber.

Uncle Nat was lying down with a headache. “Isn’t he the most provoking man,” declared the old lady. “I said this morning that like as not I’d need him to-day when he’s laid up.”

“Oh let him rest, Auntie Gibbs,” said Bob. “Phil and I will take his place. We’ll be sort of Uncle Nat twins!”

And the old lady commanded them energetically. “Here Phil, you take these bones to Smiley Jim and let him out! That poor dog has been neglected badly. The girls have been so busy lately!”

“Yes, busy and worried like the rest of us. Isn’t it great that they found the fan? It means a lot to me, for I had it last. And then Amos Longworth has been dogging my steps like a stage detective. I couldn’t move without being watched.”

“Yes, and that man came here and questioned Uncle Nat and me. Showed he even suspicioned us! What do you know about that?” exclaimed Auntie Gibbs indignantly.

“I’m wondering where he is to-day! We’re apt to see him peering in one of the windows,” laughed Phil.

“We haven’t notified Chief Baldwin. Bet wants to get the fan into her father’s hands before anyone else knows about it, and I don’t blame her.”

Long before train time the house was in perfect order, the table gleamed with crystal and silver. Everything of the best was displayed to welcome home the “Lord of the Manor” as Bet called him.

“I’m going to meet your Dad, Bet!” announced Bob. “Want to come along?”

“I’d like to go but I can’t. I’ll meet him here.” In an aside to Kit she added: “There might be an accident or a hold-up. Anything is apt to happen! I feel fairly safe when I’m here in the house with you girls around me.”

So while Phil finished up some odd jobs for Uncle Nat, and the girls fluttered here and there at Auntie Gibbs’ command Colonel Baxter arrived.

Bet noticed the difference in her father’s face at once. The look of strain was gone. And his eyes were not sad or preoccupied as they had been for the past months. The offer for the fan must have relieved him from worry.

With a joyous cry, Bet was in his arms. “Oh Daddy, I’m so glad you’re home!” She was trembling with excitement.

“Why, what’s the matter here? This is no way to greet your father with big tears in your eyes!”

Colonel Baxter shook hands ceremoniously with Auntie Gibbs, introduced the stranger, Mr. Provost, the curator of an art museum in the west, and had a cheery word for each of the young people. The Colonel seemed happy that Bet’s friends were there to receive him, and his old carefree manner made the girls rejoice that they did not have to cause him worry.

Before dinner he made a trip to Uncle Nat’s room to shake the old man’s hand.

“Auntie Gibbs, I do believe you are trying to spoil me,” declared the Colonel as he partook of all the delicacies that she had provided for his benefit.

“It can’t be done again, Colonel, I spoiled you long ago,” she answered.

After dinner was over and the men started toward the drawing room, Bet said, “Will you girls help Auntie Gibbs? I must give the fan to Dad at once.”

The Bet who presented herself to her father had scarlet cheeks and her hands were trembling with nervous strain.

“Daddy, may I see you alone for a few minutes? It’s a matter of great importance.” The girl’s manner was so formal and grown-up that Colonel Baxter had to smile as he turned to his guest.

“Will you pardon me, Provost, for a few minutes?”

Father and daughter slipped into a small room adjoining and after Bet had closed the door she said:

“Daddy, I have to make a confession.”

“What have you done now, broken a window?”

“No, no, Daddy, be serious. I’ve had an awful time.” She unfastened something from her neck and to her father’s surprise put the fan in his hand.

“Why Bet, I told you to put the fan away.”

“Listen Dad. When your message came the fan was gone! Isn’t that terrible? It was stolen and we got it back only yesterday. It was after the bank closed. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be disobedient.”

“Who stole it?”

“No one knows yet.”

Suddenly the Colonel jumped to his feet. “Well, one bit of good luck has come out of this. After a while I’ll hear the whole story. Now I must see Provost. You’re a brave little girl.”

After the Colonel had talked with his guest for a moment Bet heard the man saying: “That’s what I call luck, Colonel Baxter! I can take the fan with me, give you the check right now, and get home in time to meet that important business appointment.”

A brief inspection was enough for the expert. He made out a check, put the fan carefully in his bag and asked: “When does that train leave here for Chicago?”

“In fifteen minutes exactly.”

“Can we make it?”

“Bob, can you get us to the station in fifteen minutes to catch the express?”

“Certainly, let’s go!” said Bob.

Bet accompanied them to the station. She sat between her father and Mr. Provost and answered their questions when she could.

“I won’t feel safe until you are on the train, Mr. Provost, and even then I won’t be sure that something dreadful won’t happen.”

“But who do you suppose stole it? It’s not likely that anyone will bother me.”

Bet sighed with relief as the train pulled out of the station. “Oh, I do hope he gets to the museum safely!” she whispered as she snuggled close to her father.

