"How do you know?" the young man asked. "Because we met that boy, and he told us just how you acted when you discovered your loss. Besides, that boy is thoroughly honest." "Say, is there anything about my case that you girls don't know?" asked the young man with a smile. "But before I go any further, perhaps I had better introduce myself--" "Oh, we know your name!" exclaimed Betty. "You do? And you never saw me before?" "You forget that your name was signed to the notice in the post-office--Mr. Blackford," and Betty blushed. "That's so. But I don't know your names, and, if it's not too impertinent, after the service you have rendered me--" "We'll tell you--certainly," interrupted Betty, and she introduced herself and her chums. "I suppose you will wonder how I played the part of a tramp," said the young man. "I will tell you why. I was almost out of my mind, and I imagined that by going around looking ragged I might pick up some news of my lost money from the tramps along the railroad." Then he told of how he had started to write a letter, stating he could not buy the business he was after, and had then torn the letter up, because he still hoped to find the bill and get control of the business. "And we found part of that letter," cried Betty. "We tried to find you, too, but you had disappeared." "Indeed. I know how that happened--I took a short cut through the woods." "The chocolate is ready!" called Grace, a little later. "Won't you have some, Mr. Blackford?" "Thank you, I will. Say, but you young ladies are all right. Do you do this sort of thing often?" "Well, we like to be outdoors," explained Betty, as she handed him a cup of the hot beverage. "We like to take long walks, but this is the first time we ever went on a tour like this." "And we've had the _best_ time!" exclaimed Mollie. "And _such_ adventures," added Grace. "Will you have more chocolate?" "No, thank you. That was fine. Now I must try and get dry. But I'm used to this sort of thing. I'm from the West, and I've been in more than one flood." "You have!" cried Amy, and the others knew of what she was thinking--her own case. "I hope he didn't have the same sort of trouble I had, though," she thought. "Perhaps if you were to walk along your clothes would dry quicker," said Betty. "And if you went on to Judgeville you might be able to get a tailor to press them." "Thanks, I believe I will. That is, if you don't mind being seen with such a disreputable figure as I cut." "Of course we don't mind!" declared Betty. "We are getting rather travel-stained ourselves." "Our trunks will be waiting for us at your cousin's house, Betty," spoke Grace, for it was there they were to spend the last night of their now nearly finished tour. "We can freshen up," went on the girl who loved candy, "and enter into town in style. I hope mamma put in my new gown and another pair of shoes."