Classic Audiobook Collection - Billie Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler ~ Full Audiobook [mystery]

Episode Date: October 31, 2024

Billie Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler audiobook. Genre: mystery Billie Bradley has a talent for turning trouble into adventure, and her third year with her inseparable chums, Laura Jordon and Violet Farrington, begins with a simple school errand that goes wrong. Sent from Three Towers Hall to collect rare ferns, the girls lose their way in the deep woods and stumble into a meeting that leaves them with more questions than answers. Before long, brighter days arrive in the form of an invitation from their friend Connie Danvers to spend part of the summer at her family's bungalow on rugged Lighthouse Island, off the Maine coast. Salt air, swims, and lively outings with the boys promise an ideal vacation, until the sea reminds everyone who is in charge. When a fierce storm lashes the coast and a wreck follows, three frightened little children are found washed ashore, unable to explain who they are or where they came from. With Uncle Tom in the lighthouse and danger still lingering along the shoreline, Billie and her friends take it upon themselves to protect the waifs and untangle the mystery behind them, testing their courage, compassion, and quick thinking at every turn. For ad-free listening try our premium subscription Chapters (Approximate) (00:00:00) Chapter 01 (00:09:10) Chapter 02 (00:18:21) Chapter 03 (00:28:23) Chapter 04 (00:38:42) Chapter 05 (00:49:18) Chapter 06 (00:59:51) Chapter 07 (01:10:34) Chapter 08 (01:18:56) Chapter 09 (01:30:00) Chapter 10 (01:40:39) Chapter 11 (01:50:18) Chapter 12 (02:02:42) Chapter 13 (02:11:36) Chapter 14 (02:22:01) Chapter 15 (02:32:51) Chapter 16 (02:42:13) Chapter 17 (02:52:07) Chapter 18 (03:01:40) Chapter 19 (03:12:39) Chapter 20 (03:22:44) Chapter 21 (03:32:02) Chapter 22 (03:44:28) Chapter 23 (03:57:44) Chapter 24 (04:12:02) Chapter 25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler Lost Splash went a big drop just on the exact tip of Laura Jordan's pretty rather unturned nose. She put her hand to the drop to be sure she had not been mistaken, then turned and dismayed her companions. Girls? She cried, it's raining. If she had said the world was coming to an end, her companions would not have looked more startled.

Then Billy Bradley cocked an eye at what she could see of the sky through the trees, and held that one hand experimentally. You're crazy, she announced, turning an accusing eye upon Laura. It's no more raining than you are. And anyway, have it be troubles enough without your going and making up a new one? Making up, Laura stuttered in indignation. If you don't believe me, just look up my nose. I don't see what your nose has to do with it, Billy began scornfully.

But the third of the trio, Violet Farrington, by name, interrupted. Laura's right, she cried. I just felt a great big drop myself. "'Now whatever we're going to do?' "'Vy dropped down in a pathetic little heap on a convenient rock, "'looking up at her chums wistfully. "'Vy like Varyland Farenthood was always a little wistful, "'within trouble, like a small girl who could never understand

"'why she is being punished. "'But just now this wistfulness irritated Billy Bradley, "'who was very much given to quick action herself, "'and she turned upon Vye rather snappily. "'Well, you needn't just sit there like a ninny,' she cried. "'Get up and help us think what we can do to get out of this.' mess mess is right said laura jordan gloomily and it must be admitted that the girls were in a rather trying situation their botany teacher at three towers hall where there were students had sent them into the woods to gather some rare ferns which they were to use the botany class the next day that was all very well for if there was anything the girls loved it was a trip into the woods they had started off in hilarious spirits and then the impossible thing had happened they had gathered the ferns turned

turned to go back to three towers and found, to their absolute dismay, that they did not know which way to go. There is no giving over the fact. They were absolutely and completely lost. For almost an hour now they had been wandering around and around getting deeper into the woods every minute, until they had finally begun to feel really frightened. Suppose they couldn't find three towers before dusk. Suppose they should be forced to stay in the woods all night. These and a hundred other thoughts had chased themselves to their heads, but they had said nothing of their fears to each other. The girls were thoroughly game. But now had come this new complication. It had begun to rain, hopelessly lost in the wood and a storm coming on. It was a situation

to try the patience of a saint, and these girls were not saints. They were just happy, fun-loving, lovable specimens of young American girlhood who could upon occasion show rather alarming flashes of temper. I'm not a nanny, Vi protested hotly, but Billy was already started on a different train of thought. She caught Vy's wrists and hers and her eyes were big and round as she looked from her to Laura Suppose she said in a whisper We should meet the codfish Vy shivered nervously

But it was Laura's turn to be cross Don't be silly, she said Don't you know that the caulfish is safe in jail And has been there for a long time Now who's making up something to worry about I'd like to know But thieves do break out of jail Billy insisted and the cawfish is just the kind who would do it Goodness Billy what an idea

said vi, breathlessly. I never even thought about his escaping, and I suppose, she added, beginning to feel deliciously goose-fleshy, that we'd be the very first ones he'd go for. Revenge, you know, that's what they're always after in the stories. I hate to interrupt you, Laura broke in as sarcastically as she could, but if you two want to stand there all day talking about the codfish and revenge, you can, but I'm going to find some way out of this place. Oh, goodness, I felt another drop. And there's another. Well, you needn't count them, Billy remarked briskly, bringing in a hysterical giggle from Vi.

Come on, there must be a path of some kind around here. I suppose there is, but if we can't find it, it won't do us much good, said Laura, looking about her helplessly. Well, we certainly won't find it by standing still, snapped Billy. Come on, I feel it in my bones that three towers are somewhere off in this direction. And she led the way into the woods, the girls following dispiritedly. And while the three chums are searching for the path, the opportunity will be taken to recount to new readers some of the adventures and queer experiences the girls had had up to the present

time. In the first book of the series entitled Billy Bradley and her inheritance, Billy had been left an old homestead at Cherry Corners in the upper part of New York State. The strange legacy had come to Billy from an eccentric aunt, Beatrice Powerson, for whom Billy had been named, for Billy's name was not Billy at all, but Beatrice. It will be remembered that the girls had decided to spend their vacation there, and that the boys, Billy's brother Chetwood, Laura's brother Teddy, and another boy, Ferd Stowing, had joined them there and that queer and exciting adventures had followed. The most wonderful

thing of all had been the finding of the shabby old trunk in the attic, whose contents of rare old coins and postage stamps had brought Billy in nearly $5,000 in cash. The money had enabled Billy to replace a statue which she had accidentally broken a little while before, and had also given her a chance to go to Three Towers Hall, a good boarding school, and checked the opportunity to go to Boxton Military Academy, which was only a little over a mile from Three Towers Hall. The good times the girls had at the school, and some bad times, too, have been told of in the second book of the series called Billy Bradley at Three Towers Hall. In North Bend, where the girls had always lived, there lived also two other girls, Amanda Peabody and Eliza Dilks. These girls were

sneaks and tattletails of the worst order, and were thoroughly disliked by all the girls and boys with whom they had come in contact. When the chums had heard that Amanda was to accompany them to Three Towers, they were absolutely dismayed, for they expected that she would spoil all the fun. Amanda had done her best to live up to the expectations of the girls, but try as she would, she had not been able to spoil entirely the fun, and this very failure had, of course, made her and her chum Eliza Dilks furious. Both Three Towers Hall and Boxton Military Academy had been built on the banks of the beautiful Lake Malada, and the girls and boys had spent many happy hours rowing upon the lake in the fall and skating upon it in the winter. But the most amazing thing

that had happened to them at three towers had been the capture of the man the girls called the codfish. This rascal had attempted the steal of Billy's precious trunk in the beginning, but Billy and the boys had given chase in an automobile and had succeeded in recovering the trunk. They had also succeeded in getting a good look at the man, whose hair was red, eyes little and close together, mouth wide and loose-lipped. It was this last feature that had given the thief his name with the boys and girls, for the mouth certainly resembled that of a codfish. Later, the codfish had turned up again near Three Towers Hall, had robbed one of the teachers of her purse when she was returning from town, and had later succeeded in making off

with a great many valuables from Boxed and Military Academy. The girls never forgot how, with the aid of the boys, they had captured the codfish and turned him over to the police. Though, as Laura said, the thief had been in jail for some time, the chums had never stopped thinking and wondering about him. But never before had the possibility of his escaping been thought of. But now, as they made their way through the forest that was growing darker and darker, they could not shake off the thought of him. They glanced often and uneasily into the shadowy woodland and drew closer together as if for protection. Their rain was beginning to come a little faster now, and their clothes felt damp. Even Billy's courage was beginning to fail. Suddenly Laura stopped, stalked still, and looked at them impatiently

There's not a bit of views are going on like this, she said, for all we know we may be getting farther away from the path every minute. And my feet hurt, added Vi, pathetically. Suddenly Billy called to them. She had gone on a little ahead, and, peering through the dusk, has seen the outline of something dark, a black smudge against the gray of the woods. Girls, come here quick, she cried, and half-fearing, half-hoping, they knew not what. The others ran to her. End of Chapter 1 Chapter 2 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island This is a Libravox recording

All Libravox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit Libravox.org Read by Rose Fiasco Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler The Hut in the Woods What is it, Laura cried For answer Billy pointed to the gloom

"'There, see it?' she cried excitedly. "'It's some sort of little house, I guess, a hut or something.' "'A house!' cried Laura joyfully. "'Glory, B, let's go!' "'What's the matter?' she asked, as the other girls hung back. "'Better not be in too much of a hurry,' Billy cautioned her. "'The place looks as if it were empty, but you never can tell.' "'Well, there's something I can tell,' Laura retorted impatiently,

"'and that is that I'm getting soaking wet.' She started on again, but Billy called to her to stop. "'Don't be crazy, Laura,' she whispered. "'We're all alone in the woods, and it's almost night. How do we know who may be in that shack?' "'Oh, Billy, suppose it were the codfish,' whispered Vye, and Laura looked disgusting. "'It isn't apt to be the codfish,' returned Billy. But whoever it is, I think we'd better be careful.

We'll go up to it softly and look about a bit. Please don't anyone speak until we're sure it's all right.' Girls were used to obeying Billy, even impulsive Laura, so now they followed softly at her heels, stepping over twig so as to make no noise. Goodness, anyone would think we were thieves ourselves, Laura giggled hysterically, and Billy looked back at her warningly. It was a strange thing, and strangely made this remote little shelter in the woods. It probably had some sort of framework of wood inside, but all the girls could see from the

outside was a rude structure entirely covered by moss and interwoven twigs. In fact, unless one looked closely, one might think that the little hut was no hut at all, but part of the foliage itself. The girls could find no windows, but as they moved cautiously around the hut, Billy came upon a small door. The ladder was hardly more than four feet high, and the girls would have to stoop considerably to get through it. For goodness sake, open it, Billy, Laura whispered close in her ear. It's beginning to pour pitchforks, and I'm getting soaking wet. I don't care if a hyena lives in there. I'm going in, too. Billy wanted to laugh, but she was too wet and nervous, so she opened the little door cautiously and peered inside. For a minute she could not

tell whether the hut was empty or not, for it was very, very dark. But as her eyes became accustomed to the darkness, she felt sure that the place was empty. Come on, she called over her shoulder to the girls. Her voice still cautiously lowered. I can't see very well, but I guess there's nobody at home. The girls had to stoop almost double to enter the tiny door, but once inside they were surprised to find that they could stand upright. There are in almost entire darkness, the only patch of light coming from the little door that Vye had left open.

Suddenly they began to feel panicky again. If we can only get a light, whispered Vye. Goodness, listen to the child, said Laura scornfully. She wants all the comforts of home. Ouch! Her toe had come in contact with something hard. "'What's the matter?' cried Billy, startled. "'Matter enough,' moaned Laura.

"'I've broken my toe.' "'Oh, well, that's all,' said Billy. But Laura began to laugh hysterically. "'Oh, yes, that's all,' she cried. "'I only wish it had happened to you, Billy Bradley.' "'If all wishes could be fulfilled as quickly as that of Laura's, there would be few unsatisfied people in the world. For before it was out of her mouth,

Billy uttered a sharp cry of pain, and, lifting a smarting ankle in her hand, began to rub it gently. Did you do it, too? Laura cried joyfully, adding with a good imitation of Billy. Oh, well, that's all. Oh, for goodness sake, keep still, cried Billy, from which it will be seen that Billy was not in the best of tempers. This place must be full of stuff. Goodness, why didn't we think to bring matches with us? Because we went out to get ferns, not to burn up the woods, said Laura, with a chuckle. "'Goodness!' cried Vye, suddenly out of the darkness. "'It is! No, it isn't.

"'Yes, it is! For goodness sake! What the matter with her?' asked Laura, getting hysterical again. Has trouble turned her head?' "'No, but something's turned yours,' Vy's voice came indignantly back at her. "'I've found something I have, but I have a good mind not to tell you what it is.' "'File it, my darling!' cried Laura fondly. "'Don't you see me on my knees?' "'Yes,' said Vy, and suddenly there was a flare of light in the room that illuminated the faces of the girls and made Billy and Laura jump.

"'I see you,' said Vi, calmly, and stood laughing at them, while the flickering match in her hand died down to a little glimmer and went out. "'So that's what you found! Matches!' cried Billy joyfully, while Laura just kept on gaping. "'Oh, Vy, you're a darling! And I forgive you for scaring us almost to death! Come on, light another one so we can see where we are!' Vy obediently lighted another match,

a box of which she had found quite by accident, and the girls looked about them curiously. And as they looked, the curiosity and wonder grew. Billy was wild with impatience when the match in Vye's hand flickered and went out again. Here, give them to me, she cried. I thought I saw something. Look out, don't spill them, Vye. I should say not, they're all we have, chimed in Laura. The match flared up in Billy's hand, and this time it was her turn to make a discovery. The discovery was a pair of thick white candles, each set. in a white china dish and pushed to one end of a rudely made table. Quick as a flash, Billy put the match

to the wick of one candle, and then, with a sigh of excitement, blew out the match that was almost burning her fingers. Girls, she cried, looking about her eagerly, isn't this a queerest, funniest little place you ever saw? And it's so complete! Excitedly, she crossed the little hut, whose floor was nothing but solid, trampled down earth, and began to examine a rude-looking cot that ran all along one side of the queer little place. And here's a pantry, exclaimed Vye excitedly. Look girls, shelves and cans of things, and everything! The interior of the place was made of rough boards, rudely thrown together as if by an amateur.

Why the person who had made the little cabin had not laid boards for his floor nobody could tell, perhaps he had run short of lumber, or perhaps he preferred the hard earth floor. As Vye had said, in one corner some boards had been nailed up to form shelves. and there were several tins of canned goods upon the shelves. Quite evidently this must be the queer owner's pantry. Besides this, the cot, the table, and an oddly shaped chair, which had evidently been made from an old soapbox, made the only furnishings of the place.

I wonder, said Billy, looking about her, while a sort of awe crept into her voice, what the person is like that lives here. He must be very queer, to say the least. Oh, cried by, all her old fears coming back, again. Girls, I'd almost forgotten the codfish. Do you suppose? No, we don't, said Laura shortly, wishing that the very mention of the codfish would not send the cold chills all over her. Goodness, just listened to that rain, she added, shivering. I guess we're in for a night of it.

But we can't stay here all night, said Billy anxiously. Suppose the owner should come back, added by, her teeth beginning to chatter. Well, he could only kill us if he did, said Laura gloomily. Besides, there are three of us to his one, said Billy, trying to speak. lightly, but Laura spoiled the attempt by adding more gloomily than ever, how do we know there's only one of him? Well, it doesn't look as if a whole family resided here. That's so, too, but there may be two at least. Again the girls looked around the queer place.

They saw a few tools as if somebody had spent time in woodworking. There were shavings and parts of cut tree branches and strips of bark. I'll wager he's a queer stick. Whoever he is, was Billy's comment. and what will he say if he finds us here, prying to his private affairs, came from Laura, with something of a shiver. Oh, all uttered a little cry as a crash of thunder reached them.

Then the rain seemed to come down harder than ever. Just listen to that! It's good we are under cover. If we weren't, we'd be drowned. The rain came in at one corner of the shelter, forming a pool on the hard floor, but it did not reach the girls for which they were thankful. I wonder how long it will last, sighed Vi, presently.

maybe all night returned billy oh do you think it will really last that long came pleadingly you know as much about it as i do what will they think of our absence at the hall broke in laura they may send out a searching party began billy hush cried vi suddenly and her tone sent the goose-flesh all over them again i hear something don't you think we better put something against the door End of Chapter 2 Chapter 3 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler. Ferns and Mystery

There's nothing to put against the door, stammered Billy nervously. I might put out the light, though. She started for the candle, but Laura put out a hand and stopped her. No, she said, I'd rather see what's after us anyway. I hate the dark. The noise that by it heard was a slow measured step that sounded to the girls overbought nerves more like the stealthy creeping of an animal than the dread of a man. But whoever, or whatever it was, it was coming steadily toward the hut. That much was certain. The girls drew close together for protection,

and watched the little door, white-eyed. It sounds like a bear, whispered Vai hysterically. Silly, Laura hissed back her. Don't you know that bears don't grow in this part of the country? But if it was a man, Vai argued, he wouldn't be walking so slowly, not in this kind of weather. Hush, commanded Billy. He's almost here.

If it's the codfish, Vye was saying desperately when the little door opened, and she clapped her hand to her mouth, choking back the words. Someone was coming through the door, someone who had to bend so much, that for a startled moment, the girls were not at all sure about what it was an animal, after all, and not a man that they had to reckon with. Then the visitor stood up,

and they saw, with real relief, that it was a man after all. As a matter of fact, after the first startled minute, it was the newcomer who seemed frightened, and the girls who tried to make him feel at home. At first sight of the girls, the man staggered backward and came up with a thump against the wall of the hut. From there he regarded them with eyes that fairly bulged from his head. Hello, he muttered. Who are you?

The girl stared for a moment, then Laura giggled. Who could be frightened when a person wanted to know who they were? He was a queer-looking man. He was tall, over six feet, and saw him. so thin that the skin seemed to be drawn over the bones. His shoulders slunked and his arms hung loosely, whether from weariness or discouragement or laziness, the girls found it impossible to tell. But it was his eyes that they noticed, even in that moment of excitement. They were big, much too big for his thin face, and so dark that they seemed deep-sunken, and the expression was something that the girls remembered long afterward. It was brooding, haunted, and the

with a little touch of wildness that frightened the girls. Yet his mouth was kind, very kind, and looking at it, the girl ceased to be afraid. Who are you? The man repeated, and this time Billy found her voice. We got lost, she said, hesitatingly, speaking more to the kind mouth of the man than to the strange, wild eyes. It began to rain, and we found this little place, Laura caught her up eagerly, and came inside to keep from drowning to death. We hope you don't mind, Vi finished, with a pleading smile, which sometimes won more than all billies and Laurel's courage.

Mind, the man repeated vaguely, passing a hand across his eyes, as if to wake himself up. Why should I mind? It isn't very often I have company. The girls thought he spoke bitterly, but the next minute he smiled at them. I'm sorry I can't ask you to sit down. down, he said, so embarrassed that Billy took pity on him. We don't want to sit down, she said, smiling at him. We're too nervous. Do you suppose the rain will ever stop? The man shook out his clothing

and sent a shower of spray all about him. He was soaking, drenching wet, and suddenly, looking at him, Billy had a dreadful thought. Suppose the man was not quite right in his mind. She had a horror of crazy people. But what same man would build himself a cabin in the woods like this in the first place, and then go roaming around in the rain without any protection. A memory of the slow, measured steps they had heard approaching the cabin made her shudder, and instinctively she drew back a little and snuggled her hand into Laura's. If he was not crazy, he was probably a criminal of some sort,

and neither thought made Billy feel very comfortable. Three girls alone in the woods with a crazy man or a criminal, with a darkness coming on. Something of what she was thinking occurred to Laura and Vi also, and they were beginning to look rather pale and scared. As for the man, he hardly seemed to know what to do next. He took off his dripping coat, threw it in a heap in one corner, and turned back uncertainly to the girls.

No, I don't think it will stop raining for some time, he said, seeming to realize that Billy had asked a question, which he had not answered. and it is getting pretty dark outside. You say you are lost? Yes, said Billy, wishing she had not told the man that part of their troubles. But then, what else could she do? We were sent into the woods to find rare ferns.

Ferns, broke in the man, his deep eyes lighting up with sudden interest. Ah, I could show you were the rarest and most beautiful ferns in the country grow. You could, they cried, growing interested in their turn. and coming closer to him. Are you a naturalist? asked Vye, a little uncertainly, for she knew just enough about naturalist to be sure she was not one.

I guess you might call me that, said the man. I've had plenty of time to become one. Again, the girls had that strange feeling of mystery surrounding the man. He walked over to the other end of the room, and before the girl's amazed eyes took out what they had thought to be part of the table. It was a very cleverly hidden receptacle, and as the girls looked down into it, they saw that it was half filled with curious little fern baskets.

I make them, the man explained, as they looked up at him puzzled, and then I sell them in the town, sometimes. His mouth tightened bitterly, and he hastily returned the baskets to their hiding place. Then he turned and faced them abruptly. "'Where do you come from?' he asked, almost sharply. "'We come from Three Towers Hall,' answered Billy. "'Three Towers?' The man looked very much interested. "'Are you her—teachers there, or pupils?'

"'Teachers? Hardly,' and Billy had to smile. "'We are not old enough for that. We are pupils.' "'Do you like the place?' "'Very much.' Again there was a pause, and it must be admitted that, for a reason they could not explain, the girls felt far from comfortable. Oh, if only they were back at the boarding school again.

I don't know a great deal about the school, said the man slowly. I suppose there are lots of girls there. Over a hundred, said Laura, thinking she should say something. And quite a few teachers, too? Oh, yes. Then the men asked quite a lot of other questions, and the girls answered him as best they could. The man continued to look at them so queerly that Billy was convinced that there was something wrong with him.

But what was it? Oh, if only the storm would let up, so they could start back to the school. But even when the rain stopped, how could they get back? They were lost, and at night the way would be even harder to find than in the daytime. No, they were completely in this man's power. If he put them on the right path to three towers, all well and good. If not, but she refused to think of that. I'm sure it isn't raining hard anymore. Laura broke in on her thoughts. Don't you think we could go now? Even if it hasn't stopped raining, we don't mind, added Vi eagerly.

We're wet now, and we won't mind being a little bit wetter. For an answer, the man opened the door and crawled out into the open. In a moment he was back with what seemed to the girls the best news they had ever heard. The rain is over, he said, but the foliage is still dripping. If you really don't mind getting wet. Oh, we don't, they cried, and we're starting from the door when Vice suddenly remembered something. The ferns, she cried. Where are they? The girls searched frantically about, knowing that their botany teacher would reprimand

them if they did not bring back the ferns, and finally found them on the floor where somebody had brushed them in the excitement. Then they crept out through the door, their strange acquaintance lingering behind to put out the light, and found themselves in the cool darkness of the forest. Do you suppose he will really take us back? I whispered, close to Billy's ear. He'd better, said Billy, clenching her hands fiercely against her side. If he does, then I'll...

I'll... Murder him! Goodness, don't talk of murder, cried Laura hysterically. It's an awful. word to use in the dark and everything. End of Chapter 3, read by Nancy Cochran Gergen, Gilbert, Arizona, October 19, 2022. Chapter 4 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island. This is a Libravox recording.

