remorse was terrible.  She was unhappy.  If only she could work harder and earn more.  At that time she heard of the Camp Fire Girls—­of the useful and wonderful things that they learned so that in time they became competent to demand and receive large salaries.  She loved Miss Kate and asked her if she might join.  Kate assented, and it was then that the girls first met her.  Gradually the desire to collect the two hundred dollars for Mollie came back, and with it the temptation to steal.  She took money from every girl.  She was even willing, after placing Mollie in the Hospital, to go to prison, if only the child could be cured.  She felt that some day she would be caught with the goods.  She adored Miss Kate and took nothing from her.  Finally she began taking jewelry to sell.

This morning she was on her way to find a hiding place for the two rings and a diamond locket taken from another girl, when she heard Ethel and Patty call.  Then she was sure that they had discovered her secret, and trying to run away she tripped and lost consciousness.  “Now that I have told you all,” she added, “your father—­Judge Sands—­will send me up,” and she sobbed piteously.  Her grief was sincere.  She had not stolen for herself.  She had been desperate.  Pity crept into the hearts of the two girls and they constituted themselves her friends.  They made her replace the jewelry in Nora’s and Edna’s suit cases.  They found the lady’s card from whom she had taken the purse and had Mattie return the money and bag with a note withholding her name.  They had her draw out the money obtained from the sale of the purloined articles and return it to the head of the Department Store saying that the things had been taken and sold under great provocation for a sick child, enumerating them and the prices, after which she felt happier, for she knew that the girls would remain her friends.  “Some day,” she said, “I may make good.”

Ethel wrote and got Aunt Susan interested in little Mollie.  Being a manager of a Cripples School that lady at once placed her free of charge in one of the wards as a boarder and pupil.  The resident physician said that in a year’s time he should send her out cured.  Poor Mr. and Mrs. Hastings were overjoyed, while Mattie’s gratitude knew no way to express itself.  She simply regarded Ethel and Patty with looks of adoration, while in time they overcame their prejudice, Ethel even kissing her goodbye.

There had been wrought in Ethel Hollister a great change.  Much of her pride and worldliness had dropped from her.  She had gradually become an earnest believer in truth despising all subterfuges and shams.