as much as you want to at me runnin' on like this about a little girl
that warn't ever born--mebbe laughin' will help your foot."

She took up the empty cup and went away, but she came back and stood a
minute in the doorway.

"There's this about it," she laughed, in a tender, little way, "if she
warn't ever born, she won't ever die. I sha'n't lose Amelia!"

* * * * *

To the three girls waiting at the B-Hive came a letter. They read it,
three heads in a bunch:

"Eldorado, June 26.

"Come whenever you want to. Directions enclosed."




CHAPTER III.


There was a postscript. It was like T.O. to put the most of the letter
into the postscript.

"P.S.--Never call me the Talentless One again" (as if they ever had!),
"when I came straight to the Eldorado--tumbled right into it. I've
decided to stay here until you come--please tell my substitute so. I