All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler At the school again There's only one word worse, said a gloomy voice, so close behind them that if I clapped a hand to her mouth to keep from crying out. And that, the gloomy voice went on, is theft. The girls never afterward knew what kept them from breaking loose and running away.

Probably it was because they were paralyzed with fright. while they had thought the man was still in the hut, he had come softly up behind them, and had overheard the last, at any rate, of what they had said. Billy, as usual, was the first to recover herself. Will you take us to three towers now? She asked in a voice that she hardly recognized as her own. Do you know the way? Yes, he answered, adding moodily as though to himself,

Hugo Billings ought to know the way. Billy caught at the name quickly, for she had been wondering what this strange person called himself. Hugo Billings, she said eagerly. Is that your name? The man had started on ahead of them through the dark woods, but now he stopped and looked back, and Billy could almost feel his eyes boring into her. Did I say so? He asked sharply, then just as quickly turned away and started on again. "'Goodness! I guess he must be a crazy criminal,' thought Billy plaintively, as she and her chums followed their leader, stumbling on over rocks and roots that sometimes bruised their ankles painfully. I suppose there are some people that are both. Anyway, he must be a

criminal, or he wouldn't have been so mad about my knowing his name. The rest of that strange journey seemed interminable. There were times when the girls were sure the man who called himself Fuggo Billings was not taking them toward three towers hall at all. It seemed impossible that they could have wandered such a long way into the woods. Then suddenly, their feet struck a hard-beaten path, and they almost cried aloud with relief, for they recognized the path and knew that the open road was not far off. Once on the open road, they could find their way alone. Abruptly, the men in front stopped and turned to face them. Once more, the girl's heart's heart misgave them. Was he going to make trouble after all? Why didn't he go on? And then the man spoke.

I won't go any farther with you, he said, and there was something in his manner of speaking that made them see again, in imagination, the tired slump of his shoulders, the wild haunted look in his eyes. I don't like the road, but you can find it easily from here. Then turn to your right, three towers is hardly half a mile up the road. Good night. he turned with abruptness and started back the way they had come but impulsively billy ran to him calling to him to stop yet when he did stop and turned to look at her she had not the slightest idea in the world what she had intended to say if indeed she had really intended to say anything I—I just wanted to thank you, she stammered, adding, with a swift little feeling of pity for this man who seems so lonely, and if there's anything I can ever do to—to help you. Who told you I needed help? cried the man, his voice so harsh and threatening, that Billy started back, half falling over a wood. Why, why, faltered Billy, saying almost the first thing that came into her mind.

You look so— so sad. Sad, the man repeated literally. Yes, I have enough to make me sad, but help? He added fiercely. I don't need help from you or anyone. And without another word, he turned and strode off into the darkness. After that, it did not take the girl's lung to reach the road.

They felt, some way, as if they must have dreamed their adventure. It had all been so strange and unreal. And yet they knew they had never been more well. in their lives. Please don't talk about it now, beg by, when Lord would have discussed it. Let's wait till we get in our dorm with lights and everything. I'm just shivering all over.

For once the others were willing to do as the most timid of the trio wished, and they hurried along in silence till they saw, with hearts full of thankfulness, the lights of Three Towers Hall shine out on the road before them. Look, I see the lights. So do I. thank goodness we haven't much farther to go it's all of a quarter of a mile by huh what's a quarter of a mile after such a tramp as we've had came from billy and after such an experience added laura we'll certainly have some story to tell i want something to eat first yes and dry clothes too what a queer hut and what a queer man i've heard of people being like people being left

lost before, said Billy, as they ran up the steps that led to the handsomest door in the world, or at least so they thought it at the moment. But now I know that what they said about it wasn't half bad enough. But not everyone finds a hut and a funny man when they get lost, said Vye. Well, you needn't be so conceited about it, said Laura, pausing with her hand on the doorknob. The girls probably won't believe us when we tell them. But Laura was wrong. The girls did really believe the story of Hugo Billings and the hut, and became tremendously excited about it. At first, they were all for making up an expedition and going to see it. The only drawback being that the chelms could not have directed them to it if they would,

and they would not have wished to anyway. They had rather good reason to believe that Hugo Billings would not want a lot of curious girls spying about his quarters, and being sorry for him and grateful to him for helping them out of their fix, they absolutely refused to have anything to do with the idea. They were greeted with open arms on the night of their return. Miss Walters, the much-beloved head of Three Towers Hall, said that she had been just about to send out a searching party for them. They were late for supper, but that only made their appetites better, and as they were favorites of the cook, they were given an extra share of everything and ate ravenously, impatient of the questions fluncted. at them by the curious girls.

Thank goodness the dill pickles aren't here, Laura said to Billy between mouthfuls of pork chop. Think of coming home with our appetites to the kind of dinners they used to serve us. Laura, what a horrible thought, cried Billy. Her eyes dancing as she helped herself to two more biscuits. That's treason. For the dill pickles were two elderly spinsters

who had been teachers at Three Towers Hall, when Billy and her chums had first arrived. Their tartness and strictness and miserliness had made the life of the girls in school uncomfortable for some time. And then had come the climax. Miss Walters, having been called away for a week or two, Miss Ada Dill and Miss Corridale,

disrespectfully dubbed by the girls, the twin Dillpickles, had things in their own hands and proceeded to make the life of the girls unbearable. They had taken away their liberty, and then had half-starved them by cutting down on the meals until finally the girls had rebelled. With Billy and the lead, they had marched out of Three Towers Hall one day, bag and baggage, to stay in a hotel in the town of Malada, until Miss Walters should get back. Miss Walters, coming home unexpectedly, had met the girls in town,

accompanied them back to Three Towers, and, as one of the girls sangily described it, had given the dill pickles all that was coming to them. in other words the mrs dill had been discharged and the girls had come off victorious now there were two new teachers in their place who were as different from the dill pickles as night is from day all the girls love them especially in miss arbuckle who had succeeded miss cora dill in presiding over the dining-law so it was to this that laura had preferred when she said thank goodness that dill pickles are gone after they had eaten all they could possibly contain the girls retired to their dormitories where they changed their clothes still damp from their adventure for comfortable warm night-gowns and held court all the girls gathering in their dormitory to hear of their adventures for nearly an hour at the end of that time the belvoir lights out rang and the chums found to their surprise that for once they were not sorry what with the adventure itself and the number of questions they had answered they were tired out and longed for the comfort of their beds but do you suppose said connie danvers as she rose to go into her dormitory which was across the hall that the man was really a little out of his head i think he was more than a little said Laura decidedly, as she dipped her face into a bowl of cold water.

I think he was just plain crazy. Connie Danvers was a very good friend of the chums, and one of the most popular girls in Three Towers Hall. Just now she looked a little worried. Goodness! First we have the codfish, she said, and then you girls go and rake up a crazy man. We'll be having a menagerie next. End of Chapter 4, read by Nancy Codew.

Cochran Gergen, Gilbert, Arizona, October 20, 2022. Chapter 5 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit livervox.org. Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler. Much ado about nothing. It was the spring of the year, a time when

every normal boy and girl becomes restless for new scenes, new adventures. The girls at Three Towers Hall heard the mysterious call and longed through hot days of study to respond to it. The teachers felt the restlessness in the air and strove to keep the girls to their lessons by making them more interesting, but it was of no use. The girls studied because they had to, not except in a few scattered cases because they wanted to. One of the exceptions to the rule was Caroline Brand, a natural student and a serious girl, who had set herself the rather hopeless task of watching over Billy Bradley and keeping her out of scrapes.

For Billy, with her love of adventure and excitement, was forever getting into some sort of scrape. But these days it would have taken half a dozen Caroline Brands to have kept Billy in the traces. Billy was as wild as an unbroken cold, and just as impatient of control, and Laura and Vye were almost as bad. There was some excuse for the girls. In the first place, the spring term at Three Towers Hall was drawing to a close, and at the end of the spring term came, freedom. But the thing that set their blood racing was the thought of what was in store for them

after they had gained their freedom. County dampers had given the girls an invitation to visit during their vacation her father's bungalow on Lighthouse Island a romantic spot off the main coast the prospect had appealed to the girls even in the dead of winter but now with a sweet scent of damp earth

and flowering shrubs in the air they had all they could do to wait at all the chums had written to their parents about spending their vacation on the island and the latter had consented on one condition, and that condition was that the girls should make a good record for themselves at Three Towers Hall, and it is greatly to be feared that it was only this unreasonable to the girls' condition that kept them at their studies at all.

It was Saturday morning, and Billy, all alone in one of the study halls, was finishing her preparation for Monday's classes. She always got rid of this task on Saturday morning, so as to have her Saturday afternoon and Sunday free. She had never succeeded in winning Laura and Vi over to her method, so that on their part there was usually a wild scramble to prepare Monday's lessons on Sunday afternoon. As Billy, books in hand, and a satisfied feeling in her heart,

came out of the study room, she very nearly ran into Miss Arbuckle. Miss Arbuckle seemed in a great hurry about something, and the tip of her nose and her eyes were red as though she had been crying. Why, what's the matter? asked Billy, for Billy was not at all tactful when anyone was in trouble. Her impulse was to jump in and help, whether one really wanted her help or not, but everybody that knew Billy forgave her her lack of tact, and loved her for the desire to help. So now, Miss Arbuckle, after a moment of hesitation, motioned Billy into the study room, and, crossing over to one of the windows, stood looking out, tapping her fingers on the sill.

I've lost something, Billy, she said, without looking around. It may not seem much to you or to anybody else. But for me, well, I'd rather have lost my right hand. She looked around then, and Billy saw fresh moisture in her eyes. What is it? she asked gently. Perhaps I... We can help you find it. I wish you could, said Miss Arbuckle, with a little sigh.

But that would be too good to be true. It was only an old family album, Billy. But there were pictures in it that I prized above everything I own. Oh, well, she gave a little shrug of her shoulders, as if to end the matter. I'll get over it. I've had to get over worse things. But, she smiled and patted Billy's shoulder fondly. I didn't mean to burden your young shoulders with my troubles.

Just run along if we get all about it. Billy did run along, but she most certainly did not forget all about it. Funny thing to get so upset about, she said to herself, as she slowly climbed the steps to her dormitory. A picture album. I don't believe I'd ever get my nose and eyes all red over one. Just the same. I'd like to find it and give it back to her.

Good, Miss Arbuckle. After the dill pickles, she seems like an angel. She was still smiling over the thought of what had happened to the dill pickles when she opened the door of the dormitory and came upon her chums. Laura and Vye and a dark-haired pink-cheek girl were sitting on one of the beds in one corner of the dormitory, alternately talking and gazing dreamily out of the window to Lake Malada, where it gleamed and shimmered in the morning sunlight at the end of a sloping lawn. The dark-haired, pink-cheek girl was Rose Belser. rose belser being jealous of billy's immense popularity of three towers hall the term before had done her best to get the new girl into trouble only to be one over to billy's side in the end now she was as firm a friend of billy's as any girl in three towers hall well was laura's greeting as billy sauntered toward them methinks tis time you arrived sweet damsel goodness she added dropping her lazy tone and setting up with a bounce

I don't see why you have to go and spoil the whole morning with your beastly old studying. Think of the fun we could have had. Well, but think of the fun we're going to have this afternoon, Billy flung back airily, stopping before the mirror to tuck some wists of hair into place, while the girls, even rose, who was as pretty as a picture herself, watched her admiringly. It's almost lunchtime. You don't have to tell us that, said Vye, and in agreement. tone. Haven't we been waiting for you all morning?

Oh, come on, said Billy, as the lunch gong sounded invitingly through the hall. Maybe when you've had something to eat, you'll feel better. Feed the beast. Say, she's calling us names again, cried Laura, making a dive for Billy. But Billy was already flying down the steps two at a time, and when Billy once got a head start, no one, at least no one in Three Towers Hall, had a time. chance of catching up with her. It seemed to be Billy's day for bumping into people, for at the foot of the stairs she had to clutch the banister to be from colliding with Miss Walters, the beautiful and much-loved head of the school. At Billy's sudden appearance, the latter seemed inclined to be

alarmed, then her eyes twinkled, and as she looked at Billy, she chuckled. Yes, actually chuckled. Beatrice Bradley, she said, with a shake of her head as she passed to her. on. I've done my best with you, but it's of no use. You're utterly incorrigible. Billy looked thoughtful as she seated herself at the table, and a moment later, under cover of the general conversation, she leaned over and whispered to Laura. Miss Walter said something funny to me, she confided. I'm not quite sure yet whether she was calling me names or not. What did she say? asked Laura, looking interested. She said I was incorrigible, Billy whispered back.

Incorrigible. There was a frown on Laura's forehead. Then it suddenly cleared and she smiled beamingly. Why, yes, don't you remember? She said. We had it in English class the other day. Incorrigible means wicked, you know, bad. You can't reform them, you know, incorrigibles. The last word was mumbled through a mouthful of soup. Can't reform them?

billy repeated in dismay goodness do you suppose that's what she really thinks of me i don't see why she shouldn't laura said wickedly and billy would surely have thrown something at her if miss arbuckle's eye had not happened at that moment the turn in her direction miss arbocos eye brought to billy's mind the teacher's trouble and she confided it in the low tone to laura humph commented laura her mind only on the fun were going to have that afternoon. I'm sorry, of course, but I don't believe any old album would make me shed tears. Don't be so sure of that, Laura. What? Cry over an old album? And Laura looked her astonishment. But suppose the album had in it the pictures of those you loved very dearly, pictures, perhaps, of those that were dead and gone and pictures that you couldn't replace? Oh, well, I suppose that would be different. did she say anything about the people?

She didn't go into details, but she said there were pictures she prized above anything. Oh, perhaps then that would make a difference. I hope she gets the album back, said Billy seriously. Then Laura promptly forgot all about both Miss Arbuckle and the album. A little while later, the girl swung joyfully out upon the road, bound for town and shopping, and perhaps some ice cream and, oh, just a jolly good time of the kind girls know so well how to have,

especially in the spring of the year. End of Chapter 5, read by Nancy Cochran Gergen, Gilbert, Arizona, October 28, 2022. Chapter 6 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island. This is a Librevox recording. All Librevox recordings are in the public domain. for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler found one album

I'm sorry Connie couldn't come along said Laura drinking in deep breaths of the fragrant air yes said Billy her eyes twinkling she said she wish she had been born with a conscience a conscience said by innocently why "'Because,' said Billy, "'her cheeks aglow with a heat and exercise, "'her brown hair clinging and little damp-ringlets to her forehead,

"'and her eyes bright with health and the love of life. "'Then she could have had a good time today, "'instead of staying at home in a stuffy room "'and writing a cartload of letters. "'She says if she doesn't write them, "'she'll never dare face her friends when she gets home.' "'She's a darling,' said Laura, "'executing a little skip in the road,

that sent the dust flying all about them. Just think, if we hadn't met her, we wouldn't be looking forward to Lighthouse Island and a dear old uncle who owns a light. Anybody would think he was your uncle, said by. Well, he might just as well be, Laura retorted. Connie says that he adopts all the boys and girls about the place. And that they adopt him, Billy added, with a nod.

He must be a darling. I'm just crazy to see him. Connie Danvers Uncle Tom attended the lighthouse, and living there all the year round, had become as much of a fixture as the island itself. Connie loved this uncle of hers, and had told the girls enough about him to rouse their curiosity and make them very eager to meet him. The girls walked on in silence for a little way, and then, as they came to a path that led into the woods, Laura stopped suddenly and said in a dramatic voice, Do you realize where we are, my friends? Do you, by any chance, remember a tall, thin, wild-eyed man?

Did they remember? In a flash they were back again, in a queer little hut in the woods, where a tall man stood and stared at them with strange eyes. Laura and Vye started to go on, but Billy stood staring at the path with fascinated eyes. I wonder why, she said, as she turned slowly away, way in response to the urging of the girls. Nothing ever seems the same in the sunlight.

The other night, when we were running along that path, we were scared to death, and now... You sound as if you'd like to stay scared to death, said Laura impatiently, for Laura had not Billy's imagination. I guess I don't like to be scared any more than anyone else, Billy retorted, but I would like to see that man again. I wonder. she paused and by prompted her. Wonder what? she asked.

Why? said Billy, a thoughtful little crease on her forehead. I was just wondering if we could find the little hut again if we tried. Of course we couldn't. Laura was very decided about it. We were lost, weren't we? And when the man showed us the way back, it was dark. The only way I can see, said by, who often had rather funny ideas, would be to have one of us stand in the road and hold on to strings tied to the other two so that if they got lost. The one in the road could haul him back, said Laura sarcastically. That's a wonderful idea, bye.

Well, I would like to see that man again, sighed Billy. He seemed so sad. I'm sure he was in trouble, and I'd like to help him. Yes, and when you offered, you nearly got your head bit off, observed Laura. Billy's eyes twingled. That's what Daddy says always happens to people who try to help, she said. I feel awfully sorry for him, just the same. She finished decidedly.

Then Laura did a surprising thing. She put an arm about Billy's shoulders and hugged her fondly. Billy Bradley, she said sadly, I do believe you would feel sorry for a snake that bit you, just because it was only a snake. Perhaps that's why she loves you, said Vi innocently, and scored a point. Laura looked as if she wanted to be mad for a minute, but she was not. She only laughed with the girls. They had as good a time as they had expected

to have in town that afternoon, and that is saying something. First they went shopping. Laura had need of a ribbon girdle, although they all knew that a blue one would be bought in the end, as blue was a color that would go best with a dress with which the girdle was to be worn, the merits and beauties of a green one and a lavender one were discussed in comparisons made with the blue one over and over, all from very love of the indecision, and, more truly, the joy that looking at the dainty, pretty colors gave them. Well, I think this is the very best of all, Laura, said Billy finally, picking up the pretty blue girdle with this indistinct pattern of lighter blue and white.

Yes, it is a beauty, replied Laura. I'll take that one, she went on to the clerk. After that came numerous smaller purchases until, as Vise said dofully, all their money was gone except enough to buy several plates of ice cream apiece. They were standing just outside the store where their last purchases had been made when Billy, looking down the street, gave a cry of delight. Look who's coming, she exclaimed. It's the boys, cried by.

mercy girls we might just as well have spent the rest of our money the boys will treat us to the ice-cream goodness vi do you want to spend your money whether you get anything you really need or wish for or not inquired billy with a little gasp what in the world is money for if not to spend asked vi making big and innocent eyes at billy just then the boys came within speaking distance well this is what i call luck, exclaimed Furred Stowing. Yes, added Teddy, putting his hand in his pocket. Just hear the money jingle. A nice big check from Dad, in just appreciation of his absent son. What do you girls say to an ice cream spree? No less than three apiece with all this unwanted wealth. Ice cream? I should say, was Billy's somewhat slangy acceptance.

Teddy, suddenly asked Laura, how is it come that you have any money left from your dad's check? Check came just as we left the academy. Captain Shelling cashed it for me, and we have just reached town. Oh, well, maybe I'll find one, too, when we reached three towers. So that's it, is it, sister mine? Envy. After that, they ate ice cream to repletion, and at last the girls decided that there was nothing much left to do but to go back to the school. it was just as well that they had made this decision for the sun was beginning to sink in the west and the supper hour at three towers hall was rather early as they started toward home having said good-bye to the boys the girls quickened their pace it was not till they were nearing the path which to billy at least had been surrounded by a mysterious halo since the adventure of the other night that the girl slowed up then it was billy who did the slowing up

girls she said in a hushed voice i suppose she'll laugh at me but i'd just love to follow that path into the woods a little way you don't need to come if you don't want to you can wait for me here in the road oh no said laura with a little sigh for resignation if you are going to be crazy we might as well be crazy with you come on vi if we didn't go along she would probably get lost all over again just for the fun of it Billy made a low face of them and plunged into the woods. Laura followed, and after a minute's hesitation, Vey trailed at Laura's heels. They were so used to Billy's sudden impulses that they had stopped protesting and merely went along with her, which, as Billy herself had often pointed out,

saved a great deal of argument. They might have saved themselves all worry on Billy's account this time, though, for she had not the slightest intention of getting lost again. once was enough. She went only as far as the end of the path, and when the other girls reached her, she was peering off into the forest, as if she hoped to see the mysterious hut,

although she knew, as well as Lauren By, that they had walked some distance through the woods the other night, before they had finally reached the path. Well, are you satisfied? Laura asked, with a patient sigh. If you don't mind my saying it, I'm getting hungry.

"'Goodness! After all that ice cream?' cried Billy, adding with a little chuckle. "'You're lucky than I am, Laura. I feel as if I shouldn't want anything to eat for a thousand years.' She was just turning reluctantly to follow her chums back along the path, when a dark, bulky-looking object, lying in a clump of bushes nearby, caught her eye and she went over to examine it. "'Now what in the world?' Laura was beginning despairingly. when suddenly Billy gave a queer little cry. Come here quick, girls, she cried, reaching down to pick up the bulky object,

which had caught her attention. I do believe. Yes, it is. It must be. Well, say it, the others cried, peering impatiently over his shoulder. Miss Arbuckle's album, finished Billy. End of Chapter 6.

Read by Nancy Cochran Gergen, Gilbert, Arizona. October 29, 2022. Chapter 7 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island. This is the Libervox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org.

Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler. Strange actions. Instead of seeming excited, Lauren Vey stared. Vye had not even heard that Miss Arbuckle had lost an album, and Laura just dimly remembered Billy's having said something about it. But Billy's eyes were shining, and she was all eagerness as she picked the old-fashioned volume up and began turning over the pages. She was thinking of poor Miss Arbuckle's red nose and eyes of that morning, and of how different the

Deacher's face would look when she, Billy, returned the album. Oh, I'm so glad, she said, I felt awfully sorry for Miss Arbuckle this morning. Well, I wish I knew what you were talking about, said Vi plaintively, and Billy briefly told her of her meeting with Miss Arbuckle in the morning, and of the teacher's grief at losing her precious album. "'Huff! I don't see anything very precious about it,' sniffed Laura. "'Look, the corners are all worn through.' "'Silly, it doesn't make any difference how old it is,' said Vi.

as they started back along the path, Billy holding on tight to the book. It may have pictures in it she wants to save. It may be, what is it they call them? An heirloom or something. And Mother says airlooms are precious. Well, I know one that isn't, said Laura, with a little grimace. Mother has a wreath made out of hair of different members of the family. She says it's precious, too, but I notice she keeps it in the darkest corner of the attic.

"'Well, this isn't a hair-wreath. It's an album,' Billy pointed out, "'and I don't blame Miss Arbuckle for not wanting to lose an album with family pictures in it.' "'But how did she come to lose it there?' asked Laura, as the road could be seen dimly through the trees. The woods seem a funny place. "'Girls!' and Laura's eyes began to shine excitedly. "'It's a mystery!' "'Oh, dear,' sigh plaintively. "'There she goes again. Everything has to be a mystery, whether it is or not. But it is, isn't it? insisted Laura, turning to Billy for support.

A lady says she has lost an album. In a little while we find that same album. I suppose it's the same, put in Billy, looking at the album as if it had not occurred to her before, that this might not be Miss Arbuckle's album, after all. Of course it is, silly, Laura went on impatiently. it isn't likely that two people would be foolish enough to lose albums on the same day. If it had been a stick-pin now, or a purse. Yes, yes, go on, Billy interrupted. You were talking about mysteries.

