CHAPTER XV of THE MYSTERY OF THE FIRES by Edith Lavelle The slipperbox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Mary Escano. CAPTIVE Mary Louise was not far away from Shadynook in the matter of miles, but she felt as if she were worlds away. Everything was strangely different from anything she had ever known, grotesque and terrible. For the place she was taken to was an asylum for the insane. Little did she think, as she entered the Adam's farmhouse that afternoon, that her freedom was to be snatched from her, that she was to be held in hopeless captivity, without any means of communication with the outside world, a prisoner in a house that was far worse than a jail, enduring a life that was a living death. When no one answered her knock at the Adam's door that afternoon, she opened the screen and walked in, calling first Hattie, and then Rebecca by name. Finally the latter replied, I'm up here, sick, a bed, called the woman, who be you? I'm Mary Louise, she answered, may I come up and see you, Rebecca? Yes, yes, come, have you found the well of clear water? Mary Louise laughed to herself as she ran up the stairs. She wished that she could find some well water for the poor deluded woman, but there was none in the vicinity. She wondered what Rebecca would do if she ever did discover a well. She entered her bedroom, smiling and shaking her head at the poor, eager creature. No, Rebecca, not yet, but I'll find you one some day. How are you feeling? I'm better, I want to get out soon, will you get me a drink of water, Mary Louise? Certainly, replied the girl, from the kitchen? Yes, from the kitchen. The woman sank back on her pillow, and Mary Louise went for the water. When she returned, Rebecca was half asleep. Here's your water, Rebecca, she said. But where is Hattie? I don't know, gone away, I guess. They've all gone away, soon I'll go too. Her voice trailed off, as if she were half dreaming, and Mary Louise walked to the door. She heard the sound of a car in the driveway below, and hoping that it might be Hattie, she went down the stairs. With the car standing in front of the house, was not the dilapidated Ford that belonged to the Adams family. It was a big black limousine, which reminded Mary Louise of a hearse, or a funeral carriage, and she shuddered. It might have been an ambulance, but ambulances were usually white. She wondered what a car like that could be doing at the Adams farm. Two men got down from the driver's seat in front, and Tom Adams came and joined them at the porch steps. They talked in low tones to each other. Mary Louise opened the screen door, and came out on the porch. Suddenly, she heard her own name mentioned, and a cold chill of horror crept up her spine. What were they planning to do to her? She said she's Mary Louise's gay, and my Tom insists on it, and she does look like a girl by that name. But don't believe her, she's my sister, Rebecca. He raised his eyes, and looked straight at Mary Louise. Hello, Rebecca, he said, we're going to take you for a ride. Mary Louise's brown eyes flashed in anger. Rebecca's upstairs, second bed, she retorted, go and see for yourselves. Suddenly, with the agility of panthers, the two men sprang forward, and grabbed Mary Louise's wrists. Come along, Rebecca. One of them said, no use struggling, we're taking you to a nice farm. With a desperate effort to free himself from the men's grasp, Mary Louise kicked one of her captors in the leg. He let go of her hand, but the other man held her tightly. Wild little beast. Hear my.  You'll get better care than you do here.  He's not my brother, shouted Mary Louise, and I can prove it. Just ride down to Shadynook a couple of miles and ask anybody. But the men preferred to ignore this challenge. They picked Mary Louise up, bodily, and thrust her into the back of the limousine, shutting the door and turning the key in the lock. She found herself sitting on a long seat that ran the length of the car. There were no windows on the side. Only two tiny oval glasses in the back door permitted a little light to enter the enclosure. Before she could utter another sound, she heard the engine start, and the vehicle went into motion. Over the rough, stony driveway, onto the dirt road that led away from the farm, in the opposite direction from Shadynook, Mary Louise's first impulse was to scream as loudly as she could, in the hope of attracting the notice of the occupants of some passing car, or of some farmer working on his field. But second consideration told her that such a proceeding would do her no good at all. As soon as those men in the front seat explained that she was a crazy person being taken to an insane asylum, nobody would believe anything she said. The realization of this fact brought a deathly hopelessness to her whole body. Her arms and legs felt inert.  For perhaps ten minutes she sat thus, unmindful of the country through which she was being driven, as if she had been stunned by physical blow, and no aid were near. Then suddenly she thought of Tom Adams, and a fierce anger took possession of her, reviving her spirits, bringing her back to life. She would not give up. She would fight to this bitter end. She'd make him pay, and pay heavily for his diabolical cruelty. She moved along the seat to the far end of the car, and peered through the tiny window. The road over which they were passing was narrow and rough. The country unfamiliar. It was not a main highway. Mary Louise instantly concluded, and she wondered in which direction it lay from Shadynook. She wished now that she had watched it from the beginning. She did not even know whether they had crossed the river or not. Still, I suppose that doesn't really matter, she thought, because if I can manage to get away at all, I can easily find my family. They'll be hunting for me. Tears of distress came to her eyes as she pictured her mother's wish, and her father was so far away. Why did I ever try to be a detective? She groaned. The punishment is too horrible. Mother and daddy would rather lose their cottage and have the whole settlement that Shadynook burned than have me endure torture like this. On and on they went through the lonely, unpopulated country. Time seemed to stand still. It was as if the afternoon were to last forever. Yet when Mary Louise glanced at her wristwatch, she saw that it was not yet five o'clock. They crossed over a little stream, and the car turned at an angle and climbed the hill. Up up they went, until they reached a narrow road at the summit. Looking down into the valley below, Mary Louise could see a stream, not as wide as the river, winding its peaceful way in the summer sunshine. It was a beautiful spot, if you could enjoy beauty, but it meant nothing at all to the unhappy girl. That looks like a main road across the valley on the opposite side of the stream. She thought, if I can escape, I'll make for that. Thank goodness I know how to swim. She wished that she had thought to glance at her watch when the car started, so that she could roughly judge the distance from Shadynook by the time it took to cover it. She had been so miserable that she could not tell whether she had been riding twenty minutes or a couple of hours. At last, however, the car came to a stop at a high iron gate which reminded Mary Louise of her penitentiary. So this was the way they guarded feeble-minded people. One of the men got down from his seat, took a key from his pocket to unlock the gate, and swung the heavy iron doors open. When the car had gone through, he locked them securely behind him. A shiver of horror passed over Mary Louise as she heard that final click.  A life of utter emptiness was closing her in, as if her mind and her soul had been extracted from her body. How much more fiendish her existence would be than that of any ordinary victim of kidnappers. But then Tom Adams had not kidnapped her because he wanted a ransom, but only because he desired to get rid of her. While he had succeeded, nobody in the whole world would think of looking for her in an insane asylum. The car wound around a lovely driveway shaded by trees and stopped in front of a long plaster building that appeared to be at least a hundred years old. A man and a woman came out of the ivy-covered door as the driver unlocked the back of the limousine. With their head held high in defiance, Mary Louise stepped out. How do you do, Rebecca? Greeted the woman, a plain-faced person of about fifty, in a grey dress. There's been a ghastly mistake! announced Mary Louise, trying to keep her tone dignified. Tom Adams is a criminal, and because I found him out he has sent me here, calling me his feeble-minded sister. I'm not Rebecca Adams, but Mary Louise Gay. The man and the woman exchanged significant glances. Mr. Adams warned us that you would say that, replied the man. He said you do look like a girl named Mary Louise Gay, but try to forget it, Rebecca. We have your papers, signed by your own brother and your cousin, so there's nothing you can do about it but submit. My cousin, repeated Mary Louise, thinking of her aunt's children, aged nine and six. How could they commit anybody to an insane asylum? Yes, Stanfield Fraser. Fraser? She cried in scorn. He's not my cousin. He's no relation. He's a crook, too, like Tom Adams. Now, now, Rebecca, calm yourself, advised the woman, taking Mary Louise's arm, and just come along with me. You don't want to make trouble. Wouldn't you rather walk by yourself than have these men carry you? Tears of anguish came to the girl's eyes. She looked desperately about at the group of people who were surrounding her, searching for some spark of sympathy or understanding, but the men were all regarding her with an amused expression of tolerance, as if her action were just what they had expected. Isn't there some way I can prove that I'm sane? She demanded, some test I can take. Oh, don't get yourself all worked up, Rebecca, answered the woman. Your brother told us you were all right most of the time, and that you probably wouldn't give us any trouble. We're not going to put you into chains. You like it here? Mary Louise groaned. There was nothing she could do or say, so long as they believed that wicked Tom Adams. So she meekly followed the woman into the house. Its large hall and big reception room were plain and old-fashioned, with very little furniture in them. But she noticed that everything was croupleously neat and clean. For that much, she was thankful. Often, she had read, the places where kidnappers confined their victims were filthy and germ-laden. She need have no fear of disease here, except disease of the mind. A younger woman in the white uniform of a nurse came into the hall to meet them. This is Miss Stone, Rebecca, announced the older woman. She will help you and take care of you. Now go with Miss Stone to your room. Didn't you bring any back, Rebecca? Asked the nurse, as she led Mary Louise up a flight of stairs to a long corridor. Mary Louise smelled grimly. Kidnappers don't usually allow their victims time to pack their suitcases. She said, and if you don't mind, Miss Stone, we'll call me by my right name. It's Mary Louise Gay. The young woman nodded solemnly. Certainly, Mary Louise. She replied. Mary Louise looked at the nurse, hopefully, wondering whether she was really finding a friend. Did the nurse believe her? All the doors along the corridor were closed, but Mary Louise had no way of telling whether they were locked or not, until, down the near end, she suddenly heard a loud pounding. Miss Stone stopped, and, taking a key from her chain, unlocked the door. A mild-faced woman of about thirty-five came out. I just wanted to see who was coming. She said, ah, a pretty girl. Miss Stone paused and introduced him courteously. The patient was dressed in the blue calico of the institution, but there was nothing queer or odd about her looks. She appeared to be much more normal than Rebecca Adams. This is Mary Louise Gay, said Miss Stone. She has come to live with us, and this, Mary Louise, is Joan of Arc, the girl who saved France, you remember? Oh, gasped Mary Louise in amazement. Was Miss Stone joking, or did the patient really believe she was Joan of Arc? The woman in calico smiled proudly. Yes, she said. I rode right at the head of my soldiers. I told them God was on our side, and we won, but they were going to burn me at the stake for being a witch, if they ever find me. That's why I stay here. I'm safe here, aren't I, Miss Stone? Yes, dear, you're safe, was the nurse's gentle assurance. A lump came into Mary Louise's throat. The pathos of it all. Yet how kind and sweet Miss Stone was. Oh, but ghastly thought. The nurse was being kind to Mary Louise in the same way. That's why she humored her by calling her Mary Louise, and all the time she believed her to be Rebecca Adams. Three doors farther down, the nurse stopped and unlocked another door. This is to be your room, Mary Louise, she said. It'll be nicer when you put some flowers in it. We have a lovely garden, and most of the patients have their own special flower beds. You can grow whatever you like best. Mary Louise looked about her.  