"Well, it did look bad," said the detective, "since you had thrown the case away." "As if we would steal!" snapped Nellie, her pretty eyes flashing. "When we saw that story in the newspaper we had to run away again," sighed Rose. "Oh, it was dreadful!" "But I was determined from the first that I would find you," said Jack mischievously, "and you see--I did." "No, I did!" burst out Andy. "Hush there, boy! Didn't I find you?" asked Jack. "Well, we are found, anyhow," commented Nellie, "and I don't want to be lost again. But who got the earrings?" "Me for the jig!" shouted Andy. "Now I come in. You see," and he straightened up, and thrust his hands in his pockets as he always did when he had anything important to divulge, "I gave the young lady the card. I gave her the tip about the cops. I piped off old lady Schenk and Ramsy, and say! You ought to see them tear around Chelton when they found everybody in the game had cleared out!" Andy stopped to laugh. The others laughed without stopping. "And then--golly! If me mother didn't do the old lady's wash again just because there was a strike at the patch. And--then----She finds the sparklers tied up tight in an old rag of a handkerchief!" "Your mother found them!" all the girls present asked in accord. "Sure thing!" replied Andy. "And Andy knew enough to fetch them to me," said the detective. "That is how he came to get the hundred dollars reward!" "Hundred dollars reward!" repeated Rose and Nellie. "Don't I look it?" demanded Andy, swinging around to show off to advantage his new clothes. "You look a couple of hundred," replied Ed. "Say, I'd like to get one like that." The reporter said something about not having a camera, but Andy did not hear the remark. "And now," resumed the detective, "what are we to do with these young ladies? We have sufficient evidence to keep them away from Mrs. Ramsy. She is not a person capable of looking after children. She has all she can do to look after the mighty dollar." "Oh, if you will only let us work," pleaded Rose. "I know a lot about housework." "Why, we want some one right away," said Bess. "Our maid has nervous prostration from the fright that those two dreadful Squaton women gave her the day they visited our house after going to Cora's. Couldn't you let Rose and Nellie stay right here, officer? We could give them both something to do." "They certainly can wash dishes nicely," put in Cora, smilingly. "Why, I don't see what's the objection," said the detective. "Of course we will have to have a guardian appointed. Until then they could be placed in charge of your mother!" Nellie opened her eyes wider than ever. Rose bit her lip to hide her confusion. "Wouldn't that be jolly?" said Cora. "I was sure we would be able to manage it all right. Why, you girls will have a good time, after all, at Lookout Beach!" "You bet they will," declared Andy. "I'm going to stay down here for a few days, and I've got some money to spend!"