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diff --git a/25873.txt b/25873.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b2386c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/25873.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7341 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Motor Girls on Crystal Bay, by Margaret Penrose + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Motor Girls on Crystal Bay + The Secret of the Red Oar + +Author: Margaret Penrose + +Release Date: June 22, 2008 [EBook #25873] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR GIRLS ON CRYSTAL BAY *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +THE MOTOR GIRLS +ON CRYSTAL BAY + +Or +The Secret of the Red Oar + +By +MARGARET PENROSE + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +Copyright, 1914, by +Cupples & Leon Company + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER PAGE + I. A Worried Girl 1 + II. Freda'S Story 15 + III. Crystal Bay 26 + IV. The Red Oar 36 + V. Two Men 47 + VI. The "Chelton" 55 + VII. In The Motely Mote 67 + VIII. Frights Or Fancies 76 + IX. A Merry Time 83 + X. Too Much Joy 93 + XI. The Rescue 102 + XII. The Calm 109 + XIII. Suspicion 120 + XIV. An Angry Druggist 129 + XV. An Alarm 141 + XVI. A Bad Case Of Nerves 156 + XVII. A Little Race 164 + XVIII. More Suspicions 171 + XIX. Odd Talk 176 + XX. The Night Plot 184 + XXI. The Breakdown 196 + XXII. At The Cabin 202 + XXIII. Unexpected Help 208 + XXIV. Denny'S Soliloquy 214 + XXV. The Plotters Arrive 220 + XXVI. Cora'S Brave Resolve 227 + XXVII. The Red Oar Again 235 +XXVIII. The Discovery--Conclusion 241 + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + +THE MOTOR GIRLS ON CRYSTAL BAY + +CHAPTER I + +A WORRIED GIRL + + +Four girls sat on four chairs, in four different corners of the room. +They sat on the chairs because they were really too tired to stand +longer, and the reason for the occupancy of the corners of the +apartment was self-evident. There was no other available space. For +the center of the chamber was littered to overflowing with trunks, +suitcases and valises, in various stages of being packed, and from +them overflowed a variety of garments and other accessories of a +journey. + +"Oh, dear!" sighed Cora Kimball, as she gazed helplessly about, "will +we ever be finished, Bess?" + +"I don't know," was the equally discouraging reply. "It doesn't seem +so; does it?" + +"I'm sure I can't get another thing in my suitcase," spoke the +smallest girl of all, who seemed to shrink back rather timidly into +her corner, as though she feared she might be put into a trunk by +mistake. + +"Oh, Marita! You simply must get more in your suitcase!" exclaimed +Cora, starting up. "Why, your trunk won't begin to hold all the rest +of your things unless you crowd more into the case." + +"The only trouble, Cora," sighed Marita, "is that the sides and top +aren't made of rubber." + +"There's an idea!" cried a plump girl, in the corner nearest the +piano. "A rubber suitcase! What a boon it would be for week-ends, when +one starts off with a Spartan resolution to take only one extra gown, +and ends up with slipping two party dresses and the 'fixings' into +one's trunk. Oh, for a rubber suitcase!" + +"What's the sense in sighing after the impossible?" asked the girl +opposite the plump one. "Why don't you finish packing, Bess?" + +"Why don't you?" and the plump one rather glared at her more frail +questioner. + +"Now, sisters!" cautioned Cora, as she gazed at the Robinson twins, +"don't get on one another's nerves. Let's have another try at it. I'm +sure if we go at it with some sort of system we'll be able to get all +the things in. And really we must hurry!" she exclaimed, looking at +the clock on the mantel, which pointed to the hour of four. "I +promised to have all the baggage ready for the man at five. That only +gives us an hour----" + +"Cora Kimball!" + +"Only an hour!" + +"Why didn't you tell us?" + +Thus the three girls exclaimed in startled tones as they fairly leaped +from their chairs in their respective corners, and caught up various +garments. + +Then, as the apparent hopelessness of the situation overcame them +again, they looked at one another, at the trunks and suitcases that +already held their fair share of articles, at the accumulation on the +floor, and then they sighed in concert. + +"It's no use," spoke Bess Robinson. "I'm not going at all--at least +not now. I'm going to take another day to sort out the things I really +don't need." + +"You can't!" exclaimed Cora. "Our tickets are bought, the bungalow is +engaged, and we leave for Crystal Bay on the morning train, if we have +to ship this whole room by freight--just as it is!" + +"Perhaps that would be the easiest way," suggested timid Marita +Osborne. + +"It certainly would create a sensation in Chelton," murmured Belle, as +she looked at her plump sister. "But come, we really must help you, +Cora. It's too bad we took advantage of your good nature, and brought +our things here to pack. We might better have done it at our own +homes." + +"No, I think you'll find my way best in the end," said Cora, with a +smile, as she looked about for a place in which to pack her sweater. +"By doing this we won't duplicate on the extras. Now, girls, try once +more. Marita, let's begin on your suitcase, for that seems to be the +smallest. Oh, dear, Bess, what are you doing now?" she called, as she +noted an unusual activity on the part of the plump girl. + +"I'm just seeing if I'm heavy enough to close the lid of my trunk," +was the answer. "No, I'm not," she exclaimed, as she hopped on and +hopped off again. + +"Look out!" called Belle. "You nearly stepped on my veil-box, Bess." + +"Sorry, Sis, but you shouldn't leave it on the floor." + +The plump one stood looking at the bulging trunk, and then drew a long +breath. + +"Girls!" she cried, "I'm losing weight." + +"How do you know?" asked her sister promptly. + +"Couldn't close my trunk lid. That's the way I can always tell. +Problem: Given a trunk, which requires a force of one hundred and +thirty-five pounds to close down the lid, and a girl of one hundred +and fifteen, how many chocolates must the said girl eat before she is +heavy enough to close the lid? Answer--one pound, and here's for a +starter," saying which pretty, plump Bess rummaged in a pile of her +belongings until she found what she was after. Then, sinking down in a +heap of silk petticoats she began munching bonbons with a contented +air. + +"Bess Robinson!" gasped Cora. "You're never going to do that; are +you?" + +"Do what?" came with an innocent air. + +"Sit there and eat chocolates until you're heavy enough to close down +the lid of your trunk." + +"I might as well. I can't check it open that way, and I can't close it +at my present weight. I need everything I've squeezed into it; and so +what else can I do?" + +"If we could only get someone to help us," said Marita, innocently, +seeming to take Bess literally. "One of the boys----" + +She was interrupted by the laughter of the others, for Marita was a +newcomer in Chelton, and though Cora and her chums had taken her up, +attracted by her nice ways, Marita did not yet appreciate her new +friends. + +"Don't mind what Bess says, my dear," spoke Cora, as she saw that +Marita was a little hurt at the laughter. "As for the boys, please +don't suggest such a thing. If they came in now, we'd never get +through packing. I hope----" + +"All hope abandon, ye who enter here!" declaimed a voice in the +doorway, and the faces of two young men peered in. + +"Too late!" exclaimed Cora, as she saw her brother Jack and his chum, +Walter Pennington. "The boys are here! Any more of you, Jack?" she +asked, as she crowded some feminine finery out of sight behind her +back. + +"No. Why?" + +"Because I'm going to give general orders for you to depart at once, +and I want to include everyone. Begone!" + +"Heartless one!" murmured Walter, sliding into the room under Jack's +arm. "Just when we came to help you, too!" + +"Here!" called Bess, from her position, Turkish fashion, amid a +billowy pile of garments, "Help me up first, Wallie, my dear, and then +sit on my trunk." + +"Why, is that the throne seat?" he asked, as he extended his hand, and +pretended to find it extremely difficult to lift Bess to her feet. + +"No, but the lid needs closing, and I can't do it. Sit on it, that's a +good fellow," and she extended to him a chocolate from the tips of her +fingers, which fingers Walter pretended to bite. + +"Now you really must go," said Cora, seriously, when Walter had +managed to close the trunk. "Come, Jack, we have to get through by +five o'clock," and she glanced at her brother, who was in earnest +conversation with Marita in her corner. + +Jack paid no attention to his sister, and Walter was somewhat +surprised to see Bess, after looking with satisfaction at the trunk he +had closed for her, open it again. + +"Well, I like that!" he exclaimed, with pretended indignation, "after +me nearly breaking my back to close that lid----" + +"I just wanted the things compressed, Walter dear," said Bess, +sweetly. "I've got a lot more to put in, and I couldn't squeeze in +another piece until they had been crowded down a bit. Now run along, +little boy." + +"Come on, Jack!" called Walter, as he turned to go. "We have been +insulted!" + +"They can't insult me," murmured Jack, never turning to look at his +chum. "Don't be so thin-skinned, Wal. I'm having a good time." + +Cora's girl chums looked at her. + +"Jack, you must go!" she insisted. "Please do. I should think you boys +would have lots to do to get ready, too." + +"All done, Sis," murmured Jack. "We always travel in light marching +order, and sleep on our arms," and he bent closer to the blushing +Marita. + +Cora bit her lip. Really she was provoked at Jack this time. She and +her chums were in the midst of packing for their annual Summer trip, +and to be interrupted this way, at the last critical moment, was +provoking. + +"Jack!" she began. "I shall tell mother----" + +"What's he been doing now?" asked a new voice, and with a gesture of +despair Cora turned to see another young man in the doorway. + +"Come on in, Ed," called Jack. "Didn't know you were in town. You're +just in time to assist." + +"What's it all about?" asked the newcomer. "Are you going or coming?" +he inquired, as he looked at the partially-filled suitcases and +trunks. + +"Both," answered Walter. "You're coming and they're going." + +"Good!" was the comment. "Hello, Cora--Bess--Belle----" He paused as +he nodded to each of the girls, and looked questioningly at Marita in +the corner with Jack. + +"Oh, excuse me," murmured Cora. "Miss Osborne, let me present to you +Mr. Edward Foster--just plain Ed, mostly." + +"The plainer the better," observed the newcomer, as he bowed to +Marita. "But what's it all about, Jack?--No, there's no use asking +him," he murmured as he noted Cora's brother resuming his interrupted +conversation with the little girl. "Will someone please enlighten me?" + +"It's our annual flitting," sighed Cora. "And really half the pleasure +is taken away with this packing. Well, as long as you boys are here +you might as well make yourselves useful, as well as ornamental." + +"Delighted!" cried Walter, looking about. "Where shall I put this?" +and he caught up a box from the floor. + +"Be careful!" cried Belle. "You'll spill it!" + +"Candy?" he asked questioningly, as he rattled the contents. + +"My manicure set, and you'll have it all upset. Give it here!" went on +the owner, and Walter surrendered it. + +"No, but seriously, what's it all about?" he asked. "I've just come +home." + +"We girls have taken a bungalow at Crystal Bay," explained Cora. +"We're due there to-morrow, leaving on the early morning train. The +boys, that is, Jack and Walter, are to have a tent near us, and +they're supposed to go with us in the morning. But unless they're +further along with their packing than we are----" + +Cora shrugged her pretty shoulders. + +"Don't worry, Sis, we are!" Jack threw at her, without turning his +head. + +"Camping at Crystal Bay--that sounds good," murmured Ed, who liked +life in the open. + +"Can't you come along, old man?" asked Walter. "We've got plenty of +room, and we were counting on you later, when you got back from your +trip. Now, as long as you're here, can't you come with us?" + +"I don't know but what I could. Yes, I will. I haven't anything on. +I'll go home and pack up right away. You leave in the morning? I guess +I can make it." + +"Well, when you go, please take them with you," and Cora indicated her +brother and Walter. "Then we'll be able to go on with our packing. +Really, Jack," and she spoke most seriously this time, "you must go!" + +"All right, Sis!" he agreed. "Don't forget," he added, to Marita, as +he rose. + +"What nonsense has he been telling you now?" asked Belle with a laugh. +"Don't believe him, Marita." + +"Don't tell!" cautioned Jack. "It's a secret!" + +Somehow the boys were gotten out of the room, and somehow the girls +managed to get through with their packing in time for the expressman. + +From the Kimball home driveway the expressman drove with the baggage, +and soon the trunks were rattling down the main street of Chelton, +that pretty New England town, nestling in a bend of the Chelton River. + +"Well, that's over, thank goodness!" sighed Cora, as she saw the +baggage safely off. "Now to get ourselves ready for morning. You girls +will take supper with me." + +"Oh, that's too much," protested Belle. + +"No, really it isn't. I've told mamma, and she is counting on you. But +I'm too excited to eat much." + +"So am I," chorused the others. + +"And I'm so anxious to see our new motor boat!" added Bess, for the +girls had purchased one that had been sent on ahead to Crystal Bay. + +"I do hope Ed can go," murmured Belle. "He's such good company." + +"Yes, I like him, too," confessed Marita, with a blush, at which the +others laughed. + +The boys came over to the Kimball home that evening, Jack having dined +with Walter Pennington. Ed came also, to say that he could go, and +then the young people talked over plans for Summer fun, until the +chiming of the clock warned the girls, at least, that they must +separate if they were to get up early the next morning. + +"Lottie Weaver will meet us at the station," said Cora, referring to +another of the party, who had not assisted at the packing. + +"That's good. If we had had her trunk over here, with all our things, +we'd never have gotten the baggage off," said Bess, with a sigh. + +"And now, after it's all over," said Cora to her mother that night, "I +think I would not again have all the packing done in one place. I +thought it would save time for the girls to bring their things here, +especially as the Robinsons are so upset with building that addition +to the parlor. But it was a lot of work!" + +"Oh, well," said Mrs. Kimball, "you meant it for the best, my dear. +I'm sure you will have a pleasant Summer." + +They met at the station the next morning--the girls and boys. Lottie +Weaver was there, in the glory of a new maroon sweater, and Ed Foster +was also on time. + +The express for Crystal Bay was late, and as Cora and her motor girl +chums marched up and down the platform, nervously waiting, Cora saw a +girl coming from the waiting room. + +"Why, Freda Lewis!" she exclaimed, hurrying up and putting her arms +about her. "What are you doing here? I thought you were going back to +Bar Harbor for the Summer." + +"So we were! Oh, Cora! I'm so glad to see you. I had to change cars +here--I got on the wrong train, it seems. I've been traveling all +night." + +"You look it, my dear! Oh, if I had only known you were here----" + +"I haven't been waiting long. I'm to take the Shore Express." + +"That's our train. But, Freda, you don't look at all well--not a bit +as you did at school," for Freda was a chum Cora had made much of a +year or so before, but had not seen of late. + +"I'm not well, Cora," said Freda, earnestly. + +"What is the trouble?" + +"Anxiety, mostly. Oh, Cora, we've had such a dreadful time, mother and +I!" + +Her voice trembled pitifully. + +"Freda, dear, what is the matter?" asked Cora in sympathetic tones, +for she saw tears in the other's eyes. + +"Oh, it's money matters. You know we own--or at least we thought we +did--a large tract of land at Crystal Bay." + +"Crystal Bay!" exclaimed Cora, in surprise. + +"Yes. It was Grandfather Lewis's homestead. Well, most of our income +has come from that since father's death, and now--Oh, I don't know all +the details, but some land speculators--land sharks, mother calls +them--are disputing our title. + +"Mother has just worried herself sick over it, and I'm afraid she is +going into nervous prostration. I've been to see some distant +relatives about the matter, but I can't do anything. I'm so sorry for +dear little mother. If she should break down----" + +Poor, worried Freda could not go on. Cora held her close and the +thought came to her that Freda herself was on the verge of a nervous +breakdown. The girl had changed very much from the happy, laughing +chum of a year before. + +"Freda, dear, tell me more about it," murmured Cora. "Perhaps I can +help--I have friends--Jack and I----" + +"Here comes the train!" interrupted Jack. "Come on, Cora!" + +"I must see you again, Freda," said Cora, hastily. "I'll look for you +on the train. I've got to get my party together. Don't forget--I'll +see you again!" and, wondering what was the cause of her friend's +worry, Cora hastened up the platform, toward her companions, while the +train steamed noisily in. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +FREDA'S STORY + + +"Well, are we all here?" + +"Count noses!" + +"Did anybody lose anything?" + +"If it's a pocketbook it's mine!" + +"Especially if it has money in it!" + +Thus the motor girls, and their boy friends, sent merry quip and jest +back and forth as they found seats in the coach, and settled down for +the trip to Crystal Bay. Cora, after making sure that the girls had +comfortable seats, and noting that Jack had pre-empted the place +beside Marita, leaned over Bess and whispered: + +"I'm going back in the next car for a little while." + +"What for?" + +"Did you lose anything?" asked Belle, who overheard what Cora said. + +"No, but you saw me talking to that girl on the platform; didn't you?" + +"Yes, and I wondered who she was," remarked Bess. + +"She was Freda Lewis." + +"Freda Lewis! Why, I never would have known her!" + +"Nor I!" added Belle. "How she has changed! Of course you were more +intimate with her than we were, Cora; but she certainly doesn't seem +to be the same girl." + +"She isn't," replied Cora. "She and her mother are in trouble--financial +trouble. I'm going back and talk to her. I want to help her if I can." + +And while Cora is thus bent on her errand of good cheer, it may not be +out of place, for the benefit of my new readers, to tell a little +something more about the characters of this story, and how they +figured in the preceding books of this series. + +To begin with the motor girls, there were three of them, though +friends and guests added to the number at times. Somehow, in speaking +of the motor girls, I always think of Cora Kimball first. Perhaps it +is because she was rather of a commanding type. She was a splendid +girl, tall and dark. Her mother was a wealthy widow, who for some +years had made her home in the quiet New England town of Chelton, +where she owned valuable property. And, while I am at it, I might +mention that Jack was Cora's only brother, the three forming the +Kimball household. + +Bess and Belle Robinson were twins, the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. +Perry Robinson. Mr. Robinson was a wealthy railroad man, associated +with large metropolitan interests. + +Bess, Belle and Cora had been chums since their motoring days began, +when Cora had been given a car, and, after some persuasion, Mr. +Robinson also had bought one for his daughters. + +I think I have already intimated that Bess was plump and rosy--a +little too plump, she herself admitted at times. Her sister was just +the opposite--tall and willowy, so that the two formed quite a +contrast. + +Marita Osborne was a newcomer in Chelton, who had soon won her way +into the hearts of the motor girls, so much so that Cora had invited +her to come to the bungalow at Crystal Bay. + +Each year Cora and her chums sought some new form of Summer vacation +pleasure, and this time they had decided on the seashore, in a quiet +rather old-fashioned resort, which the girls, on a preliminary +inspection trip, had voted most charming. In fact they went into such +raptures over it that Jack and his chums had decided to go there also. +So the boys and girls would be together. + +Speaking of the boys, the two who will come in for the most +consideration will be Walter Pennington and Ed Foster. Walter was +perhaps a closer chum of Jack's than was Ed, the former attending +Exmouth College with Jack, where, of late, Ed had taken a +post-graduate course. Ed was considered quite a sportsman, and was +fond of hunting and fishing. + +The first book of this series, entitled "The Motor Girls," tells how +Cora became possessed of her car, the _Whirlwind_, and what happened +after she got it. In that powerful machine she and her girls chums +unraveled a mystery of the road in a manner satisfactory to themselves +and many others. + +When the motor girls went on a tour, they made a strange promise--or +rather Cora did--and how she kept it you will find fully set forth in +the second volume. In the third you may read of the doings of the +girls at Lookout Beach, where came two runaways whom Cora befriended. +The runaways were two girls--but there, I must not spoil the story for +you by telling you their secret. + +Going through New England in their cars, the motor girls had a strange +experience with the gypsies, as set forth in the fourth volume. Cora +was in dire straits for a time, but with her usual good luck, and her +good sense, she finally turned the situation to the advantage of +herself and her chums. + +Motoring so appealed to the girls that when they got the chance to +change from the land to the water they eagerly took it. Cora became +the owner of a fine motor boat, and in the story "The Motor Girls on +Cedar Lake," you may read of what she and her friends did with their +craft. The hermit of Fern Island had much to be thankful for, after +meeting Cora, who did him a great service. + +Longing for wider waters in which to display their skill as amateur +motor-boatists, the girls went to the coast the Summer following their +experiences on Cedar Lake, and there they found the waif from the sea. +Again did Cora and her chums take advantage of an opportunity to +befriend an unfortunate. + +The experiences of that Summer were talked of nearly all of the +following Winter. Now warm weather had come again, and with it the +desire to be flitting to a watering place. Crystal Bay, as I have +said, was selected, and of the start for that place I have already +told. + +Cora, walking back through the coaches, looking from side to side for +Freda, found herself wondering what had caused the sudden change in +her former companion. + +"She was considered well-off at school," murmured Cora, as she saw her +friend half way down the second coach, "but she never appeared fond of +money. Now the loss of it seems to have changed her terribly. I wonder +if it can be--just money?" + +Cora reached the seat where Freda was, with her face turned toward the +window. + +"Well, I am here, you see," announced Cora, pleasantly. "I left them +to shift for themselves a while. They do seem to depend so much on +me." + +"That's because you are always doing things for others," said Freda, +and there was a suspicious brightness in her eyes. + +"Then I hope I can do something for you!" exclaimed Cora, earnestly. +"Come, Freda, dear, tell me your troubles--that is, if you would like +to," she added quickly, not wishing to force a confidence for which +the other might not be ready. + +"Oh, Cora, dear, of course you know I want to--it isn't that! Only I +don't like to pile my worries on you." + +"Go on--it always helps to tell someone else. Who knows but what I may +help you. Is it a real worry, Freda?" + +"So real that sometimes I am afraid to think about it!" + +There was no mistaking the girl's fear. She looked over her shoulder +as though she expected to see some unpleasant object, or person. + +"Suppose you begin at the beginning," suggested Cora, with a smile. +"Then I'll know what we are talking of." + +"I don't know what the beginning was," said Freda slowly, "but I can +almost see the--ending," and she seemed to shiver. "But where are you +going, Cora, you and your friends?" she asked. "I must not be selfish +and talk only about myself." + +"We are going to Crystal Bay." + +"Crystal Bay! How odd, just where mother is, and where I am going. +Then I shall see you often." + +"I hope so," murmured Cora. "We have a cute little bungalow, and the +boys--my brother and his chums--will use a tent. But I want to hear +more about your trouble. Really, Freda, you do look quite ill." + +"Perhaps that is partly because I have been traveling all night. It is +always so wearying. But my chief cause of anxiety is for mother. She +is really on the verge of a breakdown, the doctor says. Oh, if +anything happens to her----" + +"Don't think of it," urged Cora. "Perhaps it will help you if you tell +me some particulars." + +"I will," said Freda, bravely. "It is this way. My grandfather was a +pioneer land-owner of a large tract at Crystal Bay. It came to us, +after papa died, and we lived well on the income from it, for there +was much farm land besides the big house we lived in. But a month or +so ago a big land company, that wants to get our property for a +factory site, filed a claim against us, saying we had no good title to +the estate. They said certain deeds had not been filed, and that we +were only trespassers, and must get off." + +"And did you go?" asked Cora, with deep interest. + +"Not yet, but I am afraid we'll have to. You see these men took the +matter to court. They got an injunction, I think it is called. Anyhow, +it was some document that forbade the people who rent the land from us +from paying us any more money until the case was settled. And, as we +depend on the rents for our living--well, you see we haven't any +living now, to speak of," and Freda tried to smile through her tears. + +"Oh, that's a shame!" cried Cora, impulsively. "And can nothing be +done?" + +"We have tried, mother and I. But we really have no money to hire +lawyers, and neither have any of what few friends and relations there +are left. I have just been on a quest of that kind, but it was not +successful. + +"There are supposed to be some documents--deeds, mortgages, or +something like that, in existence, and if we could only get hold of +them we might prove our claim, and force the men to let us have our +rent money again. But until we get those papers----" + +Freda paused suggestively. + +"Oh, I wish I could think of a way to help you!" murmured Cora. "I can +see you have been suffering!" + +"I don't mind so much about myself," said Freda, bravely, "but I am +really more worried about mother than I am about the property. If +worst came to worst I could go to work, but mother has taken so to +heart the actions of the land sharks! She never was strong, you know. +You met her; did you not?" + +"I think not, but perhaps I may have done so. Now, Freda, I am going +to help you!" + +Cora spoke enthusiastically. + +"Are you? How?" asked the other, eagerly. + +"I don't just know how, but I am. First I'm going to think this over, +and then I'm going to talk about it with Jack. He has a friend--Ed +Foster--who knows something about law. We may be able to get ahead of +these land sharks yet." + +"Oh, I hope so!" gasped Freda, with a fond look at Cora. "It is so +good of you to bother with poor me." + +"And why shouldn't I?" asked Cora. "You look as though you needed +bothering with. Take care that you don't break down, too, Freda." + +"I shall keep up. I must, for mother's sake. Oh, but those men were +positively brutal when they told her she had no right to grandfather's +property! But it has done me good to talk to you, Cora dear." + +"I am glad of it. You look better already. Now wouldn't you like to +come forward and meet some of the girls? You know the Robinson twins, +anyhow." + +"Yes, I know them. But I don't want to see anyone just yet. Later on, +perhaps. I just want to rest, and think. It was awfully good of you to +come to me. We shall see each other at Crystal Bay." + +"Oh, indeed we shall. Well, then, if you won't come I'll go back to my +friends. Now don't forget--I'm going to help you, Freda!" + +"Oh, that's so good of you! I feel more hope and courage now. I--I +feel like--fighting those land sharks!" and Freda clenched her little +hands as though the struggle to come would be a physical one. + +With a reassuring pat on Freda's shoulder Cora left her friend, to go +to her chums in the other coach. She found them about to organize a +searching party to look for her, and they clamored for the reason for +her desertion. + +She told them something of Freda's story, and Ed Foster promised to +talk the matter over with Mrs. Lewis later, and see if he could give +any legal aid. + +"It's too bad!" exclaimed Bess. "There ought to be a law to punish +such men." + +"There probably are laws," said Cora, "but the trouble is there are so +many laws that bad men can often use them for their own ends." + +"Bravo, Portia. A Daniel come to judgment!" cried Ed. "With you on her +side, Freda is sure to win!" + +But, though the motor girls tried to be merry, the little cloud of +Freda's trouble overshadowed them all the way to Crystal Bay. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +CRYSTAL BAY + + +"Here we are!" + +"Where's the bungalow?" + +"Me for that motor boat of Cora's!" cried Jack. + +"No, you don't!" exclaimed his sister. "Not till I try her first." + +They had alighted at the station, and there was the confusion that +always follows engaging a carriage and seeing that the baggage has +safely arrived. Cora found time to slip off for a minute and whisper +words of cheer to Freda. Then she rejoined her chums, and made ready +for the trip to the bungalow. + +The boys, with a fine disregard of housekeeping responsibilities, were +already making plans to go fishing that afternoon, having spied a man +who took out parties in his launch. + +But finally order came out of chaos. The girls found themselves at +their bungalow, surrounded by their belongings. The boys, after seeing +that their possessions were piled in the tent, slipped on their oldest +garments and began overhauling their fishing tackle. + +"Aren't you going to do anything toward getting a meal?" asked Cora of +Jack, as she went over to the tent to borrow a corkscrew with which to +open some olives. + +"We thought maybe you'd ask us over," he answered, craftily, as he +adjusted a reel on his rod. + +"Oh, Jack!" she cried. "We can't! We've got so much to unpack. +Besides, we're only going to have a light lunch now." + +"A _light_ lunch! Excuse me. I know--crackers, pickles and olives. +Never! We'll go to the town delicatessen, sister mine!" + +"Thank goodness there is one," murmured Cora. + +She hastened back to the bungalow. And then began a series of +strenuous happenings. + +Somehow trunks and suitcases were unpacked; somehow rooms were picked +out, rejected, taken again, and finally settled on. Then, between the +nibblings at the crackers and pickles Jack had despised, the girls +settled down, and at last had time to admire the place they had +selected for their Summer stay. + +A woman had been engaged to open the bungalow for them, and she had +provided most of the necessaries of life, aside from those the girls +brought with them. Cora and her chums had been satisfied to have her +attend to everything from buying food to providing an oil stove on +which to cook it. + +There were a number of conveniences at Crystal Bay. Stores were not +out of reach, and supplies could be procured with little trouble. A +trip across the bay brought one to the shores of a real village, with +school house, post-office and other accessories of civilization. A +trip down the bay opened into eel pots in August, bluefishing in +September and deep sea fishing later on, when the Summer colonists had +departed. + +Very early in the morning after the arrival of the motor girls at +Crystal Bay, house, tent and bungalow were deserted--it was all a +matter of motor boat. Moored to the brand new dock, at Tangle Turn, a +brand new motor craft heaved with the incoming waves and tugged at its +ropes whenever a sufficiently strong motion of the water gave it +excuse to attempt an escape. + +This was the _Chelton_, the "up-to-datest" little-big motor boat +possible to own or acquire, according to the verdict of the young men +from Chelton who had just now passed judgment, and the wise decision +of Cora and her girl friends who had actually bought the boat, after +having taken a post-graduate course in catalogs and hardware +periodicals, to say nothing of the countless interviews they had found +it necessary to hold with salesmen and yacht agents. + +They were all there, even Freda, who declared she ought to be busy +with other matters, but that the call of the colony was too strong for +her that one morning, at least. + +"Of course we know how to run her," insisted Cora to Ed, the latter +having expressed doubt as to the girls' ability to manage so important +a craft. "Didn't we run the _Pet_?" + +"Oh, yes, but this--this is a deep-sea boat," Ed explained, "and you +might run yourselves away to other shores." + +"And land on a desert island? What sport!" exclaimed Lottie, to whom +motor boating was an entirely new experience. "I hope we make it +Holland. I have always longed to see a real, live Holland boy. The +kind who are all clothes and wooden shoes." + +"We might make one up for you," suggested Belle. "I think Wallie would +look too cute for anything in skirty trousers and polonaise shirts. +Just let his locks grow a little--Look out there, Bess! That's water +around the boat. It only looks like an oil painting. It's real--wet!" + +Bess was climbing over the dock edge, and of course the boys could not +allow her that much exercise without pretending that she was in danger +of going overboard. After Belle unhooked the hem of her sister's skirt +from an iron bolt, thereby giving Bess a sudden drop to the deck of +the _Chelton_, however, Bess declared she knew water when she saw it, +and also the difference between a water color and an oil painting. + +"What did you call her _Chelton_ for?" asked Walter. "I thought you +decided to take the name from the first remark the first stranger +should make about her." + +"Yes, and what do you think that was?" laughed Belle. + +"'Push'!" promptly answered Freda. "An old fisherman came along as +Jack was arranging the painter, and he just said 'push'!" + +"That would be a handy little name," commented Walter. + +"Next some boys, out clamming, saw her," said Jack, "and they said +'peach.'" + +"Either of which would have done nicely," declared Ed. "Peach would +have been the very name--after the girls----" + +"_Chelton_ is dignified and appropriate," interposed Cora; "besides, +if we should stray off to Holland they would know along the Dikes that +we belonged in Chelton." + +"Now don't forget that the wheel is a sea wheel and turns opposite to +the direction you want to go," cautioned Jack. + +"How is that?" inquired Lottie, who had joined the other in examining +the boat. + +She was shown with patience. The boys were plainly glad that one of +the girls, at least, did not know all about running a motor boat. + +"And oh, what is that?" gasped Marita. "That cunning little playhouse!" + +"Playhouse!" repeated Cora. "That's our living room--our cabin. Those +fixtures are to cook with, eat with, live with and do all our +housekeeping with." + +"Also die with," added Walter. "I think that electric toaster might be +all right for fudge, but for real bread--Now say, Cora, can you really +cook pork and beans on that?" + +"These are the very latest, most improved and most expensive electric +attachments on the market," answered Cora, with a show of dignity, +"and when you boys take a meal here, if we ever invite you to, I think +we can easily prove the advantage of electrical attachments over +campfire iron pots." + +The cooking apparatus was examined with interest. A motor boat cabin +fitted up with such a "kitchenette" was indeed a novelty. + +"You see," explained Cora, "we have two ways of getting power. We can +take it from the storage battery, or from the little dynamo attached +to the motor." + +"Lovely!" exclaimed Lottie, to whom a "current" meant little, but who +wanted to seem interested. + +"That is to provide for the various kinds of cooking," Jack said, +jokingly. "Now eggs are weak, they cook by storage; but a Welsh rabbit +is done by the dynamo." + +"It means something else," Captain Cora remarked, "namely, if we have +company for supper, and the storage current gives out, we will not +have to make it a progressive meal, extending into the next day. The +course can be