the ocean.”

“Well, we won’t do that,” said Colonel Ashton. “This European war makes it too risky. We might be sunk by one of those German submarines.”

“Right, Colonel,” agreed Mr. Willing. He turned again to Shirley, “and the other thing you would like to do?” he questioned.

“I should like to go to the Panama Exposition in San Francisco.”

Mabel jumped to her feet and clapped her hands.

“That’s where I should like to go, too,” she cried. “Why didn’t I think of it before?”

Mr. Willing considered.

“Well,” he said at length, “I don’t know why we can’t do both of those things, Shirley.”

“But the ocean trip, Dad. Where would we go?”

“To San Francisco,” was the reply.

“But, how—”

“You must remember that the Panama Canal is open to traffic, daughter,” explained Mr. Willing. “We can take a steamer from New York direct to San Francisco. Besides, I should like to have a look at the canal, with its great locks and other interesting things. The construction of the canal is considered one of the greatest of all feats of engineering.”

Colonel Ashton nodded his head emphatically.

“I should like to take that trip myself,” he declared.

“Then we shall consider that matter settled,” said Mr. Willing.

“And when can we start, dad?” asked Shirley eagerly.

“Well, we will not be able to leave here for a week or ten days. I have some business affairs that must be put in order before I can get away. Besides, you two girls will want clothes and things, and you can’t get those in a minute.”

“We’ll go to town this afternoon and get some things,” declared Mabel.

“All right,” laughed Mr. Willing, “but just the same it will take you at least a week to get yourselves ready. Then I shall have to make arrangements for our passage, find out when we leave New York and attend to other details. It will take time.”

“But we shall go as soon as possible, Dad?” asked Shirley.

“Yes,” was the reply. “You may make sure of that. We shall go as soon as possible. Hello—who’s that?”

The others gazed in the direction of his pointing finger. Through the pike gate, at that moment, came a solitary horseman.

“I wonder who he is?” exclaimed Shirley.

CHAPTER II.—AN ADDITION TO THE PARTY.

The horseman came closer.

Suddenly Shirley gave an exclamation of delight. She had recognized the visitor even at this distance, which was too great for the others to perceive his identity. Mabel looked at her chum in astonishment.

“Dick!” cried Shirley.

Now Mabel understood, and even Mr. Willing allowed a slight smile to steal across his face.

Shirley ran down the steps from the porch and hurried toward the distant yard gate. The girl and the horseman arrived at about the same time, and those on the porch saw the rider lift his cap and dismount.

Then he led the horse through the gate, closed it behind him and with the bridle in his hand continued his way to the house afoot, Shirley walking by his side.

“Dick!” cried Shirley again, as the rider dismounted at the gate upon sight of her. “What are you doing here? I am glad to see you.”

“I was in Paris on a little business,” replied the young man, “and I thought I wouldn’t go away without paying my respects to you and your father.”

At the house Mr. Willing greeted the young man warmly, for, from previous meetings, he had taken a liking to Dick.

Dick Stanley was a native of Cincinnati, O. He was without parents, and after having met Shirley under exciting circumstances, he had given up a rough set of companions and at length had obtained a place as office boy on one of the big Louisville newspapers. But Dick had not remained an office boy long, and he was now one of the most competent and best liked reporters on the paper.

He had been sent to Paris for a certain piece of news—“on a story,” in his words, the words of the newspaper world—and he had just completed his work successfully. Therefore he had hired a horse and come to the Willing farm for a few words with his friends before going back to Louisville.

“I’m glad to see you, young man,” said Mr. Willing in greeting. “It has been some time since we have had the pleasure of your company.”

“Thank you, sir,” was the reply. “I am always glad to be here.”

He shook hands with Mr. Ashton and Mabel.

Now Shirley proceeded to tell him of the trip they were going to take, and Dick was greatly interested.

“I should like to see the canal,” he said. “I have been reading quite a bit about it, and it is very interesting.”

“You are right, young man,” agreed Mr. Willing.

“It is one of the wonders of the world.” He paused, struck by a sudden idea. Then he said slowly, looking squarely at Dick:

“How would you like to go with us?”

“I’d like it fine,” declared Dick, with a smile. “I wish it could be done.”

“Well, it can be done,” said Mr. Willing quietly.

Dick, as well as Shirley and Mabel, looked at Mr. Willing in surprise.

“Dad!” exclaimed Shirley. “What do you mean?”

“Just what I say,” was the reply. “I am going to take Dick with us.”

Dick shook his head slowly.

“I appreciate your kindness, Mr. Willing,” he said quietly, “but I cannot accept such generosity.”

“Can’t, eh?” blustered Mr. Willing, “and why not, I’d like to know. I am not in the habit of having my invitations refused, sir!”

Again Dick smiled.

“It is very kind of you to ask me,” he said, “but I do not feel that I should accept. Of course, I have the money for the trip, but I do not feel I can afford to spend it. Besides, I could not leave the paper for so long a time.”

“Couldn’t leave the paper!” echoed Mr. Willing.

“I’ll speak a few words to my friend Col. Harperson, the owner, and he will see that you are given an indefinite vacation.”

“No, sir, thank you, I don’t think it can be done.”

“I’ll tell you,” said Mr. Willing, trying a new line, for he had made up his mind to have Dick accompany them, “you will be able to do some writing on the trip. The sights you will see should mean money to you. You should be able to write many interesting articles when you get back.”

Dick apparently was impressed with this line of reasoning. And now Shirley added her voice to the colonel’s.

“Please, come, Dick?” she said.

“Well,” said the young man after hesitating a long while, “I’ll tell you what I’ll do. If I can make arrangements to get off indefinitely, I’ll go.”

Shirley clapped her hands.

“I’m sure you can,” she cried.

And Mr. Willing muttered to himself:

“I’ll fix it with Harperson!”

The discussion of the trip now became general, and Dick was acquainted with the time they expected to depart.

“You will remain here over night, of course,” said Mr. Willing.

“Thank you, sir, I shall be glad to.”

“Then we’ll put off our shopping till to-morrow, Mabel,” said Shirley.

All day the three young people talked eagerly of the coming trip, and Shirley tried to get Dick to promise that he would go, whether he was able to get off or not. But this Dick would not do.

“If they agree to let me off, all right,” was his decision.

They sat up and talked till late that night, but Mr. Willing finally put an end to this