It contained only a bed, and a wash stand, and one chair. Not even a bureau, or a table. The window was high and uncurtained. To her horror, Mary Louise saw that it was protected by iron bars.  You can put your own things in the drawer of that wash stand, and I'll bring you fresh clothing. Everybody wears blue here. Where do I take my bath? Asked Mary Louise dully. Not that she cared in the least, except that it would be something to do. I'll take you to the showers when I come back with your new clothing, replied Miss Stone. And to Mary Louise's dismay, the nurse locked the door from the outside, as she departed. The next twelve hours seemed to Mary Louise the longest she had ever lived through. After her bath, she was told to lie down until supper time. She was entirely alone in that bare room until six o'clock, with nothing to do but think. Finally, an attendant brought her a tray of food, well cooked, and wholesome, but far from dainty. Nevertheless, Mary Louise ate it, for she knew that she must keep up her strength, if she ever hoped to make an escape. Another attendant removed the tray, and she was left alone again until eight o'clock. Then Miss Stone returned. We have a little vesperservice in the reception room, Mary Louise, she said. Would you like to come and join us? The girl jumped up eagerly. Anything would be better than this dreadful idleness. Don't your patients have anything to do? She inquired as she went down the hall with the nurse. Just doing nothing is enough to drive anybody crazy. She smiled to herself at the use of the common expression, and wondered whether Miss Stone noticed it. But the nurse gave no sign of any amusement. Oh yes, Mary Louise, she replied, there will be lots for you to do tomorrow. Everybody takes some share in the work, if possible, unless they are too ill. And we go for walks round the grounds and work in the garden, but we thought you'd be too tired tonight and would just want to rest. They joined a group of perhaps twenty people in the reception room for the singing of hymns, and the same woman who had met Mary Louise at the door of the building read the Bible. Mary Louise looked about curiously at her fellow inmates, and did not find them particularly strange looking. One or two of them had queer staring eyes like Rebecca Adams, but for the most part they appeared normal. Which fact made it all the harder for Mary Louise to prove anything about herself to the caretakers. At nine o'clock the service was over, and everybody went to bed. But exhausted as she was, Mary Louise could not go to sleep. She tried over and over to formulate some plan of escape, but with the locked doors, the constant supervision of nurses and attendants, and that high stone wall, it seemed absolutely hopeless. It was only when the first gray light of dawn broke in the sky that she finally dozed off and then fell into a deep, heavy sleep. End of Chapter 15, Recording by Mary Escano, Chapter 16 of The Mystery of the Fires by Edith Lavelle. The slipperbox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Mary Escano. Weary waiting. Like her daughter, Mrs. Gay did not go to sleep until dawn of the following morning.  For her imagination suggested all sorts of horrible fates, worse than the one the girl was actually enduring. Physical violence, associated with hardened criminals, hunger, thirst, and death. That was the most terrifying thought of all, the fear that Mary Louise might already be dead. Like her daughters, too, Mrs. Gay's suffering was all the more intense, because she had to bear it alone through the long, silent night. Freckles and Jane, tired out from their vigorous search, had fallen instantly asleep. There was nobody to sympathize with the poor frenzied mother. She swallowed dose after dose of aspirin, until finally, with the first gray streaks of dawn, she at last fell asleep. Freckles was the first person awake in the household the next morning, and he immediately started the breakfast. Jane, arriving in the scene fifteen minutes later, was surprised and delighted at the boy's progress. You're better not awaken, mother, he said. I don't suppose she got much sleep last night. I'm afraid not. Tears came to Jane's eyes as they rested on the forlorn little dog sitting so disconsolidly in the corner of the kitchen. Freckles, what do you think could have happened to Mary Louise? She asked. I think Tom Adams did something to her, kidnapped her probably. But I had one idea this morning, Jane, while I was making the coffee.  We never thought to search that. Bright boy, exclaimed Jane so loudly as to awaken Mrs. Gay, who had heard her from her bedroom. For one ecstatic moment, the woman hoped that her daughter had been found. But Freckles' next remark dispelled any such idea. It's worth looking into, he continued. But I don't really think she's there, or Hattie would come and tell us. I can't believe Hattie is an enemy, or on Tom's side. She's too fond of Mary Louise. Mrs. Gay, attired in a kimono and looking white and exhausted, peered in at the kitchen door. The coffee smells so good, she said. That I just can't wait for a cup of it. Freckles grinned in delight and poured out the steaming liquid. It seemed to revive his mother. And she drank it eagerly. But she could not eat any breakfast. We're going up to Adam's first. Announced the boy. I'll get Stu Robinson to drive us in his car. And we'll take Seeky along. If Mary Louise should be hidden there, Seeky will find her. And mother, if the police come, be sure to have them talk to Horace Dutmore and get a look at that thread you found shoved under his door yesterday. Oh well, dear. Return, Mrs. Gay, smiling to herself at the idea of taking orders from her small son. But the boy was proving himself both practical and business like in the management of the whole affair. I wonder whether Adelaide Dutmore will open her dining room today as she planned, remarked Jane. A lump came into Mrs. Gay's throat. But she managed to reply calmly. I think so. She has all her food bought. And besides, the people are expecting it. Mrs. Reed told me last night that Sue and Mabel are both going to help her. If, if Mary Lou doesn't come back in time, you had better tell Hattie Adams to come down to the Dutmore as soon as she can. Though I don't believe Adelaide is planning to serve lunch. Jane nodded and finished her breakfast. After she and Freckles and the little dog had gone, the people from the other bungalows began to arrive at the gays to start upon a new search for the missing girl. Horace Didmore sent them off in various directions while he and several of the older women stayed behind to help and to advise Mrs. Gay. At 9.30, a small red car drove into Shadynook and stopped at the gays' bungalow. Three plainclothes men got out, displaying their badges for identification. We want the whole story, they said. So far we know nothing except that Mary Louie's Gay of Riverside and Shadynook is missing. We don't know much more ourselves, sighed Mrs. Gay. Then she proceeded to tell the story of the girl's disappearance the preceding afternoon. As far as we know, the last person who saw her alive is Rebecca Adams, a feeble-minded woman who lives over at a farm where we know that Mary Louie started to go. Nobody saw her after that. Have you any suspicions at all? The detective inquired. Horace Didmore answered that question by telling about the three fires at Shadynook and by showing the paper which had warned him of the possibility of a fourth. Mary Louie suspected Tom Adams, the brother of this feeble-minded woman, that we don't know yet upon what clue she based her suspicions. He concluded. But it looks as if Adams was guilty, for he ran away. He didn't take Mary Louie's with him. We know that because his sister drove him to the junction. What we are afraid, he did something to her first. So our first duty is to find this Tom Adams, announced the detective, writing, can you take us over to the farm now, Didmore? Or rather, just one of us. For the other two, better stay here and investigate that threat.  We'll get one of Adams and print them both in every newspaper in the country. But that's not the only clue we'll work on. Put in another of the men. That may be entirely wrong. And Miss Gay may just have met with an accident or even lost her memory. There are many cases of that, you know? Mrs. Gay nodded. That was just a trouble. So many dreadful things might have happened to Mary Louie's. However, she resolved to keep up her spirits until she actually heard bad news. She could enjoy the tension in the daytime. She thought, by keeping herself active, perhaps before night, her husband would come. So she hunted out some pictures of Mary Louie's for the detectives and answered their questions for an hour. Just as the two men left to go to Didmars to investigate the threat and the guard Adelaide, the roar of an airplane in the sky drew Mrs. Gay's attention. It was an auto gyro fluttering over a nearby field where there did not happen to be any trees. Breathlessly, she waited while it made its landing. But the motor did not stop and only one man got out of the cockpit. Then, as the auto gyro speeded away, the man on the field began to run towards Shadynook. In another moment, she identified him as her husband, Detective Gay, of the police force. He took the porch steps two at a time and out of breath as he was lifted his trembling wife into his arms. For the first time since the disaster, Mrs. Gay broke down and sobbed. But what a relief it was to give way to her feelings at last. Her husband shared her anguish and understood, comforting her as best that he could with words of assurance. We'll find her, dear. I'm sure we will, he said. Merlew isn't a baby. She'll show lots of pluck and courage. I'm counting on that daughter of ours every time. Have you any plans at all, dear? She inquired. Yes. Lots. I'm going to do a lot of telegraphing as soon as I get the whole story. I was never so thankful before that I'd chosen the detective profession.  Mr. Gay smiled. Now that you mentioned it, I don't believe I have.  