continued from the extra current." + +"For the love of Malachi!" exclaimed Walter. "What's this?" + +"Our boiler," said Bess, who knew something about the boat's fitting +up. "We have that for dishwater." + +"Dishwater!" repeated Ed. "You've got this down to domestic science +all right. That rubber hose runs off the hot water from the cylinder +jacket, and----" + +"Oh, never!" cried Jack. "They will be making tea with it." + +"Isn't it salty?" innocently asked Marita. + +"Likely," said Belle, for the girls had all taken an interest in the +housework-made-easy-plan, and had arranged to use the boiling water as +it came from the motor after cooling the cylinder. "But it won't hurt +dishes." + +"Now I call that neat," commented Ed, "and to think that mere girls +should have thought of it." + +Freda gave Cora a meaning glance. "Girls ought to think of the +housework," she laughed with a wink at Belle. "Just look at the linen +chest." + +She opened a small box and exhibited a goodly supply of suitable +linen. No table cloths; just small pieces, doilies and plenty of neat, +pretty towels. + +"Let's board here," suggested Walter. "Our food was really rude this +morning." + +"Do we go out for a sail?" asked Ed, attempting to turn on the +gasoline. + +"Oh, no indeed!" Cora answered quickly. "Not a box is unpacked in our +place yet, and perhaps, if you boys are all to rights, you wouldn't +mind giving us a hand." + +"Oh, of course we're all to rights," replied Jack. "I had a bolt of +mosquito netting for my blanket last night and Wallie's bathrobe for +my pillow." + +"And I made friends with a pretty, little, soft ground mole, Jack," +put in Ed, "and if the rest of our boxes do not arrive and unpack +themselves in time for your slumber this eve, that mole has agreed to +cuddle up under your left ear. I believe you sleep on your left." + +"Thanks," Jack said, "but I see no reason why mere household truck +should keep us from a cruise. I am aching to try the _Chelton_, Cora." + +Cora and Freda were talking in whispers in the other end of the boat. +It was no "mere household truck" surely that brought the serious +expression to their faces. + +"It isn't far," Freda was heard to say, "and he promised to wait for +us this morning." + +"And I do want to be with you," Cora answered. "But I won't let them +take the boat out the first time without me. It cost too much to run +the risk of damaging it by sky-larking." + +"Now what are you two up to?" demanded Jack. "Just because Drayton +Ward has not arrived, we are held up for his coming. I tell you, Sis, +that chap may not put in an appearance at all, here. He knows--sweller +places." + +"Oh, don't you mind him, Cora," Ed interrupted. "Dray is sure to come. +He had his canoe shipped two days ago, besides sending to the cove +for his motor boat. I expect some tall times when he gets here. Our +own innocent little _Lassie_ won't know how to skip over the waves +at all--she'll be that flustered when the swell, gold-railed, +mahogany-bound, carpet-floored _Dixie_ gets here." + +"It would take more than a mere _Dixie_ to knock out our _Lassie_," +declared Walter, "but I should like to know why she is not on the +scene yet. Didn't we plainly say Tuesday?" + +"We did, plainly and emphatically. But a boat builder, letter or +seller has a right to make his own day in delivering the goods. We'll +be lucky if we get the barge at all without taking the sheriff up to +that shipyard." + +"Meanwhile we have the _Chelton_," said Ed, tugging at Cora's sleeve. + +"And we must get back to the bungalow," she observed. "Freda and I +have an important appointment for eleven, and if you all promise not +to follow us or attempt to go out in the _Chelton_, perhaps we will +have some interesting news for you this evening." + +The boys strolled away, talking about the motor boat they had hired. +Money, for some reason, was not plentiful that Summer with Jack and +his chums, and they had to be content with a second-hand craft, that +had been patched and re-patched until there was little of the original +left. They were not even sure the _Lassie_ would run, but they were +anxious to try her. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE RED OAR + + +"This way, Cora. The sand is so heavy out there it is better to keep +near the edge," said Freda, as the two girls tramped along in the deep +sand of the seashore that banded Crystal Bay. + +"But isn't it perfectly beautiful along here?" exclaimed Cora, in rapt +delight. "I had no idea the little place could be so charming." + +"Oh, yes," returned Freda, with a suspicion of a sigh. "Over there, +just in that splendid green stretch is, or was, grandfather's place. +It runs all along to the island, and on the other side there is a +stream that has been used for a mill race." + +"Over there!" Cora repeated. "Why, that looks like the very best part +of the bay. And that house on the hill?" + +"Grandfather's own home and--mother's," finished Freda. + +"Is it rented now?" + +"Yes, we have rented it for three years, and it has brought us quite a +little income," said Freda. + +"But you see that is cut off now. I am sure I do not know who collects +the rents." + +"What a shame!" cried Cora. "And all because there is some technical +proof of ownership missing. I should think that when your family had +undisputed possession for years it ought to be sufficient to establish +your rights." + +"Yes, we never dreamed we could lose it," Freda explained. "Mother and +I have lived there in the Winter since father died, and we have rented +it in Summer, as I said. Of course the Summer is the desirable time +here. And we had some of the loveliest old furniture. But when we had +to break up we sold most of it." + +"Look out! There's a hole there," Cora warned just in time, for in the +heavy sand little rivulets were creeping from some rollers tossed in +by a passing boat. The bay was dotted with many craft, and the picture +it presented gave Cora keen delight, for it forecasted a merry Summer +for the motor girls. + +"We only have a little farther to go," Freda said. "I hope old Denny +has kept his word and stayed in. He is the queerest old fellow--you +will be amused at him, I am sure. But he was always such a staunch +friend of grandfather." + +"I am anxious to meet him," rejoined Cora. "Somehow I feel we girls +ought to get at the bottom of this. Wouldn't it be fine if we could?" + +"More than fine, it would be glorious!" Freda replied. "If we lose it +all now, I will have to look for work. Not that I mind that," she +added, "but I intend to take a course in nursing. I have always longed +to be a nurse." + +"And that would be a splendid profession for you," Cora agreed. "I do +hope you will not have to go to work in some office." + +"Oh, there's Denny! Denny!" called Freda, leaving Cora without further +ceremony, and hurrying ahead as fast as the soft sand would allow. +"See, there he is! Just going out in his fishing boat." + +Cora ran after her, and soon they overtook the old fisherman, who was +deaf. Freda didn't mind getting her shoes wet in order to approach the +water's edge. + +"Good morning, Denny," she called, "come in here. We want to talk to +you." + +He took his pipe from his mouth, in order that his mind should not be +distracted. Then he pushed his cap back, and dropped an oar. + +"Freddie, is that you?" he asked. "Sure I thought you was comin' up to +the shack, and I've bin waitin' for you." + +"We are on our way up there now. You are not going out, are you?" +pleaded Freda. + +"No, Freddie," (he always called her Freddie), "I'll come right in. I +was only goin' acrost to get a few little things; but they can wait." + +Cora now had a chance to see this quaint old fellow. He was Irish, +with many fine humorous wrinkles about his eyes and mouth. He seemed +to breathe through his pipe, so constantly did he inhale it, and just +how he kept his sailor's blouse so clean, and his worn clothes so +neat, was a trick he had learned in his younger days in the navy. + +"Isn't this a fine day?" he commented, with a nod to Cora. + +"Simply perfect," she answered, seeing there was no need for a formal +introduction. "I have been telling Freda how surprised I was at the +beauty of this place." + +"Surprised, is it? Sure, there ain't another spot this side of Cape +Cod with as many fine points to it. I wouldn't leave this little bay +for a berth on any ocean liner." + +"My friend, Cora Kimball, is from Chelton, Uncle Denny. Do you know +where that is?" asked Freda. + +"Chelton? Chelton? Sure, I do. I went through there once in a parade +wagon. We were out with the G. A. R. and I guess the parade got lost, +for I remember at Chelton we had to put up for the night in an old +church they were using for a fire house. But we had a fine time," and +he chuckled at the recollection. "And next day we finished up without +the need of a wagon. It was like camp days to scatter ourselves about +the big ramshackle place." + +"Oh, yes, that's out in the East End," Cora said. "We have quite an +up-to-date fire house in Chelton Center." + +"Well, that was good enough for me," he asserted. "But come along and +I'll show you my shack. Freddie will be surprised at my new decorations." + +Up the little board walk to a path through the woods the three tramped. +Denny Shane was popular with young folks; even the mischievous boys who +would occasionally untie his boat before a storm had no reason to fear +his wrath, for such pranks were quickly forgotten. + +"And the mother, Freddie?" he asked. "How's she gettin' on?" + +"Well, she worries a good deal," the girl replied. "But I keep telling +her it must come right in time." + +"Sure it will. The rascals that would do wrong to a widder couldn't +prosper. 'Taint lucky. But they're foxy. Did you hear anything new?" + +"Yes, but not much that is substantial. My friend and I want to see +you to find out all that you may know about it. Perhaps there is some +clue we have been overlooking, that you could give us." + +"Well, you're welcome to all I know. But here we are. No need to +unlock my door," he said as he saw Cora smile at his unceremonious +entrance to the shack. "Them that has nothin' has nothin' to fear." + +A surprising little place, indeed, the girls were shown into. Neat and +orderly, yet convenient and practical, was Denny Shane's home. There +was a stove and a mantel, a table, two chairs and a long bench. Pieces +of rag carpet indicated the most favored spots--those to be lived on. + +"And now, Freddie," began Denny, drawing out two chairs, "what do you +think of my housekeeping?" + +"Why, you are just as comfortable and neat as possible," she replied. +"But I notice one thing has not lost its place--your red oar." + +"No--indeed!" he said almost solemnly. "That oar will stay with me +while Denny Shane has eyes to see it. It has a story, Freddie, and I +often promised to tell it to you. This is as good a time as another." + +He put his pipe down, brought a big chair up to the window, opened a +back door to allow the salt air to sweep in; then, while Cora looked +with quickening interest at the old red oar, that hung over the +fireplace, Denny shook his head reflectively and started with his +story. + +"That oar," he said, "seems like a link between me and Leonard +Lewis--your grandpa, Freddie. And, too, it is a reminder of the night +when I nearly went over the other sea, and would have, but for Leonard +Lewis and his strong red oar." + +A light flashed into the old eyes. Plainly the recollections brought +up by his story were sacred. He left his chair and went over to the +mantel, climbed up on a box and touched the oar that had sagged a +little from its position. + +"The wind rocks this shanty so," he explained, "the oar thinks it's +out on the waves again, I guess. I don't like to spoil it with nails +or strings." + +"It looks very artistic," Cora declared; "but how curious that an oar +should be painted red." + +"Yes, there was only one pair of them, that I know of. One went with +the wreck, and this one Len Lewis held on to. Now I'll tell you about +it." + +Again he seated himself and this time started off briskly with the +tale. + +"It was a raw January night--in fact, it seemed as if it had been +night all day for all the chance the sun had to get out. A howling +wind whistled and fairly shrieked at everything that didn't fly fast +enough to suit it. Len and me had been puttin' in a lot of time +together at his house, just chinnin'--there wasn't much else to do but +to keep warm. Well, along about five o'clock, we heard a rocket! The +wind died away for a minute or so, and we dashed out to the beach to +get the lay of that distress signal. Talk about big city fires!" he +digressed. "A fire on land ain't what it is on sea. It always seems +like as if death has a double power with the fire and the deep and +nothing but the sky above to fan the flame. + +"We soon saw the smoke. It was from a point just over the turn, where +the clouds dip down and touch the waves. A little tail of smoke +crawled up and hung black and dirty, not gettin' any bigger nor +spreadin' much. When we sighted her, we went to work in the way men of +the sea have of working together and never sayin' a word. Up the beach +we chased, and dragged out the boat we called our 'Lifer.' It was a +good, strong fishin' boat, and we kept her ready in the rough weather. + +"'Wait!' yelled Len to me, just as I was pushin' off. 'I've got a +lucky pair of oars. They're bigger and heavier than ours, and I'll +toss 'em in. We might need 'em.' + +"Little I thought of the need we would have! And I always laughed at +Len's idea of luck--and me an Irishman, too." + +"Mother always said grandfather was queer about such things," Freda +remarked. "I remember we had an old jug that he found on one of his +birthdays. He would never allow that jug to be thrown out; he said it +meant a jug full of good luck." + +"And it, of course, was an empty jug," Cora said, with a smile. +"Perhaps that is, after all, the luckiest kind." + +Denny chuckled over that remark, and added he had not much use for +jugs of any kind. + +"But I'm gettin' away from my yarn," he said, presently. "We took the +big thick oars and pulled out against the wind. By this time the hail +was comin' down in chunks that would cut the face off you. Sometimes +there are a lot of stragglers around here, but when we need a man, of +course, there is not one in sight. But we rowed away and somehow +managed to get close to the wreck. It was a little steamer, not much +bigger than a tug, and it was burning faster than the smoke told us. + +"'You throw the rope and I'll stick to the oars!' shouted Len, his +voice sounding like a wheeze in the wind. There were three men on the +steamer and they were just about tuckered out. They were clingin' to +the rail, their hands blisterin' from the flames that were sweepin' up +close to them even as they touched the water's edge. + +"It's an awful thing to see sufferin' like that," he put in. "I won't +ever forget how those fellows tumbled into our boat. They just rolled +in like dead men. But my rope got caught in the rudder of the steamer, +and I tugged and tugged, but it looked as if we would have to let her +burn off before we could free ourselves. Just when I decided to make a +big haul at it I came near my end. I stood up, gave the rope a yank, +and with that--rip! She let go! And I went with it over into the +water!" + +"Goodness!" Cora exclaimed. "It was bad enough to have to rescue the +other men, but for you to go into that roaring ocean!" + +"It was bad, Miss," agreed the narrator. "And the feel of that water +as I struck it! It was like a bath of sword-points. Well, that's where +the oar comes in! Bless the bit of wood it was cut from, it sure was a +good, strong stick. + +"When I flopped into the water, like a fish dumped out of a net, your +grandpop, Freddie, took nary a chance at reachin' me with the rope. He +dropped the regular oars and took one of the pair he called lucky. + +"'Here,' he yelled, 'grab to that!' + +"I can see the red flash now as it nearly hit me on the head, but +though I did make a stab at it the water was that cold and the ice so +thick on me hands that I couldn't hold on. + +"It's pretty bad to be floppin' around like that, I can tell you. But +Len kept shoutin' and when one of the other fellows got enough breath +to stand up with, he took a hand at the rescuin'. + +"It was him who dropped the mate to that oar overboard. Mad! I could +hear Len yell through the thick of it all. But he held the last red +oar. + +"With the effort to keep up me blood heated some, and the next time I +saw the flash of red I grabbed it good an' proper. It took three of +them to haul me up, but I clung to the red oar and that's how I'm here +this minute. Likewise, it's why the oar is here with me." + +There was a long pause. The girls had been thrilled with the simple +recital, so void of anything like conceit in the part that Denny +himself had played in the work of rescue. