The Vanishing Comrade: A Mystery Story for Girls
their side in any argument, for once echoed Kate and upheld her in her determination to stick to the tasks they had set themselves.

In spite of all Kate’s protests, Katherine’s new white linen was ripped to pieces and remade for the traveller into a jaunty street suit. With a black tie and narrow black patent-leather belt, when it was finished it looked as though it might have come from some fashionable shop in New York. Kate could not help being delighted. The pink organdie, which had done Kate duty for best all last summer, and Katherine for best for several summers before that, was now freshened with new lace and decorated with narrow black velvet ribbon. It was not only becoming, but quite up-to-date, and when it was finished and Kate surveyed herself in it in the glass, standing on a chair to see it all, they both decided that Kate would be able to put clothes definitely out of her mind when she was wearing it, for it was quite appropriate for all the occasions it was destined to grace.

And finally, Katherine’s pretty bedroom was robbed of its month-old chintz curtains which, under her magic, in the space of two days only, became two simple but unique and pretty morning dresses for Kate. Now all that remained to be thought of in the way of clothes was the travelling suit.

“My navy blue silk will do perfectly,” Kate said. “If I’m a little careful, it won’t hurt it any, and next winter it will be as good as ever for your teas and things, Mother, unless I’ve quite grown out of it. Anyway, travelling won’t spoil it.”

When that was agreed upon it naturally followed that Katherine’s new spring hat must go with it; for it was a little navy blue silk hat, light and small and quite fascinating.

“What you’ll ever do for a hat I don’t see,” Kate worried.

“Never mind about me,” Katherine told her nonchalantly. “Here on this hill-top anything does so long as it gives a shade. And if ever I go down to Middletown I can wear your black tam.”

In the silk dress and hat and with her last spring’s blue cape with its orange silk lining Kate felt prepared to meet the eyes of even Elsie’s maid with equanimity. But imagine a girl of fifteen having a lady’s maid!

Katherine thought that was just a glorified title for nurse, probably. But Kate protested that. A nurse for a girl of fifteen would be even more absurd than a maid. Well, Katherine was sure Aunt Katherine herself wouldn’t have a maid. She was a New Englander with all a 
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