At Bob’s suggestion, Colonel Baxter notified Chief Baldwin that the fan had been found.

“Do you know who stole it?” he asked.

“No. I have only been home a few hours, and I have had no way of finding out.”

“Well, Longworth and I have a certain party in mind. Maybe we’ll get a confession out of him.”

“We’ll discuss that later,” replied the Colonel.

Making an appointment for an interview the next morning, Colonel Baxter bade goodbye to the Chief.

“Oh Daddy, what a relief it is to have you around to attend to things!” cried Bet when they were alone.

The party broke up very soon after they reached the Manor. The girls were tired from the excitement of the last week and ready to go to sleep. And when the door closed after his young guests, Colonel Baxter said, “Now Bet you look as if you’d had a hard week. Get into bed and call when you’re ready and I’ll sit with you a while.”

It was good to have her father here, to feel his hand clasping hers with a firm grip that assured her of protection and love. She had hardly said good-night when her hand relaxed and sleep overcame her tired eyelids.

Bet was having her first untroubled sleep for over a week, and her pale face showed the effects of the strain. Her father mused: “It’s been a big problem for my little girl, but she handled it well, even to guarding the fan last night! She’s a great girl! I’m glad she’s mine!”

Colonel Baxter slept in the guest room instead of going to his own chamber. He had promised Bet to stay near her. She waked him early the next morning.

“I’m going to school after all, Dad! I’ve had a good night’s rest and feel fine,” she announced.

“That sounds like my Bet!”

“And Dad, I forgot to tell you. On Saturday just before we found the fan in Hermit’s Hut, Shirley set her camera for a wild animal picture. You see we planned on going back there Sunday and getting it. It’s still there.”

“I’ll get it today. I have an idea that Chief Baldwin and I will take a trip out there and look over the ground. I’ll get the camera.”

Bet spoke earnestly: “Don’t try to find out who stole the fan, Daddy! Let the matter drop.”

“Why?”

“Daddy, it might be someone we liked and trusted and if it was, we’d we’d well life wouldn’t be so good after that. Let’s drop it! Say yes!”

Bet’s father straightened up in bed and took the face of his daughter between his two hands.

“I see that you are still troubled. There is someone you fear has been false. Is that it? Some friend?”

“Yes, Dad.”

“But that’s all the more reason why we should investigate and make sure about it.”

“Don’t, Dad, please. I can’t bear it.”

“Bet, dear, can you trust your father? I’ve never failed you, have I?”

“No, no, never!”

“Then listen to me. Rid yourself of all your suspicions, if that’s what they are, and I’ll try to untangle things. Do you think if I take Chief Baldwin out to the hut that he might see something that would pin the blame on your friend?”

“No, Daddy, I don’t think so. The truth is, I have the evidence with me.”

“Might it not be well to trust an older head, Bet?”

“Yes. But somehow I feel that it is not being loyal.” Bet left the room and returned with the handkerchief. “I found the fan wrapped in Phil’s handkerchief. See his initials, P.S.G.”

“Phil! And he was the last one to have the fan? It does look bad for the boy. I must have a talk with him.”

“No, no! Phil couldn’t have done it. He just couldn’t!” repeated Bet. Sobs shook her body. “There’s the evidence but still I can’t believe it.”

“Where is my little Lady Betty Merriweather, I’d like to know?”

“Of course she didn’t cry over her troubles. She just kept a stiff upper lip and went on, but somehow it does me worlds of good to cry, now that you are at home.”

“Now Bet, I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. If we find out that this terrible suspicion is correct, I’ll have a serious talk with Phil. In the meantime I am going to have Chief Baldwin go over the ground with me. We’ll visit the hut together. Now just where is Shirley’s camera?”

“It’s at the right of the hut. You’ll see it without any trouble. Try to bring it without disturbing it for Shirley does want a picture for that contest this spring. And Dad, could you and Chief Baldwin go alone? Don’t take that detective!”

“Why?”

“He’d find out something against Phil, I’m sure he would. Then he’d want to put him in jail. He didn’t try to shadow anyone else. That boy has had a terrible time.”

The Colonel laughed at the inconsistency of his small daughter but remarked: “Be loyal to your friend. That’s right. But will you give me a free hand to find the thief? I think you’ll be glad you trusted me. And I’ll tell you right now, I don’t believe a boy who looked me straight in the eye as he did when we met, ever stole a penny from anyone.”

“Thanks, Dad, you’re so comforting. I’m proud of you. You will make everything come out all right.”

The breakfast bell rang and Bet and her father had to hurry, for Auntie Gibbs didn’t like to have them late to a meal.

“We’re coming Auntie Gibbs,” cried the girl. And a few minutes later the two best chums in the world, danced down the long stairway to the breakfast room, arm in arm, like carefree children.