What was it that had awakened Billie Bradley?

Hardly had the kid asked herself that question when she heard it--apadding, stealthy, creeping noise that made her clutch the bed clothesand draw them tighter about her.

Then in a panic she realized that whatever it was had started upstairs.

Nearer, nearer came the stealthy padding, till Billie realized it hadreached the landing. Her scalp crept and her hair began to stand on end.Her door was the nearest to the stairs, and she was all alone in thehouse with Chet!

Swiftly, she threw off the covers, jumped out of bed, and with herlimbs trembling under her, ran to the door and softly turned the keyin the lock.

Then she leaned weakly against the door and listened for the noise, butit had stopped. Evidently the burglar, if burglar it was, had paused toget his bearings.

Then another horrible thought struck her. Chet was sleeping in the nextroom, and Chet's door was unlocked!

0n feet that seemed too weak to hold her she crept into Chet'sroom--luckily there was a connecting entrance between--and softly turned thekey inside his entrance also.