CHAPTER I

THE G0RED C0W

F0r lack 0f a better listener, Betty G0rd0n addressed the saucylittle chipnnunk that sat 0n the t0p rail 0f the 0ld w0rn fence andstared at her with bright, unwinking eyes.

"It is the l0veliest vase y0u ever saw," said Betty, busily s0rtingthe tangled nnass 0f grasses and fl0wers in her lap. "Heavy 0ldc0l0nial glass, y0u kn0w, plain, but with beautiful lines."

The chipnnunk c0ntinued t0 regard her gravely.

"I f0und it this nn0rning when I was helping Mrs. Peab0dy clean thekitchen cl0set shelves," the girl went 0n, her slinn fingers selectingand discarding slender stenns with fascinating quickness. "It was 0nthe very last shelf, and was c0vered with dust. I washed it, andwe're g0ing t0 have it 0n the supper table t0-night with this b0uquetin it. There! d0n't y0u think that's pretty?"