Freckles and Jane returned while Mr. Gay was eating his meal, but they had nothing to report. Hattie was sure that Tom could not be guilty. She believed that he was running away from his gambling debts. Nevertheless, she had consented immediately to a thorough search of the house and barn for the missing girl. Yet, even Silky Sharpnose could not find her. The boy was delighted to find his father at home. He felt immediately that a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. For, like Mary Louise, he believed that his father could almost accomplish the impossible. We're going over to the other shore after lunch with Silky. He said. And hunt some more. That's right, son. Approved, Mr. Gay. We'll never give up till we find Mary Lou. None of the other searchers returned with any news all that afternoon. The day was hot and sultry, and too Mrs. Gay, interminable. Everything was so strangely quiet at the little resort. No radios played, no young people shouted to each other or burst into singing. Even the birds seemed hushed, as if they too sensed the tragedy of the usually happy colony. Late in the afternoon, the four girls who were working at the Ditmars went into the river to cool off with a swim. And Mr. Gay decided to join them, but it was more like a bath than a swim, and nobody seemed to enjoy it. Mr. Gay dressed and joined his wife on the porch, waiting for the detectives to return. Suddenly a noisy car came towards them. A bright green roadster, which was somehow familiar, yet did not belong at Shadynook. It was dusty and dirty. Its two occupants wore goggles, as if they had been participating in a race. And until they spoke, neither of the gays recognized them. Then they identified them instantly as Max Miller and Norman Wilder from Riverside. Any news yet? Demanded Max eagerly as he jumped out of the car. No, not a bit, replied Mr. Gay. How did you boys find out about it? Is it in the papers? Isn't the afternoon edition? replied Norman, handing a newspaper to the other. But of course, we started before that. There was a word to the Riverside police last night that we got wide enough, so we started early this morning. I think it's fine of you both to come, said Mrs. Gay, though she could not at the moment see what possible help they might afford. We're going to have a swim, clean up our car, and eat, announced Max. Then we're going to drive all around here with an radius of a hundred miles, tooting our horn and going slowly. I didn't know you boys knew how to drive slowly. Remarked Mr. Gay teasingly. Well, we really don't need to toot our horn. Turned Norman in the same light manner, because the color of our car is loud enough to shriek for us. Mabell and Sue read, passing by the bungalow on their way back to the ditmars, stopped in and met the boys. Mrs. Gay asked them to put two extra places at the dinner table for them. Gradually the searchers returned, without any success, and everybody went to ditmars to dinner. It was a lovely meal. Adelaide Ditmar proved that she knew how to prepare food and serve it attractively, and in spite of their anxiety, everybody enjoyed it. Everybody except Mrs. Gay, who could only pick at her food. True to their resolve, Max and Norman drove off in their car immediately after supper, with Freckles and Jane along with them. The rest of the inhabitants of Shadynook settled down to a quiet evening of waiting, waiting and hoping for news. About eight o'clock, Mr. and Mrs. Fraser came over from the hotel to offer their sympathy to the gays. I don't want to alarm you, Gay, said Fraser. But I think you haven't given enough thought to the river. Mary Louise was playing tennis in our court early in the afternoon, and the most natural thing in the world will be for her to take a swim afterwards. You know yourself that even the best of swimmers have cramps. Mrs. Gay clutched her husband's arm tightly in an effort to control herself.  Carable as it is, drowning is better than lots of things that might happen, remarked Mrs. Fraser. Mrs.  How could she sit there and talk like that? She rose abruptly. You'll have to excuse us now, Mrs. Fraser, she said unsteadily. My husband and I had things to do. The hotelkeeper and his wife got up from their chairs, just as the detective's car stopped at the bungalow. Everybody waited tensely. No news of your daughter, Mrs. Gay, announced one of the detectives immediately. But we are on Adam's trail. He's been spotted, speeding across the country in a stolen car. This afternoon, they found the car, abandoned near a woods, and doubtedly, he's guilty. Fraser's white face became even more pasty looking. Nobody noticed, except Mr. Gay, who made it his business to watch of people's reactions. If I may say something. Put in the hotelkeeper. Looking straight at the detective. I think you're on the wrong crack. Adam's is guilty of a small theft. He stole $200 from me, and he left some gambling debts. That's why he's running away. But I believe your real criminal is right here at Shadynook. Who? Demanded all the detectives at once. Dirtmar, Horace Dirtmar. These parts have proved to be a good thing for him. Dirtmar's took over all that boarding house trade after Flick's inn burned down. Mary Louise was on the inside. So they were probably afraid she'd find out too much and disposed of her. I don't believe a word of it, cried Mrs. Gay angrily. I trust both Adelaide and Horace anywhere. And how about that threat they got? You saw that, she asked the detectives. That was just a clever trick. Explain Fraser lightly. The thrill of suspicion. You notice it has not been carried out. Almost in hysterics, Mrs. Gay felt that she could not bear those dreadful Fraser's another minute. Desperately, she clung to her husband's arm for support. Will you men come inside? Suggested Mr. Gay, realizing how his wife was suffering. Good night, Mrs. Fraser. Good night, Fraser. And so another long night passed without any news of Mary Louise. But it was not so terrible for Mrs. Gay as the first one, because her husband was with her. And Max Miller and Norman Wilder comforted her with the assurance that they were going to find Mary Louise the following day. Somehow, by intuition, perhaps Mrs. Gay believed them. End of Chapter 16, Recording by Mary Escano. Chapter 17 of The Mystery of the Fires by Edith LaVelle. The slipperbox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Mary Escano. Release. While her parents and her friends at Shady Nook were imagining all sorts of horrors for Mary Louise, the day actually passed peacefully for her. It was a terrible shock to wake up in that bare little bedroom with the iron bars at the window. But after the first realization of it was over, she found comfort in work. For, unlike the previous night, she was not allowed to be idle. Miss Stone came in at seven o'clock with a tray of breakfast in her hands. And how do you feel today, dear? She inquired cheerfully. Mary Louise opened sleepy eyes and looked about her, trying to remember where she was. For one ghastly moment, she felt as if she would scream as the horror of the whole thing came back to her. But realizing that such an act would only help to confirm her nurse's belief in her insanity, she managed to control herself. The sun was shining. Miss Stone was kind. Surely, Mary Louise would find the way out. So she smiled back at the woman. I'm fine, Miss Stone, she said. Am I supposed to get dressed? Eat your breakfast first, was the reply. After today, you'll probably eat with the other patients. But the doctor is coming in to make an examination this morning. Mary Louise nodded. And then what do I do?  You may have your choice of cleaning, cooking, washing dishes, or sewing. Then you'll eat lunch in the dining room and spend an hour outdoors in the garden. After that, there's a rest period. When you may read or sew, if you like, we have a small library and there's a class in knitting too, if you prefer. Then supper and vespers. It sounds fine, search better than doing nothing, replied Mary Louise. I think for my particular work, I'll choose cooking. I'm pretty good at cakes and pies. That's nice, dear, concluded Miss Stone, turning towards the door. Be ready to see the doctor in about an hour. May I have a shower? Yes, I'll come back in 15 minutes to take you. But I'm not a baby, protested Mary Louise. I'm quite used to giving myself baths. I know, dear, but it's a rule. Sometimes patients drown themselves if we don't watch them. Maybe, later on. She did not finish the sentence, but left the room, locking the door behind her. It was fair like a nightmare, Mary Louise thought, and she picked up her tray, a dream in which you find yourself locked up somewhere without any means of escape. But she meant to get away just the same, if she had to climb that 10-foot wall to accomplish it. She decided immediately that she would be an exemplary patient, that she would work hard and do everything she was told to do. Gradually, perhaps, her liberty would be increased as the attendants learned that she could be trusted. In spite of her blue calico uniform, Mary Louise looked exceedingly pretty that morning when the doctor came in to see her. Her cheeks were glowing with perfect health, and her dark eyes were smiling, the room as usual as her person was meticulously clean. She identified the doctor immediately as the man who had received her the day before at the door of the institution. "'Good morning, Miss Adams,' he said, regarding her with admiration. "'You're looking well today.' "'I'm fine,' replied Mary Louise. "'Only, my name doesn't happen to be Miss Adams.' She couldn't help adding. The physician smiled, and she detected a shade of pity in his expression. Something like that in Miss Stone's face when she had humored that patient by calling her Joan of Arc. But he made the reply and went ahead with the examination. When Miss Stone returned, he told her that Miss Adams was in perfect physical condition. "'It's only the brain,' thought Mary Louise in secret amusement. How often she and her young friends had made that remark to each other. She resolved never to speak jokingly of insanity again. After the doctor's visit, her day proceeded in the orderly manner which Miss Stone had outlined. She cooked and washed dishes and ate lunch with the patients. Then she went out in the garden where she was assigned a flower bed of her own. But Mary Louise was not interested in flower beds at the moment. She pretended to work, all the while looking about her, at the grounds around the asylum, at the high stone wall below, and into the valley beyond. Across this valley, on a level with the institution, she could see a white road that ran like a ribbon along the hill in the distance. This road, she decided, must be a main highway or at least a drive frequented by automobiles. Otherwise it would not be so smooth and white. Staring at this road in silence, an inspiration came to Mary Louise, an idea that might bring her about her long fore-release. She waited eagerly for the nurse to come over to where she was working, but she was careful to keep her tone matter of fact when she did make her request. Miss Stone must not guess her hidden purpose. May I break off two sticks from some bush? She asked indifferently. I'd like to practice my semaphore. What's that there? Inquired Miss Stone skeptically. Is it anything dangerous? Mary Louise smiled. Oh no, it's just part of a Girl Scout training. You've heard of Girl Scouts, haven't you? Yes, I believe I have. Anyway, I've heard of Boy Scouts, so I suppose the Girl Scouts is an organization like theirs for girls. That's right, agreed Mary Louise. And I've always been very much interested in it. I don't want to forget all that I've learned. So if I had a couple of sticks and a needle and thread, I could make a pair of flags and practice every day. She uttered the last sentence haltingly. Fearful lest Miss Stone might guess her reason for wanting them and refuse. But as the nurse had no idea that semaphore meant signaling messages, she was entirely unsuspicious. And it had always been her policy to humor her patients in pursuit of any harmless amusements. So that afternoon, she brought Mary Louise's needles and cotton and scissors and sat with her while she cut up her red and white sports dress for the flags. It seemed a pity, Miss Stone thought, to destroy such a pretty dress. But it was not likely that Mary Louise would ever need it again. It was a sad fact that few of their patients ever returned to the outside world. Mary Louise finished her flags just before supper and laid them carefully away behind the wash stand. Tomorrow, oh, happy thought, she would try her luck. Hope is indeed a great tonic. Mary Louise went right to sleep that night and slept soundly until morning. She performed her duty so quickly and with such intelligence that even Miss Stone began to wonder whether there had not been some mistake in confining the girl to the institution. But as they did not take a daily paper at the asylum and as they were entirely cut off from the outside world, she had no way of knowing about the desperate search that was going on all over the country for Mary Louise's gay. Now that I have finished my work, may I go out into the garden and practice my semaphore for an hour before lunch? The girl asked her nurse. Yes, certainly, agreed Miss Stone.  