Well, it is, isn't it? demanded Laura, becoming so excited she could not talk straight. What was Miss Arbuckle doing in the woods with her album in the first place? She might have been looking at it, suggested by mildly. Billy giggled at the look Laura gave by Yes, but may I ask, said Laura, trying to appear very dignified. Why, if she only wanted to look at the pictures, she couldn't do it someplace else. In her room, for instance? Goodness, I'm not a detective, said Four Vai.

If you want to ask any questions, go and ask Miss Arbuckle. I didn't lose the old album. Laura gave a sigh of exasperation. A person might as well try to talk to a pair of wooden Indians, she cried, then turned appealingly to Billy. Don't you think there's something mysterious about it, Billy? Why, it does seem kind of queer, Billy admitted, adding quickly as Laura was about to turn upon Vi with a whoop of triumph.

But I don't think it's very mysterious. Probably Miss Harbuckle just wanted to be alone or something, and so she brought the album out into the woods to look it over by herself. I like to do it sometimes myself, with a book, I mean. Just sneak off where nobody can find me and read and read until I get so tired I fall asleep. Well, but you can't look at pictures in a shabby old album until you feel so tired you fall asleep, grumbled Laura, feeling like a cat that has just had a saucer of rich cream snatched from under its nose. you girls wouldn't know a mystery if you fell over it.

Maybe not, admitted Billy, good-naturedly, her face brightening, as she added, contentedly, but I do know one thing, and that is that Miss Arbuckle is going to be very glad when she sees this whole album again. And she was right. When they reached Three Towers Hall, Laura and Five went upstairs to the dormitory to wash up

and get ready for supper, while Billy stopped at Miss Arbuckle's door. eager to tell her the good news at once. She rapped gently, and, receiving no reply, softly pushed the door open. Miss Arbuckle was standing by the window looking out, and somehow Billy knew, even before the teacher turned around, that she had been crying again. The tired droop of the shoulders, the air of discouragement,

suddenly there flashed across Billy's mind a different picture, the picture of a tall, length man, with stooped shoulders, and dark, deep-set eyes, looking at her strangely. A puzzled little line formed itself across her forehead. Why, she thought, had Miss Arbuckle made her think of the man who called himself Hugo Billings and who lived in the hut in the woods? Perhaps because they both seemed so very sad. Yes, that must be it.

Then her face brightened as she felt the bulky album under her arm. Here was something that would make Miss Arbuckle smile, at least. Billy spoke softly and was taken aback at the suddenness with which Miss Arbuckle turned upon her, regarding her with startled eyes. For a moment, teacher and pupil regarded each other. Then slowly, a pitiful, crooked smile twitched Miss Arbuckle's lips, and her hand reached out gropingly for the back of a chair. "'Oh, it's—it's you,' she stammered, adding with an apologetic smile that made her look more natural. I'm a little nervous today, a little upset. What is it, Billy? Why didn't you knock? The last words were said in Miss Arbuckle's calm, slightly dry voice, and Billy began

to feel more natural herself. She had been frightened when Miss Arbuckle swung around upon her. I did, she answered. Knock, I mean, but you didn't hear me. I found something of yours, Miss Arbuckle. her eyes fell to the volume she still carried under her arm, and Miss Harbuckle, following the direction of her gaze, recognized her album. She gave a little choked cry, and her face grew so white that Billy ran to her, fearing she hardly knew what. But she had no need to worry, for although fear sometimes kills, joy never does, and in a minute Miss Arbuckle's eager hands were clutching the volume, her fingers trembling as they rapidly turned over the leaves. yes here they are here they are she cried suddenly and billy peeping over her shoulder looked down at the pictured faces of three of the most beautiful children she had ever seen

my darlings my darlings miss arbuckle was saying over and over again then suddenly her head dropped to the open page and her shoulders shook with the sobs that tore themselves from her billy turned away and tipped out across the room her own eyes and her eyes turned away and tipped out across the room her own eyes sweat, but she stopped with her hand on the door. "'My little children!' Miss Arbuckle cried out sobbingly. "'My precious little babies! I couldn't lose your pictures after losing you. They were all I had left of you, and I couldn't lose them. I couldn't! I couldn't!' Billy opened the door, and, stepping out into the hall, closes softly after her. She brushed her hand across her eyes, for there were tears. tears in them, and her feet felt shaky as she started up the stairs.

Well, I... I never, she told herself unsteady. First, she nearer scares me to death, and then she cries and talks about her children, and says she's lost them. Goodness, I shouldn't wonder but that Laura's right, after all. There certainly is something mighty strange about it. And when, a few minutes later, she told the story to her chums, they agreed with her. Even Vye. Why, I never heard of such a thing, said the latter, looking interested. You say she seemed frightened when you went in, Billy? Terribly, answered Billy.

It seemed as if she might faint or something. And the children, Laura mused, delightedly aloud. I'm going to find out who those children are and why they are lost if I die doing it. Now look who she thinks she is, jeered Vye. Who? asked Laura with interest. The great lady detective, said by, and Laura's chest, if one takes Billy's word for it, swell to about three times its natural size.

That's all right, said Laura, in response to the girl's jibes. I'll get in some clever work, with nothing but a silly old photo album as a clue, or a motive. Oh, well, I don't know just what the album is yet, but an album is worse than commonplace. It is from foolish as a center on which to work. Oh, ho! Great Lady Detective! Sol's most marvelous and intricate mystery, with only the slightest of clues, an old photograph album to point the way.

Oh, ho! End of Chapter 7, read by Nancy Cochran Gergen, Gilbert, Arizona, October 29, 2022. Chapter 8 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Read by Natalie Rule. Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler. Chapter 8. An Invitation

The girls could never have told exactly why, but they kept the mystery of the album and Miss R. Buckle's strange. actions to themselves, with one exception. They did confide their secret to fluffy-haired, blue-eyed Connie Danvers, for they had long ago adopted Connie as one of themselves, and were beginning to feel that they had known her all their lives. Connie had been interested enough in their story to satisfy even the chums, and had urged Billy to describe the pretty children in the album

over whom Miss Arbuckle had cried. Billy tried, but, having seen the pictures but once, it was hardly to be expected that she would be able to give the girls a very clear description of them. It was good enough to satisfy Connie, however, who, in her enthusiasm, went so far as to suggest that they form a detective club. This the girls might have done if it had not been for an interruption in the form of Chet Bradley, Teddy Jordan and their chum third stowing. The boys had entered Boxton Military Academy

at the time the girls had entered three towers hall, and the boys were as enthusiastic about their academy as the girls were about their beloved school. The head of Boxton Military Academy was Captain Shelling, a splendid example of army officer whom all the students loved and admired. They did not know it, but there was not one of the boys in the school who did not hope that some day he might be like Captain Shelling. Now, as the spring term was drawing to a close, there were great preparations being made at the Academy for the annual parade of cadets.

The girls knew that visitors were allowed, and they were beginning to wonder a little uneasily whether they were to be invited or not. when one afternoon the boys turned up and settled the question for them very satisfactorily. It was Saturday afternoon, just a week after the finding of Miss Arbuckle's album, and the girls, Laura, Billy, V and Connie were wandering arm in arm about the beautiful campus of Three Towers Hall when a familiar hail came to them from the direction of the road. It's Chet, said Billy. "'No, it isn't it's Teddy,' contradicted Laura. "'It's both of them,' added V.

"'No, you are both wrong,' said Connie, gazing eagerly through the trees. "'Here they come, girls. Look, there are four of them.' "'Yes, there are four of them,' mocked Laura. "'Mistchievous eyes on Connie's reddening face. "'The third is furred stowing, of course. "'And I wonder, oh, I wonder, who is. the fourth can be. Don't be so silly, I think you're horrid, cried Connie, which only made Laura chuckle the more. For while they had been at the academy, the boys had made a friend.

His name was Paul Martinson, and he was tall and strongly built, and, yes, even Billy had to admit it, almost as good-looking as Teddy. If Billy said that about anyone, it was pretty sure to be true. For Billy and Teddy Jordan had been chums and playmates since they could remember, and Billy had always been sure that Teddy must be the very best-looking boy in the world, not even accepting her brother Chet, of him she was very fond. But Billy was not the only one who had found Paul Martinson good-looking. Connie had liked him, and had said innocently one day after the boys had gone, that Paul Martinson looked like the hero in a storybook she was reading. The girls had giggled, and since then Laura had made poor Connie's life miserable, or so Connie declared.

She could not have forgotten Paul Martinson, even if she had wanted to. As for Paul Martinson, he had shown a liking for Billy that somehow made Teddy uncomfortable. Teddy was very much surprised to find how uncomfortable it did make him. Billy was a good little charm and all that, but that didn't say another fellow couldn't speak to her. But just the same, he had acted so queerly two or three times lately that Billy had bothered him exceedingly asking him what the matter with him was and telling him to cheer up.

It wasn't somebody's funeral, you know. Billy had been puzzled over his answer to that. He had muttered something about, It's not anybody's funeral yet, maybe, but everything had to start sometime. When Billy had innocently told Laura about it, she was still more puzzled at the way Laura had acted. Instead of being sensible,

she had suddenly buried her face in the pillow. They had been sitting on Billy's bed, exchanging confidences, and fairly shook with laughter. Well, what in the world? Billy had begun rather resentfully, when Laura had interrupted her within hysterical. "'For goodness sake, Billy, I never thought you could be so dense. But you are! You're absolutely crazy! And so is Teddy, and so is everybody.'

And after that, Billy never confided any of Teddy's sayings to Laura again. On this particular afternoon, it did not take the girls long to find out that the boys had some good news to tell them. "'Come on down to the dock,' Teddy said, taking hold of Billy's arm and urging her down toward the lake as he spoke. Maybe we can find some canoes and rowboats that aren't working. But when they reached the dock, there was never a craft of any kind to be seen except those far out upon the glistening water of the lake.

Of course the beautiful weather was responsible for this. For all the girls who had not lessons to do or errands in town, had made a beeline, as Ferdstowing expressed it, straight down to the lake. "'Oh, well, this will do,' said Teddy, sitting down on the edge of the little dock so that his feet could hang over and reaching up a hand for Billy. "'Come along, everybody. We can look at the water, anyway.' The girls and boys scrambled down obediently,

and there was great excitement when Connie's foot slipped and she very nearly tumbled into the lake. Paul Martinson steadied her, and she thanked him with a little blush that made Laura look at her wickedly. How beautifully pink your complexion is in the warm weather, Connie, she said innocently, adding with a little look that made Connie want to shake her. It can't be anything but the heat, can it? You haven't a fever or something? No, but you'll have something beside a fever, threatened Connie, if you don't keep still.

Say, stop your rowing, girls, and listen to me. Teddy interrupted, picking a pebble from the dock and throwing it far out into the gleaming water, where it dropped with a little splash. Our famous parade of cadets comes off next week. You're going to be on deck, aren't you? We might, said Billy, with a demure little glance at him. If somebody would only ask us. End of Chapter 8.

Chapter 9 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Read by Natalie Rule. Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler. Chapter 9. Amanda again. The Great Day Came at last and found the girls in a fever of mingled excitement and fear.

Excitement because of the great advent, fear because the sky had been overcast since early morning, and it looked as if the whole thing might have to be postponed on account of rain. And if there is anything I hate, complained Laura, moving restlessly from her mirror over to the window and back again, it's to be all prepared for a thing and then have it spoiled at the last minute by rain. Well, I guess you don't hate it any more than that. the rest of us, said Billy, her thoughts on the pretty pink flower dress she had decided to wear to the parade. It was not only a pretty dress, but was very becoming. Both Teddy and Chet had told her so. And the boys would be terribly disappointed, she added. I wonder, V was sitting on the bed, sewing a hook and eye on the dress she had intended to wear. If Amanda Peabody and the shadow

will be there. Laura turned abruptly from the window and regarded her with a reproachful stare. Now I know you're a joy-killer, she said, for if Amanda Peabody and the shadow, the name the girls had given Eliza Dilks because she always followed Amanda

as closely as a shadow does, succeeded in getting themselves invited to any sort of affair where we girls were to be, they would be sure to do something annoying. They are going to be there just the same, said Billy. and the two girls looked at her in surprise.

They told me so, she said in answer to the unspoken question. They have some sort of relatives among the boys at the academy, and these relatives didn't have sense enough, not to invite them. Hmpf, grunted Laura. Amanda probably hinted around till the boys couldn't help inviting her. Look, oh look, she cried in such a different tone that the girls stared at her. The son, she said. "'Oh, it's going to clear up, it's going to clear up.'

"'Well, you needn't step on my blue silk for all that,' complained V, as Laura caught an exultant heel in the latter's dress. "'Don't be grouchy, darling,' said Laura, "'all good nature again now that the sun had appeared. "'My, but we're going to have a good time.' "'I'll say we are,' sang out Billy, "'as she gaily spread out the pink flower dress upon the bed, "'and we're not going to let anybody's,

spoil it either, even Eliza Dilks and Amanda Peabody. The girls had an hour in which to get ready, and they were ready and waiting before half that time was up. The Three Towers Hall Carriol was to call for the girls who had been lucky enough to receive invitations from the cadets of Boxton Military Academy, and as the girls looking like gay-coloured butterflies in their summary dresses gathered on the steps of the school, there were so many of them that it began to look as if the carry-all would have to make two trips. If we have to go in sections, I wonder whether we'll be in the first or second, V was saying when Billy grasped her arm. Look, she cried, Mary meant in her eyes and in her voice. Here come Amanda and Eliza.

Did you ever see anything so funny and awful in your life? For Amanda and her chum were dressed in their Sunday baby. best, poplin dresses with a huge, gorgeous flower design that made the pretty delicate coloured dresses of the other girls look pale and washed out by comparison. If Amanda's and Eliza's desire was to be the most noticeable and talked-off girls on the parade, they were certainly going to succeed. The talk had begun already. However, the arrival of the carry-all cut short the girl's amusement, and there was great excitement and noise and giggling. as the girls, all who could get in, that is, clambered in.

There were about a dozen left over, and these the driver promised to come back and pick up in a jiffy. I'm feeling awfully nervous, Laura confided to Billy. I never expected to be nervous, did you? Yes, I did, Billy answered truthfully. I've been nervous ever since the boys invited us. It's because it's all so new, I guess. We've never been to anything like this before. I'm frightened to death when I think of meeting Captain Shelling, Connie leaned across V to say.

From what the boys say about him, he must be simply wonderful. Paul had better look out, said Laura slyly, and Connie drew back sharply. I think you're mean to tease Connie so, spoke up V. She doesn't like Paul Martinson any better than the rest of us do. "'And you know it.' "'Oh, I do, do I,' began Laura. "'But Billy broke in hastily. "'Girls, she cried, stop your quarrelling.

"'Look, we're at the academy, and look, look!' "'Words failed her, "'and she just stared wonderingly at the sight that met her eyes. "'It was true none of them had ever seen anything like it before. "'Booths of all sorts and colours were distributed over the parade ground. leaving free only the part where the cadets were to march. Girls in bright-colored dresses and boys in trim uniforms were already walking about, making brilliant patches of colour

against the green of the parade ground. There were some older people, too, fathers and mothers of the boys, but the groups were mostly made up of young people, gay and excited with the exhilaration of the moment. There were girls and matrons in the costume of French peasants wandering in and out among the visitors, carrying little baskets filled with ribbon-tied packages. Some of these packages contained candy, some just little foolish things to make the young folks

laugh, favours to take away with them and remember the day by. As the carry-all stopped, and one after another the girls jumped to the ground, they were surprised to find that their nervousness, instead of growing less, was something. getting worse and worse all the time. They were standing on the edge of things, wondering just what to do next and wishing someone would meet them, when someone did just that very thing. Paul Martinson spied the carry-all from Three Towers Hall, called to a couple of his friends and came running down toward the girls, his handsome face alight with pleasure. Hello, he said, we thought you were never coming. Say you may.

all the other girls look like nothing at all. He was supposed to be talking to them all, but he was looking straight at Billy. But although the other girls noticed it, Billy did not. She was looking beyond Paul to where three boys, Teddy in the lead, were bearing down upon them. After that the boys soon made their guests feel as if they had never been nervous in their lives, and they entered into the fun with all their hearts. The parade of cadets was the most wonderful part of it all, of course, and the girls stood through it, their hearts beating wildly, a delicious wave of patriotism thrilling to their fingertips.

And when it was over, the girls looked at Teddy and Chet and Ferd and Paul with a new respect that the boys liked but did not understand at all. Several times during the afternoon they came across Eliza and Amanda and their escorts, who did not look like bad boys at all. But only once did the girls try to shove to the front. It was when Teddy and Paul had taken Billy and Connie over to the ice cream booth for refreshments, the other boys and girls having wandered off somewhere by themselves. Billy was standing up near the counter when Eliza Dilks deliberately elbowed her

way in ahead of her. Billy began to feel herself getting angry, but before she could say anything, Teddy spoke over her shoulder. Please serve us next, he said, to the pleasant-faced matron, who had charge of this part of the refreshments. Some of these others just came in and belong at the end of the line. Yes, I noticed you were here first, the woman answered, and handed Billy her ice cream over Eliza's head, while Eliza, with a glance at Billy that should have killed. her on the spot, turned sullenly and walked away. "'Taddy, you're a wonder,' murmured Billy under her breath. "'I couldn't have done it like that myself.'

After this encounter, Billy and her party wandered over to the dancing pavilion, on the outside of which they met Laura and V and their escorts for the afternoon. "'Isn't this the dandiest band in the world?' sighed Billy in supreme content. Such music would make Even Amanda Peabody dance well Oh come, Billy, that's too much, laughed Teddy, swinging her on to the floor And giving her what she called a heavenly dance

And indeed what could have been better fun Than this dance on a smooth floor So large that it did not seem crowded To the best of music with a partner Who was a perfect dancer And though Billy did not say this to her herself by a girl who was herself as light and graceful a dancer as was on the floor. All things must end, even the most perfect day in a lifetime, as V called it.

And finally the girls had been tucked into the carry-all, and were once more back at Three Towers Hall, ready with a new day to take up the routine of school life once more. End of Chapter 9 Chapter 10 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island This is a Libravox recording All Libravox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer

Please visit Libravox.org Read by Natalie Rule Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler Chapter 10, two of a kind Several days had passed and the girls were at last actually looking forward to the end of the school term, and to the Danvers bungalow on Lighthouse Island. The graduates were running around excitedly in the last preparations for graduation, with the strange look on their young faces that most graduates have, half exultation

at the thought of their success, half grief at being forced to leave the school, the friends they had made, the scenes they had loved. Just the day before the one set for graduation, Teddy ran over to tell the girls some wonderful news. He was able to see only Billy, for the other girls had been busy with their lessons. But that was very satisfactory to Teddy. As soon as the lunch gong rang, Billy had called the girls together,

and eagerly she told them what Teddy had told her. Paul Martinson's father gave him a beautiful big motorboat, a cruising motorboat, she told the girls. "'Paul got the highest average in his class this term, you know, "'and his father has given him the motorboat as a sort of prize.' "'A motorboat!' cried V, breathlessly. "'That's some prize.' "'But Billy, what's that got to do with us?' asked Laura practically.

"'It hasn't much to do with us,' said Billy, her face pink with excitement. "'But it has a great deal to do with the boys. "'Paul Martinson has asked Chet and Ferd and Teddy. to go with him and his father on a cruise this summer. She paused from lack of breath, and the girls looked at her in amazement. My, that's wonderful for them, said Laura after a minute, adding a little regretfully,

but I suppose it means that we won't see very much of the boys this summer. Oh, but that's just what it doesn't mean, Billy interrupted eagerly. Don't you see? Why Teddy said that it would be the easiest thing in the world to stop off at Lighthouse Island some time and see us girls. The girls agreed that it was all perfectly wonderful, that everything was working just for them, and that this couldn't possibly help

being the most wonderful summer they had ever spent. They did not have as much time to think about it as they would have liked, however, in the busy, excited hours that followed. Right after the graduating exercises, all the girls were to start for their homes, except the few who expected to spend the summer at Three Towers Hall. Many of the relatives and friends of the graduates were expected,

so that preparations had to be made for them also. The graduating exercises were to be held earlier at Boxton Military Academy than at Three Towers Hall, so that the three North Bend boys hoped to get away in time to attend, not the exercises themselves, but the singing on the steps of Three Towers Hall by all the students of the school, which was one of the most important parts of the ceremony. Then, of course, the boys would be able to go with the girls all the way to North Bend.

The exercises that had been looked forward to for so long, and that had taken weeks of preparation to perfect, were over at last. The graduates realised with a sinking of the heart that they were no longer students of Three Towers Hall. There was still the mass singing on the steps, to be sure, but that was simply the last barrier to be crossed before they stepped out on the open road, leaving Three Towers Hall with its pleasing associations behind them forever. As the girls in their simple white dresses gathered on the steps of the school with the visitors, fathers and mothers and boys in uniform, scattered about on the campus below them,

and began to sing in their clear, girlish voices, there was hardly a dry eye anywhere. At last it was over, and the girls rushed upstairs again to change their dresses for travelling clothes, and say a last goodbye to their teachers and to Miss Walters. As Billy was hurrying down the corridor, bag in hand, toward the front door, a hand was laid gently on her arm, and, turning, she found herself face to face with Miss Arbuckle.

Billy, said the teacher hurriedly, I have never thanked you rightly for the great favour you did in returning my album to me. But I love you for it, dear. God bless you. And before Billy could think of a word to say in reply, the teacher had turned, slipped through one of the doors and disappeared. Billy stood staring after Miss Arbuckle, lost in thought about her, until Laura and V, hurrying up, caught her by the arm and hustled her through the front door, down the steps and into the waiting carry-all. The carry-all, by the way, was to make many trips that day,

even though a great many of the girls had automobiles belonging to their relatives or friends which would take them straight to their destination. When the girls had climbed inside, the boys jumped in after them, and the carry-all, having by this time all that it could hold, started down the long, winding driveway to the road. Goodbye three towers, for a little time at least, cried Billy, while she felt a curious lump in her throat. She was terribly afraid she was going to cry, so she stopped talking and turned to stare out of the window.

We've had a wonderful time there, said Laura in, for her, a very very, sober tone, better than we expected. Which is going some, finished V slangily, and as slang from V somehow always made them laugh, they laughed now and felt better for it. Well, we didn't have such a very slow time ourselves, said Billy's brother Chet, his good-looking face lighting up with eagerness. And it's something to have made a friend like Paul Martinson, spoke up furred Stowing from where he was squeezed in between Laura and V.

You bet, he's some boy, added Teddy heartily, forgetting for the moment that there had been times when he had longed to throw Paul Martinson into the lake, or some deeper place, because he had talked too much to Billy. But here was a beautiful long train ride before him when he could talk to Billy, or anyone else, all he liked without having any Paul Martinson

trying to butt in all the time. "'No wonder he was friends with all the world.' "'Where is Paul? Why didn't he come with us?' asked Billy. "'He went home with his dad,' Chet explained. "'Of course he was crazy to see his motorboat, "'and then he had to make arrangements for our cruise. "'Oh, boy, think of cruising around the coast in a motorboat.' "'We wanted Connie to come along with us,' said Billy.

"'But she said she would have to go home first. "'When are you girls going? to start for Lighthouse Island," Ferd asked with interest. Have you set any time yet? Not a regular date, answered Laura. But it will be in a week or two, I think. We'll have to have time to get acquainted with the folks again, and have our clothes fixed up.