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +TWO MEN + + +"And the red oar won out," Cora remarked, looking at the old relic +with something akin to reverence. "Perhaps, after all, there is +something in luck." + +"Looked like it," agreed Denny. "And after we got back Len couldn't +pay any attention to the half-frozen men, or to me, that had been +pretty well chilled--all he could do was talk about the luck of that +oar." + +"I don't blame him," Freda put in. "Your rope had nearly burned, your +light oar broke, one of the heavy pair went overboard and this one did +most of the work getting back, I suppose." + +"Right," said Denny, "for while we had another pair to work with, they +were slim, and weak, but that fellow, it sure was tough then; but +lately when I take it down it seems to have shrunk, for it's gettin' +lighter, somehow." + +"And how did you come to get it?" asked Cora. + +"That's the end of my story," said Denny. "When Len was taken very +sick, of course I used to stay with me friend as much as I could." + +Freda unconsciously pushed her chair nearer the old man. Surely to +hear of the last days of her good grandfather's life was a matter too +important to pass over lightly. + +"Your father was livin' then, Freddie," Denny went on, "and a fine +healthy young man, too." + +"Father died so suddenly," said Freda, "mother hardly ever speaks of +his death. She always seems overcome after talking of it." + +"That was a sad thing," Denny digressed. "To go off in the morning, +a-whistlin' and happy, and to be brought home without a word in him. +Freddie, dear, I oughtn't to talk of it." + +Freda brushed aside a tear. Her father's death had been caused by +apoplexy, when she was but a mite of a child. + +"But the queer part of it was that your grandfather seemed to think I +would outlive his son, and John such a strappin'-lookin' fellow," +resumed Denny. "Len called me to him, and him sick and miserable, and +he says: 'Denny, John's not as strong as he looks, and I want you to +do all you can to help Louisa,' (your mother of course, Freddie), 'for +she has the child to raise,' he said. Well, he wouldn't let me +interrupt him when I tried to speak of John. He would have it that I +should keep an eye to things. Your grandfather Lewis left me no +papers, however--I supposed John had them--but he left me the old red +oar. He had fairly been playin' with it for years, always polishin' it +or shapin' it off here or there. I often look at the marks of his +knife on it, and wonder why he seemed fond of it." + +"I am sure," said Freda, earnestly, "you have kept your promise, Uncle +Denny. Mother often speaks of how good you were when I was small. +Father never had any papers about grandfather's land; all he had +related to family keepsakes. The strange part of it all is to me that +a man of grandfather's intelligence should be so remiss about his +property claims." + +"But, Freddie, you don't understand. There seemed no need for deeds +and mortgage papers then about here. Everybody knew everyone else, and +things seemed to be solid forever. But now them plagued land +fellows--well, they've got a good cheek, is all I can say." And he +emptied an unsmoked pipe of tobacco in his indignation. + +"But we are going to get after them," Cora declared. "We want to go +slowly, and, if possible, find out what their intentions are. Find +what sort of company they claim to have, in the first place, and if +they are an honorable set of men they ought to make open claims, +instead of sneaking around, and trying to find out things that might +cause a flaw in the title. I am suspicious, for one," she finished +significantly. + +"Well, good luck to your spunk," said Denny, "and I never knew the +like of it to fail. But say, tell me about the boat. What did the lads +think of the fixin's?" + +"Oh, it was the greatest fun," Freda replied. "They could not imagine +how we ever thought of using the cylinder water for a dishwater +supply. I never gave it away that you suggested it to Cora's +mechanic." + +"And I want to thank you, Mr. Shane----" + +"Mr. Shane!" Denny interrupted. "Say, if you call me that I'll think +I'm reading me own death notice in the _Beacon_." + +Cora laughed at this, and agreed he should be "Uncle Denny" to her as +well as to the others of the neighborhood. + +"But it was splendid of you to have the boat all ready for us when we +came. I did not suppose Freda had a chance to get down to it before we +loomed up." + +"You don't know the risin' hour for us folks at the Bay," returned +Denny, with a sly wink. "Freddie couldn't stay abed when the sun is +beckonin' on the waves; could you, Freddie?" + +"Oh, the early Summer mornings are beautiful," replied Freda, "and I +am sorry I had to lose so many of them. Who's that? The girls, looking +for us! There's Bess puffing, and Belle--fluffing. I do think they are +the most attractive pair." + +Cora smiled, for her own devotion to the Robinson twins was only +paralleled by the twins' devotion to Cora. + +"Cora! Freda!" called youthful voices from the path. "Where are you?" + +"Come in--do!" answered Denny, who always had a spare chair for +visitors. + +"Oh, we can't," replied Belle. "Cora, the boys are threatening to take +out the _Chelton_. And oh! I'm completely out of breath. It's dreadful +to try to hurry through the sand." + +"Indeed they shall not take the _Chelton_ out without my permission," +Cora declared. "When we make our initial trip I intend to command it. +For one thing, Uncle Denny is to come along; for another--well, that's +to be a little surprise. This afternoon at two exactly--will you come, +Uncle Denny?" + +"I will that," the old sailor replied. "I think it would be a good +thing to have a little weight, like my old head, in her when she +starts out. Them laddies are always up to pranks." + +"Oh, we are just crazy to get out on the water," Bess put in, "and +what do you think? That vain little Lottie went all the way to town to +get the exact nautical cap. I wonder if she thinks folks in motor +boats run slowly enough to see little white caps on little light +girls?" + +"When we get going I think all that will be seen will be splash, and +all that will be heard will be chug," Cora remarked. "But come on. +Let's hurry along. I promised Rita to help her with something." + +"What?" asked Bess, curiously. + +"Now, Bessie, that would be telling," replied Cora, stopping just long +enough to empty the sand from her tennis shoe. Denny was trudging +along after them--he could not resist an excuse to go down to the +shore. + +"Well, I'll say good-bye," said Freda. "I have to run back to mother. +She will think I am lost." + +"But you are coming this afternoon?" Cora insisted. + +"Oh, I really can't, Cora, thank you," answered the other. "I have +something so important to look after." + +"What are you girls up to?" demanded Belle. "You have been acting +mysteriously ever since you met on the train. Freda, it is really +unpardonable not to take the initial trip with us, but if you really +cannot----" + +"I really cannot," returned Freda, decisively, and somehow the girls +realized that Freda's business was urgent. + +"Now, I'll show you a short cut," said Denny. "Take that path +there--don't be afraid of the sign that the owner put up--he has no +right to the beach front; then when you get to the Lonely Willow--do +you know where that is?" + +Not one of them knew, but they were anxious to find out. + +"You can't miss the Lonely Willow, for it stands all alone and looks +as forlorn as the mast of a sunken steamer," said Denny. "It's in the +deep hollow by the watercress patch. Turn around that tree to your +left and you'll see another path. But wait a minute," he broke off, +"maybe it's a bit lonely." + +"Oh, there are enough of us to shout if we see bears," Cora laughed. +"We have to hurry, and we will be glad to explore." + +"Well, good-bye then, and good luck. I'll be at the dock ahead of +you." + +"Isn't he the quaintest old man?" asked Belle as the little party +hurried along. Then she added: "You and Freda made quite a visit. We +began to think you were kidnapped." + +"We did make a stay," agreed Cora, "but Denny is a very old friend of +Freda's family, and, to tell you the truth, we could hardly break away +when he started in to tell sea-yarns. Ouch! The mud is deep. I guess +we must be near the Lonely Willow." + +"There it is!" exclaimed Belle, who was somewhat in advance of the +others. "Indeed, it does stand all alone." + +"Isn't it scary here!" whispered Bess. "See those two men under the +Willow." + +All eyes were turned to the big tree. Two men were seated on a branch +that made a comfortable seat. As the girls approached one of the men +wrapped some papers up and thrust them into his pocket. But the +movement was not lost on the girls. + +No word was spoken for a few moments. Belle dropped back a little as +if to allow the others to face the strangers first. Of course Cora, +always being the leader, boldly made her way along. + +They had to pass almost under the tree to reach the path, but there +was no halting once the girls started out. + +Finally they had passed in perfect safety, but as they were almost out +of earshot one of the men said: + +"I thought she'd be with him--that old Denny!" + +The rest of the remark was lost, but this fragment served to put Cora +on her guard. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE "CHELTON" + + +"Oh, isn't it exciting?" cried Marita, who had managed to have Jack +help her over the dunes on the way to the dock. + +"You're right!" replied Jack, surveying her "nautical" outfit. +"Couldn't beat it." + +"Silly! I mean going for the cruise." + +"Oh, I thought you meant that rig you're wearing. It is most becoming, +but I hope it won't get wet." + +"Oh, the water won't hurt it. I got it on that account. I think the +girls' maroon sweaters look dandy--they can be seen for such a +distance." + +"Yes, I suppose togs have something to do with a good time, although I +must say Cora doesn't seem to give much time to hers. Look at Marita +in white. She looks like a French doll." + +"Oh, she is the cutest thing!" replied Lottie, in her gushing way. +"But Cora is simply stunning! Just see how she stands out in the +crowd." + +Lottie and Jack strolled through the moss-padded path that led to the +white sands of Tangle Turn, talking in this vein as they went. It was +indeed a merry crowd, and well worth noticing, as was evinced by the +number of curious spectators already assembled on the dock to which +the _Chelton_ was tied. + +"Who's the man?" asked Jack, espying a striking figure in the throng. + +"Oh, that's Uncle Denny; don't you know him? He is the dearest----" + +"Now, Lottie, I can see his bald head under his cap at this distance +without marine glasses, and it's a rule of the club that 'dears' have +special advantages in the matter of healthy heads of hair. But, of +course, if you wish to call him 'dear'----" + +"Jack, you are the greatest tease," she pouted. + +Bess, Belle and Cora had already reached the motor boat. Denny was +proudly "looking her over," pipe in mouth and hands in pockets. The +girls were bustling about, all enthusiasm, while the boys, assuming an +air of importance, found many points to investigate. + +"Now take seats," called Cora, "we are ready to push off. Lottie, +don't lean overboard." + +"Oh, I am watching the cutest little fish. See, Bess," she exclaimed. + +Ed was on the dock with the rope loose from the cleat. Cora was at the +steering wheel, while Denny insisted on turning the fly wheel, as that +seemed about the most difficult thing to do. The gasoline was turned +on, Jack attending to that, and as Denny gave the fly wheel a vigorous +turn, Ed pushed off and jumped into the boat. The "push" sent the +_Chelton_ out in the water, but the motor failed to do its duty. Again +Denny tried, but still no response. As this is not unusual with any +motor, whether new or old, all hands waited patiently. + +"Oh, there's the _Dixie_!" called Lottie, jumping up and waving to an +approaching boat. + +At that instant the _Chelton_ started with a jerk, and there was a +chorus of screams. + +"Lottie's overboard!" cried the girls. + +"Overboard!" repeated the boys. + +"Quick!" begged Cora. "She may sink!" + +To bring the boat to a sudden stop was not an easy matter, and there +were some moments of suspense before the _Chelton_ passed safely to +the other side of the spot where Lottie was struggling. + +The water was not so deep but that she was able to scramble to her +feet, but the wash of the boat forced her to work violently to keep +her head above water. + +"The rope!" called Cora, who had dashed from her position at the +steering wheel to the side of the boat where the mooring rope had been +dropped. In the excitement, of course, all crowded to one side of the +small craft, which caused it to careen alarmingly. + +"There! There!" shouted Ed. "Lottie, grab the rope!" + +"Oh, I can't," came the rather weak and shaky reply. "I can't reach +it." + +By this time the _Dixie_, the innocent cause of the accident, was +alongside. Drayton Ward, the wealthy young fellow who could boast of a +motor boat that would have aroused comment even at Newport, leaned +over the side and grasped the arm of the girl in the water. The rest +was a simple matter, for soon Lottie was assisted over the rail of the +_Dixie_, and was in the finest boat on Crystal Bay. + +"What do you think of that?" gasped Bess into Cora's ear. + +"Clever!" replied Cora, simply. + +"But the togs?" queried Jack, to whom the accident had seemed +something of a joke. + +"What a pity," returned Belle, "and she did look so sweet!" + +All this time the drenched girl was being most carefully looked after +by the gallant captain of the _Dixie_. He was seeing to it that she +did not suffer from a chill, for a big coat had been wrapped around +her and her pretty white cap that had merrily floated off was now +replaced by one marked "Dixie." Altogether, for a mere Summer dip, +Lottie was having a magnificent time, as Ed took pains to observe. + +"Oh, I can't go with you now!" called Lottie. "Mr. Ward has kindly +offered to take me home." + +There was a pause after that remark. If Lottie went back to the +bungalow it seemed only reasonable that someone should go with her. +But who? Everyone wanted to take the trip on the _Chelton_. + +"Let us take you up to the point," called Cora, "and we can wait for +you to change and come back. Our trip would be spoiled with one of the +party missing." + +"Let's shift," suggested Drayton, with a gracious smile at Cora. "Mine +is probably the faster boat. You get in here with us, Miss Cora, and +we will run up and down the bay while your friends are working off the +oil smoke. That's a neat little boat you have, a perfect little +model," he finished, coming as close as possible to the _Chelton_. + +"Yours is all right, too, Dray," replied Jack, "but it looks too good +to be true. Doesn't shoot up on land for a change, does it? I have +heard of _Dixies_ doing that stunt." + +"Oh, dear!" exclaimed Lottie. "I am freezing to death. I guess I'll go +change my dress." + +"Good idea," agreed Cora, who was ready to leave her boat and go back +to the bungalow with Lottie. "Come on," and she jumped to the dock to +which her boat had drifted. "I'll run along with you." + +"Nice way to treat a fellow," complained Drayton. "Well, fellows, I'll +race you while we are waiting for the ladies to return. What do you +say, Jack?" + +"I'm willing, as long as Cora has finally condescended to let me touch +the wheel. Everybody sit down this time." + +Without a word all hands, keen for a race as soon as one was +suggested, took seats, and the two boats veered out into the bay and +"lined up" for the start. Denny was the proudest engineer imaginable, +and constantly looked over the fine mechanism. + +"Ready!" shouted Ed, and at the word both throttles were thrown wide +open and the boats shot up the bay, emitting clouds of smoke from +their newly oiled works, and "chugging" so rapidly that the sounds +were drowned in a roar. It was a pretty sight, for in the girls' boat +a line of colored sweaters and waving caps lent life to the gray of +the waters, while Drayton, in his glistening, highly-polished _Dixie_, +only needed the glint that the sun lent to complete the picture +afforded by his fine craft. + +"Oh, isn't this glorious!" exclaimed Marita. "I thought I should be +frightened, but this is--lovely." + +"Frightened!" repeated Belle. "I used to be so afraid of the water I +couldn't see anything but the bottom every time I came out; but now I +just love it." + +"Hey there, Dray!" shouted Ed. "You're out of the course. Get in from +shore!" + +"He's keeping his eye on those girls on the beach," laughed Walter. +"Those are the lassies who have the white canoe." So saying he waved +his own cap and a flutter of handkerchiefs from the beach came back in +recognition. + +"Turn at the island," ordered Denny. + +Here a white flag fluttered, the stake left from some recent sailing +races. Gracefully the _Chelton_ rounded the stake first. Drayton had +lost time in running too close to shore. Only a minute later the +_Dixie_ swayed after the _Chelton_, then the final stretch was taken +up in earnest. Spectators on the bank might wave now, but the +motorists had no eyes for them. A slight miss in the _Chelton's_ +explosion brought Denny and Ed to their feet--there should be no break +in the rhythm of that chug. + +"She's all right," Ed called to the old sailor, "only too much oil." + +Denny shook his head lest a word might interfere with the boat's +motion. Dray stood up and did something that caused the bow of his +boat to shoot up, while the stern seemed to bury itself in the waves. + +"His is a racer," Walter told Bess, who was as intent as any of the +watchers on the result of the trial of speed. + +"Maybe ours will turn out to be a winner," Bess responded. "We keep +pretty close." + +Jack never took his hand off the steering wheel, Denny was watching +the engine, and the others were peering down the straight course +ahead. + +"Oh, I'm getting all wet," exclaimed Marita, for the spray was dashing +in on all sides. + +"Get down in the bottom," advised Walter, "we can't slacken up now. Or +go in the cabin if you like and close the ports." + +This was a signal for all three girls to slip down to the floor of the +boat and while they lost the good view afforded from the seats, they +evidently enjoyed the change, and craned their necks to see over the +sides. + +"Of course Dray will win," complained Belle. "We couldn't expect to +beat the _Dixie_." + +"We might," encouraged Bess. "Cora said this boat had remarkable speed +for its size." + +"Gee, whiz!" shouted Walter, "look at that spray deluge Dray!" + +"And she's missing," added Ed, for the sounds from the _Dixie_ were +distinctly out of time. + +Suddenly Dray's boat slowed down, and the _Chelton_ shot so far ahead +that it was plain something had happened to the _Dixie_. + +Jack stood up and looked back. "Something is wrong," he said. "We had +better not get too far ahead. Dray is fussing with the carbureter." + +The race was over. The girls stood up from their hiding place and Jack +turned the boat about. By this time Dray had turned off the gasoline +and the _Dixie_ merely heaved up and down on the swells. + +"What's the matter, Dray?" called Walter. "Something given way?" + +"I don't know," answered Dray, "she simply won't 'mote.'" + +"Let me take a look at her," suggested Denny, ever eager for a new +adventure. + +"Oh, there are Cora and Lottie!" exclaimed Belle. "Can't we go in for +them, and look after Dray's boat afterward?" + +"That would be a nice way to treat a ship in distress," said Denny, +"but excuse me," and he showed regret at his remark. "I shouldn't be +thinkin' of a lad when the young girls are needin' help." + +"Oh, the girls are all right," Jack assured the old seaman; "but say, +Dray," he called, "what's the matter, anyhow?" + +"Just give me a line and tow me in, then we will hold a post mortem," +replied Dray, good humoredly. "I don't fancy taking her apart out +here." + +"Good!" exclaimed Marita, "then we can go for Cora and Lottie." + +Promptly the brand new rope of the _Chelton_ was tossed to the +disabled boat and fastened, then the two boats started for shore. + +Cora and Lottie were waiting. The latter had shed her wet "garments of +vanity," as Belle described them, for a simple brown linen frock. + +"What happened?" called Cora, as the boats neared shore. + +"Mis-happened," answered Dray. "It was just fate. We couldn't expect +to beat the motor girls." + +"Nice of you," acknowledged Cora, "but I am sorry if there is anything +wrong with your beautiful boat." + +"It's the boat and not the boy," remarked Ed. "Well, we'll do as much +for you some day, Cora. Wait until we get our little _Lassie_ out. +She, being a mere girl, may have a show." + +"What's the matter, Lottie?" asked Bess, as they landed and the girls +noted that Lottie was remarkably quiet, and even a trifle pale. + +"Not a thing," Cora hurriedly answered, while she crushed her fingers +on Lottie's arm. "We were detained at the bungalow, that's all. We'll +tell you all about it later on." + +The girls gathered around Cora and Lottie at this remark. But Cora, by +some mysterious signal system, had warned Lottie not to say anything, +and she soon joined the boys, who had already boarded the _Dixie_ to +overhaul her. + +They looked at the engine, at the spark plugs, at the cylinder, but +Cora, who happened to have more room at the point where the carbureter +was situated, suddenly exclaimed: + +"I've got it! Water in the carbureter!" + +"Right-o!" confirmed Dray, in another moment. "The spray mixed with +the gas--dashed over into the air in-take valve. Moral, go slow, for +water sometimes is fatal, even in a good cause!" + +"Shame to spoil the race," said Ed; "we were just warming up." + +"It's all right," commented Denny, "and a good lesson. I never knew +myself that too much speed would do the like of that. Well, I must be +off doin' some chores. I've been a-galavantin' most of the day, and +the fishes of Crystal Bay are not educated to come up to me door yet. +Thank you for the sport. It was fine," he concluded, genially. + +"Indeed you must come along again," Cora urged. "This was only a +baby-trial. We will want to be going out on the deep soon; then you +must come along." + +"Thank you, very kindly," Denny called, as he started off. "The deep +is a bad place for young 'uns, I can tell you. Better stick around +shore." + +"Tell us what is the matter, Lottie," demanded Bess, for Lottie had +not yet recovered her self-possession. + +"Oh, I guess I had a chill," she evaded, glancing at Cora. + +"And the mere sight of a couple of strange men startled her," Cora +added. "I have warned her there may be lots of strange men around +Crystal Bay." + +"But not the same strange men every time," Lottie put in. This gave a +clue to her fright. The men who had secluded themselves under the +Lonely Willow that morning had appeared again, this time in the +vicinity of the girls' bungalow, now known as the "Motely Mote." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +IN THE MOTELY MOTE + + +"Do you young ladies realize that we have the cares of housekeeping on +our shoulders?" asked Cora, from a mass of boxes and bags, not to +mention trunks, in the alleged living room of the Mote. + +"Oh, let us forget it--do," begged Bess. "I always hate the summertime +when it brings dishes and things." + +"It's good for you," affirmed Marita. Bess did know that hard work is +considered "good" for stout persons. + +"Maybe, but it is not pleasant," Bess answered, flinging herself upon +the improvised couch, a matter of hammocks and blankets, still bearing +baggage checks and tie-ropes. + +"But our housekeeper has given notice," announced Cora. "And I don't +wonder. Not one has been on time for a single meal since we arrived. +But I must say, I wish she had stayed until the stuff was all +unpacked. It's dreadful on the hands," and she looked at hers +ruefully. + +"Why not ask the boys to help?" asked Lottie, who was doing her best +to press her damp clothes by stretching the most important of them +over Belle's trunk, and holding them there with two suitcases. "If I +had not gotten these things wet I should have been glad to unpack, but +if I leave them this way over night I shall never be able to wear them +again." + +"If you knew the boys as well as we do," Bess put in, "you would know +what their help means. They would insist upon trying on every article +of clothing they unpacked; wouldn't they Cora?" + +"Something like that, Bess, if they did unpack at all. But, seriously, +if you will give me a little help to drag these empty trunks to the +porch, I will tell you of a plan I have evolved. Of course we cannot +remain this way without a chaperone." + +"Isn't it perfectly silly?" complained Belle. "As if we were not all +capable of taking care of ourselves." + +"Oh, I don't know about that," objected Cora. "I have noticed that in +case of emergency, when some strange man happens to poke his nose in +at the window, we are all rather glad to acknowledge we are mere +babes." + +"And also when we meet them under willow trees," Marita reminded the +boastful ones. "I am sure I agree with Cora that we need a chaperone, +and perhaps a policeman or two." + +The girls paused in dragging the baggage toward the front door. + +"Just the same," Marita went on, "Lottie was frightened to-day and she +only heard a strange man say, 'They call them the motor girls.' As if +that was anything terrifying." + +"But it was the way they said it," Lottie protested. "They just peered +at us--and----" + +"Now, Lottie," said Cora, "you have an idea that everyone who looks at +us 'peers' at us. For my part I was rather flattered by their +attention. You see the fame of the motor girls is spreading. But let +me now make my proposition," and she settled down on the rug that was +intended to cover the floor--some time. + +"Let her 'prop'!" cried Belle. + +"Well, you know our little friend, Freda, has lost some property; that +is, her mother and herself have lost a certain claim to it. This +little colony around here is fairly bristling with the prosperity +implanted in it by such thrifty men as was Freda's grandfather, but in +spite of that, strangers come in, make a big fuss about riparian +rights, and government laws, and property claims and, in so doing, +pretend to discover a flaw in a title that for years has been +considered perfectly clear." She paused, for Bess had opened her mouth +twice, and this time Cora wanted to hear what she had to say. + +"We heard some women talking about that to-day," said Bess, "and they +said it was a shame to take a homestead from Mrs. Lewis. They were not +whispering their opinions, either." + +"So it is a shame," Cora said, "and if we can, in any way, help to get +the truth established, we will surely have a good reason to remember +this holiday." + +"How?" queried Marita. "We don't understand anything about land, and +deeds, and lawyers." + +At this everyone but Marita laughed. She was not acquainted with the +daring deeds of the motor girls, as that was what they had undertaken +and accomplished in the past. + +"You see, Marita dear," Cora explained, "because we seem such harmless +babies we are able to get information that others, considered more +dangerous, might not have access to. Now, let me continue. There are +men around here, members of some sort of a land company, who are +trying to get hold of certain papers. We don't know whether they exist +or not, but in our own quiet, girlish way----" + +Here she was interrupted with a burst of mocking laughter. "Your quiet +girlish way," repeated Belle. "Why, Cora, I do believe if you thought +you could get the better of that land company you would take the +_Chelton_, and go--pirating! Wouldn't it be great to go out on a dark +night, steam up the bay, watch for other boats, listen to the +smugglers----" + +"Oh, Belle," put in Lottie, "that's not the way in books. We would +have to go out and get kidnapped, and then, when in the cave, we would +hear the plot of the men who were going to steal the old homestead." + +"Hurrah!" cried her hearers. + +"Lottie for captain of the kidnapped," suggested Cora. "Now, Lottie, +when it gets good and dark you are to go out under the biggest tree on +the place and await your captors." + +"Hello there! Anybody home?" + +"The boys!" gasped Belle. "Now what about having wasted our time? Come +in!" + +"Nice of you to ask us," groaned Jack. "Say, we are dead and buried, +and the will is now being read. Somebody broke into our larder and +stole the grub. Have you any to put out at interest?" + +"Stole your eatables!" exclaimed Marita. + +"Well, you could scarcely call it that," replied Jack, espying an +undamaged orange on the window sill, and making a lunge for it. "We +did intend to eat the stuff, but it was just plain grub--not +eatables." + +"Jack, haven't you boys had your supper?" asked Cora. + +"We are on a diet," explained Jack. "Wallie had the crackers, Ed +nabbed the dried beef--he's the biggest and needs the most, you +know--and I got the pickles. Then we followed directions, and each +drank three sips of pure spring water. But the trouble arose when Dray +came in. He said he was to have milk--doctor's orders. We didn't have +any but 'pretense' milk, so Dray is now out looking for a cow." + +Just then the sound of approaching footsteps was heard. + +"They come!" announced Jack. "I was merely the herald. Have you made +out the menu, Cora dear?" + +"Do you mean to say we have to feed--all you boys?" demanded Bess. + +"Feed us? No, we can eat with spoons. Just lead us to the eats. +Really, it is serious with Dray. He has already gone dead white. Come +in, fellows. We are expecting you. The girls are just getting out the +best linen!" + +Dray, Walter and Ed entered, and like Jack, showed signs of starvation. +They literally fell into the most convenient spot available as they +reached the room. + +"Good evening, ladies," panted Dray. "We are delighted to accept your +kind invitation to dine with you. Pray pardon the togs. I feel like a +regular 'toff,' don't you know, but my studs are for the moment lost. +And what is a frock without the studs!" + +"Well, if this isn't the very utmost," said Cora, laughing at the +boys' predicament. "Do you mean to say that you are really hungry?" + +"Shall we demonstrate?" asked Ed. "Do you allow us? Belle, get out the +chronometer and a hunk of something. If you don't soon you will have a +case of homicide on your hands." + +Finally believing that the boys were hungry, the girls proceeded to +empty the ice box on the back porch. They did not find any too much +food there, for the sudden departure of their housekeeper that +afternoon had left the girls themselves almost stranded. But, being +girls, they managed the living end a little better than the boys did. + +The boys, it seemed, had laid in a stock of canned stuff, in the usual +hit-and-miss way, but some other campers found the "cave" where the +food had been hidden. It was out of the question either to take or get +ice, so the next best thing considered was the digging of a big hole +in a very damp place. Into this the boys had sunk a nice, clean, +galvanized tub, and in it the victuals had been placed. On top was a +cover, made of boards and oil cloth, and over this was placed the limb +from a tree, this last to detract attention. + +"Now, wouldn't you think," said Jack, as he fortified himself with a +sandwich, "that any decent chap would know that we belonged to the +union? We are going to form a housewives' league at dawn to-morrow, +and then we will find the culprits. They will be offering us our own +grub at exorbitant rates." + +"Bright little Jackie," commented Bess, who was devouring cheese and +macaroons. "When you find the culprits you will have a perfectly good +movie act in your camp. It will be entitled 'The Fate of the Kid +Grubber.'" + +While the boys were thus engaged in the delightful task of keeping off +starvation, the girls were anxious to hear what was the proposition +Cora had offered to lay before them. + +"That's just the way," grumbled Belle; "we never can get at the +interesting things!" + +"I am going to tell the boys this minute," threatened Marita. "We +notice, Belle, that you brought out that lemon pie that was hidden. +Looks as if you found the boys rather interesting." + +"Now you know exactly what I mean," insisted Belle. "Cora said we had +to have a chaperone and we all agreed. Instead, we have a crowd of +noisy boys." + +"When you boys have finished," Cora remarked, "we would like to clear +up the debris. Also, we have a sad announcement to make. We have lost +our housekeeper!" + +"Good!" almost shouted Ed. "I apply at once. I can give every +qualification, even to a civil service examination. Cora, I never +tasted such food before----" + +"Mutiny!" yelled Jack, making a spring at Ed, which ended in such a +mixup that the girls fled to the kitchen. + +"We really cannot stay alone here to-night," Cora said. + +But the boys had come to their feet again, and evidently to terms. +Jack was hugging Walter and Dray was smoothing Ed's black hair. + +"Will the boys go and leave us?" asked the timid Marita. + +"Of course they will, and that right now," declared Cora. "We have no +time to spare to get someone else to stay with us, however. Bess, do +you want to come with me? I am going out for our new companion." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +FRIGHTS OR FANCIES + + +"Oh, do hurry," pleaded Cora. "I had no idea it was so late. And it is +awfully dark." + +"A nice way to scare me when you have got me out," objected Bess. +"Cora Kimball, I have a great mind to run back. I never saw lights +look so attractive as they do just now in the Mote." + +"Run back if you like," returned Cora, "but I will run on. It was +unfortunate that the boys came in just as they did. I really have a +good reason for not wanting to stay alone to-night." + +"You have?" asked Bess. "I knew you and Lottie had had some adventure." + +"Oh, don't be silly, Bess," and Cora laughed lightly. "Everything is +perfectly safe and sane at the bay, but what I want is to get over to +the little cottage where Freda and her mother are living before they +retire. It is Mrs. Lewis I hope to get as our housekeeper." + +"Mrs. Lewis!" exclaimed Bess in surprise. + +"Yes, but we won't call her housekeeper. I haven't thought it all out +yet; in fact, I am not sure they will come, but I hope so." + +"Oh, so do I; that would be fine," and Bess almost forgot how black +the night was. "I met Mrs. Lewis the day we came, and I could not help +thinking what a fine, wholesome mother Freda had." + +"Yes, I have been talking to her and I think she is just that--fine +and wholesome. And goodness knows," added Cora fervently, "we need +some weight at the Mote. But they may not consent. I happened to +overhear a remark this afternoon that set me to thinking. I am afraid +poor Freda and her mother are in for further trouble." + +They hurried along, making their way with difficulty in the deep sand +that covered road and path alike. Once or twice they paused, startled +at the sound of men's voices, then hurried the more to make up for +lost time. + +"Why didn't we have one of the boys come with us?" asked Bess. + +"Because I am not ready yet to have the boys know all our plans, and +to trust one of them--Bess Robinson, you know our boys. What one knows +the rest can guess." + +"That's so," mused Bess. "Is that the cottage?" + +"Yes, right over there," and Cora indicated a light through the trees. +"I am glad they are still up!" + +It was only a few steps further, and this space was rapidly covered. +As the two girls reached the porch, and before they had a chance to +touch the knocker, the door was opened by Freda. + +"Who is it?" she asked in a frightened voice. + +"Only Cora and Bess," Cora replied, noting the fear in Freda's tone. +"Are we too late to come in?" + +"No, indeed," Freda replied, reassured. "I was afraid it might be +unwelcome visitors, but you are heartily welcome." + +The living room of the cottage was typical of the seashore--a long +apartment, with field-stone fireplace and fumed fir trim. The stairway +led up from the room and gave it an air of even greater spaciousness. +Altogether it was most attractive. Mrs. Lewis, a slim, fine-featured +woman, rose from her rocker as the girls entered. + +"It is late to call," began Cora, "but our business is really urgent. +We have been left all alone suddenly--our housekeeper says she +received a hurried call to go back to her family in the city. I don't +question the call, I know how often and faithfully they follow maids +who find a country place lonely; but the fact is we girls do not fancy +staying alone to-night." + +"Why, of course not," replied Mrs. Lewis, briskly. "You must have some +older person with you." + +It was plain, now that the girls had become accustomed to the lights, +that Freda and her mother had both been crying. Their eyes were red +and their cheeks swollen. Freda saw that the girls observed this. + +"Yes, we have been weeping," she said, with an attempt at a smile. "It +seems as though we have new troubles daily." + +"I am so sorry," Cora returned. "I wish we could help you." + +"I am sure you have done so," replied Mrs. Lewis. "Freda has great +hopes that you girls will do for us what perhaps lawyers might not be +able to do." She hesitated and Freda went on: + +"Those horrid men from the land company were here again this +afternoon. They say we have no right even to this little cottage." + +"No right here!" exclaimed Cora. "I believe they are just trying to +get you to leave the place so that they can go on with their plans +without being watched." + +"I never thought of that," replied Mrs. Lewis, as though the idea was +novel to her. "Then, indeed, they will have more trouble than +brow-beating to get us to leave Crystal Bay." + +"I must hurry with my errand," said Cora. "I came to see if it would +be possible for you and Freda to lock up and come over with us +to-night. I am afraid those land sharks have our little place marked, +too, for they have been loitering around all day. I don't want to tell +the boys. They are hasty and so apt to resent any intrusion that would +worry us." + +"Why should the men bother you?" asked Mrs. Lewis. + +"I suppose because they know that Freda is a friend of ours," replied +Cora. "But don't worry about them bothering us, all we want is to be +able to meet them fairly. Of course if they knew we were alone at +night they might be mean enough to frighten us, and some of the girls +are rather timid." + +"Indeed, we will lock up at once," declared Mrs. Lewis, "and go right +over with you. We have not many treasures now to be afraid of losing." + +"Oh, that is splendid!" Cora cried. Freda immediately went about +fastening the windows and seeing to the general locking up, while Mrs. +Lewis hurried up stairs to pack a small bag. It seemed as though they +were ready almost instantly, much to the relief of Bess, who kept +wondering if the boys would remain at the bungalow with the girls +until her own and Cora's return. + +"Now we are off," said Mrs. Lewis, looking back at her home with a +wistful sigh. She seemed to have a premonition that leaving it meant +more than appeared at the moment. + +Freda walked with Bess while Mrs. Lewis and Cora kept close behind +them. They had not more than reached the turn that led to the direct +path when shouts and laughter were heard. + +"There are the girls," Bess exclaimed. "They are looking for us." + +The surmise was correct, for directly the answer came back to the +familiar camp call. + +"Here we are!" cried Cora. "On the pine path." + +"Oh!" gasped Belle. "We have had the greatest fright! Where have you +been?" + +"Making a call," replied Cora, calmly. "What was your fright?" + +"Come along and I'll tell you," Belle replied. Then she saw Freda and +Mrs. Lewis. + +"We have brought protectors," Cora said. "Mrs. Lewis and Freda are +going to spend the night with us." + +"Oh, splendid!" exclaimed Marita. "I was so afraid we would have to +stay alone." + +"Where are the boys?" Cora asked. + +"Someone from the beach came up and said Dray's boat was loose, and of +course, they had to all go at once to tie it up." + +"Better than to let it drift," Cora said, "but I am sorry if you were +timid." + +"Oh, we were not," declared Belle, stoutly. "Only we distinctly heard +someone on the back porch." + +"At our ice box!" gasped Cora. + +"Oh, we never thought of that!" exclaimed Belle. + +"Then likely we will be without breakfast," responded Cora. "But here +we are. Who has the key?" + +Belle opened the door. "The light is out!" she whispered. "Cora," she +said, aside, "I left it burning!