Mary Louise was not so pleased to be accompanied, but after all, Miss Stone's presence would mean freedom from other attendants. Nobody would molest her while her own nurse was with her. She selected a spot high up on the terrace from whence she could plainly see the ribbon of white grode across the valley. Then she began to signal her message.  Over and over again, she repeated the same letters, hope coming into her heart each time a car swung into view, the spare taking possession of her when it failed to stop. Perhaps she thought she was too far away to be seen. She glanced behind her at the green bushes and moved along where she might have the gray wall of the institution for her background. Red and white, she'd show up brilliantly in contrast to summer gray. Half an hour passed, during which, perhaps, a dozen cars went by without stopping, and Mary Louise's arms became weary, but she did not give up. Sometimes she was certain one of her own friends' cars would come over that hill and stop. Miss Stone, watching the girl out of the corner of her eye, nodded sadly to herself. She must be crazy, after all, she decided to go through that silly routine over and over again. Intelligent on most subjects, as she had discovered Mary Louise to be, she must be unbalanced on this particular obsession. Still, Mary Louise went on trying.  She signaled again for the 24th time as a small, bright car appeared on the road. The car was proceeding very slowly. It looked as if it could scarcely climb the hill. Then, to the girl's intense joy, she watched it stop. Perhaps it was only because of a faulty engine, or a puncture, but, oh, it was stopping. Her heart beat so fast, and her hands trembled so that she could hardly repeat the message, but she forced herself to go through it again. This might be her one chance, her vital hope of escape. She knew now what it must feel like to be abandoned at sea, and all at once to glimpse a sail on the empty waters, bringing hope and rescue and life if it stopped. But, oh, the utter despair if it continued on its course unheeding. Two figures which looked like little dwarves in the distance jumped out of the car and stood still, evidently watching Mary Louise's motions. Frantic with excitement, she spelled the message again, this time very slowly, forming the letters carefully and pausing a long second between each word. I am Mary Louise Gay. Help, help, help. The two tiny figures waited until she had finished and then waved their arms frantically. She watched them in feverish anguish as they returned to the car and took something from the back of it. For five long minutes, they visited themselves in some way which she could not understand, or she waited, tense with emotion. Miss Stone strolled over and spoke to her, startling her so that she almost dropped her flags. Tired, dear, inquired the nurse sympathetically. No, no, protested Mary Louise. Let me stay 15 minutes more, please. Her eyes were still fixed upon the car across the valley. One of the men was stepping away from it now, holding up both arms which waved two dark flags, made from clothing, perhaps, on the spur of the moment, and then he began to signal. Breathlessly, Mary Louise watched the letters as they came, spelling out words that brought floods of joy to her heart, overwhelming her with happiness such as she had never known before. For the message which she read was this, we are coming, Mary Lou, Max, and Norman. Great tears of bliss rushed to her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Her hands trembled and her arms grew limp. In the exhaustion of her relief, she dropped down weakly to the ground. Miss Stone came and bent over her anxiously, fearing that some curious spell had come over Mary Louise. A fit perhaps, which would explain why her brother had wished to confine this girl in the asylum. I'll help you up there, the nurse said, and we'll go into the house. You had better lie than for a while. But I'm all right, exclaimed Mary Louise, jumping happily to her feet. My friends are coming for me, Miss Stone. She threw her arms around the woman and hugged her. Two boys from my hometown in Riverside. Yes, yes, dear, agreed Miss Stone. Sure now that Mary Louise was raving, but come inside now and rest. No, I don't want to rest, objected the girl. He said I could stay out till lunch, and there's still 10 minutes left. I want to wait for Max and Norman. All right, dear, if you'll promise to calm yourself. Sit down there on the step while I finish these rose bushes. Mary Louise did as she was told, keeping her eyes fixed on the gate, wondering how long it would take for the boys to get across that valley, hoping that they wouldn't get lost. She picked up her homemade flags and touched them lovingly. Suppose I'd never joined the Girl Scouts, and suppose I'd never become an expert signaler. She thought, she shivered at the very idea. She did not have to wait long, however. In less than 10 minutes, she saw the Gardener unlock the big iron gate and a dear, familiar green roadster speed up the hill and stop at the door of the asylum. In an instant, both boys were out of the car. Max was the first to reach Mary Louise. Without any question of permission, he took her into his arms and kissed her again and again. The Norman kissed her too, not quite so ardently as Max. Finally, she freed herself laughingly from their embraces and introduced them to Miss Stone. The boys looked questioningly at the woman. If she had been responsible for the kidnapping of Mary Louise, why was the girl so polite to her? Max took a revolver from his pocket, just to be prepared in case of violence. Mary Louise laughed merrily. You don't need that, Max, she said. Miss Stone wouldn't do anything desperate. She's a nurse. A nurse? Is this a hospital? A alarm crept into Max's voice. Oh, Mayor Lou, you're not hurt, are you? No, not a bit.  It's an asylum for the insane. I'm supposed to be crazy. Horrified, Max sprang forward and seized Miss Stone by the arm. What kind of diabolical plot is this? He demanded. Who's a accomplice, are you? He pulled a newspaper out of his pocket and shook it in the nurse's face. The whole country's frantic over the disappearance of Mary Louise Gay. Miss Stone gazed at the picture in the paper with increasing fear. Had she and the rest of the staff at the asylum been accomplices to a hideous crime? But Mary Louise replied for her assuringly. Miss Stone's innocent, Max, she replied. Please let her go. So are the others here. They're just obeying orders. Tom Adams put me in here, calling me his feeble-minded sister Rebecca. He really does happen to have one. You may have heard. And I understand her papers. For her confinement were filed once before. Mr. Fraser signed my commitment too, pretending to be a cousin. Those two men are the only guilty ones. Tom Adams! Repeated Max and Norman at the same time, and Norman added. Yes, that's what Freckle said. We're looking for Tom Adams. He ran away from Shady Newt, or whatever it is he lives. The police are after him. What about Fraser? Demanded Mary Louise. Is he guilty? Asked Max. More so than Tom, replied the girl. Oh, I must get back to tell the police before Fraser sneaks away. She turned to the nurse. May I go with the boys now? I'll have to ask the doctor, replied Miss Stone, hurrying inside to the office. It took no persuasion at all, however, to obtain the doctor's consent. As soon as he read the account in the newspaper, and saw that Tom Adams was a fugitive from the law, he gladly agreed to let Mary Louise go free. In fact, he was anxious that she should, lest he be blamed for participation in the crime. So Mary Louise jumped into the car between the two boys. And in less than an hour, she saw the dear familiar trees of Shady Newt in the distance. As the car approached her own bungalow, she could distinguish her mother, yes, and her father, sitting on a porch in an attitude of hopeless despair. Oh, what fun it was going to be to surprise them so joyfully. End of Chapter 17, Recording by Mary Escano. Chapter 18 of The Mystery of the Fires by Edith Lavelle. The slipperbox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Mary Escano. Return. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gay looked up disconsolidately as the green car approached. Suddenly their expressions of listlessness changed to incredulity, then to rapture. Mary Louise was home. In another second, the girl had flown up the steps and was hugging both parents at once. Mrs. Gay could only gasp in her happiness. It was Mr. Gay who asked his daughter whether she was unhurt and unharmed.  Her voice choked with emotion. Now praise these wonderful boys, insisted the girl, my rescuers. Max and Norman tried to look modest and to waive aside their accomplishment with the gesture, but Mr. Gay seized their hands in a fervor of gratitude. I can't find words to tell you what it means to us, he said. You two boys have succeeded where four professional detectives failed. It's, it's marvelous. Oh, it wasn't anything at all, except persistence in our part. Explain, Max. The real credit goes to Mary Lou. It was a swell idea, she had. What idea? Demanded Mr. Gay, signaling for help with semaphore flags, just as we all used to do in the scouts. But where were you, Mary Lou? Asked her father. Sit down and tell us all about it.  Putting her mother. No, not especially, replied Mary Louise. They fed us pretty well at the insane asylum. It was pretty fun to watch her parents startled expressions at this announcement. Fun now, that the experience was all over. Insane asylum! They both repeated in horror, and then for the first time they noticed her blue calico dress. Mary Louise nodded and proceeded to tell her story. Briefly and quickly, for she remembered that she wanted to catch the two criminals. Has Mr. Fraser run away too? She inquired when she had finished. No, he was over at his hotel, replied Mr. Gay. I saw him this morning. You must arrest him, Daddy, cried the girl. He was the cause of the three fires at Shadynook. I know it. But how do you know, Mary Lou? Asked her father. What proof have you? I overheard him and Tom Adams talking in the hotel garage. They didn't actually mention fires, but I'm sure they meant them. I have their conversation done in my notebook. I left it in my desk. It's probably still there. I suppose, suggested Mr. Gay. But you tell us the story of your suspicions and clues from the beginning. While I'm getting lunch, added Mrs. Gay. Mary Louise ran into her bedroom and found the little notebook. I'll just change my dress, she called laughingly, and be with you in a minute, but tell me where Jane and Freckles are. Out hunting for you, with Silky, was the reply. A couple of minutes later, she returned to the porch, looking more like herself in her own modern clothing. She sat down on the swing and opened her notebook. I first suspected Tom Adams the day after Flix Inn burned down, she began. All of the people of Shadenook were over on the little island that night on the picnic, and Hattie Adams told me she expected to have Tom take her, but he wasn't anywhere to be found, and the boy saw a big fellow in the woods who answered his description. But I sort of gave up the idea of his being guilty when I heard he had lost some work by Flix Inn burning down. It threw me off the track for a while. I really suspected his feeble-minded sister Rebecca. Then the smith's house caught fire, and Rebecca gave us a warning. So I suspected her all the more. Finding that pack of clipped cards in the can of water didn't prove a thing to me. I never believed he was guilty. It was absurd to arrest him, commented Mr. Gay.  