"I don't know," Helen replied with a faint smile. "Perhaps these boys
can answer that question."

"I must plead guilty to that," announced Clifford, advancing with a
bow.

"But what's the surprise you were going to spring?" inquired Ruth
Hazelton, mischievously. "Is this it?"

"Now, never you mind," said Clifford. "Things didn't go just right.
This kidnapping affair interfered with our plans, and they are hereby
called off. We didn't want you to know we were here."

Two of the boys had been dispatched as messengers to Hollyhill for
vehicles to take the girls back to Marion's home. About 2 o'clock in
the morning Mr. Stanlock, several of his neighbors, and three
policemen, led by the two Scout messengers, burst into the room and
announced that they had brought three bob-sleds to give them all a
sleighride.

And a glorious sleighride home it was for all except the two
prisoners, whom the police took into custody.

* * * * *

The story of the CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE MOUNTAINS is told, all but the
subtitle, "A Christmas Success Against Odds." There was a real success
in store for them. The police made a raid, but found that the criminal
element that had gained a throttle hold on the labor organization in
the mines had cleared out so clean that not a living vestige of them