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A MERRY TIME + + +"Yes, I say it's a shame!" cried Jack, indignantly. + +"Perfectly awful," confirmed Dray. + +"Our meeting is at nine," announced Walter, "and when I went on the +soup shift, I did not agree to do the waiting. That's not my part." + +Ed tucked an end of white mosquito netting in his belt, draped it +jauntily, and appeared ready to do the "waiting." Walter was frying +bacon and eggs on the oil stove. Jack threw dishes at the +oilcloth-covered table in imitation of a game of quoits, and he rarely +missed the mark. They were about to have breakfast, and in spite of +the difficulties encountered in the way of modern improvements omitted +in the arrangement of Camp Couldn't (the camp got that name for a +million reasons), the boys were having a fine time. + +"That coffee will be cold," protested Dray, "and my doctor says cold +coffee is slow poison. I prefer my poison quick." The joke about +Dray's doctor was that Dray never knew a doctor other than the medical +inspector at school. He had such astonishingly good health that they +used the idea of sickness in reference to him as a "counter irritant." + +"But this stove is a trifle small," said Walter. "What do you say we +buy that one from Camp Cattle? It's a peach." + +"If the Cattle crowd have a good stove they won't sell it," replied +Jack. "You will likely find a second-hand flue in it, or a rubber hose +leader. Those boys are brilliant. If we need a new stove let it be +from Duke's, with a cast-iron guarantee." + +"Right-o," seconded Dray. "The cast-iron is always useful about a +camp. But I say, what about the racket at the Mote last night? That +sister of yours, Jack, is wasting her talents. She ought to be chief +of a detective bureau." + +"Cora is all right," Jack returned, proudly. "And while we are on the +subject, and not to brag, of course, I might say that some of the +other girls are in the same class. First few years they came out to +the woods I used to be rather doubtful, but now we often find that the +maids can take care of the masters; don't we, Wallie? More of that +odor, please. I wonder why bacon turns all to odor when it's cooked +up!" + +"There are only two more pieces of odor left," complained Walter, "and +I'd like the smell myself." + +"Oh, all right. I have had more than enough." Jack waved a disdainful +hand loftily. "I believe, as it is, I should be more careful what I +eat." + +A huge, very hard bun, the sort found only in bakeries near Summer +resorts, hit Jack squarely in the face. Without any comment he caught +it, cut it in half, and with a tin spoon plastered it with butter. +Then he put "the lid on it," and tried to get it between his teeth. It +was heroic exercise, but Jack had been trained at a reputable college, +and had learned to eat what he wanted. + +"But those duffers, the land men," continued Dray, "what are they +after the girls for? I had an idea one of them must be trying to claim +relationship with the fair Freda. He kept so close to her when she was +out after Denny." + +"Relationship!" Jack repeated, with a laugh. "You almost hit it, Dray. +I guess the bear would like to be her first cousin, for he is trying +to get her goods and chattels from her." + +"How?" + +"Oh, we must not go into that; at least not just yet. I promised Cora +not to be hasty with Moran. He's the 'gent' who is supposed to be +president of the company." + +"The one who wears the Panama? I wonder if anyone would think of haste +in connection with that duffer. It took him just one hour to buy three +soft crabs from some kids at the dock yesterday," said Walter. "I +wouldn't like to be his messmate. But I don't like his eye; it's made +on the bias." + +"Yes, always looks as if it were going to slip out of the socket," +confirmed Jack. "Well, I hope the girls won't go in too deep with +their schemes. Those fellows are from little old N'Yawk." + +"Quick!" whispered Walter. "There's that Black. If he lays eyes on +your plates he'll lick them." + +The last morsels of food were crammed into mouths before the call from +the neighboring camper was answered. + +"Come right in," Ed said, finally, "and help yourself. Have you had +your grape fruit?" + +"Oh, no," sighed Tom Black, "I didn't feel exactly right this +morning." (He brushed a brown hand across his brow.) "Nerves, I +guess." + +"Nerves? Grub!" shouted Jack. "Didn't I see a can marked 'soup' in +your back yard this a. m.?" + +"Might have, but I didn't. Else I would have had soup." + +"There were grubbers around last night," went on Jack, "and we thought +we found a thread that matches your sweater, sticking to a nail in our +grub box." + +"My sweater is not ripped that I can see," replied Tom, innocently, +"but if you are so kind I might take it. Don't think we put our sewing +boxes in the kit, come to think of it." + +"It will be ripped presently," announced Ed. "We have reason to +suspect the Cattle; in fact, we have engaged counsel." + +"The motor girls, I fancy, will defend you," said Tom, nonchalantly, +"but I assure you, you will have no case. We are absolutely without +grub; in fact, our case is pitiable." + +"And you had a 'Doins' last night," Dray reminded him. "Now, Tom, we +want to be fair, but we have arranged to form a housewives' league for +the purpose of swiping systematically. For instance," (here he got a +burnt match and tried to trace something on the oilcloth), "if we have +company, and no olives, we could go over to your cupboard, take a +bottle and deposit in its stead, say, a can of beans." + +"Great!" shouted Tom, tossing up his cap, that landed on the flaming +oil stove. "You should not waste oil," he said, as he rescued the cap. +"It's always wise to turn out the stove when you take off the pan." + +"The meeting is to be held in our living room," Ed said, pointing +outside to a bench made of a tree limb _au naturel_. "When we have +formed our committees and settled on our constitution----" + +This last word seemed to give every boy present a sort of agony, for +each began to "feel for his constitution," as if that important part +of his physique had been lost in the camp woods. + +"I wish you could settle my constitution," remarked Tom. "Once I get +that settled, I don't care what happens." + +"Now, quit your fooling," returned Walter. "I have an engagement and I +would like to get my housework done. Tom, help yourself to a towel, +and be careful not to wipe the plates on a glass towel. You can tell +the difference by the border. The dish towel is all border, the center +or hole went up on the oil stove, a little trick our stove has--it +does not like towels. The proper towel for the glasses is that one +with the black line drawn through the middle. The black line is not +important, it was put there with a single wipe of the spark plug from +the _Lassie_. Ed did it, very neatly." + +Tom took the towel tossed to him, and, as only a boy can, began to dry +the dishes that Walter was piling in front of him. First he patted and +rubbed the towel on one side of the dish that lay before him; then he +turned the same dish over with a bang and repeated the patting and +rubbing on the other side. After that he gave the plate a spin. If it +landed right side up he left it so; if the trade-mark showed he +counted it a "foul," and tried the trick again. How boys can get work +done that way is always a mystery to girls, who find the same play +labor. + +"Do I stay for lunch?" Tom asked. "I suppose when a fellow helps with +the general housework he is entitled to his 'keep.'" + +"Oh, we would just love to have you," replied Jack, with mock +seriousness, "but the fact is, we are all invited out. We lunch on the +_Chelton_ to-day," and he strutted around with such wide sweeping +curves, and twists, that he knocked from the narrow board table every +last bit of butter the "Couldn'ts" had in their camp. Gingerly he +scooped up the top lump, that lay on the store dish, but the scraps +had to be scraped up with the egg turner, and the spot on the floor +(they had a board floor in the camp) had to be washed up with the dish +water, when Walter finally relinquished that important commodity. + +"More careful next time," commanded Dray. "I'm off to call the +meeting. Where's that dinner bell?" + +The "bell," a very old and very large tray, was found outside under +the bench, and with a good strong stick Dray beat it furiously, until +it might easily be heard by every camper on the grounds. At the first +signal boys came scampering from all directions. Some carried +towels--too much excited to drop them in their camps; others dashed +through the woods with sweaters on their arms, and reluctant neckties +in their fists, for it was early and the campers had scarcely time to +make "careful" toilets. + +"Grub?" they asked in chorus. "Let us see it? Lead us to it!" + +"Grub nothing!" replied Walter. "You just get outside on that bench, +the overflow can take the reserved seats on the nice green moss. This +meeting has been called for the purpose of organizing the Housewives' +League of Crystal Bay." + +"Aoo-oo-ou--oh!" came a groaning reply from those who felt able to +groan. "And I left sugar in my coffee cup," wailed he with the dish +towel. + +"And there were perfectly good crumbs at my place," sighed Teddy, a +boy with so many colors in his face that they called him "Rainbow." + +"Come to order!" called Jack, banging on the tent table, which was to +serve as the chairman's desk. "Every camp must qualify." + +"We do! We do!" shouted the majority, the rest being engaged in a +rough and tumble for places near the "door." + +"The purpose of this meeting," went on Jack, ducking a lump of moss +tossed in lieu of a bouquet, "is to formulate plans, whereby the +humans of Prowlers' Paradise may continue to defy the birds of the +air, and the beasts of the field, and live in a perfectly human way." + +"Hurrah for the humans!" shouted Rainbow, and the cheers that followed +did more than merely consume time. + +"Let me explain," interrupted Dray, pushing Jack from his place, and +taking the stand pompously. "We have been the victims of prowlers. We +have lost our soup; we also lost our cans of milk--in fact, the cruel +ones took everything but our appetites, and now we propose to put a +stop to such depredations. We will form a league to borrow and to +lend, also to pay back, but he who taketh his brother's soup and +returneth not a can of beans shall be expelled from the Prowlers' +Paradise!" + +"We did lose five small cans of milk," reiterated Walter to Dave, the +head or chief of a big camp called "We-like-it," "and if we find the +rowdy who took that he shall be court-martialed." + +A commotion then started that broke up the meeting. The boys, in +rolling and tumbling about, rolled Dainty, so-called because he never +could get enough to eat, and because his quest showed in unweighable +pounds of fat, deliberately down the small hill at the side of Camp +Couldn't. Two of the Cattle did the rolling, and as Dainty made one +full turn a can of milk squirmed out of his pocket. + +"Robber! Thief! Traitor!" screamed the rollers, and then poor Dainty +was lugged back to the camp. + +Making the charge against him, and making an example of him would be +too sad a tale for words; sufficient to say that the meeting adjourned +at the request of a peace commission. + +When the last visitor had been "shooed" away and the Couldn'ts had +carefully prepared for the lunch to be taken on the _Chelton_ +(although Ed claimed that Walter had appropriated his most becoming +tie, and that the shade of tan rather marred Wallie's own "tannery" +effect), the boys finally put the camp flap down good and tight, and +were off to the bay. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +TOO MUCH JOY + + +Far out in the pretty bay the _Chelton_ was anchored. It was arranged +that the luncheon should be given too far from land to get anything in +supplies that might have been forgotten. In fact, it was to be a test +meal, such as might be a necessity in case of "shipwreck" or accident. + +It was such a day as sometimes makes early Summer copy Spring, when +the mists of morning mingle with the sun's rays, and send up shafts of +haze to pillar the sky from land or water. + +There had been great preparations for this salt water lunch. The +girls, enthusiastic over the possibilities, had vied with one another +in arranging the affair. + +Dray ran his boat, the _Dixie_, alongside, and together the fleet of +two comprised what the boys termed a "White House Lunch." The cooking +was all done on the _Chelton_ and the eatables were handed over the +brass rail to Lottie and Marita, who served as waitresses on the +_Dixie_. First there were lettuce sandwiches, rolled. Any girl who can +successfully roll bread and lettuce is termed proficient by the +cooking teachers, and it was a tie between Belle and Cora as to who +did the most and best of the rolling. + +With the lettuce came the greatest treat to the boys--homemade crab +salad--home caught crabs and handmade dressing thereon. + +"I caught the biggest crab," declared Lottie, handing the wooden plate +to Belle. "Isn't that fine!" + +"Finest!" she repeated, enthusiastically. "But say! Why don't the boys +catch crabs?" + +The boys did not waste time asking questions. Lettuce sandwiches! Crab +salad! They would be serving frappe next! + +"Eat plenty of salad," Cora ordered. "We spent all yesterday evening +crabbing." + +"Will--we--eat--it?" exclaimed Walter. "I won't dare look at a frying +pan again this week, and my term ends with the week," he said, between +bites. + +Next came baked potatoes. These had been done on the electric toaster, +right aboard the _Chelton_, and while scarcely a correct following for +salad, the first was given as an appetizer, and the potatoes as food. + +The latter were served on the smallest of wooden plates, with the most +extravagant little butter plates--really sauce or cream "thimbles," +all fluted and shaped from white paper. + +A dozen of these cups had been Belle's contribution to the feast. She +spied them at the news stand, over at the point, and could not leave +them. + +Dried beef went with the potatoes, also dill pickles, and while Cora +kept the electric toaster going, and saw to it that the "kitchen" did +not run out of hot water from a reserve tank, the other girls took +turns eating their own lunches. Of course, as the boys were guests, it +was important their wants should be first supplied, a matter not +easily managed, as the girls soon found out. + +"More! More!" called Ed, who was eating the browned potato skin, or +bark, with unmistakable relish. "Potatoes are good for the nerves!" + +"Robber!" shouted Jack, grabbing a second supply that had just been +adjusted on Ed's plate. "Potatoes are good for the lungs, and I +am--winded." + +"I should like just a tiny bit more crab," simpered Dray. "Fish is +good for----" + +"We have something more," Cora announced, "don't each too much solid +stuff." + +"We couldn't," declared Belle, "not if we kept eating for the rest of +our mortal lives, it wouldn't be too much." + +"There are the 'Likes'!" announced Lottie, indicating a canoe gliding +up the bay, in which were two members of the "We-like-it" camp. "Now +we will have to hide things." + +"Hide things!" Belle tossed her sweater over her plate as she saw the +canoe. "We are lost!" + +"Oh, let us invite them alongside," suggested Lottie, who, up to that +moment had been so busy with setting out plates that she had scarcely +spoken to the visitors. "We have plenty of stuff." + +"Nix, nary, not much!" cried Ed, in protest. "That's 'Dainty' there, +the stroke, and if he gets in here he'll eat the dish pan and the +cooker. I say, young ladies should be most careful what sort of +fellows they associate with." + +But in spite of this the "Likes" were invited. Possibly they smelled +the eatables, for they came up to the side of the _Chelton_ as nicely +as if they had set out from shore with that intention. + +"Thanks," called Dainty, the fat one, "we would be pleased to," +although no one had asked him to do anything. + +"Delighted," affirmed Kent, the other of the party. "We sent our cards +by messenger." + +The canoe bobbed up and down, until Cora took an extra rope from the +_Chelton_ and threw it to Dainty, who in turn tied it to a small hook +in the green _Snake_. This served to keep the canoe from capsizing as +Dainty and Kent crept into the _Chelton_. + +Just what saved all three boats from being turned upside down in the +racket that followed only Neptune knows, for in their delight at +seeing real food the boys from the "Likes" grew so impetuous that the +"Couldn'ts" felt called upon to interfere. + +Crabs, sandwiches, potatoes--each in turn were hailed with gales of +glee, until the girls fell back exhausted with the strain of providing +and