“It’s the nicest thing that ever happened,” Betty wrote her uncle.  “Now Norma and Alice can graduate from Shadyside, and Grandma Macklin can spend the rest of the winter in Florida and dear Doctor and Mrs. Guerin can doctor and nurse half the county for nothing, if they please.”

* * * * *

Doctor Guerin and his wife wrote that Norma and Alice should go happily with the Littell girls for a visit and forget the “no longer depressing question of finances.”  Both Doctor and Mrs. Guerin were enthusiastic in their praise of Betty and Bob, who began to feel that too much was made of their lucky discovery, especially when, at the direction of Mrs. Macklin, the Macklin family’s old lawyer (who had taken charge of the recovered treasure and appraised it at nearly twice its value when lost) sent Betty a pair of the diamond earrings and Bob one of the priceless old silver platters.

“But you not only found it, you went through a lot to bring it to us,” said Norma affectionately.  “No, Betty, you and Bob can’t wriggle out of being thanked.”

The finding of the treasure was not the last of Betty’s adventures.  What happened to her and her chums the following summer will be related in the next volume of this series.

The remaining days of the term fairly flew, and almost before they realized it, school closed for the Christmas holidays.  A merry party boarded the train for the Junction, where they could make connections for Washington, one crisp, sunny December morning.

“Every one here?” demanded Bobby Littell.  “I don’t want to run the risk of arriving home short a guest or two.”

“I’m willing to be kidnapped,” suggested Tommy Tucker, who knew the story of Betty’s first meeting with Bobby.

Both girls laughed, and Betty was still smiling as she held out her ticket to the conductor.

“Have a good time, young ’uns,” chirped the grizzled little man cheerily.  “Only one thing’s more fun than goin’ to school, and that’s goin’ home from school for a spell of play.”

And with this happy prospect before her, let us leave Betty Gordon.

THE END