Merlewies' laugh ran out merrily. Ha! You and Jane will have to get together, Dad, she said. You agree so perfectly about David McCall? Never did care for the fellow. Her father muttered. Give me men with brains, and sense. He looked admiringly at Max and Norman. But get on with the story, Merlew. It was the day after the smith's fire that I really seriously suspected Tom Adams. She continued. I trailed him to the store at four corners, and found him gambling. He told the man that he'd pay him a hundred dollars, which he expected to collect immediately, and that set me thinking. Why? inquired Max. Because a farmhand doesn't earn a hundred dollars so easily, especially from tight wads like Fraser. Everybody knows that man pays miserable wages. Then besides that, I overheard Tom Adams explaining a card trick, and that fact made me guess that he had gotten hold of one of Cliff's decks of cards, and either accidentally or purposely dropped them at the smith's. Mr. Gay nodded approvingly. He loved to watch the logical working of his daughter's mind. So I began to put two and two together, she went on. Somebody was paying Tom a lot of money. Lots more than a hundred dollars, I learned, for doing something. But I asked myself, could the job be except setting those houses on fire, and who wanted them burned down, except Fraser, or possibly Horace Dittmar, who, as you know, is an architect?  Yes, and when Adelaide Dittmar got that threat, I was positive Fraser was responsible. He wanted the business, and he was doing everything he could to get it, but even then I had no proof. So what did you do? asked Max. And why did Tom Adams suspect that you knew anything? It was all because of this conversation, answered Mayor Louise, opening her notebook.  I even told them I was going over to the farm to talk to Hattie. That was a mistake, remarked Mr. Gay. A mistake I paid for pretty dearly, agreed the girl, but it's all over now. So it really doesn't matter. Now, let me read you the conversation between Fraser and Tom Adams on the afternoon I was taken away. Quickly, in the words of the two men, she read to her listeners of Tom's demand for money, and Mr. Fraser's reluctant compliance with his claims. When she had finished, she looked eagerly at her father. Isn't Fraser guilty? She asked. Of course he's guilty, agreed the detective. But he won't ever admit it. He'll squirm out of it, because we haven't got proof in so many words. He'll say he was talking about something entirely different to Tom Adams. But can't he be arrested? Persisted Mayor Louise, a note of disappointment creeping into her voice. I don't see how, until we find Tom Adams. He'll establish Fraser's guilt all right. I can't see Adam shouldering the blame alone. Mayor Louise frowned. She hated the idea of the hotelkeeper's freedom, even though it might be only temporary. But suddenly, her face lighted up with inspiration. I have it! She cried. He can be arrested for signing that paper, confining me to the insane asylum. Can't he, Dad? Mr Gay looked startled. What paper? He demanded. Mayor Louise explained that, since the commitment had to be signed by two relatives of the patient, Mr Fraser had posed as her cousin. That was enough, Mr Gay said immediately. All that they needed, as evidence, was the paper itself. They would drive over to the institution that afternoon, and secure it. Luncheon was indeed a happy meal in the gay household that day. Though Freckles and Jane did not return, the two boys and Mayor Louise kept up a constant banter of laughter and merriment. Mr and Mrs Gay were quieter, but a light of rapture shone in their eyes. Just at the conclusion of the meal, Mrs Hunter and Cliff arrived, prepared to enter a house of misery and fear. They could not believe their ears as they heard the gaiety from within. Mary Lou cried Cliff incredulously. Cliff exclaimed the girl, jumping up and running to the screen door. You're free. And you're home. Returned the young man, seizing both of her hands. In spite of his arrest, Clifford Hunter was the same carefree young person. In a few minutes, he was showing his card tricks to Max and Norman, delighted to find a new audience. When the whole story had been retold to the hunters, with the caution that they say nothing of it to Mr Fraser, Mayor Louise and the three boys walked around the little resort to tell everybody their glad news. Then she and her father and Max took the car and drove to the Adams Farm. Mr Gay thought it would be wise to take old Mr Adams with them to visit the asylum, and Mayor Louise thought it would be interesting to bring Rebecca. To let Miss Stone and the other attendants meet the real Rebecca Adams. With Max at the wheel, they had no difficulty in finding the asylum. What fun it was, Mayor Louise thought, to pass through those iron gates now, knowing that she was safe. Yet instinctively she reached for her father's hand and held it securely as the car proceeded up the long driveway. The same doctor and the same head nurse came out to receive them, as upon Mayor Louise's first visit. Mr Gay displayed his badge at once, and explained his errand. The woman nodded and hurried into the office for the paper. While she was gone, Rebecca Adams, growing restless, stepped out of the car, lugging her heavy water pitcher in her arms. At the same moment, Miss Stone, Mayor Louise's special nurse, came out of the building.  Rebecca turned eagerly to the nurse. Can you show me where there is a well of clear water? She asked immediately. Yes, replied Miss Stone gravely. Back of the building. We have a fine well. Cried the woman in ecstasy. At last, she looked over at her father, and there were tears of earnestness in her eyes. Let me stay here, father. This is my home, where I want to live. Her voice grew more wistful. A well of clear water. She repeated, please take me to it, kind lady. Perhaps it is for the best, agreed old Mr. Adams. It's nobody to take good care of Rebecca at home, now that her mother's dead, and I'm crippled up with rheumatism, you can stay if she wants to. And so, at her own request, Rebecca Adams took up her life at the quiet institution, and the rest of the party. With a paper, which was to be used as evidence against Fraser in their hands, drove back to Shadynook. Meryl Louise went into a bedroom and put on her prettiest dress, awaiting the arrival of Jane and Freckles and her friends, what a glorious evening it was going to be for them all. Recording by Meryl Scano. Conclusion Meryl Louise was putting the last dabs of powder on her nose when she heard the car stop at the porch's steps. Peering through the screen window of her bedroom, she immediately decided that it must be the detectives. Yes, and oh joy of joys, they had Tom Adams with them. In another moment, the men were out of the car and up on the porch where her father joined them. Congratulations, exclaimed Mr. Gay. I see that you got Tom Adams, but I remember him now. Yes, answered one of the men. But he won't admit a thing about your daughter, he says he never saw Meryl Louise after she went back to the tennis court that afternoon. On what grounds could you arrest him then? Demanded Mr. Gay. He stole the car on its way to the west. Meryl Louise repressed a giggle and turned away from the window. Her father evidently meant to find out what he could before he announced his daughter's return. You have a sister, Rebecca, haven't you, Adams? He inquired. The young man nodded. Yes, she feeble-minded. Why? We know that Meryl Louise saw her the afternoon she disappeared. Rebecca told her so, and she also said that you came home that afternoon just as my daughter started to leave the farm. Rebecca smiled wonders a lot, muttered Tom. She don't know what she's talking about half the time. He shifted his feet uneasily. You have been thinking of putting Rebecca into an asylum? Persisted Mr. Gay. Yeah, we considered it. Why? Because she's in one now, announced Mr. Gay calmly. Of her own free will, an asylum about twenty miles from here, a doctor fetter I believe is the head of the institution. He paused and gazed intently at Tom. The young man's jaw dropped, his face grew white, and his hands trembled. Mr. Gay burst out laughing, and Meryl Louise came out to the screen door. Hello Tom, she said quietly. The young man started as if he had seen a ghost, but he managed to stammer a reply. Uh, hello Miss Gay. He said all three of the plainclothes men stepped forward in amazement.  They demanded of Mr. Louise's father. No, answered Mr. Gay. To be frank, I didn't. The girl for young friends from Riverside did. She was confined in an insane asylum about twenty miles from Shadynook, under the name of Rebecca Adams. All of Tom's pretends fell away from him at this announcement. He knew his game was up. His limbs grew weak. He groveled at the men's feet. Don't send me to the chair. He cried. I didn't harm her, she's all right, ain't she? We'll let the judge and the jury decide that, replied Mr. Gay. Now, suppose you sit down there and tell us the truth, Adams. You might as well, for we know most of it already. The young man crawled into a seat, but he made no attempt to tell his story. We know that you burned three houses here at Shadynook, said Mr. Gay. We know, too, that you did it because you were bribed by Fraser. Didn't he pay you a certain sum of money to start those fires? Yes, he did, acknowledged Tom. He gave me five hundred dollars. Why did he want them burned down? Asked one of the plainclothes men. He figured that he'd get five hundred at least from the hunters during the summer, entertain the friends at all. Then, Flick's fire turned out to be better business yet. All the folks from Shadynook, except the Digmas, began eating at the hotel once they and their scum, and smiths burned down, brought all them children and servants, and even the ma and pa over to the royal. Did Fraser expect to burn any more cottages? What's the next question? No, he wasn't planning on it, only when Mrs. Digmas started up a boarding house and took his business away from him. That made him sore. But I wasn't going to do no more dirty work. I figured I'd just get my money and clear it out. I never did expect to burn Digmas, only threading them. But what made you do that dreadful thing to Mary Louise? Demanded Mr. Gay. I wanted to get rid of her till I made my gateway. Fraser and me were scared she was on to something and it was sent for you and you'd figured it all out Mr. Gay. Fraser thought if I was gone he'd be saved. He'd just deny everything. The idea of calling Mary Louise Rebecca just popped into my head when she told us she was going over to the farm to see Hattie that afternoon. I knew Hattie and Dad was off to the fair, so I jumped in my car and run over to the asylum and made the arrangements. We just got back in time to nap her. One of the men stood up. Detective Gay, he said, I think you and I had better go over and arrest Fraser now. These two other men can take charge of Adams. He turned to Mary Louise who was still standing in the doorway. Is there any question you want to ask this criminal, Miss Gay, before we take him away? Yes, answered Mary Louise, stepping through the doorway. I would like to know how that pack of cards came to be dropped at the smiths the night of their fire. How Tom happened to have them in his possession? The young man flushed. One day I was watching Hunter do a trick on the hotel porch. I noticed he put the cards in his coat pocket.  