“I c-can’t,” said Betty in a muffled voice.  “I guess—­” she added whimsically, “I guess I’m a little afraid of you, Lieutenant Allen Washburn.”

With a glad laugh Allen put his strong young arms about her.

“Do you think you can keep on all your life being afraid of me—­ like that?” he asked.  “Little Betty?”

And Betty, with the radiant joy of all youth in her heart, slowly nodded.
                               _______

And what glorious days followed!  The young folks never tired of their tramps through the woods and walks in the vicinity of Moonlight Falls.  They gave themselves up to a good time and had it in full measure.

“Gee, what an improvement over the trenches in France!” remarked Will one day.  “No more wars for me!”

“So say we all of us!” sang out Frank.

When they had to return to Deepdale the boys took Professor Dempsey with them and Frank saw to it that the old man was made comfortable until his wounded sons returned to him.  Both of the hurt soldiers were recovering, and the reunion of father and sons was most affecting.

“Now for a final swim below the falls!” cried Mollie one day, when the outing was coming to an end,

“We ought to have a good time—­ now there is no ghost to disturb us,” put in Amy.

“A chocolate for the first one to enter the water!” exclaimed Grace, waving her ever-present candy box in the air.

“That settles it—­ I’m off!” burst out Betty; and then all made a wild dash for the swimming pool.  And here let us say good-bye to the Outdoor Girls.

 The end

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