“So shall I, if you act like this. Cheer up, I tell you, and help me, and we’ll fix this matter right yet.” “How brave you are!” said Martha, looking up at Betty’s determined face. “Somebody’s got to be, and you won’t,” said Betty, smiling. “Now tell me everything you know about Maude’s money.” “I don’t know anything, except what she told you. I was sitting by the table when she stuck it behind the picture. I thought it was a funny place to put it, but I didn’t say so. I wouldn’t have been so careless with my bill.” “Where did you get your bill, Martha?” “Uncle Fred gave it to me on Christmas. He said to save it until I was sure I’d thought of the thing I’d like best to buy with it. And I was _sure_ I’d rather treat you all to ice-cream than to buy anything for myself. Oh, Betty, I do love to be hospitable to people, and I never have a chance! And when the chance really came, I was so glad and so happy about it, that it made me rather fidgety and embarrassed.” “You dear thing!” cried Betty, kissing her. “And then to think of how they’ve spoiled your little ice-cream party! Well, go on; then did you stay in Maude’s room after she left it?” “Only a minute, to say good-by to little Bobby Halstead. He was playing around there, and he’s such a cunning little chap.” “_Bobby!_ I’ve an idea! Now you stay right here till I come back! Don’t you move!” Betty flew into the house and went in search of four-year-old Bobby. She found him in his nursery, mounted upon his black hobby-horse. “Tell me, deary,” she said, “when you were in Maude’s room yesterday, did you see any money around?” “Pennies?” asked Bobby. “No, not pennies. Paper money. Green money.” “Ess, green paper, but not moneys. I cutted out a paper dolly; see! It’s not vewey good ’cause my sissiz was dull.” Bobby dived down into a box, and produced a queer-shaped paper doll which was surely cut from a five-dollar bill! Betty’s eyes danced, but she only said quietly: “Where did you find the green paper, deary?” “In ve was’e-bastick,” said the child; “I can always have what’s in ve was’e-basticks. Muvver said I could.” “Yes, of course you can. That’s all right. But lend this dolly to Betty, won’t you? Just for a little while?” “Ess, I will,” and the child gave it up willingly enough. Back ran Betty with her prize. “There!” she cried, triumphantly waving the five-dollar doll above her head. “I told you Martha didn’t know anything about Maude’s money. It must have blown from the table into the waste-basket, and Bobby picked it out.” “Oh—I do—remember!” said Maude, slowly, “the waste-basket was upset when I came home! So I looked through all the scraps carefully, but of course I didn’t find it. I’m awfully sorry, Martha,—truly I am,—more sorry than I can say! I don’t suppose you can ever forgive me.” “Oh, yes, I can,” said Martha, smiling through her tears.