"Where do you keep the real papers, Papa?"
"Down where the pistol is under some stationery in the back of the desk drawer, and in the big vase in the corner."
Billie went straight to the desk and opened the drawer. She drew out the pistol as she had done that dark night, removed several layers of envelopes and paper, and came at last to a layer of drawings.
"Are these the ones?" she asked, placing them on the desk and then shoving the drawer back with her knee. Something stuck and she pulled it all the way out in her effort to discover what the trouble was. In the very back, caught between the drawer and the framework was a handkerchief. It was small and sheer and in one corner was an embroidered butterfly.
Mr. Campbell jumped up in much excitement.
"By Jove," he exclaimed, "did you find that among my papers?"
Billie nodded her head sadly. "It's Nancy's, too," she said.
Mr. Campbell began looking over the papers.
"She may have dropped her handkerchief," he said, "but I don't think she got down to these. They are exactly as I left them. I suppose she rummaged around with her handkerchief in her lap and it fell in and was shoved back when I took out my papers later."
The papers in a leather portfolio in the vase were safe, also.