and, in any case, I couldn't do it."

"I know," said Betty Jo, "and that is what I wanted to get at. Why don't
you appoint me your agent, and let me take your book East, and make the
publishing arrangements for you?"

Brian looked at her with such delighted surprise that Betty Jo smiled
back at him well pleased.

"Would you really do it?" he demanded, as though he feared she was
jesting.

"You are sure that you don't mean 'COULD I do it'?"--she
returned,--"sure you could trust me?"

To which Brian answered enthusiastically: "You could do anything! If you
undertake the job of landing a publisher for my stuff, it is as good as
done."

"Thank you," she said, jumping down from the tree-trunk. "Now that we
have settled it, let us go to the house and tell Auntie Sue, and I will
start in the morning."

As they went down the hill, they discussed the matter further, and,
later, at the house, Brian took a moment, when Auntie Sue was in her
room, to hand an envelope to his assistant. "Your salary," he said,
hurriedly, "and expense money for the trip."

"Oh!" Betty Jo's exclamation was one of surprise. Then she said, in
her most matter-of-fact, businesslike tone: "Thank you. I will render a