Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work

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There was a

grim smile of amusement on his shrewd face.

"Of all the easy marks I ever encountered," muttered Mr. Marshall, "this

young Forbes is the easiest. Why, he's a fool, that's what he is. He

might have had that forged check for the face of it, if he'd been sharp.

You wouldn't catch 'Rast Hopkins doing such a fool stunt. Not in a

thousand years!"

Meantime Beth was pressing Kenneth's arm as she sat beside him and

saying happily:

"I'm so glad, Ken--so glad! And to think we can save all that misery and

despair by the payment of a hundred and fifty dollars! And now we must

find the girl."

"Yes," replied the boy, cheerfully, "we must find Lucy."

CHAPTER XI

A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE

A woman was sitting in a low room, engaged in knitting. Her feet were

stretched out toward a small fire that smouldered in an open hearth. She

wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore

traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to

efface.

Suddenly she paused in her work, her head turned slightly to one side to

listen.

"Come in, sir," she called in a soft but distinct voice; "come in,

miss."

So Kenneth and Beth entered at the half-open porch door and advanced

into the room.

"Is this Mrs. Rogers?" asked Beth, looking at the woman curiously. The

woman's eyes were closed, but the lashes fell in graceful dark curves

over her withered cheeks. The girl wondered how she had been able to

know her visitors' sex so accurately.

"Yes, I am Mrs. Rogers," said the sweet, sad voice. "And I think you are

one of the young ladies from Elmhurst--perhaps the one Will talked to."

"You are right, Mrs. Rogers. I am Elizabeth DeGraf."

"And your companion--is it Mr. Forbes?" the woman asked.

"Yes, madam," replied Kenneth, astonished to find Will's wife speaking

with so much refinement and gracious ease.

"You are very welcome. Will you please find seats? My affliction renders

me helpless, as you may see."

"We are very comfortable, I assure you, Mrs.

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