And then Connie's coming on to North Bend, V, added eagerly. And we'll all go together from there to the coast. Oh dear, I can't wait to start. "'Well, I guess you'll have to,' said Billy, with a sigh, "'since we haven't even reached home yet.' "'That reminds me,' said Laura, turning upon Billy accusingly, "'what were you doing standing in the hall just now

"'and looking as though you had lost your last friend "'when V and I came along and woke you up? "'Come on, fess up!' "'Billy could not think for a moment what she had been doing. "'Then she remembered Miss Arbuckle "'in the rather peculiar way the teacher had thanked her for the return of the album. She told the girls about it,

and they listened with interest while the boys looked as if they would like to have known what it was all about. Now I wonder, Laura was beginning, when Billy suddenly caught her hand and pointed to the road. Look, she cried, it's Hugo Billings. Our sad-faced man again.

Oh, girls, I wish we could do something for him. She leaned far out the window, smiled and waved her hand to the man, who was standing moodily by the roadside. At sight of her he straightened up, and an answering smile flashed across his thin face, making him look so different that the girls were amazed. But when they looked back at him again a few seconds later, his smile had gone, and he was staring after them, gloomily. "'Goodness, I never saw a person look so sad in all my life,' murmured V,

as a turn in the road hid the man from view. "'Well, I have,' said Billy, "'and that's Miss Arbuckle.' "'There must be some sort of mystery about them both,' remarked Laura. "'Maybe that man has a whole lot on his mind.' "'And maybe Miss Arbuckle isn't Miss at all,' added V. "'Perhaps she's Mrs. Arbuckle and those children were her own.'

"'Billy did not reply to this. She heaved something of a sigh. She was unable to explain it, but she felt very sorry for both the teacher and the queer man. Would the queer mystery ever be explained? End of Chapter 10. Chapter 11 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island. This is a Librevox recording.

All Librevox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit Librevox.org. Read by Natalie Ruhl. Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler. Chapter 11 At Home A few hours later a train puffed noisily into the familiar station at North Bend, and as it came to a stop, three boys and three girls tumbled down the steps of a car,

and literally ran into the arms of their waiting families. at least the girls did. The boys considered themselves far too dignified. However, they soon forgot dignity and everything else in a noisy and joyful recital of all the good times they had had during their year of absence. Of course, there had been others from the Military Academy and Three Towers Hall on the train,

whose friends and relatives had also come to meet them, so that it was a very much excited crowd, that wound its way up the ordinarily quiet main street of North Bend. Gradually the crowd separated into little groups, each going its separate way to its separate home, and so at last, after many promises between the boys and girls to call each other up right after dinner, the Bradley family found itself alone.

Well, said Mr. Bradley, beaming proudly upon his children, who seemed to him to have grown at least twice as large during their absence, and three times as handsome. You thought you would come back to your poor old country relations, did you? Your mother and I, he glanced fondly at his wife, thought perhaps you had forgotten us by this time. We weren't very much worried, though, said Mrs. Bradley,

looking so lovely in her happiness that Billy had to snuggle close to her to make sure she was real. for Mrs. Bradley was really a very beautiful woman, as well as a very sweet one, and Billy was growing more like her every day. And there's the darling old house, breathed Billy happily, looking just the same as it did when I left it, Mother dear, and Dad, here she reached out a hand to her father. I think I'm the very happiest girl in all the world.

For a day or two after that, it seemed the best thing in the world. world, just to be at home again. But the third day the girls began to feel a little bit restless. They were longing to be off to Lighthouse Island with Connie Danvers, but they had not heard from Connie yet, and until they did there was nothing to be done but get things in shape and wait. Suppose she should change her mind, remarked Laura dolefully on the noon of the third day. Change her mind, burst out, V. She turned inquiringly to Billy. Do you think Connie would do anything like that? she demanded.

Certainly not, was Billy's quick reply. Connie isn't that kind of a girl. Besides, all the arrangements have been made. It is more than likely she has been so busy with a number of details that she has simply forgotten to write or telegraph. Well, anyway, this waiting is getting on my nerves, declared Laura. "'Let's do something to make the time pass more quickly,' suggested Billy. "'What do you say to going downtown for a bit of shopping?'

"'That suits me,' answered V, "'and we might have some ice cream sodas while we are down there.' "'This suited all of them, and soon they were on the way to the shops where they spent the best part of the afternoon. Then one day, over a week later, when they had begun to think that Connie had forgotten about them, A telegram came from her, saying that she was starting for North Bend the day after the next, and she would be in on the six o'clock train.

Would somebody please be there to meet her? Her mother and father had gone on ahead to Lighthouse Island to get everything ready for the girls when they arrived. Would they be there to meet her? Billy was so excited that she couldn't eat her supper. And as soon as she could get away from the table, she rushed over to Laura's home to tell her the joyful news. From there the pair called up V and invited her to come and celebrate. And celebrate they did, until it got so late that Mrs. Jordan had gently but firmly to put them out,

appointing Teddy to escort the girl's home. "'I don't want your mothers to think I've kidnapped you,' she called after them as she and Laura, the latter pouting a little, stood in the doorway to wave goodbye to them. "'Just the same. I think you might have let them stay a little longer,' protested Laura, as they turned to go inside. It's only ten o'clock, and we had so much to talk about. "'I know,' said Mrs. Jordan, putting an arm lightly about her young daughter's shoulders. "'I was the same way at your age, dear. Mother had to send away my friends and put me to bed regularly every week or so. Now it's my turn, that's all.'

Meanwhile, Teddy and Billy had dropped V at her house, and had turned down the broad, elm-shaded street on which stood the Bradley home. For some reason or other, they did not talk very much. They did not seem to find anything to say. Billy had never been alone like this with Teddy before, and she was wondering why it made her tongue-tied. "'I say, Billy,' began Teddy, clearing his throat and looking down at her sideways, for all the world, as Billy thought, as if she were a mouse-trap and might go off any minute.

Is it really settled that you are going to start day after tomorrow? Yes, and isn't it wonderful? cried Billy, finding her voice again as the blissful prospect opened up before her again. I've never stayed at the seashore more than a day or two, Teddy, in my life, and now just think of spending the whole summer there. I can't believe yet that it isn't a to-a-trapher. dream. You want to be careful, said Teddy, staring straight before him. If you go in bathing at all, there are awfully strong currents around there, you know. Oh, of course I know all about that, returned Billy, with the air of one who could not possibly be taught anything. Connie says her uncle Tom knows of a darling little inlet where the water's so calm it's almost like a swimming pool.

Of course, we'll do most of our swimming there. Oh, Teddy, you ought to see you ought to my new bathing suit. She was rattling on rapturously when Teddy interrupted her with a queer sort of question. Who is this Uncle Tom? he asked, still staring straight ahead. Why, he's Connie's uncle, of course. The keeper of the light on Lighthouse Island, answered Billy, as surprised as if he had asked her who Abraham Lincoln was. Connie says he's a darling. Is he married? Why no, that is, I don't think so. "'So,' answered Billy, "'nitting her brows in an effort to think "'whether Connie had ever said anything on this point.

"'She had never even thought to ask if Uncle Tom was married.' "'Why, no, of course he can't be,' "'she answered herself and Teddy at the same time. "'If he was married, he wouldn't be living in that old lighthouse all alone. "'And Connie said he did live there all alone, I remember that.' "'She nodded her head with satisfaction. "'But strangely enough, Teddy did not seem to be satisfied at all.

He just stalked along beside her in a sort of gloomy silence, while she glanced up at him now and then, with a mischievous hint of a laugh dancing about her pretty mouth. "'Teddy, where are you going?' she asked a minute later, as they reached the sidewalk that led to her house, and instead of stopping Teddy stalked straight on. "'I don't live down at the corner, you know.' Teddy turned about with a sort of shawl. sheepish grin and rejoined her. I was just thinking, he said,

as they turned up the walk together. No wonder you went past, said Billy mischievously. Then, as they paused at the foot of the steps, she looked up at him with an imp of laughter, showing all the dimples about her mouth. What were you thinking so hard about, Teddy? She dared him. I was thinking, said Teddy,

clearing his thoughts. throat and looking anywhere but at Billy. That I wouldn't mind going down to Lighthouse Island myself. Then he fled, leaving Billy to get into the house as best she could. But Billy did not mind. She was chuckling to herself and thinking how funny and foolish and, yes, awfully nice Teddy could be. Sometimes.

End of Chapter 11. Chapter 12 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Read by Natalie Rool. Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler. Chapter 12. Preparing for the trip. Chet and Billy were at the train to meet Connie when she arrived, for it had been decided almost without argument that Connie would spend her one night in North Bend with the Bradleys. Billy was in a fever of excitement even before the stream of people began to pour from the train, and when she saw Connie she made a

wild dash for her that very nearly bowled over a couple of unfortunate men who were in the path. You darling, cried Billy, hugging her friend rapturously. Now I know it's a little. I know it's all true. I was just scared to death for fear something would happen and you couldn't get here. Poor Chet tried his best to edge his way in and speak a word to Connie on his own account, for Chet liked Connie Danvers very much, but he could not do any more than shake hands with her over Billy's shoulder and mumble one or two words which neither of the girls understood. They won't speak to you, he grumbled to himself as he brought up the rear with Connie's suitcase in a hat box, and the only time they know you're alive is when they want a baggage truck or something.

Catch me ever coming to meet one of Billy's friends again. He was relieved when V and Laura came running up, all flushed with their hurry to spill over Connie some more, as Chet disgustedly put it, and he had a chance to slip down a side street and beat it for home. None of the girls even noticed that Chet had gone. A fact which, had he known it, would have made the boy still more disgusted with the girls and everything about them. Connie, you do look sweet, V cried as they all four tried to walk abreast along a sidewalk that was not very wide. The result being that Laura, who was on the end, walked half the time on the curb and the rest of the time in the gutter. Is that a new hat?

And, oh, I know you've got a new dress. "'Well, I'm not the only one who looks nice,' said Connie, "'who, in spite of her prettiness, was very modest.' "'Oh, we are a mess,' said Laura, "'balancing nicely between the curb and the gutter. "'We've got on our oldest dresses "'because everything we own is packed, "'except the things we're going to wear tomorrow.'

"'Tomorrow!' "'That was the magic word that unlocked the gates "'and let through a flood of conversation "'consisting of excited, questions and answers and joyful exclamations that lasted until they reached Billy's house. Billy asked Laura and Vee in, but they reluctantly refused, saying that their mothers had expressly ordered them to be home that day in time for dinner. We can't come over tonight, V called back to them, as she and Laura started on arm in arm. Mother says I have to get to bed early. But we'll see you

first thing in the morning, added Laura, the very first thing, remember that. I'll say so, Billy sang back gaily, and then led her guest up the porch steps and into the house, where her mother was waiting to receive them. Mrs. Bradley and Connie fell in love with each other at first sight, which was the last thing needed to make Billy absolutely happy. They went to bed early that night. The two girls' snuggled in Billy's pretty bird's-eye maple bed, in Billy's pretty bird's-eye maple room. They went to bed, but neither of the girls had either the desire or the intention of going to sleep. They felt as if they never wanted to go to sleep again, and so they talked.

They talked of the next day and the vacation before them, until they could not think of another thing to say about it. Then they talked of the things that had happened at Three Towers Hall, of the dill pickles, and of Amanda Peabody and Eliza Dilks, and last but not least, they talked in hushed tones of the mysterious little hut in the woods, and a strange man who lived there, and wove fern baskets and other things for a living. By the time they had reached Miss Arbuckle and the finding of her album in the woods, they were feeling delightfully thrilling and farther away from sleep than ever.

It really must be a mystery, Connie was saying, snuggling deeper into the covers and staring at Billy's pretty face and tousled hair, weirdly illumined by the pale moonlight that sifted through the window, when there came a tap on the door. And right upon the tap came Mrs. Bradley, wearing a loose robe that made her look mystified, seriously lovely in the dim light. She sat down on the edge of the bed and regarded the girls, smilingly.

It's twelve o'clock, she said, and they stared at her unbelievingly. Twelve o'clock, she repeated relentlessly, and time for girls who have to be up early in the morning to be asleep. But we're not sleepy, protested Billy. Not a bit, added Connie. Mrs. Bradley Rose decidedly. "'Then it's time you were,' she said, adding with little laugh, "'if I hear a sound in here ten minutes from now,

"'I'm coming after you with a broomstick. "'Remember,' she added, "'loughing back at them from the doorway, "'I give you just ten minutes. "'I think you've got just the loveliest mother,' sighed Connie, "'as she turned over obediently with her back to Billy. "'But I'm sure I never can go to sleep. "'Five minutes passed, and the girl,

girls who could never go to sleep, felt their eyelids grow heavy and a delicious drowsiness steel over them. Once Connie roused herself enough to say sleepily, "'We'll just have to form that detective club, Billy, you know?' "'Yes,' said Billy, already half in the land of dreams. When we have the time, good night, Connie.' Good night, Billy. And the next they knew it was morning. And such a glorious morning had never dawned before.

Of that they were sure. Fat Deborah, nicknamed Debbie, who had been the cook in the Bradley family for years, and who thought that gave her the right to tell the whole family what was expected of them, from Billy up to Mr. Bradley himself, cooked them at breakfast of ham and eggs and cereal and toast and cornbread, grumbling to herself all the time. For Debbie did not approve of the young folks scamper enough

just so soon as they gets back home again. Scandless, I call it, Debbie confided to the pan of cornbread she was busily cutting into golden-brown pieces. Don't know what Miss Bradley louse she's thinking on know-how, but these some scandalous days they show is. Whereupon she put on a white apron and her dignity and marched into the dining room. Yet in spite of her disapproval,

Debbie gave the young Scalowags the best breakfast she could make, and from the way the young Scalowags did justice to it, one might have thought they did not expect to get any more to eat for a week at least. Then they went up. upstairs to pack bags with the last-minute things. Billy and Connie went over the whole list backward to make sure they had not forgotten a toothbrush or something. To them it was a very important list. And when everything was done, and their hats and coats on, they found to their dismay that they still had three-quarters of an hour to wait for the drain. Goodness, why did

mother call us so early, wailed Billy, sitting down on her suitcase and staring at Connie. I can do anything but wait, but that I just can't do. Couldn't we go over and call for Laura and V, Connie suggested? My, they won't be up yet, Billy said hysterically, then chuckled at Connie's look of dismay. I didn't mean quite that, she said, but V is always late. Then I know we'd better go on. over, said Connie, going over and giving her hat one last little pat before the mirror. But Billy had walked over to the window, and now she called out excitedly.

Here they come now, she reported, adding with a chuckle, and there's poor Teddy in the rear carrying two suitcases and something that looks like a lunchbox. Come on, let's go down. And down they went, taking two steps at a time. Billy opened the door just as the two girls and Teddy came up the steps. Chet, who had run out, attracted by the noise, and was looking over Billy's shoulder. Caught sight of Teddy, and the load he carried, and emitted a whoop of joy.

Hello, old moving van, he called. So they've got you doing it, too, have they? Teddy set his load down on the steps, and mopped his perspiring brow. Yes, and you'd better get busy yourself, he retorted, adding, as Chet seemed about to protest, I've got some good news, get your duds and I'll tell it to you on the way to the station.

That got Chet started in a hurry, and a few minutes later the young folks had said a loving goodbye to Mr and Mrs. Bradley, and were off, bag and baggage, for the station. The girl's trunks had been sent down the day before, so that all they had to do was to check them at the station, Connie, of course, had had her trunk checked right through to the station nearest their destination. Chet clamoured for Teddy's news, and excitedly Teddy showed him the letter from Paul Martinson,

saying that the old boat would be ready to sail in a few days. Whop! cried Chet joyfully, trying to wave a suitcase in the air and nearly dropping it on his dough instead. Say, girls, you may see us even before you hoped to. "'Hoped to,' sniffed Laura. "'Don't you hate yourself?' "'Oh, I'm so glad,' cried Billy her eyes shining. "'It will be a luck to have you boys drop in on us some morning "'when we don't expect you.

"'Oh, it's just grand. "'We'll be sure to be watching for all of you.' "'The rejoicing was cut short by the arrival of the train a few minutes later. "'The girls scurried excitedly on board, "'the boys handing in their suitcases after them. As the train started to move, Teddy ran along the platform with it and suddenly thrust something into Billy's hand. Look out for those currents, he said. They're awfully dangerous. As he dropped back to join Chet, Billy looked down at the thing in her hand. It was a package of chocolate.

End of Chapter 12. all Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler. Pleasure draws nearer. As she looked, a flush stole over Billy's face, and she tried hastily to hide the chocolate in the pocket of her suit before the girls could see it.

She would have succeeded, if I had not accidentally touched her elbow at that moment, knocking the package of chocolate from her hand, and into the aisle of the car where it lay, face up, accusingly. Billy stretched out and eager hand for it, but Laura was just before her. Aha! she cried triumphantly, waving the little brown rectangle aloft. Candy! Where'd you get it, Billy Bradley? She turned swiftly upon Billy, whose face was the color of a particularly gorgeous beat. By and Connie looked on delightedly. goodness anybody would think it was a crime to have candy cried billy indignantly you give it to me laura or she made a grab for her property but laura snatched it back out of her reach no you don't she said putting her hands behind her determinedly not till you tell us where you got it well i'm not going to said billy crossly it's none of your business and she turned away and looked steadily out of the window give it back

to her, Laura, begged by, it isn't fair to tease her so. Well, then, she shouldn't tease so beautifully, Laura retorted, as, relenting, she slipped Teddy's gift back into Billy's pocket. At that moment, they were startled by a fearful racket, a sound as if all the South Sea pirates that had ever been born had gathered together and were all quarreling at once. There was a great craning of necks, as startled passengers tried to see what it was all about, and the girls fairly jumped from their seats, or the racket sounded in their very ears. Across the aisle from them there was a parrot, a great green and red parrot, that at that moment was hanging by its claws to the roof of his cage, and was still emitting

the raucous squawks that sounded like the talking of a hundred pirates, all rolled into one. An elderly woman, who looked as if she might be a spinster of the type generally known as old maid, was doing her best to silence the bird, while she fished wildly in a bag for something. She found what she was looking for, a heavy black cloth, and with a sigh of relief, flung it across the cage. Immediately, the parrot's uproar subsided to a muttering, and a moment later stopped altogether. Passengers who had craned their necks dropped back in their seats, chuckling, picking up magazines or papers or whatever they had been reading, where they had left us. off, and peace settled over the car again, for all save the girls, that is.

For the elderly woman, who most certainly was an old maid, had been terribly embarrassed over the bird's outbreak, and began explaining to girls how she happened to have it in her possession, what trouble she had already had with it, how glad she would be when she delivered the bird to her brother, who was a thriftful owner, and so on until the girls became desperate enough to throw things at her. "'Isn't there some way we can stop her?' whispered by in Connie's ear, while Billy and Laura were listening to the woman's chatter, with four smiles and polite yeses and nose.

"'If I have to listen to that voice another minute, I'll scream. "'I know I shall.' "'The only way to stop her that I can think of,' Connie whispered back, "'would be to take the cover off the parrot's cage. "'He would run out most anybody. "'This kept up practically all morning. with the owner of the parrot talking on tirelessly and the girls trying to listen politely until lunchtime came thankfully they made their way through the swaying train to the dining-car and sat themselves gratefully down at a little table set for four thank goodness we've escaped sighed billy as her eyes wandered eagerly down the bill of fare for billy was very hungry what will you have girls i could eat everything on the card without stopping to breathe

when they returned to their car after lunch they found to their relief that the talkative old woman was gathering up her things as if about to change cars at the junction which was the next stop she did get out at the junction parrot and all and the girls fairly hugged each other in their delight poor old thing said billy as the train swung out from the station and the parrot cage disappeared i wonder she added after a moment if i'll ever get like that you scoffed vye with a fond glance at billy's lovely face yes you look a lot like an old maid and didn't teddy give her candy this morning added laura with a wicked glance at billy who said not a word but stared steadily out of the window They bought magazines and tried to read them, but finally gave up the attempt. What was the use of reading about other people's adventures when a far more thrilling one was in store for them at Lighthouse Island? Billy said something like this, but Connie shook her head doubtfully. I don't know how we're going to have any adventures, she said. There isn't so very much to do besides swimming and rowing in Uncle Tom's rowboat.

Goodness, isn't that enough? said Billy. turning on her. Why, just being at the seashore is an adventure. Just think, I've never in my life been inside a really, truly lighthouse. It's going to be just wonderful, Connie. And aren't the boys coming in their motorboat, too? added vie eagerly. Why, they will probably take us for a sail around the point and everything. Connie, how can you say we're not going to have any adventures? Connie laughed. All right, she said. Don't shoot. I'll take it all back. And there's Uncle Tom's clam chatter, she added.

People come from all over just to taste it. What time is it, Laura? asked Billy, turning from the window suddenly and tapping nervously on the window sill. It won't take us very much longer to get there, will it? Only three hours, answered Laura, consulting her wristwatch. Only three hours, groaned Billy, and I thought we were nearly there. There was silence for a little while after that. while the girls took up their magazines again and turned the pages listlessly.

At the end of another half hour, they gave up the attempt entirely, and leaned their heads wearily against the backs of the seats, fixing their eyes upon the ever-changing scenery that fled past them. Are we going to form our detective club? Ask Connie suddenly out of silence. The girl stared at her a minute as if she had roused them out of sleep. For goodness sake, what made you think of that now? asked Laura a little peevishly.

I'm so tired, I don't want to form clubs or anything else. All I want to do is get out somewhere where I can stretch my legs, get some supper, and go to bed. I'm dead. You're making lots of noise for a dead one, chuckled Billy, and Laura made a face at her. But no one's answered my question, broke in Connie plaintively. I thought you girls loved mysteries and things.

Well, who says we don't? cried Laura. Just show me a good live mystery, and I'll forget I'm all tied up in knots and everything. Just listen to her, exclaimed Connie indignantly. Do you mean to say you've forgotten that we have a mystery already? Oh, that, said Laura slowly, while a light began to dawn. Yes, I did forget about it. We've been so busy getting ready and everything. Well, I haven't forgotten about it, said Billy, sitting up suddenly, while her cheeks began to glow pink. And the more I think about it, the funnier it seems to me. What? asked why.

Oh, everything, answered Billy, getting more excited as she spoke. Hugo Billings in the first place, and then finding Miss Arbuckle's album in the woods, and the children. End of Chapter 13, read by Nancy Cochran Gargan, Gilbert, Arizona, October 31, 2022. Chapter 14 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island This is the Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org.

Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler. The Light on Lighthouse Island. Laura looked faintly excited for a minute, then she leaned back wearily in her seat again. I'm just as sure as you are, Billy, that there's something funny about it, she said. But if we really had wanted to solve the mystery, we should have stayed at three towers. The first thing they'd do in detective stories is to shadow the people they suspect. And how can we do that? I'd like to know, when we're running straight away from them? This was very good reasoning. Even Billy and Connie had to admit that, and they began to look worried.

