Billie Bradley at Sun Dial Lodge

A scene in the opening chapters of Billie Bradley at Sun Dial Lodge really caught my attention. The girls have befriended an old woman who was held captive by a giantess (Does this not also remind you of Beverly Gray?). The girls have helped the woman to escape, and Billie has paid for the woman's ticket on the train to New York City. The woman has told Billie her sad story and how she hopes to make a living in the city. Billie writes her address on a slip of paper and tells the woman to come to her home if she ever needs any help.

The woman tried to smile as she accepted the slip of paper, but her lips trembled and she turned sharply away to the window.

Billie was suddenly startled by something that fell into her lap. It was a dollar bill!

"For the old lady !" some one said.

Now the girls saw for the first time that a group of passengers had gathered about them, evidently attracted by the plight of the miserable woman. That they had listened to her story with sympathy and interest was practically demonstrated a moment later.

The dollar bill became only one in a small snowstorm of bills. The passengers were betraying their sympathy in a very practicable and pleasant way!

Laughing excitedly, Billie gathered up the bills and thrust them into the trembling hands of the little old woman.

"There!" she said. "That will get you started nicely, anyway."

"But she has no pocketbook," Vi protested.

A young girl in the group of passengers hurriedly emptied the effects out of her own bag and thrust it toward the old woman.

"Here," she said. "Take mine! I haven't much money to offer, but at least I can contribute something to hold it in!"

"You see, people do care !" cried Billie gayly. "Every one wants to help. I'm sure you will find it the same in New York. But if you don't, there's still North Bend and our house with a welcome sign always hanging out for you! Don't forget!"

Usually only our heroes go out of their way to help those in need, and the other people who are in the vicinity are mainly bystanders who take no significant role in aiding the needy person. It was interesting for the other passengers to be the ones to give the woman money and a pocketbook in which to keep the money.