cooking. + +"Let me, let me," begged Dray, "I know exactly how to handle electric +appliances. I press my neckties--with an electric iron." + +He was over into the _Chelton_, and piling more potatoes under the +little tin cover on the toaster, before anyone had time to answer. + +"Turned or unturned?" he asked, surveying a smoking potato critically. + +"Both or neither," answered the famished Dainty between gasps. + +"I'll take my coffee now," announced Jack, sitting back in the +cushions, and flicking an imaginary speck from his sweater. + +"Now, you must wait," Cora ordered. "We have not caught up to you yet. +We are only at the entree." + +Lottie declared she never had such a splendid time in her life, and +the brightness of her cheeks catching the flame from her eyes bore out +this statement. Marita, too, seemed to have "shook her cocoon," Jack +said, his economy of language scarcely making up for the little +difference in "shook" and "shaken." Certainly she managed to climb +from one boat to another with remarkable alertness, while Bess, Belle +and Cora acted like up-to-date society maidens, only they acted a +little in advance of the "date" usually adhered to. + +"And do we have to leave these shores?" wailed Ed, sipping a real good +cup of coffee. "Why not anchor here for now and for eternity!" + +"I thought you liked camping," said Belle. "Surely you are not tired +of housekeeping. Doesn't it run smoothly?" + +"Sure," replied Ed, "but the grub is the trouble. I wonder why mammas, +with good moral intentions, train little boys to eat?" + +"Do you see those clouds," remarked Cora, "they are just swooping down +on us, and we are miles from home. My, but it is going to be a quick +shower!" + +The young people had been enjoying themselves so much that not until +Cora spoke did they realize that the sky had become overcast. + +"Oh, I'm scared to death," cried Marita. "Those clouds are so +near--you would think they would touch the water!" + +"Oh, aren't they black!" gasped Belle. + +"Come, get everything under cover," called Jack, thinking first of the +danger to the girls and their boat. "Dray can get his awning up +quickly enough, but this one has not been opened yet." + +"You boys just tie your canoe tight to us," Cora said, as the two +visitors were about to climb into their frail skiff. "You would be +washed out during the storm that's coming. Here, Bess, hold this," +handing Bess one end of the awning tie. "Belle, can you keep that rope +taut?" + +It was astonishing how quickly the scene of enjoyment turned to one of +alarm. Those of the girls who were active and eager to assist in +making things safe, did not suffer so much from fright as did they who +took time to watch the clouds. The first severe storm of Summer +usually has a more terrifying effect upon the timid ones than those +that may follow, and this one certainly was a "star" for a starter. + +The lightning soon began to flash intermittently and the thunder to +rumble. The clear expanse of horizon afforded such a wide view of the +storm that it was small wonder those out in the bay feared for their +safety. + +"Oh!" wailed Marita, as one flash of lightning seemed to dart directly +at the brass rail of Dray's boat. "I thought I was struck!" + +Her words had not been uttered before the clap of thunder followed. +This had that queer, deep sound peculiar to the water, and certainly +the heart of the storm seemed to hover over the little fleet. + +All over the bay sail boats, canoes, motor boats, row boats and every +sort of craft were making for shore, but in most of these there were +little or no goods that might be damaged by rain or waves, while both +the _Dixie_ and the _Chelton_ would have suffered severely had they +encountered a down-pour uncovered. + +The awnings were up at last, and Jack had started the _Chelton_. +Directly after that the chug of the _Dixie_ was heard. + +Then it was all storm! Raging! Roaring! Which way could two small +motor boats hope to plough their way in such a fury of wind, rain and +lightning? + +The waves had assumed the proportions of billows, and every time a +boat lifted with the crest, a huge bank of water would break over it. + +Jack clung to the steering wheel, and Cora never took her eyes off the +engine. But how they whirled and twirled! There was the _Dixie!_ It +was keeping near--one good thing. The canoe had broken loose and was +soon lost to sight. No one bewailed it; there was too serious work at +hand for that. + +"Let me look after the gas!" begged Kent of Cora. He was at her elbow, +but she had insisted on personally attending to the machine. + +"I know it better, perhaps," she shrieked back, "but stay close. If I +cannot manage I will let you know!" + +One terrific clap, then a roar sounded in the ears of all, but seemed +to paralyze Lottie. + +She fell in a heap and lay speechless. Up to this time she had been +half sitting in the bottom of the boat. + +"She's struck!" shrieked Belle. Then Cora left the engine to Kent and +took charge of the senseless girl. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE RESCUE + + +The coffee that stood on the still warm electric stove proved a +valuable aid in restoring the stunned Lottie. She had not been struck; +her nerves had simply given out, and she had collapsed. + +Finally she opened her eyes. + +"I'm all right now," she said faintly, and it was evident the shock +had dulled her terror, at least. + +"Just lie still," whispered Cora, encouragingly. "The storm will soon +be over." + +"The storm?" Lottie repeated. Then she closed her eyes again, but this +time it was only exhaustion, not faintness. + +The other girls had been roused to activity by Lottie's condition. +They could now see a rift in the clouds, and one after another hurried +to say that the storm was breaking, and it was not so bad; that boats +could be seen, and perhaps they would soon sight land. + +But those at the wheels of the boats knew how little they could do in +the way of steering. Every time the wheel was turned one way the force +of the rollers would wash it completely around. In fact they were +making absolutely no progress, and might almost as well have allowed +the powerless craft to submit to the fury of the waters. + +Cora realized this, as did the boys, but the other girls, except +perhaps Bess, felt more secure as the sound of the motor indicated +motion. The clouds were lifting, but the force of the storm seemed to +be coming in from sea, and had little to do with the appearance of the +sky. + +"Oh, if help would only come!" Cora whispered to Bess. "I'm afraid +another and worse storm is gathering!" + +"Don't give up," replied the girl, her own face gray in the mist and +spray that covered the deck even under the awnings. + +"I--see--something bobbing up and down over there!" Cora continued. +"See! It is--a big, strong boat, perhaps a lifeboat!" + +"Let us hope so," answered Bess, fervently. + +Not one word could Cora exchange with Jack, he was too far from her to +hear her voice. The _Dixie_ was still near enough to be sighted, but +how the boys managed to keep her so was as remarkable to themselves as +to those on the _Chelton_. + +"That's a boat, all right," said Bess with more vigor in her voice, +"and it looks like one from the life-saving station." + +Cora peered anxiously in the direction of the speck that played upon +the waves. + +"Hey!" yelled Jack, "there comes Denny!" + +"Denny!" repeated Cora wonderingly. + +"Oh, there's Freda!" called Belle, jumping up from the bottom of the +boat and promptly falling back again. + +"It's Freda and Denny, and someone else?" asked Bess, breathlessly. +"Oh, what a mercy!" + +"It's a boy," declared Kent. "See the rain-hat and slicker?" + +"Yes, and see Freda's hair floating out from under that rubber hat!" +insisted Bess. "Oh, I know it's Freda, and I can see Denny plainly!" + +The boat was coming nearer. On the crest of a roller it fairly soared +towards them. Then Cora saw it was Denny and Freda, with another man +whom they did not know. + +"Head up into it!" came a voice from the dory, for even in a storm +Denny knew how to make his voice carry over the water. + +Jack heard, and swung the wheel toward the left. That would put them +"into the storm," instead of on the edge of it. + +At that moment the _Dixie_ shot past and dashed right up to the dory. + +"Here," called Jack, "can you make it to get in here?" This was called +to those in Denny's boat. + +"Not now!" shouted back the man. "Keep close!" + +The roar of the storm increased. Just as Cora had predicted, the new +squall was worse than the first. For some moments all three boats +tossed and tumbled as if they had neither master nor man, but it was +the _Chelton_ that righted herself first. + +By an ungiven signal the three boats got into line. The dory was +directly in the center and the two motor boats served to shield it +from the waves that lashed them on either side. + +"Quick! Freda!" yelled Cora, grasping the line Denny tossed to her. +"You can climb in! We can hold it tight!" + +Like a sprite, the girl in the yellow slicker and rubber hat made for +the highest end of the boat, measured her distance to the _Chelton_, +and while Kent and Cora strained to hold the rope steady, sprang. + +It was not the distance, which was but a few feet, but the uncertainty +of the boats' motion that made the leap perilous. But Freda landed +safely in the _Chelton_. + +"None too soon!" gasped Cora, pressing her arms around the wet oilskin +coat. "See where they have gotten to now!" + +The boats had drifted apart again. The girls clung to Freda as if she +had really brought them safely to shore, instead of adding her own +weight to their burden, but it was the message from land that +reassured them. + +"Isn't it dreadful!" moaned Lottie, still trembling from her collapse. + +"No!" replied Freda, cheerfully. "It isn't so bad out there. But we +knew what it was on this bar, and could tell by the wind just about +where you were drifting. If Jack will let me take the wheel I will +follow Denny's orders and ride into it. Then we can go around the +island--and see a blue sky!" + +"Blue sky!" came the exclamation from the girls in unison. + +"Certainly. But I must have the wheel, Jack." + +Having satisfied them that she could run the boat, Freda changed +places with Jack, while Cora let her brother take up her watch beside +Kent. Then Cora went to the steering wheel with Freda. + +"Don't be afraid," the latter said. "I have ridden out worse storms +than this with Denny. They have a way of turning things upside down, +but you are all right as long as you can keep well on top." + +She was driving directly into the smother. The girls shut their eyes, +and it must be admitted that more than one put their fingers in their +ears, for indeed the roar was deafening. + +"There are Denny and the man getting into the _Dixie_!" breathed Cora. +"Oh, I am so glad, for it must have been dreadful to row that boat." + +"It _was_ no joke, but Denny likes hard work," Freda answered. "Now +here is where we ride it out!" + +Every bit of power was turned on and with one well directed plunge the +_Chelton_ was shot through what seemed to be a "comber" as if she had +been a submarine. + +"Oh!" gasped Cora. Freda dropped into the "V" space at the base of the +wheel. Still, she did not take her hands from the spokes. It was a +serious moment. What if the boat could not ride those waves? The time +it took to get out of the harder waves could not be estimated by the +hands of a clock or watch; but in gasping breaths, thumping hearts, +pale faces and fears--for boys as well as for girls--it must have been +a long, long time. + +Finally Freda stood up. + +"There!" she exclaimed. "What did I tell you?" + +"Sky!" they all shouted, clapping their hands like children. + +"And--it--took a girl--to--do it!" exclaimed Jack, who would not have +been blamed for hugging Freda had the opportunity offered. Instead, +however, he made his way back to the wheel and allowed Freda and Cora +a chance to look at their blistered hands, for both girls had been +tugging at the spokes. + +"Who would believe a storm would end like that?" said Belle, with the +relief that comes so quickly upon intense strain. + +"We have got to keep in out of the rain for a while," Cora cautioned. +"There are enough water-loaded clouds over there yet to dampen our +enthusiasm." + +This proved to be true, for torrents of rain followed in the wake of +the vanishing thunder clouds. + +But the wind had ceased, and the waves soon quieted. With more than a +sigh of relief the _Chelton_ girls and boys fell into the course made +now by the _Dixie_, for in that boat Denny Shane was at the wheel. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE CALM + + +A more delightful scene than Crystal Bay presented, two hours after +the squall, could scarcely be imagined. To the motor girls it was +particularly effective, as may easily be imagined. Coming back around +the island the _Dixie_ picked up the lost canoe, so this left nothing +to be worried over in the record of adventure. + +"How do you feel, Lottie?" Cora asked, when all had landed safely and +stood looking over the waters that could be so deceptive. + +"Oh, I am all right, really," answered Lottie, a little ashamed that +she should have allowed herself to give way. + +"But be careful," cautioned Cora. "Take it easy for the rest of the +day, at least. It doesn't do to try too much." + +"Grandmother!" Lottie answered, with an affectionate squeeze of Cora's +arm. "What about you? Who did all the engineering in the storm? And +who is still 'on deck' giving orders?" + +"Oh, I am strong," replied Cora, though strong as she was the last few +hours had told in the paler tint of her cheeks. + +The return of the storm-stricken ones attracted crowds of bungalowers +and campers to the beach; for, of course, craft of all sorts had been +caught in the gale. The center of interest, however, was the +_Chelton_, for that boat had already gained a reputation at Crystal +Bay. + +Not one person came in from the bay in dry clothes; in fact, many were +drenched, and naturally the girls showed the effects of the storm more +conspicuously than did the boys. Bess happened to be the one "who got +the worst of it," among the motor girls--perhaps because there was +more of her for the waves to hit. + +"You are certainly a beauty," commented Belle, who had been more +fortunate in dodging the water. "You look like a swimming lesson in +the first stage." + +"I feel as if I needed artificial respiration," replied Bess, +good-humoredly, "but I want to forget it all--all but this. Isn't this +wonderful?" + +"Almost enough to make up for the danger," Belle returned. "But wasn't +Freda splendid? What good training she must have had to be able to +manage that boat. No one else except Cora could have done it, and she +was unfamiliar with the tricks of the bay. I do feel so sorry for +Freda and her mother!" This last was said with a wistful sigh, for all +the members of the Mote were now much attached to the motherly Mrs. +Lewis. + +"Cora must have known those men were going to put the 'for sale' sign +on the cottage, when she hurried so to get Freda and her mother over +to our place the other night," went on Bess. "I knew there was +something more important than merely taking care of us." + +"Oh, of course, that's just like Cora. Fancy Mrs. Lewis never hearing +a word about it. If she had been in the house when they tacked that +sign on----" + +"It must be perfectly awful to lose everything that way; to feel it is +all an injustice, yet not to be able to prove one's own claim," said +Belle. "Tricky business men are worse to watch than spiteful girls, +and we always thought _they_ were about all that we could handle. +There's Ted and Jean. Just look at their boat!" + +Among the last of the storm-bound ones to "enter port" were Ted and +Jean, members of "Camp All Alone." They certainly presented a sorry +spectacle, as they came up to the dock. + +"How do you feel?" asked Lottie, who was down near the water's edge, +in spite of Cora's admonition. + +"I feel like playing a spaghetti obligato on a big hot bowl of soup," +replied Jean. "That would be the song to reach my heart." + +"The sun is clucking, girls," announced Walter. "She may set at any +time. Is there aught to eat at the Mote? Let us thither. We intended +to go to the store before tea." + +"After giving you your lunch!" exclaimed Cora, in surprise. + +"But, don't you see, that is why we didn't get to the store. You are +really liable for our suppers. Don't you think so, fellows?" he asked. + +"Not only liable, but accountable," added Ed. "Of course we will go +home and dress. I wonder what on earth the squall did to headquarters?" +he asked, suddenly realizing that the camp had had need of secure +moorings during the last two hours. + +"Let's look," suggested Dray, who had now moored the _Dixie_ securely, +while Jack and Cora had attended to the _Chelton_. + +"Oh, you ought to see your tent," sang out a little fellow, who wore +little beside a shirt and bathing trunks. He had been out in the +squall and had, very likely, enjoyed it immensely. + +"What's the matter with it?" inquired Jack. + +"Oh, it's all flippy-floppy," replied the urchin. "But some lady saw +it goin' and she tied it back to the stakes." + +"Some lady?" repeated Jack. + +"Mrs. Lewis, likely," suggested Cora. "I hope she did not go out in +that down-pour to tie the tents." + +"I rather hope she did," admitted her brother. "I had some things in +that tent not warranted rainproof. Hey, fellows!" he called to the +other members of Camp Couldn't. "Hurry up. Our tent was struck, they +say." + +At the word the crowd from the beach ran helter-skelter through the +woods toward the camp colony. Surely there was enough excitement +around Crystal Bay that afternoon to last for some time, and there was +every prospect now of new adventures developing. + +"Any tents down?" asked Dainty, as he puffed along. + +"Thinking of spilled grub?" queried Walter. "Nothing doing. We have a +salvage corps department to our housewives' league, you know, and they +are bound to protect the members from bandits. So you may just run +along and see what is going on at the Cattle." + +The storm had played havoc in the woods. Pine branches had scratched +deep furrows in the white sand paths, beautiful bushes of blooming +mountain laurel and mountain pinks were shorn of every bloom, and the +wild roses were scattered like pink butterflies on the catch leaves of +shrubs. + +The first camp to be met by the boys was Camp Hyphen. This was quite a +pretentious establishment with a smaller tent adjunct. The adjunct +stood for the hyphen, and