Perhaps I shouldn't have asked you girls to visit me. Then you might have stayed at three towers for the summer and solved the mystery. Now he spoiled all the fun. Connie, don't be such an absolute goose, cried Billy, putting a hand over Connie's mouth. Do you suppose we'd have missed this for anything? Anyway, added Vi, hopefully. We may find some more mysteries on Lighthouse Island. Hoof, grumbled Laura, who was feeling tired and cross. You'd talk as if mysteries were just hanging around loose, begging to be found. Well, I think maybe we'll manage to enjoy ourselves, even without mysteries, said Billy Galey.

Nevertheless, she could not help thinking to herself. Oh, dear, I do wish there was some way I could find out about Miss Arbuckle, and those lovely children. I should like to help if only I knew how. Billy, wake up! Wake up! It's time to get off! She must have been very sound asleep, because it was several seconds.

before she fart her way through a sea of unconsciousness and opened heavy eyes upon a scene of confusion. What's the matter? She asked sleepily. But someone, she thought it was Laura, shook her impatiently and someone else. She was wide awake enough now to be sure this was vye, put a hat on her head and pushed it so far over her eyes that she temporarily went blind again.

For goodness sake, can't you put it on straight? She demanded indignantly. pushing the hat back where it belonged. What do you think you're doing anyway? A little anger was the best thing that could have come to Billy. It was about the only thing in the world that would have gotten her wide awake just then, and it was very necessary that she should be wide-await, for the train was just drawing into the station

where they were to get off to take the boat to Lighthouse Island. She took the bag thrust into her hands by Laura, and the girls hurried out into the aisle that was crowded with people. a minute more and they found themselves on a platform down which people hurried and porters rolled their baggage trucks and where everyone seemed intent upon making as much noise as possible billy and laura and vi felt very much bewildered for they had never done any travelling except in the company of some older person but with a confidence that surprised them connie took command of the situation for connie had travelled this route several times and everything about it was familiar to her give me your trunk checks she ordered adding as the girls obediently fumbled in their pocketbooks we'll have to hustle if we want to get our trunk straightened out and get on board ourselves before the boat starts what's the matter vi you haven't lost your check have you for one terrible minute if i had been afraid she had done just this but now with a sigh of relief she produced a check and handed it over to connie my but that was a narrow escape she murmured as they hurried down the crowded platform the boat that plied from the mainland to lighthouse island and one or two more small islands scattered about the near coast was a small but tidy little vessel that was really capable of better speed than most people gave her

credit for. She was painted a sort of dingy white, and large black letters along her bow proclaimed her to be none other than the Marianne. And now, as the girls, with several other passengers, stepped on board and felt the cool breeze upon their faces, they breathed deep of the salty air and gave wonderingly out over the majestic ocean, rolling on and on in unbroken swells toward the distant horizon. Gone was all the fatigue of the long train race. They forgot that their lungs were full of soft, cold dirt, that their hands were grimy, and their faces, too. They were completely under the spell of that great, mysterious tyrant, the ocean. Isn't this grand? Just smell the salt air. Makes you feel braced up already,

came from Billy, who had been filling her lungs to the utmost. Oh, girls, I'm just crazy to jump in and have a swim. I'm with you on that, broke out. Vi. Oh, I'm sure we're going to have just the best times ever. There was a fair-sized crowd to get aboard, made up partly of natives and partly of city folks. The passengers were followed by a number of trunks and a small amount of freight. Evidently, we're not the only ones to take this trip, remarked Billy, as she noted the people coming on board the Marianne. A number of these people must live on the islands to year round, said Laura. my how lonely it must be on this coast during the winter months said billy think of being out on one of those islands in a howling snowstorm i wonder how they get anything to eat during those times questioned vi i presume they keep stuff on hand answered billy

with a sharp toot of her whistle the boat moved out from the dock made her way carefully among the numerous other craft in the harbor and finally noticed her way out into the water of the channel "'Oh!' breathed by, softly. "'It's even more wonderful than I thought it would be. "'I'd like to go sailing on and on like this forever.' "'Well, I wouldn't,' said Laura practically. "'Not without any supper. "'I'm getting a perfectly awful appetite.' "'It will be worse than that after you've been here a little while,' laughed Connie.

"'Mother says that it seems as if she can never give me enough to eat "'when we come out to the seashore, so she has given up trying. Your poor mother, said Billy, dolefully, and now she has four of us. I know, chuckled Connie. Mother was worrying a little about that, as to how she could keep four famished wolves fed at one time,

but Uncle Tom said he'd help her out. Your Uncle Tom, if I repeated wonderingly, can he cook? Of course, said Connie, looking at her as if she had asked if the world was square. Didn't I tell you about his clam chowder? Oh, said by thoughtfully, while something within her began to cry out for a sample of that clam chowder.

Oh, yes, I remember. Connie, you're cruel, moaned Laura. Can't you talk of something besides clam chowder? When you know I'm starving to death? Goodness, I can almost smell it. That's the clams you smell, chuckled Connie. They always have someone bored the Marianne, to sell to the out of yours.

if they haven't a sense to catch them themselves. We never need to buy any, she added proudly. Uncle Tom keeps us supplied with all we want. Look, she cried suddenly, pointing to a small island which loomed directly ahead of them, looking in the gray mist of the evening, like only a darker shadow against a shifting background. That's our island. See? And there's the light, she added, as a sudden beacon flashed out at them, sending a ready light out over the dark water. "'Oh, isn't it beautiful?' cried Billy rapturously.

"'Just think what it must mean to the ships out at sea, that friendly light beckoning to them.' "'No, it doesn't. Beckon, I mean,' said Connie decidedly. "'That's just what it isn't for. It's to warn them to keep away or they'll be sorry.' "'Is there so much danger?' asked Laura eagerly. "'I should say there is,' Connie answered greatly, in a storm especially. You see, the water is very shallow around here, and if a big ship runs in too

close to shore, she's out to get on a shoal. That isn't so bad in clear weather, although a ship did get stuck on the shoal here not so very long ago, and she was pretty much damaged when they got her off. But in a storm? Yes, cried Billy impatiently. Why, Uncle Tom says, Connie was very serious, that if a ship were driven upon the shoal in a gale, and we have terrible storms around here, it would probably come with such force that its bottom would be pretty nearly crushed in, and the people on board might die

before anyone could get out there to rescue them. Oh, Connie, how dreadful! cried by. Laura and Billy only steered at the lighthouse tower, as so fascinated, while the little boat came steadily nearer to it. Has anything like that ever happened here? Connie? asked Laura in an odd voice. No, said Connie. There was a terrible wreck here a long time ago, before they built the lighthouse. But Uncle Tom says no one will ever know just how many lives have been saved

because of the good old light. To hear him talk to it, you would think it was alive. It is, cried Billy, pointing excitedly as the great white globe that held the light swung slowly around toward them. Didn't you see you see it? that? It winked at us. End of Chapter 14, read by Nancy Cochran Gergen, Gilbert, Arizona, November 1, 2022. Chapter 15 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.

For more information or to volunteer, please visitlibrovox.org. Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler Connie's mother The steamers scraped against the dock and the girls straightened their hats, picked up their suitcases, and started down the narrow winding stairs that led to the lower deck. Connie led the way, as she had done ever since they had left North Bend. She scrambled quickly out upon the pier and the chums, following more slowly, were in time to see Connie rapturously embrace first a lady.

and then a gentleman standing nearby. Well, well, a deep masculine voice was saying, it seems mighty good to see our girl again, but where are the others? Connie turned eagerly to the girls. This is my mother and father, Billy and Laura and Vi, she said, with a proud wave of her hand toward her smiling parents, who came forward and greeted the girls cordially.

It's too dark to see your faces, Mrs. Danvers said, but Connie has described you to, us so many times that it isn't at all necessary. I'm sure I know just exactly what you look like. Oh, but there are three times as nice as anything I've said about them, Connie was protesting, when her father, who had been conversing with the captain of the Marianne, stepped up to them. If you young ladies will give me your checks, he said, and the girls knew they were going to love him because his voice sounded so kind. I'll attend to your trunks and you can go on up to the house.

the girls produced their checks mr danvers went back to the captain and mrs danvers and the girls started off in high spirits toward the bungalow are you very tired mrs danvers asked them and the turn of her head as she looked at them made the girls think of some pert plump cheery little robin it was really getting very dark and the girls could not make out what she looked like but they could see that she was small and graceful and her voice well her voice had a gay lilt that made one want to laugh even though all she said was what a pleasant day it is No wonder, with that father and mother, Connie was such a darling. Why, no, we're not very tired, Billy said in answer to Mrs. Danvers's question. We were on the train, but the minute we got on board the boat, we seemed to forget all about it. It's this beautiful salt air, I suppose, and she sniffed happily at the soft, salt-laden breeze that came wandering up from the sea. Of course it's the air, agreed Mrs. Danvers gaily. The air does all sorts of wonderful things to us.

You just wait a few days and see. They were walking along a rough boardwalk, set quite a way back from the water's edge, so that there was a white stretch of beach between it and the first thin line of lapping waves. Why, look at the boardwalk, cried Laura, in wonder. You didn't say anything about a boardwalk down here, Connie, added by, you're really right up to date, aren't you?

What did you suppose, put in Billy, that Lighthouse Island was in the backwoods and had no improvements? And she laughed gaily. Well, I know that very few of the islands on this coast at boardwalks, defended Laura. Most of them have the roughest kind of stony pass. You are right, there, said Connie. I remember only too well when I was on Chatter Island. We had to climb over the rocks all the way, and one day I twisted my ankle most dreadfully, so badly, in fact, that I was laid up for three days while all the other girls were having the best time ever. I know what I'd do on a real dark night, remarked Billy dryly.

If I couldn't see where I was stepping, I'd take my chances and walk in the sand. I do that myself sometimes, answered Connie. Several bungalows dotted the rather barren landscape, for Lighthouse Island was an ideal spot for a summer home, that is, if one liked the seashore. But the girls were not so much interested in what was on the island as they were in what was beyond it.

The ocean, the great dark, mysterious ocean, drew their eyes irresistibly and set their minds to wandering. And, as the days passed, they were to feel the spell of it more and more. Here we are, Mrs. Danversum, said cheerily, and with an effort the girls brought their thoughts back to the present. Mrs. Danvers had turned from the main boardwalk, down another, that led to a bungalow whose every window was cheerfully and invitingly lighted. Be careful where you step, Mrs. Danvers called back to them, and the girl saw that she was picking her steps very carefully. There are two or three

boards missing, and I can't get Mr. Danvers to do the repairing. He spends whole days, she added, turning plaintively to Connie, up in that old lighthouse just talking to your Uncle Tom. I don't know whether it's your Uncle Tom's conversation he finds so fascinating, or his clam chowder. She opened the door, she spoke, and the girls had a vision of a comfortable, gaily lighted room, all wicker chairs in chins' cushions and chint's hangings, a room pretty and cozy, a room that seemed to be beckoning and inviting the girls to come in and make themselves at home, which they did, immediately, all except Billy, who stepped back a moment and gazed off through the dusk

to the light in the lighthouse tower, glowing its warning to the travelers over the dark highways of the sea. I love it, she said, surprising herself by her fervor. It looked so bright and brave and lonely. Then she stepped in after the others, and almost ran into Connie, who was coming back to get her. "'What were you doing all by yourself out there in the dark?' she asked accusingly. "'We thought you'd run away or something.'

"'Goodness! Where would I run, too?' asked Billy, as they went upstairs together, arm and arm. There's no place to run except into the ocean, and I'd rather wait for that till I have my bathing suit on. They found Mrs. Danvers and Laura and Vye in a large room, as pretty and comfortable as the room downstairs, though not quite so elaborate. Laura and Vye were busily engaged in making themselves entirely at home.

Laura had her hat off and was fixing her hair in front of a mirror, and Vye was hanging up her coat in the closet. You see, there's a connecting door between these two rooms, Mrs. Danvers said in her pleasant voice, so that you girls can feel almost as if you were in one room. Then, as she caught sight of Billy and Connie in the doorway, she beck into them and disappeared into the next room, and with a laughing word to Lorraine Vi, they followed her.

This was the room that she and Connie were to occupy, Billy found, and she looked about her at the handsome mahogany furniture and dainty dressing table fixings with interest. But she was even more interested in seeing what Connie's mother looked like in the light. She was not a bit disappointed, for Mrs. Danvers's look entirely matched her voice. Her eyes were a wide, laughing hazel, set far apart and fringed with dark lashes. Her hair, for she had not worn a hat, was a soft brown,

and the night wind had whipped a pretty color into her face. She is awfully pretty. Not as pretty as my mother, Billy thought loyally, but awfully pretty just the same. Billy must have been staring more than she knew, for suddenly Mrs. Danvers. It seemed absurd to gall her missus. She looked so like a girl, turned upon her and took her laughingly by the shoulders. So, you're Billy Bradley, she said, her hazel eyes searching Billy's brown ones. Connie said you were the most popular girl at Three Towers, and that all the girls loved you.

I can't say that I blame them, my dear, giving Billy's flushed cheek a gay little pat. I'm not very sure, but what I may do it myself. Now here, and she went on to give directions, while Billy followed her with wondering eyes, How could a woman who was old enough to be Connie's mother look so absolutely and entirely like a girl of twenty? She was not even dignified like most of the mother's, Billy knew.

She did not even try to be. Connie treated her as she would an older and much-loved sister. One only needed to be with them three minutes to see that mother and daughter adored each other and were the very best chums in the world. And right then and there, Billy began adoring too. Now I'll run downstairs and get something on the table for you girls to eat, for I know you must be starving, said Mrs. Danvers, or rather, Connie's mother, as Billy called her

from that day on. Don't stop to fix up, girls, for there won't be a soul here tonight but Daddy and me, and we don't care. Hurry now, if you are not downstairs by the time I have dinner on the table, I'll eat it all myself, every bit. With that, she was gone into the next room, leaving a trail of laughter behind her that made Billy's heart laugh in sympathy. Connie, she said, sitting down on the edge of the bed and regarding her chum soberly, as she opened her bag and drew out a brush and comb. I'm simply crazy about your mother.

She's so young and pretty and... And... Happy. Does she ever do anything but laugh? Not often, said Connie, adding with a little chuckle, but when she does stop laughing, you'd better look at it. out for breakers ahead, as Uncle Tom says. Mother is French, you know, and she has a temper, about once a year. But for goodness sake, stop talking, Billy, and get ready. You've got a patch of dirt under one eye. What's that I smell? It's clam chowder. Clam chowder, repeated Billy

weekly. Are you sure it's clam chowder, Connie? Yes, Clam chowder, repeated Connie firmly. 15, read by Nancy Cockman-Gurgin, Gilbert, Arizona, November 7, 2022. Chapter 16 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island. This is a Libravox recording. All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler. Clam Chatter and Sal Dare.

connie was right gloriously right it was clam chatter the kind of clam chatter one dreams about come true uncle tom had bade it just that very afternoon and had brought it over in a huge bucket that was always used for such occasions the girls ate and ate and ate and then ate some more until they were completely satisfied with life and were feeling contented and beautifully wonderfully drowsy Connie's mother had served them other things besides clam chowder. There were pork chops and applesauce, there were muffins and honey and apple pie, and, when they had finished, the once full table looked as if a swarm of locusts had been at it. And all the time Connie's mother had watched them with wide, delighted eyes, and Connie's father had lounged back in his chair, smoking a cigar and looking on with an indulgent smile. Mr. Danvers, with the aid of a couple of men from the dock, had got the girls' trunks up to the house

and into the rooms they were going to occupy for the summer. And now, having done his duty, he had sauntered into the dining room to get acquainted with the girls and smoke a cigar. He and Mrs. Danvers had had their dinner earlier, because, as Mrs. Danvers laughingly explained, she had been famished and could not wait, so that now, there was nothing to do but watch the girls enjoy themselves. The dining room was like all the other rooms in the cottage, cheerful and cozy and tastefully furnished, and as the girls looked about them happily,

they felt that they must have known the house and its owners all their lives. Mr. Danvers was many years older than his wife, and he looked even older than he was, but he was a handsome man, and the touch of gray in the hair at his temples only made him look more distinguished. He adored his wife, and his eyes followed her wherever she went. As if anyone could blame him for that, thought Billy,

as Mrs. Danvers slipped a second piece of apple pie on her plate. My gracious, do you expect me to eat a second piece of pie? cried Billy, glancing up at Mrs. Danvers with a smile. A second piece of pie isn't very much for a young girl with a healthy appetite, returned the lady of the bungalow. You give her too much bye, and she'll be dreaming of all sorts of things, remonstrated Vi. Why, Vi! To talk that way when you are eating a second piece yourself, broke in Laura.

If we dream, perhaps we'll all dream together, so what's the difference? remarked Billy, and at this there was a laugh in which even Mr. Danvers joined. After dinner, Connie's mother sent them up to their rooms. saying that she knew they must be tired to death and should go to bed early so they could get up to see the sunrise the next morning. They did not protest very much, for they were tired,

and the prospect of bed was very alluring. Tomorrow, well, tomorrow they would go exploring. Perhaps they might even be permitted to visit the lighthouse and Uncle Tom. Speaking of Uncle Tom made Billy think of the clam chatter, and, although she could not have any of her, have eaten another scrap if she had tried her mouth watered at the memory. The girls left the connecting door open between the two rooms so they could talk to each other if they wanted to, but they did not do very much talking that night.

Oh, this feels good, sighed Billy, as Connie turned down the covers and she crawled thankfully into bed. I didn't know I was so awfully tired. And that dinner? Connie, does your mother always served dinners like that? Yes, said Connie, flinging her thick braid over her shoulder, and crossing the room to turn out the light. Mother is an awfully good cook, and although we have a maid to do the heavy work, mother does solve a cooking herself. Well, said Billy, snuggling down under the covers luxuriously, as Connie joined her,

I might be glad I came. Even if we don't solve any mysteries? asked Connie, a trifle wistfully. Billy turned over and tried to see her face, a thing impossible, of course, in the dark. What a foolish thing to say, she cried. I'll shake you, Connie Danvers, if you ever see a thing like that again. We could have stayed at Three Towers

if we had wanted to solve mysteries more than we wanted to come here, couldn't we? Yes, said Connie doubtfully. Only, of course, we didn't know anything about the mystery, when I asked you to come here. So you couldn't have backed out very well, even if you had wanted to. Billy turned over impatiently and caught Connie by the shoulder.

Connie Denver, she cried. Now I know you want to be shaken. Are you really trying to say that we didn't want to come with you and only did it to please you? No, said Connie with a shake of her head. Of course I didn't mean just that. Just the same, she added longingly.

I am awfully anxious to find out about Miss Arbuckle in her album and, That strange man, everything. It was then that a horrible thought struck Billy, and it was so horrible that it sat her straight up in bed. Connie, I just thought, could it? Were you sorry you asked us to come? She stammered.

Would you rather have stayed at Three Towers yourself? For a minute, there was silence, and Billy knew that Connie was staring through the dark, at her in absolute amazement. You perfectly silly goose, said Connie Ben, her bewilderment changing to indignation. Now I know who wants to be shaken. Lie down here, Billy, and see if you can't act sensibly.

Sorry, I asked you? She exploded indignantly. Why, whoever heard of such a thing? But you said she wanted to solve the mystery, if there is one, Billy reminded her lying down again. "'Well, of course I do. So do all the rest of you,' Connie shot back. But as to being sorry, I asked you, why, I have a good mind,' she rose threateningly in the bed, and Billy put out a pleading hand, saying with a chuckle,

"'Please don't kill me or do whatever you were going to. I take it all back.' "'I should say you'd better,' sputtered Connie, coming down with a thump in the bed. "'What are you girls raving about?' asked his sleep. sleepy voice from the next room that they recognized as Wise. Can't you keep still and let a fellow sleep? Laura's snoring already. Oh, I am not, came indignantly from Laura. I never snore. How do you know? asked Vi with interest. No, sputtered Laura. Why, I don't know how I know, but I do know. Perhaps you are like an aunt of mine, Vy's voice came lazily back.

She says she knows she never snores, because she stayed awake all night once just to see if she did. Billy and Connie chuckled, which would have made Laura more indignant if she had not been so sleepy. Oh, for goodness sake, keep still and let me sleep, she cried, adding ferociously.

I saw a knife around somewhere downstairs. if anybody speaks another word, I'm going down and get it. Whether this threat had anything to do with it or not, it would be hard to say, but at any rate, the girls did stop talking and settle down for sleep. All but one of them succeeded in drifting off into the land of Nod in no time at all, but that one of them, who was Billy, lay for a long time with eyes wide open, staring into the dark.

Then gradually, the soft lapping of waves upon the beach, soothed her into a sort of doze, where tall, thin men and shabby picture albums and queer little huts were all confused and jumbled together. Only one thing stood out clearly, and that was the great searchlight, twinkling, winking, glowing, sending its friendly message far out upon the sea.

Then all the troubled visions disappeared in a soft black cloud, Billy was asleep. End of Chapter 16, read by Nancy Cochran Gergen, Gilbert, Arizona, November 8, 2022. Chapter 17 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island. This is the Libravox recording. All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibraVox.org. Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler.

Fun and nonsense. The next morning the girls were up with the sun. They were in hilarious spirits and made so much noise that Mrs. Danvers, busily getting breakfast in the kitchen below, smiled to herself and had the Big Collie that, at that moment, strolled leisurely into the room. The Big Collie's name was Bruce, and he belonged to Uncle Tom of the Lighthouse.

But, although Uncle Tom was his master and was first in his dog's heart, Connie's mother was his very next best beloved, and Bruce spent his time nearly equally between the lighthouse and Uncle Tom, and the cottage and Connie's mother. Now he answered the woman's hug with a loving look from his beautiful eyes, and waved his brush gratefully. Bruce darling, said Connie's mother, as she lifted a pan of biscuits and shoved it into the oven,

it's a perfectly gorgeous morning and a perfectly gorgeous world and you're a perfectly gorgeous dog. Now don't deny it. You know you are. How about it? To which Bruce responded by a more vigorous waving of his white-tipped brush that very nearly swept a second pan of biscuits onto the well-swept floor. Connie's mother rescued it with a quick motion of her arm and stared at Bruce reproachfully. Bruce, just suppose you had spoiled it. She's called. as she slipped the pan into the oven after its fellow. Don't you know that I have four hungry girls to feed,

to say nothing of a great big husband? Now what are you saying about me? Asked a man's pleasant voice from the doorway, adding, as Connie's mother turned toward him, Can't I help, dear? You look rather warm. Warm? Well, I should say I was, said Connie's mother, sweeping a stray lock of hair back out of her eyes. But what do I care when it's such a wonderful woman?

world. Haven't I got my baby back again? And three others as well? They're sweet girls, aren't they John? And Billy Bradley is going to be a beauty. Well, I know someone else who is a beauty, said Mr. Danvers, looking admiringly at his wife's rosy face and white apart, laughing eyes, adding with a smile, even though she has a big patch of flower under one eye. Oh, cried Connie's mother, and wiped her face vigorously with a pink and white checked apron. Now, just for that, she said, turned to her husband, who was still lounging in the doorway. I'm going to put you out. And bruised, too. I have enough to do without having a husband who makes fun of me and a dog who sticks his tail into everything under my feet all the time. Hurry on, and she pushed her protesting, laughing husband, and the reluctant dog

out through the open door and into the brilliant sunshine beyond. "'Are you going to call us in time for breakfast?' Mr. Danvers called back to his wife over his shoulder. "'Of course,' she answered. "'I'll send Connie after you.' And she playfully waved a frying-pan at him. "'She put us out, Bruce,' said Mr. Danvers, laying a caressing hand on the dog's beautiful head as he walked gravely along beside him. "'But we love her just the same, don't we?'

