XII. GOOD TIMES
XIII. SOMEBODY RUNS AWAY
XIV. SOMEBODY GETS LOST
XV. BEN'S RIDE
XVI. DETECTIVE THORNTON
XVII. BETTY'S BRAVERY
XVIII. BOWS AND ARROWS
XIX. SPEAKING PIECES
XX. BEN'S BIRTHDAY
XXI. CUPID'S LAST APPEARANCE
XXII. A BOY'S BARGAIN
XXIII. SOMEBODY COMES
XXIV. THE GREAT GATE IS OPENED




UNDER THE LILACS

CHAPTER I: A MYSTERIOUS DOG

The elm-tree avenue was all overgrown, the great gate was never
unlocked, and the old house had been shut up for several years.

Yet voices were heard about the place, the lilacs nodded over the high
wall as if they said, "We could tell fine secrets if we chose," and the
mullein outside the gate made haste to reach the keyhole, that it might
peep in and see what was going on. If it had suddenly grown up like a
magic bean-stalk, and looked in on a certain June day, it would have
seen a droll but pleasant sight, for somebody evidently was going to