Part 34 (2/2)

”And I hope so, too,” she said

The scratched ared, and the torn sleeves adjusted as well as could be Then the two, upon whoe trick, walked back

”I had some hopes, when you first ht prove to be the one you were looking for, but when you spoke of one near the elbow I knew it could not be This scar, which does soh”

”No, and that threw us all off But I did not then know of thebeen made I only learned differently the other day, but I kept silent about it There had been disappointh But when I saw that mark on your shoulder, it came to me in a rush Amy, you must be my sister!”

”I--I hope I am!”

”But ait and reed Of course they showed their excitement when they joined the others--a double exciteh for that, and no e questions were asked Amy was hurried back to the cabin to have her arm dressed properly

CHAPTER XXV

CHRISTMAS JOYS

They were gathered about a big fire on the hearth in the largest cabin--the outdoor girls, the boys, Mr Ford and others The crackling blaze leaped up the broad-throated chiy of Fourth of July pyrotechnics, and threw a ruddy glow on happy faces

Betty sang:

”Merry, h the air

Christmas bells, Christmas trees, Christmas odors on the breeze

Merry, h the air!”

The others joined in, and then, clasping hands they circled around the rooantic shapes on the wall as the fire danced with the to be the best Christmas ever--the very best ever!”

murmured Aht, little girl,” he said, patting her arood care to pat above the scratch, which had been bandaged

For there was now no doubt that A the strange revelation to hi business man had caused careful inquiries to be made There was no mistake this time The baby picked up in the flood had the redsister had the red mark, and so had Amy They were one and the same This was sufficiently proved

And if other identification was needed, it was in the scar near Amy's elbow--a scar which at one ti her And it did in a measure

For the mark was that made by the hot point of a flatiron One had fallen on her when she was a baby,a bad burn that had healed over in the course of ti Amy was learned from the old diary found with her on the raft in the flood And from another and independent source it was learned that Mr Blackford'ssister had a sih years had almost obliterated it, still it was sufficiently plain

”They can't get you away from me now, Amy,” said Mr Blackford, proudly

”I won't let the closer to him

”Pass the chocolates, Sis,” ordered Will ”What is Christood luck we've had since we caets his land back----”