er mother early the next morning as they sat alone in their

She had been thinking so deeply t

an, the maid, was in the yard hanging up her dish towels. Mrs. Thurston had supposed

her mother's face flush under her gaze. "You might as well ''f

am very much worried and it is about money. But I did not want you children to

ied Barbara, "wh

bought for me had been going down, down, until finally it will cease paying dividends altogether and be of no value. How shall we manage then? I

. "Did Uncle Ralph w

had it on my mind ever since. Your uncle used to own some of

lph propose that we do? He is so rich I think he might show some interest in you, poor dear. You a

, "that we find some work to do. But you and Mollie

learn a little more about Uncle Ralph's management of our business. I am going to consult Mr. Stuart; I am sure he will give us

rose to go o

of father's business papers you have stored away in the trunk in the attic.

etermined, all right,"

handed Barbara a roll of old p

he would show. They were mere girls, she and Mollie, and their little mother had no knowledge of

t, here was one that seemed a bit different. It was in Uncle Ralph Le Baron's handwriting, but so faded that it was difficult to read. Slowly Bab deciphered it: "On

ie the papers together again, "I suppose Un

eerful presence da

led Mr. Stuart. "

mother is at market. But do please come in and wait for them. Ruth tol

, taking a seat. "Are you preparing to be a lawyer's clerk that

ou one more favor. These are some business papers my father left when he died. No one has ever looked them over. I have always wondered if

h a pretty look of pleading in her brown eyes that a much h

lad to have a look at th

soft refrain of the old clock on the mantel. Barbara held h

ty, was devoting the same care to Barbara's apparently worthless papers that he would give to his own important business affairs. Suddenly he looked up

that your uncle settled this debt years ago; b

Thurston, her arms full of bundles, and her face white. "What do you mean?" she said in a str

oom, "I mean, of course, this five thousand dollars, which, as I see by the date, your brother borr

in time to save her from falling. He took the bundles from he

ing away and her pulses thro

rother when he settled your estate

tered Mrs

nd's papers which would prove that the mo

g at her mother with wide open brown eyes, her c

ed to realize what was taking place, and I had no idea that we would be brought to poverty. But I know I saw no such paper as

r?" inquired Bab at last.

this situation at once," he said. "He is staying at the same hotel with me. If you will permit me I will inquire in

ced to do so now?" reflected Mr. Stuart, looking at the matter from all sides. "He has never been asked for the money before, and I do not believe the law requires a debt to be paid after six years, if no claim has been previously made for it, and

alled out a gay voice, and Ruth, followe

within the room

air," declaimed Ruth, "you are

hen nodding reassuringly to Bab and her mother.