"I don't know," was the doubtful reply. "How can Mr. Morrow buy such jewelry, do you suppose? A night watchman's position cannot bring him very high wages." The Doctor shook his head, and narrowed his eyes in thought. Then he began to talk of other things. Meantime Polly was in distress. What would Chris say, if she had to give back his beautiful present which she had promised always to keep? The next afternoon Dr. Dudley brought the matter to a climax by driving over to see the father of little Chris. Perhaps a talk with him would put things in a different light. Thus reasoning, he rang the doorbell at Mr. Morrow's boarding-house. "They ain't here," began the woman who answered his summons. "They got off, bag and baggage, before breakfast, this morning. He paid up all right," she exulted, "an' when they do that I'm done with 'em. He was a good payin' man straight along, I'll say that for him; but where he's gone I do' know no more 'n West Peak!" Questioning among the boarders brought no satisfaction, and the Doctor returned home mystified and suspicious. It was long before Polly saw little Chris again. CHAPTER XIII ILGA BARRON Spring was in Fair Harbor. Tulips and hyacinths flaunted their gay gowns in the city parks, and daffodils laughed in old-fashioned gardens. Flocks of blackbirds, by the suburb roadsides, creaked their joy in the sunshine, and robins caroled love ditties to their mates. Mrs. Jocelyn's stable, too, told of spring's coming, for there stood one of the prettiest pairs of ponies that ever trotted before a carriage. Already Leonora was becoming an experienced little horsewoman, though whenever she drove there was always Philip, Mrs. Jocelyn's man, riding close behind. Polly had had a dozen drives with David and Jonathan, and Elsie and Brida and the others had not been forgotten. On a Saturday morning Leonora telephoned early and invited Polly to go to Crab Cove, some six miles away. The day was perfect, blue overhead, green along the waysides, and sunshine all around. The girls were in a merry mood. "There's Ilga Barron out in her yard," remarked Polly, looking ahead. "M-h'm," replied Leonora indifferently, glancing that way. "You haven't taken her to ride yet, have you?" Polly went on. "No, and I'm not going to," was the decided answer. "Why, you'll have to ask her sometime, shan't you?" insisted Polly. "Say, Leonora, drive slow a minute!" "What do you want?" began the other, a bit of impatience in her tone. "I just happened to think,"--the words were tumbling out fast,--"I've had ever so many rides, and Patricia and Lilith and Gladys have, and Ilga will feel it if she is skipped. Mayn't I run over and ask her to take my place for this once? I can go any time, you know! Do you mind?" for Leonora's face showed disapproval.