Talking excitedly over the chance that had been offered to them, Grace, Mollie and Betty were soon on their way to the home of Amy Stonington. They found their chum in better spirits. The gloom of the day had passed, and she smiled, though wanly. By common, though unspoken, consent, the little episode of the afternoon was not referred to. "But, oh! we've got the finest news!" cried Betty, enthusiastically. "We're going winter camping! Think of that! Winter camping!" "Tell me about it!" commanded Amy, her face brightening. And they told her. The description had been nearly finished, and from Mr. and Mrs. Stonington had been exacted a tentative promise that Amy could go if the rest did, when the telephone bell rang. "It's Will on the wire," said Amy to Grace. "He wants to speak to you." "How did he know I was here?" asked Grace, as she took the receiver from her chum. "Oh, papa must have told him. Yes, what is it, Will? What! Mr. Blackford there? And he has some strange news of his missing sister? Yes, you and he can come right over!" She turned and gazed with startled eyes at her chums. "I--I wonder if he has found her?" faltered Mollie. CHAPTER IV MR. BLACKFORD'S CLUE "Hope I didn't disturb any family party," apologized Mr. Blackford, when he and Will called at the Stonington home a little later that evening. "Not at all," greeted Amy. "Come in. We are planning another season of activity." "I might have guessed," answered the young man who had been so peculiarly involved in the five hundred dollar bill mystery. "You Outdoor Girls are always doing something novel. What is it this time?" "A winter camp!" they cried in chorus. "List to the pretty maidens!" sung Will, mockingly, as he assumed a theatrical attitude. "Behave!" ordered his sister, whereat Will proceeded to contort himself in various ways to the great amusement of the girls. "That's fine!" exclaimed Mr. Blackford--"fine that you can go camping, I mean--not Will's circus act. But I must apologize for coming in on you this way. I happened to have some business in town, and as I received a curious bit of news I thought you girls might be interested. It's about my missing sister," he added, simply. "I've told you how I have been searching for her. "Perhaps I shouldn't bother you with my family troubles," he continued, hesitatingly, "but, somehow, ever since you helped me out so in the matter of that five hundred dollars, I have felt as though you did really take an interest in me, as I do in you. And, as I haven't any real folks of my own--so far," and he smiled, "naturally I come to you. Shall I go on?"