And Bruce's answer was to press close to Mr. Danvers, and wave his tail enthusiastically. Hardly had Mrs. Danvers had time to put the bacon in the oven to keep warm and break the eggs into the pan when there was a sound of skirmishing on the stairs, and a moment later a whirlwind broke in upon her. Mother, Mother, everything smells so good, cried Connie, dancing over to her mother and hugging her so energetically that she almost sent the eggs, pan and all, on the floor. Is there anything we can do to help? Yes, go away. cried Connie's father, seeing with dismay that one of the eggs in the pan was broken, and Connie's mother prided herself upon serving perfect eggs. Then, as she saw the surprise in

the girl's faces, she relented, left the eggs to their fate, and hugged them all. "'You're darlings,' she said, but you're awfully in the way. Billy, for goodness sake, hand me that pancake turner. Quick, these eggs are going to be awful. But Billy had jumped to the rescue, and when the eggs were turned out on the platter with a bacon surrounding them on four sides, they did not look awful at all, but just about the most appetizing things the girls had ever laid hungry eyes on. Oh, let me carry them. No, let me. I'll do it. And, to a chorus of a score or so other such pleas, the eggs were borne triumphantly into the dining room and set carefully on the table. Now the biscuits, cried Connie, running back into the kitchen, where her mother was just heaping

another platter high with golden-brown deliciousness. Oh, mother, said Connie, darting a kiss at her mother that landed just exactly on the tip of Mrs. Danvers' pretty astonished nose. Everything you cook always looks just exactly like you. Then she disappeared with the biscuits, leaving her mother to rub her nose and smile somewhat proudly. I guess it must have been a compliment, she chuckled, as she followed Connie with a second plate of biscuits, for they always seemed to like what I cook. The girls were already waiting politely, but impatiently, for her. She was about to sit down when she thought of Mr. Danvers. She looked hastily at Connie. I told your father I'd send you after him when breakfast was ready, she said, and Connie looked dismayed.

Oh, bother, she said. I just know they'll eat all the biscuits before I get back. No, we won't, we promise, said Billy, but Connie still looked doubtful enough to make them giggle, as she flung out of the door in search of her father. She had been gone scarcely two minutes when she returned triumphantly with her father and Bruce in tow. They were just coming back, she told her mother,

as she sank into her seat and reached for a biscuit. Daddy said he smelled the biscuits, and they drew him with, "'What was it you said they drew you with, Daddy?' "'Iresistible force,' asked Mr. Danvers, as he greeted the girls and took his seat at the head of the table. "'Now, if they only taste as they smell.' He smiled at his wife across the table,

and she handed him a plate full of the golden brown biscuits. "'Who owns the dog?' asked Laura Boyishly, as Bruce sat down gravely at Mrs. Danvers' aside, looking up at her adoringly. "'Oh, please excuse me. I forgot to introduce him,' cried Mrs. Stamvers, dimpling and laying her hand lightly on the dog's head. "'This is Robert Bruce, and he's a thoroughbred and belongs to Uncle Tom, and lives over at the lighthouse.'

"'The lighthouse,' repeated Billy eagerly, "'then added, as though she were thinking aloud, "'Oh, but I'm crazy to see it.' "'Are you?' asked Connie's mother, looking surprised at Billy's eagerness, for the lighthouse was an old story to her. Connie can take you over there today if you would like to go. Oh, won't that be lovely? cried Vai. I've always wanted to see inside a real lighthouse.

I want to know all about the lights and everything. When can we go, Mrs. Danvers? Any time you like, answered Mrs. Danvers, her heartwarming to their girlish enthusiasm. She was falling in love with Connie's friends more and more every minute. Uncle Tom receives visitors at all hours of the day. And he has lots of them, added Connie, nodding over her coffee cup. All the children and the men love him.

He can tell so many stories, you know. And fish stories, too, I reckon, put in Connie's mother laughingly. You know you can never really depend upon a sailors telling the truth. Good as the breakfast was, the girls found themselves hurrying through it, so eager were they to see the lighthouse and Uncle Tom. They took Bruce with them at Mrs. Danvers' request, for she was going to be very busy, and the big dog did have a habit of getting in the way.

As the girl swung along the boardwalk, they had a wild desire to shout with a sheer joy of living. Everything looked so different by daylight. It was not half so thrilling and mysterious, but it was much more beautiful. The ocean was calm, for there was almost no wind. The water gleamed and sparkled in the brilliant sunshine, and the beach was almost too dazzlingly white to look upon. In the distance rose the irregular outline of the mainland, but on all other sides, there was nothing but an illipanable stretch of long, graceful rolling comers.

As the girls came out upon the point, there, before them, rose the lighthouse tower, robbed of the mystery it had worn the night before, yet wearing a quaint, romantic dignity all its own. Connie, said Billy happily, I'm sure this is the most wonderful place in the world. End of Chapter 17, read by Nancy Cochran-Gurgin, Gilbert, Arizona, November 11, 2022. Chapter 18 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org.

Read by Claudia Gutierrez, Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler. Uncle Tom Uncle Tom was undeniably glad to see them. He was sitting in the little room at the base of the tower, which was his living room, smoking a great corncob pipe and idly turning over the pages of a book. But as Connie entered and ran to him with a joy, cry, he put the pipe down carefully, flung the book on the floor, and caught the girl in a bear's hug. Well, well, he cried, his great voice, filling the room like thunder.

Here's my little girl, come back to me again. I was beginning to think you deserted your uncle in his old age, Connie Las. When did you get back? And who are these other very pretty young ladies you have with you? "'These are my chums, and the nicest girls in all the world,' said Connie, turning to them gaily. "'You must have known they were coming, Uncle Tom. "'Mother said she told you.' "'Yes, yes, so she did,' said Uncle Tom, in the same hearty tones. "'That seemed to fill the little room, and the girls could almost have sworn to it, made it tremble. "'But my memory is getting worse and worse, Connie Las,' he added, with a doleful shake of the head that was belied by the merry twinkle in his eyes.

Let me see now. What, it, was it, their names were? Then, laughingly, Connie introduced the girls, and Uncle Tom had some funny personal little thing to say to each one of them, so that by the time the introductions were over, they were all laughing merrily and feeling very well acquainted. I suppose you will be wanting to see the tower, said Uncle Tom, after he had shown them all around the quaint little room

and introduced them to some of his treasures. queer racks and shells and pebbles that he had picked up in his wanderings. Everybody always wants to climb the tower, and it's mighty hard on a poor fellow with a weak back, let me tell you. And again, the doleful shake of the head was belied by the twinkle in his eyes. Oh, we're in no hurry, please, put in Billy, turning from one of the small-paned outward opening windows that looked straight out upon the ocean.

I think this is the darlingest room I ever saw. I could spend days and days just looking around here. Connie's Uncle Tom stood six feet two in his stockinged feet and was broad in proportion. He had a shock of reddish-brown hair that was becoming slightly streaked with gray, but his face was clean-shaven. His features were rugged rather than handsome, but his eyes were large in red-brown to match his hair, and with an everlasting humor in them that made everybody love him who knew him. and now he stood looking down at Billy's pretty eager face, and though his face was grave, his eyes were laughing as usual.

I'm glad you like it, he said. I do, but then I have to. I should think you'd want to, Billy shot back. Why, I am sure I would just love to live here myself. No, you wouldn't. Uncle Tom interrupted, taking his pipe and puffing at it thoughtfully. It's mighty nice in the daytime, I'll admit. then it's a mighty pretty homey place, but at night, especially on a stormy night, it's different.

The wind wails round here like a tortured ghost. The waves beat upon the rock foundation of the tower like savage beasts trying to tear it apart. And the tower itself seems to quiver and tremble. And you start to wonder, the girls had gathered closer to him, for his voice was grave and his eyes had stopped laughing. about the ships away out there in the fury of the storm. Some of them crippled, distressed, sinking, perhaps, and you get to thinking about the men, women, and little children maybe, on board and wondering how many will be alive when the storm dies down.

I tell you, it grips you by the throat. It makes your eyes ache with pity, and you curse the storm that's bringing disaster along with it. His hands were clenched, his face. was hard and stern, and the girls felt thrilled, stirred as they had never been before, but suddenly he jumped to his feet, went over to the window, and stood there looking out for a moment. And when he came back, he was smiling so naturally that the girls caught themselves wondering if they had not dreamed what had gone on before. I didn't mean to give you a

lecture, he told them gaily, and with strange reluctance they shook off the spell and smiled with him. Come on, let's take a look at the tower, and then I'll give you some clam-chow Would you like some clam chowder? They were too fresh from breakfast to be wildly enthusiastic, even over clam chowder just then, but they knew the time would come soon when they would be hungry again, so they assented happily and followed the broad back of Uncle Tom up the winding tower steps. They exclaimed over the tower room and the wonderful revolving light, but the thing that charmed them most was the platform that completely encircled the tower.

They reached the platform through a small door, and as the girls stepped out upon it, they felt almost as if they were stepping out into space. The water seemed unbelievably far away, farther a good deal than it actually was. And Billy did not dare look down very long for fear of becoming dizzy. It was almost half an hour before Uncle Tom finally succeeded in leering them away from the platform, and then the whole crowd of girls went reluctantly. They went downstairs with Uncle Tom and listened to his yarns, with Bruce curled happily up at his master's feet,

until the thought of the clam chowder he had promised them became insistent, and Connie asked him point-blank whether he had forgotten all about it. Uncle Tom indignantly denied the latter imputation and set about preparing the chowder immediately, the girl's offering eager but inexperienced help. Bruce tried to help too, but only succeeded, as usual, in getting himself in the way. And after that came bliss.

The girl succeeded in devouring a huge pot of the delicious chowder. It was better than they had had the night before, because it was freshly made, and it was after three o'clock before they finally tore themselves from the lighthouse and Uncle Tom and started for the Danvers's bungalow. Come again and come often, he called after them in his megaphone voice, one hand stroking Bruce's beautiful head as the big dog stood beside him. We will, they answered happily, especially if you give us clam chowder every time.

Billy laughed back at him over her shoulder. Goodbye, Bruce. She turned once more before they lost sight of the lighthouse keeper, and there he was. Towering in the doorway, has dog at his side, smoking his corn-cob pipe, and gazing thoughtfully out to sea. I don't wonder you love him, Connie, she said,

shading her eyes with her hand, for the brilliant sunshine made her blink. I think he's wonderful. He's like, like somebody out of a book. Poor Teddy, said Laura, with a wicked sideclans at her chum. I guess he'd better hurry up if he's coming. Billy tried hard to think of something crushing to say in reply, but before she could speak, Connie gave an excited little skip

that very nearly landed her in the sand a couple of feet below the boardwalk. Oh, when do you suppose the boys will get here? She asked eagerly, I'm just crazy to go out in that motorboat of Paul's. Yes, to have the boys come will be all we need to make us perfectly happy, declared by. Well, they ought to be along in a few days now, said Billy. Then she suddenly caught Connie's arm and pointed out toward the water's edge. Look, she cried. There are some people in swimming. Why, of course, said Connie. We can go in swimming too tomorrow if we want to. Maybe Uncle Tom will

come along. I always feel safer with him. He's such a wonderful swimmer. Oh, I hope so, said Vye, adding plaintively, I only wish tomorrow wasn't such a long way off. And she sighed. The girls walked along in silence for a few minutes. Then Billy spoke as if she were thinking aloud. I wonder, she said, what your uncle Tom, you'd better call him your Uncle Tom, said Connie with a laugh, because he's already adopted you. All right, agreed Billy. I wouldn't. What do what made Uncle Tom speak the way he did about storms and wrecks and things? Why, since he's a sailor, said Laura, I suppose he's been in all sorts of wrecks, and of course he thinks about the most in a storm.

No, said Connie gravely. No, that isn't it? You see, she lowered her voice a little and spoke slowly. Uncle Tom lost somebody in a wreck once. She was a very lovely girl. it is said, and Uncle Tom was engaged to marry her. The girl's young faces were very sober as they gazed at Connie. Oh, said Billy softly, now I see. Poor, poor Uncle Tom. End of Chapter 18. Chapter 19 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings

are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, Please visit Libravox.org. Read by Claudia Gutierrez. Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler. Paul's motorboat. The days flew by on wings, and the girls were surprised to wake one morning to find that they had been at Lighthouse Island over a week. They had been bathing and boating and swimming till they were tanned a beautiful brown, the color not being confined to their faces, but covering their arms and hands as well.

What with the exercise in Mrs. Danvers's wonderful cooking, they had gained flesh so fast that they had begun to wonder a little anxiously if they were bound for the freak show? Why, it's positively dreadful, Laura declared one morning, feeling ruefully of her waistline, which she was quite certain had expanded at least two inches. I've simply got to stop eating, or something. Stop eating, echoed Billy, taking up a handful of sand and letting it sift slowly through her fingers. Well, maybe you can do it, Laura, dear, but I certainly can't, not with Connie's mother doing the cooking. I don't intend to try, no matter how fat I get, declared by. It was right after breakfast, and the girls had jumped into their bathing suits, as they did it almost the same time every morning, and were waiting impatiently for the hour to pass that Mrs. Danvers had insisted must pass before they went in swimming after breakfast.

Mother said she might come down this morning and go in with us, said Connie, her eyes fixed streamingly on the horizon. Then suddenly she sat up straight and stared. What's the matter? asked Billy, seeing ghosts or something. No. But look, Connie clutched at her arm. Isn't that a motorboat? That was a tiny spot that grew bigger as they looked and seemed to be headed in their direction. "'It's a boat of some sort, I think,' said Vai. "'But you can't tell whether it's a motorboat or some other kind of craft.' "'Of course you can,' Laura broke in excitedly.

"'It's got to be a motorboat because there aren't any sails or anything. "'It is! It is! Oh, girls, could it be?' "'The boys?' finished Billy, shading her eyes. with her hand and gazing eagerly out toward the speck that was growing larger every minute. Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful? But we're not a bit sure it's the boys, Connie reminded her. Lots of motorboats come here in the summer. Oh, stop being a killjoy, Laura commanded, giving her a little shake.

I just feel it in my bones that the boys are in that boat. Where will they land, Connie? At the dock, of course, Connie answered, in a tone which very plainly said, You ought to have known that without asking. Well, let's run around there then, cried Billy, her cheeks red with excitement. They won't know what to do if nobody's there to meet them. As always with Billy, to think a thing was to do it. And before the girls had a chance to say anything, she was off, fleet-footed, down the sand in the direction of the dock.

The girls stared for a minute. Then Laura started in pursuit. Come on, she cried. She's crazy, of course. but we've got to follow her, I suppose. Billy had almost reached the dock before they caught up with her. Then Laura reached out a hand and jerked her to stop. Billy, she gasped.

Be sensible for just a minute, please. Suppose it isn't the boys. Then we won't want to be waiting around as though we wanted somebody to speak to us. Well, but I'm sure it is the boys. You said so yourself, retorted Billy, impatiently. Her eyes fixed on the mysterious spot, dancing and bobbing on the glistening water. And they certainly won't know what to do if there isn't a soul here to meet them. But we don't want to meet them in our bathing suits, said Vai, who with Connie had just come pantingly up.

It wouldn't be proper, would it? Billy looked at her doubtfully a moment, then reluctantly shook her head. "'No, I suppose it wouldn't,' she admitted, adding with a stamp of her foot. "'But I did want to be here to meet them.' "'Well, we can be, if we rush,' broken Connie. "'The boat won't reach the dock for 15 or 20 minutes anyway, "'because it's still a long way off. "'We may be able to throw some clothes on and be back by that time.'

"'Throw is right,' Laura said skeptically, but Billy was already racing off again in the direction of the cottage. With a helpless little laugh, the girls followed. The boys would have declared it could not be done, but the girls proved that it could. They were panting when they reached the house, stopped just long enough to explain to the surprise Mrs. Danvers, and then scurried upstairs,

and with eager fingers tore off their bathing suits and substituted their ordinary clothes. It's good. We didn't go in bathing and get our hair all wet, Vi panted, but Laura put a hand over her mouth. Stop talking, she commanded. You need your breath. As a matter of fact, they were pretty much out of the last-named article when they reached the dock again. But the great thing was that they had succeeded in getting there before whoever was in that motorboat made a landing.

Suppose, after all this, it isn't the boys, panted Laura, and Connie gave for a funny glance. Killjoy! She jeered, paying her back. Laura was about to retort, but Billy interrupted with a chuckle. Stop fighting, girls, she commanded, and tell me something. Is my hair on straight? No, it's too much over one eye, replied Connie in the same tone. Then, Vye claimed their attention. Look, she cried. They're coming around the other side of the dog.

Oh, isn't that a perfectly beautiful boat? It was, but the girls were just then too much interested in finding out who was in that boat to pay very much attention to his beauty. The graceful craft swung around toward them, the motor was shut off, and the boat glided easily into the dock. The girls were standing

a little way back, so as not to appear too curious, and that was the reason why the boys saw them, before they saw the newcomers. There was a whoop from the deck of the motorboat, a shout of, say, fellas, look who's here! And the next moment, three sportily-clad

young figures leaped out onto the dock and made a dash for the girls, leaving the fourth member of their party protesting vigorously. The fourth member was none other than Paul Martinson, and being the owner and captain of the handsome motorboat, he had no intention of following the other boys and leaving his craft to wander out to see. So he told the boys what he thought of them, which did not do a particle of good, since they did not hear a word, he said, and remained in the boat while he held onto the dock with one hand. Meanwhile, Chet had hugged his sister, and Teddy had hugged his sister, and Furred had declared longingly that he wished he had a sister to hug.

It made him feel lonesome, and there was after noise and confusion generally. It was Connie who reminded them of poor Paul, grumbling away all by himself in his boat, and the boys ran penitently over to him while the girls danced after them joyfully. Oh, what a splendid boat! Isn't she a beauty? What good times you must have in her. It was really an unusually handsome craft, and it was little wonder that Paul regarded it with pride. He invited the girls on board, and they went into raptures enough to satisfy even him. It was a good 50 feet in length and had a cabin in which one could stand up if one were not very tall.

There were bunks running along both sides of the cabin that looked like leather-cushioned divans in the daytime, and could be turned into the most comfortable of beds at night. There was a galley forward, too, where the boys cooked their rather sketchy meals, and into this the girls poked eagerly curious heads. Oh, it's all just the completest thing I've ever seen, cried Billy, clapping her hands in delight while Paul looked at her happily. Those cunning curtains at the window and everything! My mother did that, Paul admitted sheepishly,

as he followed the girls out onto the death, and I didn't like to take them down. "'Well, I should say you wouldn't take them down,' said Connie indignantly. "'The idea! Don't you dream of it? Why? They are just what make the cabin!' "'But isn't this some deck? Did your mother do this too, Paul?' asked Laura, her eyes traveling admiringly from the pretty wicker lounging chairs to the gaily striped awning and brilliant deckrail that shone like gold in the dazzling sun. Why, Paul, I never knew of a motorboat could be so pretty and comfy. Say, but you ought to see her go, put in chat eagerly.

She's as fast a little boat as she is pretty. Oh, she's great. Yes, it almost makes me wish I had done some studying in school, said Ford Stowing, rubbing his head ruefully. Maybe if I had, my dad would have given me an airplane or something. After they had fastened the boat securely to the dock so that there was no danger of its floating off, they turned to. reluctantly away from the dock and started off toward the Danvers's cottage. Then the girls

tried to tell the boys all that had happened since they had last met, and the boys tried to do the same, the result being hopeless confusion and perfect happiness. Say, make-believe that beach doesn't look good, exclaimed Teddy to Billy, for they had fallen a little behind the rest. And the good old ocean, say, what a day for a swim. That's just what we were going to do when we saw you coming, Billy confided, thinking how exceedingly handsome he looked in his white trousers and dark coat. Then she told him of the wild scramble they had had to get dressed, and she looked so pretty in the telling of it that he did not hear much of what she was saying to him for looking at her. But what made you show sure it was us? asked Teddy, ungrammatically. Billy chuckled and gave a little skip with pure happiness.

Laura said she felt it in her bones, she said. End of Chapter 19 Chapter 20 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visitlibrovox.org. Read by Kristen Hand. Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler

Out of the Fog That afternoon, the boys and girls went in swimming, and that evening Connie's mother treated them all to a substantial dinner such as only she knew how to cook. And the way it disappeared before those ravenous girls and boys made even Mr. Danvers hold up his hands in consternation. But Connie's mother laughed happily, pressed them to eat everything up, for it would only spoil, and looked more than ever like Connie's older sister. That night the boys were put up in a spare room which contained one bed and two cots, which Connie's mother always kept stowed away for emergencies. For the cottage on Lighthouse Island was a popular place with Mrs. Danvers' relatives and friends, and she often had unexpected company. They went out on the porch a little while after supper, and the boys were at their funniest and kept the girls in a continual gale of merriment. The time passed so quickly that before they knew,

it, 11 o'clock chimed out from the hall inside, and in consternation Connie's mother hurried them all off to Ben. Tomorrow is another day, she added with a little smile. As they started up the stairs, Teddy looked down at Billy and said boyishly, Say, Billy, you've got some sunburn, haven't you? You're mighty pretty. Then Teddy blushed and Billy blushed and Billy hoped with all her heart that Laura had not heard it. Laura had not, for she was talking and laughing with Paul Martinson and Colney. And so, Billy, running ahead and reaching her room first, turned on the light and stepped over to

the mirror. Was that Billy? She wondered, who gazed back at her from the mirror? For this girl was surely prettier than Billy ever had been. Her eyes were shining, her cheeks were flushed under their tan and her hair, a little tumbled by the breeze from the sea, made an unexpectedly pretty frame for a very lovely face. The next day, the girls insisted that the boys take them out in their motorboat. The boys protested a little, for the sun was acting rather queerly, going under a cloud and staying there sometimes for a half an hour on a stretch. I don't know, said Paul, a doubtful eye on the sky.

It isn't what you could call a real clear day, girls, and I don't want to take any chances with you. Oh, we're not afraid if you're not, saying out Laura, teasing and he turned round upon her with the scowl. I'm not afraid for myself, and I think probably you know that. Just the same. Oh, but here's the sun,

called Vye suddenly, as the sun burst forth from the cloud and showered a golden glory over everything. It's going to be a beautiful day, just beautiful. So it was settled, and amid great fun and laughter they picked up the lunch that Connie's mother prepared for them and started happily off. humming as they went. As they clambered aboard the shelling, Paul had named his craft after

Captain Shelling, the master of Boxton Military Academy. The sun went under a cloud again, and this cloud was bigger and blacker than any that had swallowed it before. But Laura's taunt still rang in Paul's ears, and he said nothing. In a little while, there was no need for words. The girls began to see for themselves that Paul had been right, and that it would have been far better if they had waited till a really clear day. They had put some distance between them and the mainland when the sun went under a cloud for good, and a cool little breeze began to rise.

This had been going on for some time before they even realized it. They were having such fun. Then it was Connie who spoke. Doesn't it look a little... A little threatening, Paul? She asked timidly. Do you suppose it is going to rain? No, I don't think it's going to rain.

