she declared, most emphatically.

“Let’s see how much we took in,” suggested Isabel. “I had no idea that a lot of small money could be so fascinating.”

“Indeed it is,” Sibyl rejoined. “I’ve had experience at college sales, and it always seemed to me the peanut money was the most interesting to handle.”

This brought on some talk of her college, for just as Nancy had guessed, she was a college girl. Finally, when the receipts were all counted and it was found that the boys, they who came in the first squad, had actually bought seventeen dollars worth of goods.

“It doesn’t seem possible!” Ruth exclaimed, “and just look at the bushels of pennies!”

“And we had better prepare for the next arrivals,” suggested Isabel. “The lake folks will be along presently on their morning drives.”

“And the early golfers returning from the links,” added Ruth. “Guess we better tidy things up a little. Those boys certainly can upset a place.”

Isabel had found a roll of picture wire and three small screen door springs. These Sibyl bought without giving the slightest hint of the possible use her father was apt to put them to. Neither Isabel nor Ruth, however, paid as much attention to the odd purchase as did Nancy.

“I do wonder,” Nancy remarked as Isabel tied up the goods for Sibyl, “what has become of Miss Townsend?”

“Oh, haven’t you heard?” exclaimed Sibyl. “She’s been quite ill.”

“No, I hadn’t,” said Nancy, considerately. “I’m so sorry. What has been the trouble?”

“Worry, chiefly, I guess,” and a sort of sigh seemed to accompany Sibyl’s words. “It was too bad she had such a dispute with her brother,” she continued, “and yet, they really didn’t seem to dispute, just to disagree, but they have both such old-fashioned, gentle natures that they consider it disgraceful to dissent from the views of loved ones. Oh, well!” this time the sigh was unmistakable, “I suppose even the most gentle can hardly expect to go through life without differences. I only hope they do not hold my daddy in any way responsible,” she said seriously.

“Why, how could they?” faltered Nancy, in honest bewilderment.

“Oh, of course they couldn’t,” replied Sibyl hastily, as if regretting her remark. 

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