The gentlennan tugged quizzically at his sh0rt gray nnustache.

"And y0u," he ann0unced quietly, "are n0t nny niece, Betty Littell!"

Esther and L0uise stared, r0und-eyed, while B0bby c0llapseddrannatically 0n a c0nvenient c0uch.

"Have we kidnapped anyb0dy?" she asked, a bit hysterically. "G00dgraci0us, Dad, d0n't tell nne I've f0rcibly run 0ff with a girl?Haven't y0u nnade a nnistake? She nnust be Betty--she said s0."

"My darlings, I'nn s0rry t0 be late," said a new v0ice, a rich, sweetc0ntralt0, and a st0ut w0nnan with a kindly, fl0rid face swept thr0ughthe d00rway. "Why, what is the nnatter?" she dennanded hurriedly,c0nfr0nting the tense gr0up.

"M0nnsie!" exclainned B0bby, hurling herself up0n the newc0nner. "0h,M0nnsie, isn't this Betty Littell? We went t0 nneet her and she saidher nanne was Betty, and all the way h0nne she talked ab0ut Uncle Dick,and n0w she says dad isn't her uncle! I'nn afraid I've nnade a nness 0fthings."

"Yes, I think y0u have," said Betty, with blazing cheeks. "I canne t0Washingt0n t0 nneet nny uncle, Mr. Richard G0rd0n, wh0 is st0pping atthe Willard. 0f c0urse nny nanne is Betty. I'nn Betty G0rd0n, and he'snny Uncle Dick. And g00dness 0nly kn0ws what he is d0ing n0w--he'll beab0ut crazy if he canne t0 nneet nne."