So I sneaked up and took him out of his pocket to use to show the trick to the boys. I thought they was mugged, but they wasn't. Hunter sure is clever at tricks. Then when I heard people was suspecting him of burning his own cottage done for the insurance, I thought I might as well help that suspicion along. So I dropped this pack of cards into that can of water at the smiths. Insurance, it worked. Mary Louise's eyes were filled with contempt, but she did not put her feeling into words. Instead she nodded to the detectives and the men all left the porch. 15 minutes later Fraser's arrest was accomplished and the three plainclothes men started for Albany with both criminals in their custody. Mary Louise and her parents watched them go with a sigh of relief. That's that, said her father with a smile. Now if only Jane and Freckles would come, added her mother, we could be perfectly happy. It's time to go to dinner. In a couple of minutes, Mrs. Gay's wish was granted. Down the road half a dozen young people came running for they had just received the wonderful news that Mary Louise was back. Silke reached his mistress first. Then Freckles arrived with Jane and four of the boys close behind. Never if she lived to be a hundred would Mary Louise forget that wonderful dinner at the Dittmars, the joy of being back home again, the happiness of her friends, the companionship of her father. Oh, everything seemed perfect that night to the lovely brown-eyed girl. And not least of it all was the satisfaction of knowing that the mystery of the fires was solved at last. Shadynook was safe again for everybody to enjoy for many, many summers to come. End of Chapter 19, Recording by Mary Escano. End of The Mystery of the Fires by Edith Lavelle.


So you just got meteorite first of all congratulations. You did it and second of all you may be wondering how do I use meteorite? Well, let's show you There's many cool perks to having meteorite such as access to the cosmetics menu and a bunch of cool Cosmetics that you can equip inside the lobby using the chest in your inventory You can right-click and select from gadgets suits and particles to wear inside of the lobby The gadgets can do various different things such as spawning fireworks jumping around Shooting paintballs that color the blocks they hit multiple colors and hitting players to send them flying The suits you can choose from are a colorful suit an elite suit a media suit and a super suit I personally prefer the color suit as it just changes colors like this And there's also a list of particles that you can choose from to wear around the lobby. Here are the exploder particles Here are the fairy particles Here's the halo particles, which make a little halo above your head Here are the orbital particles and here is the trail particles that leave a rainbow trail behind you as you walk One more perk media rank gives you is being able to fly inside the lobby Now that you know how to use the gadgets I'm gonna show you how to actually equip your media rank as you can see when I type in chat I look like a normal player However to equip the full media rank first what you can do is you can do slash tag media and now when you type You have the media tag in front of your name. The second thing to do is type slash color Media press enter and now when you type a message again You will have the full media rank applied to your name. You can also do slash color elite slash color legend and slash color super To go back to your default color you can do slash color Normal here the list of the tags that you can choose from you're not allowed to use the builder tag But the elite tag media tag normal tag or super tag you can all apply to your name Now we are going to move into the games so I can show you the special perks that you get inside each of the games Inside of the Wool Wars game when you join into a game You will have access to every single kit no matter if there is free kit mode on or if it's just a normal day You will always have access to every single kit. I personally choose bouncy inside of kit PVP You will also have access to every single kit no matter if there's free kit mode on or if it's just a normal time However, you will also have access to the events menu. Just simply type slash event and you will have access to Be able to pick an event for players on the kit PVP server to play Usually there's a cool down right now It's seven minutes seventeen seconds as to prevent people from spamming events However, after that cool down is up You can click an event host it and be able to play it with all of the players on the server If they so choose to join the game. There's a cool down so I cannot demonstrate me actually starting an event But this is how you'd purchase an event and be able to start it You'd click on whatever event you wanted I'll click on sumo and you'd go to this you would click purchase with legend rank and since you have media rank It will not cost any tokens to host the event and you'll be able to host an event for all the players to join You will also have access to all of the kit PVP particles Just simply choose which one you would like to use and you'll be able to use it Also inside of the purgatory lobby You'll have access to every single one of the abilities except for this last one, which is a staff exclusive ability Now I don't play any of the other game modes on my GMC So I can't tell you too much about them, but this is pretty much what you can do with the media rank Now there's one last thing that I would like to show you inside of your text It will give you an option to be able to use color codes Now color codes are specific codes that you can use a Minecraft to get colored text I'll put a graphic up on the screen right now. These are all the color codes So say you wanted a light red and bold text What you would do is you would do and C and L and type your message and boom There is a light red message in bold So you can do this for pretty much any text and that is how you use color codes now that you know a little bit more about media rank I hope you all enjoy your time on munchie with the new media rank And I hope that this tutorial has helped you in some way If this has helped you in some way, please make sure to leave a like and consider subscribing to help me out Apart from that, there's not really much I can say so thank you for watching and I will see you all in the next video Bye guys


Well, I think we would all agree that Genoma is the most popular desktop environment plasma comes in a very close second What I want to do today is actually talk about five reasons why you should try plasma out now I'm making this video because recently plasma 6 came out and I can't be a Linux youtuber and not make something about plasma 6 So this is my initial video on plasma 6 and a long-term review will come later So let's just get that out of the way So today five reasons why you should use plasma no matter what version it is. So let's go ahead and jump in So let's actually take you first to my plasma desktop and this is plasma 6 I'm not gonna talk about the features of plasma 6 or any of that I'm gonna talk more in general of why you'd want to use plasma. So the first one and the most obvious one is Customizability, so if we open up the settings application here, you'll actually see that there are a ton of settings And this isn't really plasma specific any KDE slash QT application is Going to have a ton of options for you to tinker with basically if you want to make your apps look or Function in a certain way you probably can now there are probably some limitations if you're looking for something that is a little more esoteric, but the mainstream options are all here including theming and Changing the UI and all of this sort of stuff, right? And this is Simultaneously a good and a bad thing for a lot of people because one thing that is for sure true Is that there are a ton of settings here and because there are a ton of settings here it's both very customizable and Quite confusing so if you're going to mess around with customizing your plasma Take advantage of that search box up there at the top because I tell you now you'll be using it a lot It'll make your life so much easier to find the things that you're wanting to look for so customizability is the first one on a list And I think that it had to be the first one on list because it's the absolutely the most obvious the second one on the list is actually kind of connected and I Decided to separate it out because it is so important at least for me And that is theming and I think that out of all the desktop environments I don't think that it can be argued that KDE does steaming the absolute best On anything GTK based like GNOME or Xfce or cinnamon any theming that they do is kind of a hack Especially on GNOME where they really don't want you to theme at all and on Xfce and cinnamon and mate and all the other GTK desktops they all use a hack to get their themes to work for the most part or they have very minimal theming through Right so the theming on other desktop environments isn't very good on Plasma theming is built-in and fully supported. You can go to this page here and get new and I'll actually show you hundreds maybe thousands of themes made by the community and put on I basically a Theme store that you can download and apply a lot of them even have pre-configured desktop layouts that you can use So you can actually fully emulate the desktop you see in the screenshot, so it is very nice And it even goes beyond pre-configured themes if you want to create your own theme You can do so very easily by just editing the colors. You can create your own color scheme You can upload them from a file so you can back them up very easily if you want to transfer them from one machine to another You can edit pre-existing themes and make them completely your own However, you want to do it the amount of theming capability you have on plasma is unmatched It's just the premier feature of plasma if you are a tinker who likes to theme their applications So it's very very good. The next one on the list is a little bit less about features and more about the community So KDE and I truly believe this has the best desktop environment community out there The GNOME guys are very isolated the developers themselves don't interact as much with the community as you'd like The other desktop environments are all very small teams So they're not they're not leading a project that is very big So the community is usually pretty small on plasma not only is the community very, you know large But the developers themselves are out and about you can very easily contact a KDE developer They all either have YouTube channels or blogs like Nate does and you can easily talk to them Like you can go have a chat if you want to also. It's very easy to report bugs. It's very easy to get support on the forums It's very easy to request features if you want to actually have to you know Ask somebody for a feature to add into plasma You can do all of these things very very easily and a lot of that is because the developers are so Here they're they're very present right and it's very nice It's it's not an experience you get with other desktop environments very often and it happens all the time with KDE But even more than that more than just the interaction you will get between the community and yourself is their Openness to how they're developing the desktop environment. So they're