girls who crowded into the room behind her. There was a busy time
for a few minutes as the girls dressed Amelia in an old pillow-slip
with eye-holes burned in it, and placed in her hand the staff of a
broom, over the brush-end of which was drawn another bag, on which,
in charcoal, Grace Mason deftly drew a very wise looking owl in
outline.

Thus arrayed, Amelia was to lead the procession and be Mistress of
Ceremonies. They were about to start when Laura Polk was suddenly
missed.

"Now, where has she gone?" demanded Bess. "She's just like a flea!
You put your hand on her, and there she isn't!"

But Laura was back in a moment. She brought with her, and dangled
before their wondering gaze, a suit of paint-stained overalls,
jumper and all, that evidently by their size belonged to Henry, the
boatkeeper and man of all work of Lakeview Hall.

"I hid 'em the other day," declared the red-haired girl. "You never
know what may happen, or how such garments as these may come in
use."

"But, for pity's sake, Laura!" gasped Nan, "what are they for?"

"Don't they make just the uniform needed for a cowgirl? What say? I
bet she rides astride, and these old overalls will remind her of
home, at Rustlers' Roost, and all that, you know."

The shrieks of laughter that answered this proposal threatened to