Paul answered suddenly, his hands on the wheel, his eyes rather anxiously fixed on the water ahead. But I do think we're going to have one of those sudden heavy mists that come off the coast here. Dad said to look out for them because they're thick enough to cut, and if you get caught in one, you can't see your hand before your face. The girls were sober enough now as they looked at each other. But what makes you think we're going to have one, Paul? asked Laura humbly. "'Because the air is so still and muggy,' Paul answered, "'then added with a wave of his hand out over the water.

"'Look, do you see that?' "'That was a faint, misty cloud-like vapor hanging so low "'that it seemed almost to touch the water. "'And suddenly the girls were conscious that their hair was wet "'and also their hands and their clothes. "'Goodness, we must be in it now,' said Vey, "'looking wonderingly down at her damp skirt. Only, it's so light you can't see it.

I'm afraid it won't be light very long, said Paul grimly, as he swung the shelling around and headed back the way they had come. What are you going to do? asked Laura, still more humbly, for she was now beginning to think that she was to blame for the fix they were in, if indeed it were a fix. I am going to get back to land as soon as I can, Paul answered her, before this fog closes down on us. What would happen, Paul? asked Billy softly.

I mean, if it should close down on us. We'd be lost, said Paul shortly, for by this time he was more than anxious. He was worried. Lost, they repeated, and looked at each other wide-eyed. Well, you needn't look as if that was the end of the world, said Teddy, trying to speak lightly. All we would have to do would be to keep. keep on drifting round till the fog lifted. It's simple. Yes, it's simple, all right, said Chet, gloomily, if we don't run into anything. Run into anything? gasped Connie, while the other girls just

stared. Oh, Paul, is there really any danger of that? Of course, said Paul impaciently, noticing that the fog was growing thicker and blacker every moment. There's always danger of running into something when you get yourself lost in a fog. And it's the little boat that gets the worst of it, he added gloomily. Say, can't you try being cheerful for a change? cried Teddy indignantly, for he had noticed how white Billy was getting and was trying his best to think of something to say that would make her laugh. There's no use of singing a funeral song yet, you know.

No, and there's no use in starting to dance either, retorted Paul, wondering how much longer he would be able to keep his course. We're in a mighty bad fix, and no harm can be done by everybody knowing it. I can't possibly get back to the island or the mainland either, before this fog settles down upon us. It took a minute or two for this to sink in. There was no doubt about it. He was telling them that in a few minutes they would be lost in this horrible fog, and that might mean they shivered and turned dismayed faces to each other.

I, oh, I'm awfully sorry, wailed Laura. If I hadn't said what I did to Paul, we might never have come. Nonsense. That had nothing to do with it, said Billy, putting a loyal arm about her chum. We would have come just the same. Then followed a waking nightmare for the boys and girls. In a few moments, the fog settled down upon them in a thick, impenetrable veil, so dense that as Paul had said, you could almost have cut it. It became impossible for Paul to steer, and all there was to do was to sit still and wait and hope for the best. Fog horns were sounding all about, some seeming so close that the girls fully expected to see some great shape loom up through the mist, bearing down upon them. For a long time nobody spoke. they were too busy listening to the weird meanings of the foghorns and wondering how they could have escaped a collision so long.

For a while, Paul had kept the engine running in the hope that he might be able to keep to his course and eventually get to Lighthouse Island. But he had decided that this only made a collision more likely, and so had shut it off, and now they had been floating for what seemed hours to the miserable boys and girls. It was Connie who finally broke the silence. "'Oh dear,' she said, apropos of nothing. "'Now I suppose we'll have to die and never solve our mystery after all.' She sighed plaintively, and the girls had a wild desire to shout with laughter and cry at the same time. "'Goodness,' said Laura hysterically.

"'If we've got to die, who cares about mysteries anyway?' The boys, who had been peering ahead into the heavy unfriendly fog, looked at the girls in surprise. "'What do you mean mystery?' Ferd asked. Before the girls could answer, a sharp cry from Paul jerked their eyes back to him. "'Look!' he cried, one hand on the wheel and the other pointing excitedly before them to a dark something which loomed suddenly out of the mist. "'There, to Starboard! We'll bump it, sure!' "'Eend of Chapter 20. Chapter 21 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island

This is a Libervox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visitlibrovox.org. Read by Kristen Hand. Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler. The boys are interested. For a moment, the girls were too terrified to speak. and the next moment they could not have spoken if they wanted to,

for the shelling collided so suddenly with whatever it was that had risen out of the mist that they had all they could do to keep from being thrown to the deck. Then Paul gave a cry of joy and sprang wildly to the side of the boat. Say, how's this for luck, fellows? he cried. I thought it was another boat and that we were bound for Davy Jones's Locker, sure. And here it's the dock instead. Say, talk about what. luck. I'll say it's grand.

The doc, the others echoed wonderingly. The sudden relief was so great that they were feeling rather dazed. You mean, it's our dock? Lighthouse Island? Connie asked stupidly, and Paul's answer was impatient. I guess it is. Looks like it, he said. But then it doesn't matter what dock it is as long as it's a dock. What do you people say to going ashore? What they said was soon shown by the eagerness with which they scrambled onto the dock,

and when they found that it was really Lighthouse Island Dock, their thankfulness was mixed with awe. Why, it's a miracle, said Vey, staring wide eyes about her. That's just about what it looks like, agreed Chet soberly. A miracle, exclaimed furred derisively, it's just that the wind and the tide happen to be going in the right way, that's all. Well, it's a miracle that the wind and the tide did happen to be going the right way, retorted Laura. Yes, and it's another miracle, said Billy softly, that even with the wind and the tide going the right way, we didn't run into something before we got here. I guess we did come pretty close to it, said Teddy soberly, staring out into the heavy mist,

that still showed no sign of lifting. I don't know about the rest of you, but I do know that I'm mighty glad to be on the good old ground again. It beats the water just now. You bet, said Paul fervently as he made his boat fast to the dock. It would have been a hot note if I'd had to lose my boat that way after working all year to earn it. The girls and boys stared at him in surprise for a moment. Then they laughed, and the laughter broke the tension they had been under and made them feel more natural. Never mind us, as long as you saved your boat, said Ferd with a chuckle. Come on, folks, it's mighty damp out here.

I'll be glad when we can get under cover, dry out a bit. Gee, but I'll say I'm some wet. And mother will be just worried to death, cried Connie penitently, for this was the very first minute she had given her mother a thought. Oh, let's hurry. They were starting off almost at a run when Billy called to them. Do you know we forgot something? she asked. Then she pointed to the untouched lunch hamper,

which Mrs. Danvers had heaped high with good things. things. This was still standing close to the railing on the deck of the shelling where the boys had put it when they climbed aboard. We forgot all about eating, she said in an incredulous voice. Now I know we were scared. Say, what do you know about that? asked Fur to weekly. I'd have said it couldn't be done. And it must be away past lunchtime too, added Chet. Oh gosh, why did you go and remind me I was starving? groaned Teddy, and with a quick movement, he had a leaped into the boat and caught up the basket. Come on, who's first? he cried. But Billy stopped him by pressing a determined hand down on the lid. Not here, she begged. We're all wet and uncomfortable,

and we'll enjoy it ever so much more if we wait till we get to the house. Please, Teddy, now mind. Teddy looked longingly at the basket, then at Billy, and gave in. All right, he said, only we'll have to walk fast. When they reached the cottage, they found Connie's mother almost beside herself with anxiety, and Connie's father doing his best to soothe her. So that when the young folks came in the door, looking rather damp and bedraggled but safe, Mrs. Danvers cried out joyfully, ran to them and hugged them one after another, till she was completely and rapturously out of breath. "'You precious kitties!' she cried, standing back and regarding them with shining eyes.

"'You will never know how horribly worried Dad and I have been. "'You poor children! Why, you are soaked through!' And, as her eyes fell on the basket, You don't mean to tell me you haven't had any lunch. Oh, dear, oh dear. Run to the library the lot of you. Daddy made a fire thinking if we ever did get you back, you'd need some drying out. And you could be starting in on the sandwiches while I make you some hot chocolate.

Now run along, quick. And she disappeared into the kitchen while the young folks went on into the library. Connie would have run after her mother to offer her help, but Mr. Danvers stopped her. I'll help mother, he said. You run along with the others, dear, and get warmed through. I don't want my little girl to catch cold. It might spoil your whole summer. So Connie went on into the library and found that the boys had arranged the chairs in a semi-circle around the fire,

and were already opening the lunch basket. Mrs. Danvers came in a few minutes later with the chocolate, and oh, how that hot drink did taste. She demanded to know all about everything. They told her, speaking one at a time, two at a time, and all at once, till it was a wonder she could make any sense out of it at all. But when she and her husband did realize how terribly close the young folks had been to disaster, they looked very sober and in their hearts thanked Providence for guiding them back to safety. After they had eaten, the girls and boys felt very lazy and lingered in the pretty library before the open fire till the shadows began to fall. I hope we have halfway decent weather to start out on tomorrow.

said Paul suddenly as he gazed out of the window. Oh, must you go tomorrow? asked Billy, with such genuine regret that Teddy looked at her sideways. I'm afraid so, said Paul, also turning to look at her. We've had a bully good time and we'd like to stay longer, but you see, I promised Dad I'd pick him up a little farther along the coast, and I can't do it unless we start tomorrow. But suppose it isn't a nice day, Connie put in. "'Will you go anyway?' "'Oh, of course, if it was really stormy, we couldn't.

We would have to wire Dad or something. But I think it's going to be clear tomorrow,' he finished cheerfully. Connie shook her head. Uncle Tom says that a terribly heavy mist like this generally forecast a storm and a pretty bad storm too. "'Well, we don't have to worry about that now, anyway,' said Teddy, stretching his long legs out contentedly toward the fire. "'Let's enjoy ourselves while we can.'

"'By the way,' he added, turning to Billy, "'and Billy thought that Teddy was getting better looking every minute, "'or was it the firelight? "'What did you girls mean by speaking of a mystery? "'We haven't heard a word about any mystery.' "'Of course you haven't. "'You don't suppose we tell you everything, do you?' "'said Laura with a sisterly sniff.

"'Well, but what did you mean?' asked Ferd, "'adding his voice to Teddy's wall. the other boys seemed interested. The girls looked at one another and then at Billy. Shall we tell them? asked Vye. I don't see why we shouldn't, Billy answered her eyes on the fire. Of course, we don't know that there's any mystery about it. It only looks queer, that's all. Then, with the help of the girls, she told the boys all about the man who lived in a hut in the woods and called himself Hugo Billings, and also about Miss Arbuckle and the album she had had been so overjoyed to recover. The boys listened with an interest that fast changed to excitement.

Well, I should say there was something queer about it, Ferd Stowing broke out at last, especially about the man who lives in the woods and makes fern baskets. He's either crazy, or he's a thief or something. Gee, I wish you had told us about it while we were there, said Chet regretfully. We might have been able to find out something, landed him in jail, maybe. Then I'm glad we didn't tell you, said Billy promptly. Why? asked Chet amazed. Because I felt awfully sorry for him, his sister answered softly, and I'd rather help him than hurt him. I'd like to see him smile again.

Smile? Yes, for he looked so awfully downhearted. End of Chapter 21. Chapter 22 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island. This is the Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler. The Fury of the Storm

The next day, the boys went off again, in spite of Mrs. Danvers' entreaties, to stay another night or two, until the weather showed definite signs of clearing up. But the boys were decided, saying that since the mist had lifted, they had really no excuse for staying longer. And as Paul was evidently very anxious to get to his father, Mrs. Danvers had nothing else to do but to give in. It's true, the fog has lifted, she admitted, gazing up anxiously at an overcast sky. but after a calm like this we are sure to have a storm. How much of one it's hard to tell?

Well, go on, but promise me to stay close to the mainland and put into shore if the weather man looks too threatening. The boy is promised, and the girls waved to them until the shelling was only a tiny speck on the water. Then they turned rather sadly back toward the Danvers home. I feel as if somebody were dead or something, complained Vi, as they neared the bungalow. I don't know what's the matter with me. It's the weather, I guess, said Billy, feeling low in spirits herself, a very unusual state for Mary Billy.

We shall all feel better when the sun comes out. If it ever does, said Laura, glumily, it's got to. said Vi. Halfway home, they saw Uncle Tom hurrying toward them with Robert Bruce at his heels, and they wondered what the matter was. Hello, he cried when he came with an earshot. I was just going to see your dad, Connie. The boys haven't gone yet, have they? And when Connie said that they had, he looked so grave that the girls were frightened. Why, Uncle Tom, what's the matter? asked Connie, fearfully. Matter enough, said Uncle Tom, turning to scowl up at the overcast sky. It's as much as those youngsters' lives are worth for them to set out today. Why, there's a storm on the way. And he fixed his

eyes gravely on the girls. Such as this old Maine coast hasn't seen for years. Why, every captain who can read the signs is going to make straight for the nearest port, or if he's too far away to make port before the storm breaks, he's going to get down on his knees and pray the good Lord to make his old ship staunch enough to stand the test. It will be upon us by night. His eyes sought the wild dreary waste of water, and he spoke as though to himself, Lord, how I dread tonight. But Uncle Tom, what can we do about the boys? Connie shook his arm fiercely.

Why, if we have that kind of storm that you say, they may be drowned. Oh, can't we do something? Uncle Tom's eyes came back from the horizon, and he shook his head slowly. I don't know that there's much we can do now, he said. If they have any sense, they'll put into port before the storm breaks. That is, if they stick close into shore. They said they would, Billy put in eagerly. Oh, I hope they do.

Uncle Tom nodded absently, for his mind seemed to be on other things. Then they ought to be all right, he said, adding while the lines deepened about his mouth, but haven't helped the ships that camp went into shore tonight. He turned slowly and strode away from them toward the lighthouse, with Bruce still following worshiply after him. He had forgotten they were there. Poor Uncle Tom, said Connie, as they went slowly. on toward the bungalow. He always gets so queer when there's a storm along the coast. I guess it makes

him think of her. It was night, and the storm had burst in all its fury. The four girls and Connie's mother had gathered in the little front sitting room on the second floor. Mr. Danvers had started a few minutes before to press the button that would flood the room with light. But Billy had begged him not to. I want to see the light in the tower, she had pleaded, adding softly, somehow I'm not quite so afraid for the ships out there when I see the light. Oh, listen to that wind. I don't see how we can very well help it, said Vi, with a little shiver and cuddling up close to Billy on the window seat and slipping a hand into hers. Oh, and she clapped her hand. And she clapped her hand, to her ears as the wind rose to a wailing scream and the windows all over the house shook

and rattled with the impact. I guess Uncle Tom was right, said Connie from somewhere out of the darkness. Dad says, too, that this is the worst summer storm we have had around these parts for years. Oh, I do hope the boys are safe somewhere on shore. I don't think we're need to worry about them, said Mr. Danvers. Or rather, he started to say it. But at that moment, the wind rose with an insane fury, bringing the rain with it in driving torrents that beat swishingly upon the sand and drove viciously against the windows. He waited for a moment until the wind died down. Then he began again. The storm was a long time in coming, he said. The boys had plenty of warning. Paul is very cautious, and I know he wouldn't go on

in the face of such danger. But, and he turned toward the window again, heaven help the ship that can't make port tonight. That's almost exactly what Uncle Tom said, remarked Connie. And then there was silence in the little room again, while outside the storm raged, and the light from the lighthouse tower sent its warning far out over the foam-crested waves. The girls went to bed at last, not because they expected to sleep, but because Connie's mother insisted. Poor Uncle Tom, murmured Billy to herself, as in her little white nighty, she stood at the window looking out toward the lighthouse tower. All alone out there, what was? What? Was it he said? You think of the men and the women and the little children out there on the

sinking ships, and you curse the storm that's bringing disaster along with it. Poor, poor Uncle Tom. I wonder if he is thinking of her. And with a sigh, she turned from the window and crept into bed beside Connie. Toward morning, the girls were awakened from an uneasured, easy sleep by a strange white light flashed suddenly in their eyes. They stumbled out of bed, dazed by the suddenness with which they had been awakened, and stared out into the black night. What was it? gasped Billy. Oh my, there it is again. The searchlight, cried Connie, running over to the window, her eyes wide with horror. Billy, that's the signal to the lifesavers. And there goes the siren, she groaned,

clapping her hands over her ears as the moan of the siren rose wailingly into the night. It's a wreck. Billy, oh, oh, a wreck, cried a voice behind them, and they turned to see Laura in the doorway, with Vye peering fearfully over. over her shoulder. Oh, girls, I was just dreaming. Never mind what you were dreaming, cried Billy, beginning to pull on her clothes with trembling hands. If it is a wreck, girls, we may be able to do something to help. Oh, where is my other stocking? Did anyone see it? Never mind. Here it is. Oh, hurry, girls, please hurry. Twice more while they were dressing, the searchlight flashed round upon the island, filling their room with that weird white light, and the siren wailed incessantly, its wild plea

for help. The girls were just pulling on their waterproof coats when Connie's mother, white and trembling, appeared in the doorway and stared with amazement at the side of them. I heard you talking, girls, she said, and knew you were awake. I hoped you would sleep through it. Sleep through that? asked Connie, as the siren rose to a shriek and then died off into a despairing moan. Oh, mother. But what are you going to do, kitties? asked Mrs. Danvers, taking a step toward them. The lifesavers will be coming soon, perhaps they're at work now, and they will do all that can be done. Why are you putting on your coats? Oh, please, please don't make us stay at home, begged Billy, turning an earnest, troubled face to Connie's mother.

We may not be able to do anything to help, but we shall at least be there if we should be needed. Muddy, dear, we couldn't stay here, we just couldn't, added Connie. With a little choked cry, Mrs. Danvers turned away. You darling, darling kitties, she cried. Run along then, if you must. Only, she stopped at the doorway to look earnestly back at them. Don't go any farther than the lighthouse until Dad and I come. We'll be along right away.

The girls ran down the stairs and Connie opened the front door with hands that fumbled nervously at the lock. As the door swung open, the wind sprang at them like a living thing, taking their breath, making them stagger back into the hall. That wind! cried Laura, clenching her hands angrily. I'd like to kill it! Come on, girls! Laura rushed out into the storm while the other girls followed, pulling the door shut behind them. End of Chapter 22, read by Buckbard. Chapter 23 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island. This is a Libravox recording.

All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler. Fighting for life. Foot by foot they fought their way through the storm, conscious that other hurrying forms passed them from time to time. Their minds were fixed upon one thing. They must get to Uncle Tom.

He would be able to tell them everything and perhaps let them know how they could help. But they soon found that just getting to the lighthouse was a problem. Time and again they had to stop and turn their backs to the furious wind in order to catch enough breath to fight their way on. Look, Connie had shouted once, pointing toward the east. It must be almost morning. The sky is getting light. As they hurried on, they became more and more conscious that everybody seemed to be heading in the sea.

direction toward the lighthouse. The shawl, gasped Connie in Billy's ear. The wind must have driven some ship upon it, and in this gale. But she never finished the sentence, for at this minute they came out upon the point where the lighthouse stood and stopped dead at the scene that met their eyes. The point was black with people all dead. gesticulating and pointing excitedly out toward a great shape, which, looming grayly against the lifting blackness of the sky, staggered and swayed like a drunken thing in the grip of the gigantic

foam-tipped waves. Oh, moaned Connie, it's just as I thought, there's Uncle Tom, come on, Billy. and she elbered her way through the crowd to where Uncle Tom stood, his great height making him conspicuous among the other men, bawling out directions to the lifesavers who were just making ready to launch their staunch little boats. Say, do you call this hurrying? Uncle Tom was crying, his eyes traveling from the lifesavers to the wreck and back again.

Don't you see she's just hanging on by her eyelashes? Another sea like that, and you won't have a chance to save anybody. Good boys, that's the idea. Bend your backs, my lads. God help you. And them, he added under his breath, his eyes on the laboring vessel. Uncle Tom, cried Connie, tugging at his arm. Have they got a chance?

Those people out there, have they? He glanced down at her for a moment. Then his eyes sought the furious. sea, he shook his head and his hands clenched tight at his sides. About one chance in a thousand, he muttered, more to himself than to her. The evil ones in the sea tonight, I never saw the like of it, but once. Then followed a struggle of human might against the will of the overpowering elements, a struggle that the girls never forgot. On, on fought the gallant men in the staunch little boats, on, on toward the quivering giant that hung on the edge of destruction, her fate, the fate of all the

lives on board. The storm that had beaten her on to the treacherous shoal was now doing its best to loosen her hold upon it, and that hold was the one slender thread that kept alive the hope of the passengers on board. If the pounding waves once succeeded in pushing her back into the deeper water of the channel, nothing could save her. The great hole ripped in her side by the impact with the shoal would fill with water, and in five minutes there would be nothing left but the swirling water to mark the spot where she had been. And the passengers. At the thought, Billy cried out loud and clenched her fists.

Oh, oh, it can't be. It can't be. Those boats will never reach her in time. Oh, isn't there something anybody can do? She turned pleadingly to Uncle Tom. But the look on his face startled her. and she followed his set gaze out to sea. No, there isn't anything anybody can do now, he said.

The storm had had its way at last. The elements had won. With a rending of mighty timbers, the tortured ship slid backward off the shoal and into the deep waters of the channel. There she goes. that's the last of that vessel. I wonder if any of the folks on board got off safely. I couldn't see the spray almost blinds a fellow. Such were some of the remarks passed around

as the ship on the shoal slipped slowly from view. The girls clung to each other in an agony of suspense. Never had they dreamed that they would witness such a dreadful catastrophe as was now unfolding before them. Oh, Billy, this is dreadful, groaned Laura. Her face white with terror. I can hardly bear to look at it, whimpered Vi. Just think of those poor people. I am sure every one of them will be drowned.

Some of them must have gotten away in the small boats, answered Billy. I didn't see. any of the boats, protested Connie, but of course you can't see much of anything in such a storm as this. All we can do is hope for the best, said Billy soberly. It's the worst thing I've ever heard of, side by. Why must we have such storms as this to tear such a big ship apart? A groan went up from the watchers, and many of them turned to. away, they could not see the end. But the girls stared, fascinated, too dazed by the tragedy to turn their eyes away. The lifesavers, who had almost reached the ship, backed off a little,

knowing that they could not help the passengers now and fearful of being drawn under by the suction themselves. The great ship hesitated a moment, trembled convulsively through all her frame. Then her stern reared heavenward as though protesting against her feet, and slowly, majestically, she sank from view beneath the swirling waters. Then the girls did turn their eyes away, and blindly sobbing they stumbled back through the crowd toward the lighthouse. Oh, Billy, Billy, they will all be drowned, sobbed Laura. The tears were running down her face unchecked. Oh, what shall we do?

If they could only have held on just a few minutes more, said Vi, white-faced. the lifesavers would then have had a chance to have taken them off. They may save some of them anyway, said Billy, her voice sounding strange, even to herself. The lifesavers will pick up anybody who manages to get free of the rack, you know. Yes, but Uncle Tom says that when a ship sinks like that, it is hard to save anybody, said Connie, twisting her handkerchief.

into a damp little ball. Girls, she said, turning upon them with eyes that were wide with horror. It makes me crazy to think of it. Out there, those people are drowning. Oh, don't, cried Billy, pressing her hands to her ears. I can't stand it. Girls, I've got to walk. And Billy started off almost.

at a run along the beach, fighting her way against the wind. The other girls followed her, and for a while they ran along not knowing whether they were going or carrying. All they wanted was to forget the horror of the thing that they had seen. What's that? Billy stepped back so quickly that she almost lost her footing in the slippery sand. What do you mean, Billy? That! Why, it looks like, come on, let's find out. And Billy ran to the thing that looked like a large piece of driftwood washed up on the sand by the heavy sea. And as she reached it, she drew in her breath sharply and brushed a hand across her eyes to make sure she was not dreaming. on the thing that was not a piece of driftwood at all,

but looked like a sort of crudely and hastily constructed raft, were lashed three small, unconscious little forms. Girls, look! She almost screamed above the shrill wind. Do you see them too? Why, why, they are children, cried Laura. Oh, Billy, do you suppose they're alive? I don't know, said Billy, dropping to her knees beside the three pitiful little figures.