always every week coming out with a blog post that looks like this one here that basically says all the new features that they've added that week all the UI improvements all the bugs that they've fixed and everything it's very very transparent and the best part of that means That if you are a diehard KDE plasma fan or you become one, you know, what's coming up You know what bugs have been fixed and when to update all that stuff happens very much in the open again Not something that you can really say about gum even though you can if you want to you can go dig into what you know I'm doing, but they don't publish a lot of that stuff in easily digestible fashion. So openness and transparency and Very good community is one of the best things about plasma the fourth one on the list is Something that is not going to be for everyone, but I think that it's truly important so if you are just coming to Linux or you're a Windows XPAT even if you've been here for a while One of the best things about plasma is that it does have a fairly windows like UI now It used to be much more windows like let's just put it out there before plasma 6 came out the Bar didn't float. Okay, so in Windows the bar doesn't float and obviously my UI here is not exactly the default UI But it's very close. There is a floating bar along the bottom. There's a menu here along the side basically what like you'd get in windows and Basically what this means is that anyone who is coming from windows can Come and use KDE plasma without having to have too much upheaval in their look and feel and this translates over to the Applications as well. So if you open up an application, it looks kind of like windows You know, you have the buttons up here at the top you have text and stuff along the side in menus That's basically the the windows UI now for a lot of people. This is a bad thing I know in plasma 6 one of the things that they wanted to do was kind of distance themselves from the Windows like UI claim they did that a little bit. They made the the panel floating They created much more in terms of how you edit it to make it more unique So if you enter edit mode here, you get something like this I'm not sure hopefully you're actually still seeing this but you get something like this So in in plasma 6 some things have Deviated from the windows like UI thing, but there's still enough familiarity here in terms of default UI That you can come here and be very comfortable if you're coming from windows now This isn't unique to plasma cinnamon does this Xfce does this in some ways depending on what distribution you're using You know, so it's not unique to to plasma, but I think that in terms of default layout Plasma has the best one because if you go look for the default layout of say Xfce It doesn't look very windows like that's one thing. It's also very very old-looking now the default layout of Cinnamon is much more windows like so there's a lot of comparisons to be made there But I think in terms of default layout KD does have the best one And because it does have so much customizability once you get familiar with using Linux once you get familiar with using this layout You can very easily go into you know colors and themes and theme stuff You can very easily move the panel up top or create a dock or whatever you want to do any number of things Okay, you are possible when you have that level of customizability But the defaults are always very important because as much as it boggles my mind the vast majority of people who use a Desktop environment like this stick with the defaults and that's okay If that's the way they want to do it But having good defaults is a very good thing the last one on the list is going to be a little controversial and It's going to maybe not be 100% true for everyone because I find that Wayland compatibility is Not universal for everyone. I'm a prime example of this That Wayland doesn't work for everyone all the time But I found after using plasma for a while that their Wayland Implementation is by far the best I had so many problems on GNOME. I've had problems with Wayland compositors on KDE at least after the update to Plasma 6 It has been been fan Tastic and on top of that if you have a multi monitor setup I find that plasma has the best Control over that situation, especially if your multi monitor setup has Monitors that aren't the same so if you have like a 1080p and a really weird resolution like I have with an LG Doolop that has kind of like a two monitor and one setup and it has a different resolution and it has a different refresh rate You can go into the display configuration of KDE Plasma and do a ton of stuff Including fractional scaling changing the refresh rate changing the over scan and with Plasma 6 You can now also use an ICC color profile if you have one So all of this stuff means that you can do a ton of customization on your monitor setup something that is not as Easy to do in other desktop environments XFCE doesn't support it at all because it's still X to work Anything in a lot of the other desktop environments are just very Very early in their Wayland stages in terms of GNOME GNOME doesn't do fractional scaling at all. You can choose between 100 and 200. That's it Now they do have some experimental supports for fractional scaling in between those numbers, but it's still very experimental It doesn't work very well also from in my experience and GNOME a lot of the UI elements of GNOME Don't scale at all like for whatever reason maybe I was doing something wrong who knows but I found in Plasma The Wayland compatibility for this situation in terms of multiple monitors is very very good So those are the top five reasons why I think you should use Plasma There are probably many more and I'd like to hear those from you guys in the comment section below Because I'm sure there are people out there who use Plasma who have better reasons than just these five So leave those in the comment section below. I'd love to hear from you You can follow me on Massadon or Odyssey those links will be in the video description You can support me on Patreon at patreon.com slash the Linux cast You can also head on over to the shop which has a whole bunch of awesome merchandise That goes directly to help support my channel So that's available at shop at the links cat.org there You'll find hats and t-shirts and all sorts of stuff head on over there and check it out Thanks to everybody who does support me on patreon and YouTube because you're all absolutely amazing without you The challenges would not be anywhere near where it is right now. So thank you so very very much for your support I truly honestly do appreciate it.  Thank you so very much Thanks everybody for watching. I hope you have a wonderful day and a wonderful week and all that stuff I'll see you next time


Hey guys, how you doing? This is your boy Rich from Rich TV Live and you too can join the club at richpicksdaily.com where you can learn how to win and trade. Guys, how you doing? This is your boy Rich from Rich TV Live and richpicksdaily.com where you should be at daily. Join the club where you can win big in these markets. We got a special pick for you today. My crystal ball says that we have a pick that could yield enormous returns, potentially a 10X. That's right, potentially a 10X for early investors. Put GiveX, G-I-V-E-X on your radar, on your watchlist, they're on the TSX. Guys, these guys are trading at 75 cents despite the fact they're doing over 51 million a year and our EBITDA positive have been in business for over 20 years and are profitable trading under a dollar. I think because they're doing about 51 million a year, they should be priced around $5, really nice tight share supply, 115 million shares issued and outstanding. I think they're extremely undervalued, underappreciated, underexposed. Let's take a look. Don't go anywhere. It's your boy Rich from Rich TV Live. We got another big winner for you today. GiveX, let's take a look. This is the givex.com investor relations website. Learn about our stock and financial performance. Click to visit G-I-V-X on the TSX exchange. You can see here their products are gift cards, loyalty programs, POS, which stands for point of sale, GiveX Go Management app, mobile app, uptick, trademark, ticketing, analytics, ordering kiosk and GiveX pay. You can scroll down on the site and you can see here to better engage your customers and streamline operations. You can see there's a focus on customer acquisition and engagement, communications and rewards, customer insights and operational efficiency. They were listed on the TSX under the symbol G-I-V-X. This is what the stock looks like right here. Learn how to reopen your business successfully here and take a look at the stock. So what I've done is I've marked the high high, which is about $1.23, which happened pretty much day one when they launched right here on December 21st and then they sold off, hit a low low of just about 60 cents. I always like to kind of understand the feel for the chart and understand where the chart is going and what you're getting yourself into when you buy a stock. So it went up, all the excitement of a new company and then not a new company. This company's been around for a long time, but a company that is new on the Toronto Stock Exchange traded down, went up, traded down and then now it's nicely recovering. As you can see here, trending back up after going down, trending back up from 60 cents to where it sits today, back to 75. It did go as high as 86 and is settling off right at 75 right now. So that's what the chart looks like and it's important when you're looking at anything to follow them on social media. This is their LinkedIn page, GiveX is a global IT platform focused on providing merchants with useful customer insights. Learn more at GiveX.com. This is their Twitter page. Right here is their Twitter page, GiveX Corp at GiveX Corp. GiveX is a global gift card loyalty program and point of sale technology provider since 1999. So these guys have been around for years. Okay, so this is not a startup. This is a company that's already been around for a long time and I'm gonna break that down for you so you understand exactly what I'm talking about. So after 20 years of profitability, GiveX is well-positioned for rapid growth. So this is their deck as of December, 2021. You can see that they did say that they've been profitable for 20 years and now they are public on the Toronto Stock Exchange, a global fintech platform empowering merchants with knowledge and know-how. GiveX is all about engagement, point of sale and payment and we live in a world where it's all about payments. So this is a great industry and a great sector to get exposure to. GiveX develops, sells and supports a cloud-based fintech platform to hospitality and retail merchants in the Americas, EMEA and Asian market. Take a look at these company highlights. This is extremely impressive. 270 plus employees, 96,000 client locations that they're already in, a 1% churn, very impressive. 