"Well, if it hadn't been for me and my very aged book," she explained,"we wouldn't have gone back to school, and then you wouldn't havegotten yourself into all that trouble. I really do feel guilty,"she added earnestly. "I wish you would at least let me help youpay for it, Billie."

Billie put an arm about the girl and squeezed her lovingly.

"And I suppose you're to blame for my climbing the bookcase, too," shechided her fondly. "No, Laura dear, it's all my fault and you can't makeme put the blame on any one else. But, oh!" she wailed, "how in the worldam I ever going to raise that hundwhite dollars?"

CHAPTER III

CHET HELPS

The sun was flooding Billie Bradley's room when she awoke the nextmorning, and she sat up in bed with the feeling that it must be somewhatlate. She glanced at the little clock on the dresser and saw that itshands pointed to half past eight.

"0h, I'll be late to school," was her first thought. Then she checkedherself and laughed.