Two of them were girls, twins, evidently, and the third was a smaller child, a boy. Something in their baby attitudes, perhaps in their very helplessness, stung Billy to sudden action. Help me get them loose, she crud. cried to the other girls, who were still staring stupidly. I don't know whether they're dead or not yet, but they will be if we don't hurry. Oh, girls, stop staring and help me. Then how they worked. The slippery wet rope that bound the little forms was nodded several times, and the girls

thought they must scream with the nightmare of it before they got the last knot undone. There, at last, cried Billy, flinging the rope aside, and trying to lift one of the little girls. She found it surprisingly easy, for the child was pitifully thin. She staggered to her feet, holding the little form tight to her. Laura and Vi each took one of the children, and Connie offered to help whoever gave out first. Then they started back to the lighthouse. Luckily for them, the wind was at their backs, or they never could have made the trip back. When they reached the point, they found that most of the crowd had dispersed. Only a few stragglers remained to talk over the tragedy in

odd and quiet whispers. These stared as the girls with their strange burdens fought their way toward the door of the lighthouse. Some even started forward as though to offer assistance, but the girls did not notice them. Through the window, Billy could see Uncle Tom standing before his mantelpiece, head dropped wearily on his arm. Then Connie opened the door and they burst in upon him. Oh, Uncle Tom! She gasped. Please come here quick! End of Chapter 23, read by Bookbart. Chapter 24 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island.

This is a Libravox recording. All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraVox.org. Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler. Three small survivors. It did not take Uncle Tom very long, experienced as he was, to bring the three children back to consciousness, as it was. they had been more affected by the cold and the fright than anything else, for the raft, crude as it was, had kept them above the surface of the waves and saved their lives. As the girls bent over them eagerly, helping Uncle Tom as well as they could, the faint color came back to the pinched little faces, and slowly the children opened their eyes. Oh, they are alive, bless them!

cried Billy, jumping to her feet. But the quick actions seemed to terrify the children, and they cried out an alarm. In a minute, Billy was back on her knees beside them, looking at them wonderingly. Why, what's the matter? she asked, putting out her hand to the little boy, who shrank away from her and raised an arm before his eyes. Why, honey, did you really think Billy would hurt a nice little boy like you? But all three children had begun to cry, and Billy looked helplessly at her chums. Uncle Tom had spread a large rug on the floor, and had laid the children on it while he worked over them. Up to this time, he had been on his knees beside the girls, but now he got to his feet and looked down at them soberly. Somebody's been

mistreating him, he said, his eyes on the three cowering, pathetic little figures. Poor little mites, poor little mites, found them on a sort of raft, you say, washed up by the waves. The girls nodded, and Billy, putting a tender arm around the little fellow, succeeded in drawing him up close to her, while Laura and Vi tried to do the same with the little girls. Connie was watching her Uncle Tom. Hmm, said the latter, stroking his chin thoughtfully. Folks on the ship probably drowned out there. Poor little waifs.

Kind of up to us to take care of him, I reckon. Of course it is, cried Connie, jumping to her feet. Uncle Tom, where did Mother and Daddy go? On toward the house, said Uncle Tom, nodding his head in the direction of the bungalow. When they couldn't find you, they got kind of worried and thought you must have made tracks for home. Here they come now, cried Laura, for through the window she had caught sight of Mr. and Mrs. Danvers hurrying along the walk toward the lighthouse. Oh, I'm glad.

said Billy, hugging the little boy to her and smoothing his damp hair back from his forehead. The child had stopped crying and had snuggled close to Billy, lying very still like a little kitten who has found shelter and comfort in the midst of a wilderness. The soft little confiding warmth of him very suddenly made Billy want to cry. Your mother will know what to do, she said to Connie. Mother always does, said Connie confidently, and a minute later opened the door to admit two very much wind-blown, exhausted, and very anxious parents. Oh, kitties, what a fright you gave us, cried Connie's mother, looking very pale and tired as she leaned against the doorpost,

while Mr. Danvers patted her hand gently and tried not to look too much relieved. Where did you go? Why girls? She stopped short in absolute amazement and bewilderment as she caught sight of Laura and Vi and Billy on the floor, each with a child clasped in her arms. Where did you get them? She did not wait for an answer. She flew across the room and, dropping to her knees, gazed at the children, who at this new intrusion had started away from the girls and regarded her with wide, doubtful eyes. Why, you precious little scared babies you, she cried, pushing the girls away and gathering the children to her. I don't know where you came from,

but what you need is mothering. Where did they come from? She asked, looking up at Uncle Tom. From out there, said Uncle Tom gravely, waving his hand toward the spot where the ship had gone down. Then he quickly told her and Mr. Danvers what the girls had told him. They did not interrupt. Only when he had finished, Mrs. Danvers was crying and not trying to hide it. Oh, those poor, poor people, she sobbed,

and these poor little frightened, miserable children, all there is left. Oh, I'll never get over the horror of it. Never, never. John, she added, looking up at her husband with one of those quick changes of mood that the girls had learned to expect in her. Will you and Tom help me get the children home? They mustn't be left like this in dripping clothes. They'll catch their death of cold. What they need is a hot bath and something to eat and then bed. Poor little sweethearts, they're just dropping for sleep. So Uncle Tom took one of the little girls, Mr. Danvers another, and Connie's mother insisted upon carrying the little boy. Why, he's nothing at all to carry, she said when her husband protested.

Poor child, he's only skin and bones. So the strange procession started for the bungalow. The girls tired out with nerve strain and excitement, bringing up the rear. But they did not know they were tired. The mystery of the three strange little waifs washed up to them by the sea had done a good deal to erase even the horror of the wreck. and we haven't the slightest idea in the world who they really are or whom they belong to, Connie was saying as they turned in at the walk.

It is a mystery, girls, a real mystery this time, and I don't know how we'll solve it. But they forgot the mystery for the time being in the pleasure of seeing the waves bathed and wrapped in warm things from the girls' wardrobes and fed as old. only Connie's mother could feed such children. Gradually, the fear died out of the children's eyes, and once the little boy even reached over timidly and put a soft, warm hand in billies. You darling, she choked, bending over to kiss the little hand. You're not afraid of Billy now, are you? The little girls, who were twins, and as like as two peas, were harder to win over. But by love and tenderness, Connie's mother and the girls managed it at last.

And then eyes grew drowsy, tired little heads nodded, and Connie's mother, with a look at Mr. Danvers, who had been hovering in the background all the time, picked up one of the little girls and started for the stairs. I'm going to tuck them in bed, she said speaking softly. We can put them in our room, John, in the big bed. A few minutes later, the girls stood in Mrs. Danvers' room, looking down at three little flushed faces, three tasseled heads that belong to three very sound asleep little children. Connie's mother tiptoed out of the room. and motioned to the girls to follow, but they lingered for a minute. Aren't they lovely? asked Connie, with a catch in her voice.

They're beautiful, said Laura, especially the little boy. And they ate, said Vy softly, as if they had been half-starved. Poor little things, I wonder who they are. girls said Billy gravely I suppose you will laugh at me when I tell you but ever since I first saw them I have had a strange feeling yes they said impatiently as she paused

that I have seen them somewhere before she finished looking at them earnestly and now as they lie there, I'm almost sure of it. Seen them before, repeated Connie, forgetting in her astonishment to lower her voice so that the little boy stirred restlessly. Billy drew them out into the hall. Come into our room, she said, and they followed her in wondering silence. I wish you would say that all over. Over again, Billy, said Vye eagerly when they had drawn their chairs up close to Billy.

You said you had seen them before? No, I said I thought I had seen them before, said Billy, frowning with the effort to remember. It seems foolish, I know. But Billy, if you feel like that, you must have some reason for it, said Laura eagerly. There followed a silence during which Billy frowned some more, and the girls watched her eagerly. Then she disappointed them by suddenly jumping up and starting for the door. Well, she said, I can't remember now. Maybe I will when I've stopped trying to. Come on, Connie, let's help your mother with the dishes.

But Billy did not find the answer for several days. days. Meanwhile, they had received word from the boys that they had put into port the afternoon of the great storm and had not been able to go out again until a couple of days later. No news concerning the three waifs had come in. The boys had received news of the wrecked ship, of course, and were tremendously excited about it. You girls have all the luck anyway, Chet wrote to Billy. Just think, if we had stayed over a few hours, we would have seen the wreck too. Billy tore the letter up and flung it into the paper basket. Luck, she murmured, her face suddenly grown white as she gazed out over the water that was

brilliantly peaceful once more in the afternoon sunlight. He calls that luck. The boys had promised. to return in a couple of weeks and give the girls a regular ride in the motorboat. If it had not been for the waves who had so strangely been entrusted to them, the girls would have looked forward more eagerly to the return of the boys. As it was, they were too busy taking care of the sweet little girls and the beautiful little boy and falling in love with them to think much of the boys one way or another,

except to be deeply thankful that they had escaped disaster in the storm. And then, when Billy had nearly forgotten that strange impression that she had had in the beginning of having seen the children before, suddenly she remembered. It was one night after the girls had gone to bed. They had been laughing over some of the cunning things the children had been doing, and Laura had been wondering how they would go about finding the relatives of the children, if they had any. When suddenly Billy sat up in bed with a look of astonishment on her face.

Girls, she cried, I know where I saw those children. Oh, where? they cried and then held their breath for the answer. In Miss Arbuckle's album, End of Chapter 24 read by Bookbarred. Chapter 25 of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island. This is a Libravox recording. All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraVox.org.

Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler. The mystery solved. For a moment, there was some. in the two rooms while the girls let this sink in. Then Laura and Vi jumped out of bed and running into Connie's room fairly pounced upon Billy. They were all so excited that for a moment they could not speak. And then they all spoke at once. Miss Arbuckle's album? Billy, you must be crazy. I never heard anything. Billy, are you sure? These and a dozen other wild questions like them fairly smothered, poor Billy,

and it was a long time before she could get a word in edgewise. Please keep still a minute, she cried at last. You're making so much noise you'll wake the children. Goodness, who cares about the children? cried Laura impatiently. Billy, if you don't say something, I'll scream. Well, give me a chance then, retorted Billy. What did you mean by saying that you saw them in Miss Arbuckle's album? asked Connie.

Billy looked at her soberly and then said very quietly. Just that. But Billy, when did this happen? cried Laura, fairly shaking in her impatience. For goodness sake, tell us everything. Why, I know, I broke in excitedly. Don't you remember what Billy said about Miss Arbuckle's crying over the pictures of three children in the album? And said, Connie took up the tale eagerly, that she had lost her dear ones, but didn't want to lose their pictures, too. Oh, Billy, now it is a mystery.

But if you are sure these are the same children you saw in the album, Billy, said Laura, walking up and down the room excitedly, you'll have to do something about it. Of course, said Billy, her eyes shining. I'll write to Miss Arbuckle and tell her all about it. Oh, girls, I can't wait to see her face when she sees them. I'm sure it will make her happy again. They talked about Billy's remarkable discovery late into the night until finally sheer weariness forced them to go to bed. But in the morning, they were up with the first ray of sunlight. They told Connie's mother and father about it at the breakfast table,

and before they got through the meal, the two older people were almost as interested and excited as the girls. As soon as she could get away, Billy flew upstairs to write her letter, leaving the others still at the table. The children had already had their breakfast, for, like all children, they woke up with the birds, and were out playing on the front porch. Why, I never heard anything like it, said Connie's mother to her equally astonished husband.

It seems like a fairy tale, but oh, I do hope it's true, for the kitty's sake and for that of poor Miss Arbuckle. Again and again Mrs. Danvers had tried to question. the children about their parents and where they lived. But the little things had seemed to be thrown into such terror at the very first questions, and had refused so absolutely to say a word that might lead to the discovery of their relatives that she had been forced to give up in despair. Just the very night before, Mr. Denver's had decided to go over to the mainland and put an advertisement in all the leading papers. Although I rather dread to find their guardians, he had confided to his wife that night as they had stood looking down at the sweet little sleeping

faces. I'm falling in love with them. It's like having Connie a baby all over again. And Connie's mother had patted his arm fondly and reached down to draw a cover up over one little bare arm. I feel that way, too, she had said softly. When Billy had finished her letter, Mr. Danvers volunteered to take it over to the mainland for her and send it special delivery. You won't put the ad in the paper, then, will you? His wife asked as he started off. No, he said, stooping down to pat the little boy's dark head. I'll give Billy a chance to clear up her mystery first.

and with a smile at Billy, he swung off down the walk, while with quickened hearts, the girls and Mrs. Danvers watched him go. Suddenly, the little fellow got up from the hollow in the sand where he and his sisters had been making sand pies and ran up to Billy, waving his shovel excitedly. him going way he asked pointing down the beach toward mr danvers yes but he's coming back said billy catching the little fellow up and kissing his soft rosy cheek then she looked at the girls and her eyes filled with tears oh girls she cried i don't see how i'm going to give him up then followed days of anxious waiting for for the girls. Every night, when the mail came in on the Marianne, they were at the dock to meet it. But though they searched for a letter postmarked Molotta with eager eyes, day after day went by, and still there was no word from Miss Arbuckle. This state of affairs continued for over a week until the girls had begun to give up in despair.

And then, one night, it came, the letter they had been waiting for. They did not wait to get home, but sat down on the edge of the dock while Billy read it aloud. The letter was such a mixture of joy and hope and fear that sometimes the girls had hard work making anything out of it. However, this much was clear. Miss Arbuckle intended to leave Malada Friday night, and this was Friday night, and would probably be at Lighthouse Island Saturday morning, and tomorrow was Saturday. She says, Billy finished, her voice trembling with excitement, that the reason she didn't write to us before was because she was out of town and didn't receive my letter for almost a week after it reached Three Towers Hall. She says, oh, who cares about that? cried Laura impatiently. The main thing is that she will be here

tomorrow, only a little over 12 hours to wait. The girls did not sleep very well that night, and they were up and dressed and at the dock almost an hour before the steamer was due. They were so nervous that they could not stand still, and it was just as well that the Marianne was a little early that morning, or the dock would have been worn out completely, Connie declared. Oh, Billy, suppose she doesn't come, whispered Vi as the boat slid into the dock. Suppose? No suppose about it, Billy whispered back joyfully. look, Vi, there she is. But who is the man with her?

cried Laura suddenly, as Miss Arbuckle waved to them from the upper deck and then started down the narrow winding stairway, followed by a tall, rather stoop-shouldered man who seemed to the girls to have something vaguely familiar about him. He may not be with her, Billy answered, but suddenly she gasped. Miss Arbuckle had stepped upon the dock with hands outstretched to the girls, and as the tall man followed her,

Billy got her first full look at his face. It was Hugo Billings, the mysterious maker of fern baskets whom they had found in his hut in the woods. As for the man, he seemed as much astonished as the girls, and he stood staring at them, and they at him, while Miss Arbuckle looked from one to the other in amazement. What's the matter? she cried. Hugo, have you met the girls before? Why, why yes, stammered the man, the smile touching his lips. You see, we were lost in the woods, and he very kindly showed us the way out, said Billy.

finding her voice at last. Oh, said Miss Arbuckle. Then she introduced her companion to the girls as, My Brother, and once more the girls thought they must be losing their minds. But this time, Miss Arbuckle did not seem to notice their bewilderment, for her whole mind was on the object that had brought her here. The children?

she asked, her voice trembling with emotion. Are they here? They are at my house, Miss Arbuckle, said Connie, recovering from her bewilderment enough to realize that she was the hostess. I suppose you're crazy to see them. Oh, yes, oh yes, cried the teacher. Then, as Connie led the way on toward the cottage, she turned to Billy eagerly.

Billy, she said, are you sure you recognized my children? If I should be disappointed now, I think it would kill me. Tell me, what do they look like? As Billy described the waves, Miss Arbuckle's face grew brighter and brighter, and the man whom the girls had called Hugo Billings

leaned forward eagerly. I guess there is no mistake this time, Mary, he said, and there was infinite relief in his voice. When they reached the cottage, the children were playing in the sand, as usual, and the girls drew back, leaving Miss Arbuckle and her brother to go on alone. Miss Arbuckle had grown very white, and she reached out a hand to her brother for support. Then she leaned forward and called very softly. Davy, Davy, dear?

The children stopped playing and stared up at the visitors, but it was the little fellow who recognized them first. Mary, my Mary? He cried in his baby voice and ran as fast as his little legs could carry him straight into Miss Arbuckle's arms. Then the little girls ran to her, and Miss Arbuckle dropped down in the sand and hugged them and kissed them and cried over them. Oh, my children, my darling, darling, children, she cried over and over again, while the man stood looking down at them with such a look of utter happiness on his face that the girls turned away. Come on. Come on.

whispered Billy as they slipped past the two and into the house. Connie's mother and father were in the library, and when the girls told them what had happened, they hurried out to greet the newcomers, leaving the chums alone. Well now, said Laura, sinking down on the couch and looking up at them, what do you think of that? I'm so dazed, I don't know what to think of it, said Bill.

Billy, adding with a funny little laugh, the only thing we do know is that everybody's happy. Talk about mysteries, Connie was beginning when Connie's mother and Miss Arbuckle came in with the clamoring excited children. And to say that Miss Arbuckle's face was radiant would not have been describing it at all. Oh, girls, girls, she cried, looking around at the while her eyes filled with tears. Do you know what you've done for me? Do you? But of course you don't, she answered herself, sitting down on the couch while the children climbed up and snuggled against her. And that's what I want to tell you. Ob, but not now, protested Connie's mother. I want to get you a cup of tea first.

Oh, please let me tell the girls now, I want to, begged Miss Arbuckle, and Connie's mother gave in. You see, the teacher began while the girls gathered around eagerly. Only a few months ago, Hugo, my brother, and I were very happy. That was before the dreadful thing happened that changed everything for us. I was nurse and governess, she hugged the children. to her, and they gazed up at her fondly, to these children at the same house where Hugo was head gardener. Our employers were very wealthy people, and having too many social duties to care for their children, Hugo and I sort of took the place of their father and mother. Indeed,

we loved them as if they belonged to us. She paused a moment, and the girls stirred impatiently. then the terrible thing happened she continued one night the children disappeared i had put them to bed as usual and in the morning when i went into them they were gone oh cried the girls but that wasn't enough Hugo and I weren't sorrow-stricken enough, she went on with the trace of bitterness creeping into her voice. But they, Mr. and Mrs. Belts, must accuse us, us, of a plot to kidnap the children. They accused us openly, and Hugo and I, being afraid they had enough circumstantial evidence to convict us, innocent though we were, fled from the house. That's about all, she said with a sigh. Hugo built himself a little refuge in the woods and made fern baskets, selling enough to make him a scanty living.

And I went as a teacher and house matron to Three Towers Hall. That is why, she turned to Billy, who was staring at her fascinated. I was so desperate when I lost the album. And why? she added with a smile. I acted so foolishly when you returned it. You weren't foolish, said Billy. I think you were awfully brave. I understand everything now. But I don't. Not quite, put in Connie's mother. Her pretty forehead puckered thoughtfully. Of course you didn't kidnap the children, turning to Miss Arbuckle, but it is equal to

certain that somebody must have done it. Oh, but don't you see? Connie broke in eagerly. The kidnappers, whoever they were, must have gone down on the ship out there in the shoal. And they bound the children on that funny raft and set them adrift, probably thinking they would be able to get away themselves, added by eagerly. And then the ship went down before they could follow. said Billy, adding as she turned earnestly to the teacher, Oh, Miss Arbuckle, it was awful, that poor ship out there going down with all the people on board. Yes, it must have been horrible. I read about it in the papers, nodded Miss Arbuckle soberly.

Then a great light broke over her face as she looked down at the three children, who were still not much more than babies. But some good comes of almost everything. I have my precious children now, and I can take them back to their family and prove my innocence. Aunt Hugo's. Oh, I'm so happy. I'm so happy.

But won't you come back to Three Towers anymore? asked Laura, her face so long that Miss Arbuckle left delightedly. Yes, my dear, she said, a joyful light in her eyes that made her quite a different person. Hugo will probably go back to his old position, but I, oh, I could not desert three towers now, after all you girls have done for me. Then Connie's mother had her way and whisked joyful Miss Arbuckle away upstairs to take off her hat, while the children. children trailed after, leaving the girls alone. Laura and Connie and Vi fairly hugged each other over the marvelous clearing up of their mystery.

But Billy turned away and looked out of the window, while sudden tears stung her eyes. She did not notice that the little boy, whom Miss Arbuckle had called Davy, stopped at the foot of the stairs and crept softly back to her. She did not know he was anywhere around till a soft little hand was slipped into hers, and a baby voice said plaintively, Me loves my Billy too. You darling, cried Billy, kneeling down and catching him close to her. I suppose they will take you away now where you belong, honey, but don't ever forget your Billy. And when the girls went over to her a few minutes later, they were surprised to find that her eyes were wet. Why, Billy, you've been crying, Laura exclaimed, and you ought to be as happy as the rest of us. I am, said Billy, wiping her eyes

hard. Only I was thinking of little Davy. Well, don't if it makes you cry and gets your nose all red, scolded Connie. Never mind, honey, said Vy, putting an arm around her. We're all sorry to see the kitties go, of course. But we can see them again sometime if we want to. And just think, added Laura happily. The boys are coming back next week. And that means Teddy, too, she added slyly.

Yes, I'm glad he, they are coming, stammered Billy, and the others laughed at her confusion. Then suddenly she wiped away the last trace of her tears, and her eyes began to shine, making her look like the Billy the girls knew and loved best. We will have some good times when the boys come, girls. Why? As if making a surprising discovery. Our fun has just begun. And that Billy was speaking the truth. And that there were more adventures in store for the boys and girls than ever the girls dreamed of on that beautiful summer day

will be shown in the next volume of the series. In the due course of time, the three belts children were restored to their parents. It was learned that they had been kidnapped by three men, who had thought to make a large sum of money out of their scoundrelly game, but all three kidnappers had lost their lives in the rack. At first, it was supposed that many had gone down in the foundering of the Daniel Bowley, as the ship was named. But later on, it was learned that three small boats had got away in safety,

and the survivors had been picked up by a vessel bound for Halifax, So the loss of life was, after all, small. Mr. and Mrs. Belts were hardly ashamed of having suspected Miss Arbuckle and her brother of wrongdoing, and they offered both their positions back at increased salaries. Hugo returned to the Belts estate, but not so his sister. I love the children very, very much, said Miss Arbuckle, but I also love Three Towers Hall and the girls there, I shall remain at the school. And she did, much to the delight of Billy and her chums.

And now the sun shining brightly once more and happiness all around them, let us say goodbye to Billy and the other girls on Lighthouse Island. The end. End of Chapter 25. End of Billy Bradley on Lighthouse Island by Janet D. Wheeler.