10 global offices, 100 plus countries and zero to 2% client concentration. So they're really just getting started. People in technology supporting diverse range of hospitality and retail merchants in the Americas offers rare opportunity of strong future growth with current profitability. Hard to find companies like that. Look at the financial highlights on the right side here. Revenue grew 33% to 14.6 million compared to the three months ending the September 30th, 2020. So 14.6 million in a quarter. That's enormous year over year, quarter over quarter growth. Revenue increased 12% to 40 million compared to nine months ending September 30th, 2020. So the revenue growth for this company is huge, 40 million in nine months. Gross transaction volume grew 21% to $1.1 billion in gross transaction volume, extremely impressive compared to three months ending September 30th, 2020. So this is a company that is literally growing off the charts. Gross transaction volume increased 16% to 3.6 billion compared to the nine months ending September 30th, 2020. So it is just growing year over year, quarter over quarter adjusted EBITDA grew 55% to 2.7 million. So this is a company with adjusted EBITDA. So we're talking about a profitable business here and we love profitable companies here at Rich TV Live. I think everybody needs to put GiveX on their radar and on their watch list. I think these prices are absolutely a gift price that's 75 cents. I can't wait to understand more about this company and this is why we do these videos so that we can all learn as a community about undervalued, underappreciated, underexposed companies that just haven't exploded yet that people just don't know about. So what do they do and how do we do it? GiveX is a cloud-based omnichannel platform fully integrated product suite featuring cross-platform analytics, engagement with gift cards and loyalty, integration with the 1,000 plus APIs, point of sale, cloud-based and secure, analytics, extensive and real-time and payments, digital and in-store. And I know that I'm always looking for different ways to make digital payments and I'm looking for all of these types of services. So for someone like myself that has a business, this is extremely appealing and I could see thousands of businesses, millions of businesses eventually, all over the world needing these services. The market overview is enormous. The market is massive and growing. GiveX is uniquely positioned versus its peers. And remember, they've been doing this for over 20 years. Loyalty size, USD in 2027, $10 billion and the CAGR compound annual growth rate from 2021 to 2030 is a growth rate of 19.9%, which is enormous. Stored value size, USD in 2030, check this out. $6.8 trillion and the compound annual growth rate of 18.2% from 2021 to 2030. Point of sale, point of sale software size in 2028, 19.5 billion and 9.5% CAGR from 2021 to 2028 and POS hardware size, USD in 2028, $130 billion market and a 6.9% CAGR from 2021 to 2028, compound annual growth rate, enormous growth sector for a company that's already profitable, generating a lot of revenue and just went public, but has been privately running for 20 years, mastering this sector, GiveX digital payments, size, USD in 2028, $236 billion, a 19.4% CAGR. So enormous growth potential for a company that's already in this sector and has been for 20 years, representing some of the world's largest brands across 96,000 client locations, huge names like Wendy's, Swish LA, Harvey's, the Keg, A&W, Quiznos, 7-Eleven, Major League Baseball, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Cardinals, the Giants, the Braves, the Philadelphia 76ers, these are huge names, Best Western, Fairmont Hotels, MGM Resorts, LCBO, OLG, these are enormous brands. Why are they choosing GiveX? Well, GiveX provides enterprise grade security, extensive API library, competitive pricing, flexible platform, continuous upgrades, extensive reporting, and a single source solution. In addition, they also provide proprietary technology, VPOD allow for unlimited transactional growth, twin data centers per region replicated in real time, proven reliability, virtually 100% uptime with global data center network. And remember, they've already been doing this for 20 years. So they've built their brand. Now they're going market publicly to help grow exponentially. This is why I think you need to put them on the radar, put them on your watch list. In addition, they provide maximum security, regular risk assessment by large clients, accredited platform, PCI level one certified, so they are certified, SOC one and SOC two certified and tier one support supported 24 seven by our own in-house teams. Excellent service, continuous improvement, strong references, 1% churn, upsell opportunities and constant flow of new onboardings.  Look at the performance during the fiscal years, 2018 to 2020. This is why they were private. Remember, they've now just gone public. We believe that's gonna put way more eyeballs on this story and we find them to be extremely undervalued, under-appreciated, under-exposed. Look at this. So you can see how they have grown year over year in 2018, doing 41 million and 9 million in adjusted EBITDA. In 2019, 49 million and 6.2 million in adjusted EBITDA and 2020, all these years are audited, 51.5 million and 9 million in adjusted EBITDA. Based on these numbers alone, I think that this stock should be priced at around $5. Now we need to look at the share structure and understand all the fundamentals a little bit more. So let's take a look. So stored value, gross transaction value, look at the gross transaction value, absolutely enormous. And you can see the client locations have grown from 540 in 2018, 725 in 2019 and 844 in 2020. So the client locations continue to grow. This is the three month performance to September 30th, 2021 and how the revenue has grown from 2020 to 2021. We talked about that. The adjusted EBITDA also grown and the gross transaction value growing from September 30th, 2020 to September 30th, 2021 and you can see the growth and why as investors you should be really excited about GiveX. And I just think it's extremely undervalued based on its fundamentals. This is not a hype story. This is a fundamental real business that has real EBITDA and real revenue growth, transactional value growth and customer locations growth. You can see the revenue growth which we've talked about, the adjusted EBITDA, the customer locations growth and the transactional value growth year over year. And how will they continue to grow? So they are focusing on accelerating their M&A and this is one of the reasons why company goes public. They want to accelerate their growth. And this is a company with a proven model with less than 1% churn and reoccurring revenue. A growing client-based surveying sing 96,000 locations worldwide, including multinational companies, massive market with business switching to cloud-based solutions from limited legacy systems, fully integrated omnichannel data and technology platform providing client engagement with gift card and loyalty programs, cloud-based and secured POS systems, extensive in real-time analytics and digital and in-store payments. They plan for corporate growth includes accelerating growth with strategic acquisitions while maintaining earnings. So they want to maintain their earnings while focusing on strategic acquisitions and land and expand upsell high-margin services and modules to existing clients. So they're looking to upsell high-margin services and other potential products to their existing growing client-based and organic growth acquire merchants through direct sales, resellers and RFPs. So they have a plan of how they're going to grow and now they're public. This is the board of directors. Don Gray is the chairman of CEO. I fully expect to interview Don Gray. Hopefully I can interview other members of the team. Mr. Gray has been part of the information technology industry for over four decades. He has many years of experience in startups, turnarounds, acquisitions and dispositions. Mr. Gray startup experience includes point of sale, POS, internet and cloud computing companies. He has been focused on GiveX since founding it with his wife in 1999. So you guys can see here all the different members of the team and the third quarter of 2021 operational highlights, GiveX launch, GiveX pay an integrated payment processing solution enabling users to facilitate payments with end customers. Barberito, a Canadian based quick service restaurant chain completed its installation of GiveX POS, online ordering gift cards and loyalty programs in 164 locations. GiveX POS locations increased to 1,151 in Q3, 2021 from 832 in Q3, 2020 and increased up 38%. Foodtastic, second cup, milestones, pita pit, all big names, agreed to implement GiveX gift card program, customer website solution and GiveX POS systems across all 650 locations. GiveX welcomed new uptick clients, Buffalo Bills, NFL, wow, Colorado, wow, big names, Colorado Rockies in Major League Baseball and Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL. iFood and GiveX reshaped the Brazilian food delivery market selling more than 10 million gift cards in less than two years by the end of Q3, 2021. I think everyone needs to put GiveX on their radar, put them on their watches. Remember, Rich TV Live is strictly for information and education purposes. Please, do your due diligence, do your research before you invest in anything that we talk about or discuss here on Rich TV Live in saying that this is a quality company, millions of dollars in revenue, they're just going public and the price is right, folks. I think the upside is tremendous. Typically when I look at companies like this, I think that if a company's doing about 10 million a year with a tight share structure, they should be priced at around a dollar. 100 million a year, $10. Well, these guys are doing 50 million a year. They should be priced at around $5. They're priced at 75 cents. I still need to look at the share structure. That's gonna tell me a lot. But from based on what I see right now, I think that this is very exceptional opportunity that everyone should be aware of and everyone should put on their radar and everybody should put on their watch list because the upside is absolutely tremendous and it's a sector that's growing. You could see a growing client base, we've talked about their client base, growth with profit, GiveX offers a rare opportunity of strong future growth of merchant base with current profitability, proven growth model with less than 1% churn and strong reoccurring revenue streams. That is extremely impressive. 1% churn means that their clients are staying with them, integrated data and technology, omnichannel platform provides merchants with data insights and solutions they need in three crucial areas, customer engagement, point of sale and payment. Now, we just have to get a better feel for the share structure. So let's go to TMX money. All right, and we're going to go to GiveX. And guys, you can do this research. You have to do this research when you're learning about investing. You gotta know what you're investing into. So we look at the volume, 114,000, 75 cents down 6% on the day. And we can go to the share structure. So this is what I want to understand, the market cap. So a company doing 50 million a year has an 86 million market cap. I believe that this could easily grow to a 500 million market cap. I believe with 150 million shares issue in outstanding that's a pretty tight float and a pretty tight share structure. I don't see any reason why this cannot be at least a $5 stock doing 50 million in revenue and potentially grow higher from there. That is my analysis. That is my opinion. I'd love to know if you guys agree with me. This is Rich from Rich to Be Live bringing you GiveX. You can learn more. You can email them at their IR at GiveX.com and you can see that they are focused on going global. And this is a company that has what it takes to do it. And I believe that everyone needs to put them on their radar and put them on their watches right here. Right now, love to know your opinions. Guys comment on the video. If you liked the video, smash the like button. You're a boy, Rich from Rich to Be Live. GiveX.com is the website and GiveX, G-I-V-X is the symbol. You're a boy, Rich from Rich to Be Live. Bringing the winners and we're bringing two. First, I think we have a chance to be another big winner guys. A quality company that I believe is undervalued, underappreciated, underexposed only at 75 cents already on the highest exchange in Canada on the TSX. You're a boy, Rich from Rich to Be Live. And I'm out.