When the first of dawn threw its shadow upon the fleecy blanket that surrounded the old Mayberry Castle, there stood before the door the Fire Bird and the old Abe called his "carry-all."  
Into the latter vehicle Captain Mayberry was almost lifted, wrapped in every conceivable sort of warm covering that could be found in his strange quarters. A heavy, and handsome fur coat, besides thick, woolly scarfs and great old army boots had been dug out from queer hiding places, and these were heaped and piled upon the captain until scarcely the outline of his pinched face was left to the danger of the winter morning.
 
On either side of Captain Mayberry sat Major Dale and Tom Scott, while old Abe was directed to drive this party to the railroad station, as it had been that the sick or insane man should at once be taken to the hospital for treatment.
 
"To think," whispered Dorothy to Tavia as they started off, "that our hospital play should have enabled us to send the poor old man directly to the Institution. We never dreamed who would be our first patient."
 
"Lucky it's not me or you," commented Tavia, still taking a view of the night's experience.
 
"And father says he will send for the captain's sister, and try to have them reconciled. That seems to be what worries the old man so much—Jane is angry with him, he declares.
 
"And I wouldn't do a thing to Jane," declared Tavia. "In my opinion jail would be too good for her. The idea of keeping that old scarecrow cooped up there!"
 
"But perhaps she did it to keep him out of the institutions. You know, some people have queer ideas about ."
 
"Did it to save cash, likely. Look out, there, Nat! Don't dump us in that snowdrift!"
 
"No danger," called back Nat from the front seat. "This is all right—road good and hard, and not so slippery."
 
"Suppose the old fellow should get hilarious," ventured Tavia. "Do you suppose Tom and the major could hold him in that trap?"
 
"Oh, indeed he is too weak to be violent," responded Dorothy. "And I rather think he will enjoy the ride. He said he made it a habit to go out every day, just about nightfall. He had sense enough to know he must have fresh air or die."
 
Tired from the night's vigil, the occupants of the Fire Bird soon wearied of conversation, and the drive behind the stage coach was made in silence, save for the creaking of the snow on the frosty roads, and the occasional sounds of an early morning team bound for the town along the old turnpike.
 
At the Four Corners the Fire Bird cut ahead of the coach, and with a merry call to the captain, the major, Tom and even to old Abe, the occupants of the car soon left behind them the carry-all, as well as the road to Tanglewood Park.
 
Arriving at The , in spite of all protests, Dorothy and Tavia were "put to bed," while Norah brought from the kitchen great bowls of beef tea, declaring each young lady should drink at least a quart, "to save them from nemonie," and that the hot foot baths they had would be repeated unless the girls were soon sound asleep.
 
So it was that now, two days before Christmas, The Cedars was suddenly into a state of excitement. What might happen next not even little Roger dared speculate about.
 
But that afternoon, when Major Dale was expected to return from his trip to the hospital, and Dorothy and Tavia were rested to be down at the station waiting to meet them, the appearance of Miss brought Tavia suddenly back to the of her own predicament.
 
The little woman ran into the station just in time to obtain her ticket for a late city train, and had not a moment to spare, so that there was no opportunity of either Dorothy or Tavia exchanging a word with her.
 
"Whew!" exclaimed Tavia, glancing after the woman. "What do you suppose it all means? Did you observe the togs?"
 
"Didn't she look pretty?" commented Dorothy, "I never saw a person change so with—a new ."
 
"Wonder if she found it—in somebody's bag?"
 
"Tavia!" exclaimed Dorothy, her voice ringing with indignation. "You must never again speak that way of Miss Brooks. We did wrong to suspect her for a moment. She had absolutely nothing to do with the ring."
 
"Oh, you know all about it, do you? Of course, she says she had absolutely nothing to do with it."
 
"No, she has said nothing of the kind. The person who really took it—that is, the one who put it in my bag—has admitted doing it."
 
"Who?"
 
"Well, you really must not ask, because, Tavia, dear, I know the person was terribly pressed, somehow, and it does not seem right for me to spread the story of her misfortune. I haven't even told Aunt Winnie."
 
"Oh, of course, you can keep it to yourself if you have a mind to," replied Tavia in injured tones, "but it strikes me that is rather too interesting a story to be so selfish about."
 
Dorothy made no reply to this ............