it now lay in a heap like a discarded potato +sack, its store of supplies settled uncertainly in nearby bushes. + +"My, and they had just joined the League," wailed Jack. "I suppose we +will all have to put up for the reinforcements." + +"We are not an insurance company," Ed objected. "Why should we make +good for a storm?" + +"Because we have a calamity clause. You had better look up your rules +and regulations, young man. The last time I saw them they were pasted +with a daub of good family flour on our back door." + +"Thank goodness the rain will have suspended our constitution," Ed +replied. "That back door never could have gone dry through the +torrent. Don't you remember how the small showers doused it?" + +"We do," Walter answered, "and as we have the only written rules, that +same fact of the back door may stand us in well." + +"Pikers!" Jack called them with a laugh. "But will you observe the +Hys! They are going to rebuild!" + +A hyphenated name seemed the worst of luck for this camp, for there +was no strong pole or cast iron bar to hold the two tents together, +and the "hy" was merely a strip of ground that gave extra play to the +wind. The smaller tent was now being dragged from the bed of wet sand +into which it had partly buried itself, and the campers were +struggling heroically to get it back to its pegs. + +"Too bad!" called Walter, sympathetically. + +"Worse than that," replied one fellow, who looked as if he might have +been shipwrecked. + +"But we are insured--in the league, you know," shouted another member +of the demolished camp. "We are coming up for supper." + +"You are?" returned Dray. "Say, fellows," to his own camp company, +"the best thing we can do is to take what stuff we find left and hide +up at the Mote. Those fellows will come down on us and won't believe +about the washed-away constitution. Who on earth put that indemnity +clause in, anyhow?" + +"Oh, Clem did. He's studying engineering, and I suppose he is lonesome +for his math. We ought to make him pay the assessment. But I agree +with Dray," continued Walter. "We ought to 'beat it' up to the Mote, +quick. There are other tents flopping around, and everybody will be +good and hungry, you can be sure." + +"Queer how old Denny made for his shack as soon as we got in," Ed +remarked. "I wonder if he thought that would be demolished?" + +"No, not likely," Jack said, "but the old fellow was pretty wet and +played out. He's plucky, all right, and I don't believe we would be in +yet but for him and Freda. But he is old, just the same, and only his +pluck keeps him up to it. I would like to have been more decent to +him, but he won't give one a chance. We must fix it up some way, +though." + +"We sure must," agreed the others. + +"There's another," announced Jack, as a perfectly flat tent almost +blocked their way. This was evidently deserted, for not a boy was to +be seen, either lamenting or trying to right the canvas. + +"Funny," commented Ed. "They must have gone to the hotel." + +"Hotel!" exclaimed Jack. "Why, they borrowed a pint of our kerosene +this morning. They may have gone to jail." + +"Let's run," suggested Ed. "This funeral march is getting on my +nerves. Besides, I am anxious to see the Couldn't." + +In a few minutes the boys sighted their own tent. It looked all right. + +"Thank goodness!" breathed Dray, fervently. "I really couldn't stand +any more nerve-racking experiences." + +"We look intact," said Walter. "I wonder if my dress suit is still +unwrinkled." + +"Your overalls?" asked Jack, mimicking Walter's tone of voice. "Oh, I +am sure they are perfectly all right, for I saw them in the wood box +just before we left." + +"Brute!" responded Walter. "But I say! What's that? We are inhabited!" + +Sounds of voices issued from inside the tent. Jack dashed ahead and +raised the flap. + +"Robbers! Thieves! Police!" he yelled, then he had to dodge something. + +"We are here for our rights," sang out a strong voice. "We demand our +insurance!" + +"Seems to me the demand is rather violent," replied Ed, as the +Couldn'ts saw what was going on. The entire tent was filled with boys +from the wrecked camps, and they were making away with practically +everything in the line of eatables they could lay their hands on. + +"Clear out!" ordered Dray, "or we will call the police. What sort of +way is this to keep law and order?" + +"The only way," replied Hal, a boy from the "Mist." "We couldn't even +keep up in starvation, but with something to sustain us we might be +able to keep the law. As a matter of fact, it was civic pride that +compelled us to come in here and eat." + +There was no help for it now, the Couldn'ts had been robbed. Even +their party paper napkins were being made into balls. + +"Isn't it awful!" moaned Jack, falling into the one dry spot on the +sandy floor. "And we were the real benefactors of this ranch. That's +the way goodness is repaid in this hard, cruel world." + +Nobody noticed the sermon--everyone was too busy looking for food. +Finally Walter and Ed, after a private conference with Dray and Jack, +decided to give to the unfortunates all the food they possessed, "in +order to avert worse damage to their property." + +"But we are dining out," Ed put in, "and it's only fair that you +should take the provender home. We want to wash our little faces, you +know. We dine with ladies." + +"Oh, we will pay it all back," declared Clem, who was scooping up +empty boxes in the hope of being agreeably disappointed in their +contents as compared with their weight. + +"Yes--you--will!" mocked Jack, "when we can skate on the sand of the +desert. But hustle. There's not another scrap around. Land that oil +can, Ted. It's empty." + +After considerable urging, ordering and coaxing, the Couldn'ts rid +themselves of their uninvited guests, and were once again in +possession of their own tents. + +"Did the girls invite us?" asked Dray. "I hate to intrude." + +"They did not," replied Jack, "and we are not going to intrude. We are +just going over to thank Mrs. Lewis for saving this camp from +destruction. She hammered down those stakes. Look at them!" he +ordered. "Ed, did you ever wield a hammer as truthfully as that?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +SUSPICION + + +"Of course we can get supper for everyone," declared Mrs. Lewis, +cordially, when Cora spoke of the determination of the boys to come +down upon the Mote for tea. "We have plenty of food." + +"You are a wonder, Mrs. Lewis," declared Cora. "You always have a full +larder. I don't see where it comes from, for you don't even use up the +budget." + +"It's a matter of experience," answered Mrs. Lewis. "When one has to +do things, my dear, one learns how. I am so glad we have macaroni +cooked. Boys love big, steaming dishes." + +Cora gave a sigh of relief. What a blessing Mrs. Lewis had proven to +be! After finding themselves shut out of their house by a trick of the +land agents she and her daughter had taken up a permanent residence in +the girls' camp. Freda, in spite of all opposition, had installed +herself as "maid." She insisted on waiting on the table, and attending +to rooms, and helping her mother generally, although the girls wanted +her to be one of them. Everyone declared that her mother, with her +wonderful management and activity, more than made up for Freda being a +visitor at the Mote. + +Freda seemed happier now than when she shared the little cottage with +her mother, but this was easily understood. Under the new arrangement +Mrs. Lewis was earning an honest and comfortable living, and Freda was +more than willing to assist her in every way possible. Before, they +had lived in constant dread of the land agents putting them out of +their home. Even the fact that the sign "For Sale" had been placed on +the cottage did not seem so unbearable, for the girls and boys had +insisted that that was only a "scare" on the part of the land agents, +and that while the town constable would not interfere to the extent of +taking down the sign, he had promised to investigate the rights of +those who put it up. + +But town constables are slow and timid when strangers, with big-brimmed +hats, and plenty of cigars, come from the city, and order papers signed +at so much per sign--for the constable. + +The boys had come, and the supper was almost ready. Lottie looked as +pretty and as well as ever, for she had dressed in a chic pink frock, +and with a pink snood binding her brow looked as fresh as though she +had just come from the hands of a beauty specialist. After all, such +vigorous treatment and baths of spray as the girls had encountered all +that afternoon amounted to just that--beauty treatment; and Lottie was +not the only one whose cheeks glowed, and in whose eyes shone the +light that comes only from youth and health. + +The rumpus that always followed the boys' arrival was in full sway, +Jack and Ed chasing Bess around the bungalow to make her give up an +imaginary lost scarf pin, while Dray and Walter contented themselves +with the less violent exercise of rocking on the front porch, where +the other girls were scattered. They certainly were "scattered," for +there was so much to tell and hear of the afternoon's adventure that +each girl chose her own listener and her own corner. + +Everyone seemed deeply absorbed in this when Freda appeared at the +door with the warning bell. That meant that in five minutes the tea +bell would ring--only it was going to be dinner to-night. + +"That sounds fine," Dray told Freda, who in her blue linen sailor suit +looked quite as well as the young ladies who put in most of their time +"leisuring." "Our Belle is not nearly as aristocratic as that." + +"I hope dinner will bear out the reputation," Freda replied, a bit +shyly, for Dray was somewhat of a stranger to her. + +"Dinner will make that reputation immortal," Jack declared, as he and +Ed gave up their chase and joined the others on the porch. "But hello! +Here comes Denny! And he has no pipe! Something surely is wrong." + +Everyone ceased chattering as Denny Shane appeared on the tan bark +path. + +"Hello, there, Denny!" called Jack, getting up from his porch chair. +"What's up?" + +"A-plenty," answered Denny with a sweep of his cap that took everyone +in the greeting. "Where's the Widder Lewis?" + +"Oh, what's the matter, Denny?" asked Freda, aghast. "Can't you tell +me first? You know how weak mother is." + +"'Tis nothing bad," replied Denny, as he sat down on the bottom step +of the porch, in spite of all invitations to come up and have a chair. +He settled his cap more securely on his gray head. "I just want +to--tell her something." + +"But what?" insisted Freda, who now sat beside the old sailor on the +step. "I know all about the business, you know." + +"Do come in, Denny," pleaded Cora. "It will be easier to talk in the +living room. We young folks can go into the dining room and start our +dinner while you settle it all quietly among yourselves." + +"Thank you, Miss," Denny replied, promptly accepting Cora's invitation. +"That will be the best way, I guess." + +Famished as everyone seemed to be, the visit of Denny somewhat shifted +the interest from appetites, and curiosity strayed from the dining +room toward the living room. + +"What can have happened?" whispered Belle to Marita. "Denny looks +positively--angry." + +"Doesn't he?" Marita replied. "I suppose it is something about Freda's +property; don't you think so?" + +"Likely." + +The voices from the other room, that had been subdued, now rose in +tones of surprise. Freda and her mother were both trying to talk at +the same time, evidently. + +Cora was serving the dinner and endeavoring not to spoil it. The boys +were too hungry and too glad to eat to allow any interruption to +interfere with their pleasure, but the girls were prone to whisper, +and even to listen when a voice penetrated the room. + +"It was them!" they heard Denny exclaim, "and I'll have the law on +them!" + +Then Freda said something like: "Can't be sure!" + +"Sure as me name's Dinny Shane!" exclaimed the old man. "Who else +would have tied up little Brian, the dog that was never tied before in +his life! Sure I'd like to 'a caught them at it," and he brought his +fist down hard on something. + +The boys and girls exchanged glances. + +"Something doing," ventured Jack. "I'll bet Denny has seen the +witches." + +"No--banshees," corrected Ed. "Witches aren't ripe this time of year. +But Cora, don't let us keep you. Really, Walter would love to take +your place up head there, when you have finished." + +Cora was anxious to join in the conversation with Freda and her +mother, Freda having whispered to her that they would like to have her +do so as soon as the dinner was over. + +"Then I will be excused," she said, "although I hope you won't hurry." + +"Don't be alarmed," said Walter. "It's very bad to eat in a hurry." + +"I'll serve," proposed Bess, "I know just how much everyone has had, +and how much more they _ought_ to have. Dray, you cannot have another +bit of pudding." + +Dray was stretching far out for the dish. He did love apple slump. And +Mrs. Lewis knew just the right amount of cinnamon to season with. + +A hush followed Cora's entrance to the living room. Not a single word +or exclamation escaped through the Summer hangings that hid the narrow +door. + +"Do you think it's a conspiracy?" remarked Walter. "I'm glad we had +dinner first. I had no idea that a hurricane went straight to the +hunger zone like that." + +"You would be a star to go up North," commented Ed. "Just fancy +carrying stuff in your pockets and starving because the exact latitude +for grub had not been reached--wow!" + +"I would insist upon being made chairman of the latitude committee," +replied Walter, "and my moves would be swift and certain." + +The door opened and Freda entered. She was not exactly all smiles, but +the serious look on her face was not deep enough to cause comment. + +"I came to fetch your coffee," she announced, cheerfully. "You must +think we are planning to dynamite something," she added. + +"Oh, worse than that," replied Dray, getting one more spoonful of +slump on the sly. "We thought you were taking a negative vote on the +coffee. Nerves, at night, you know." + +"Let me help you," insisted Belle. "I am almost stiff from sitting, or +maybe it is from the way I _wasn't_ sitting in the bottom of the +boat." + +"Very likely," affirmed Jack. "I would not be surprised if we had to +come around in the morning with nippers to get the kinks out. I see +one forming, right now, in Lottie's cheek." + +"We will be stiff, I am sure," added Bess, "although our muscles ought +to be in good form." + +"When you have finished," Freda whispered to Belle, "we want to give +Denny something." + +"Of course," Belle replied. "How selfish we are, sitting here +'gabbing,' and neither you nor your mother has had supper yet. I'll +serve coffee at once." + +"Don't hurry," Freda said. "We have time enough." + +Everyone, however, seemed to guess at once that they should make room +for the next "table," and the coffee was swallowed, hastily. + +"What is it?" Lottie ventured to ask Freda. "We are just dying of +curiosity. What has happened?" + +"Oh, I can't tell you now," Freda answered, evasively. "I guess +everyone knew we were shipwrecked this afternoon." + +Cora appeared at the door. "May we come to eat now?" she asked. "I +have only succeeded in making Denny stay with the understanding that +we won't keep him long. He is anxious to get back to his cabin." + +"I am that," said Denny, following Cora into the dining room. "Can't +tell what'll happen now." + +"Then something _did_ happen," Bess said aside, to Marita. "I can't +imagine what." + +"Now you must eat a good meal," Mrs. Lewis insisted to Denny. "I +remember well how you always loved macaroni and cheese." + +"And I remember well how you fixed it up," answered Denny, gallantly. +"This is a bit like the old days; isn't it? When I used to eat you out +of house and home, when Len would fetch me into your house to tempt me +appetite," and he chuckled at the recollection. "Freddie, you were +only a tot then, but you could climb on my knee right smart. I guess +you were always a romp." This last was plainly intended as a +compliment, for Denny smiled at Freda as she handed him his steaming +coffee. + +If the young folks thought that by special attention to Denny and his +wants at the table they might get an inkling of the mystery that had +so excited the old man they were disappointed, for he never betrayed a +word of it, and only an occasional absent look in his sober gray eyes +betokened anything unusual. + +He scarcely took time to swallow the tempting food, however, when he +jumped up and declared he could not stay another minute, although +Cora, Freda, and Mrs. Lewis urged him to remain. + +"I must run--I really must," he insisted, "and mind what I tell you," +to Freda and Cora, "look out for yourselves!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +AN ANGRY DRUGGIST + + +"We didn't want to make a fuss over it before the boys," Cora +explained to a number of the girls, who, next morning, were seated +about the bungalow side porch, trying to get in a few stitches of +embroidery. "They would be sure to go straight at those land fellows, +and we think--Denny and all of us--that the best way to do is to watch +them carefully for a while." + +"But what happened?" demanded Lottie, impatiently. + +"We don't know exactly what, but it appears that while Denny was out, +fishing us in, someone entered his shack and ransacked it." + +"Burglars! What for? In that hut!" exclaimed Belle. + +"We don't know that, either," continued Cora. "We can only surmise. +They must have been after something that was neither money nor table +silver." She laughed a little at the idea of anyone trying to rob the +humble cabin of a fisherman. "The little terrier is never tied up and +never troubles anybody, but it seems he did object to the intrusion, +for he has a cut on one leg, made, possibly, by a heavy shoe, and when +Denny found him he was tied tight to a hook in the woodshed. Denny +will never forgive whoever tied Brian." + +"But did the thieves take anything?" Bess wanted to know. + +"Not a thing. Of course there was nothing an ordinary thief would have +any use for; but it looks as if they were searching for something in +particular, for everything was turned inside out. Every strip of +carpet was pulled up and loose boards in the floor pried away. It +really is too bad for Denny. He will have a lot of trouble getting +things in order again, and you know he is neat, for a lone fisherman." + +"Isn't that outrageous!" exclaimed Belle. "I think, Cora, we should +have told the boys and had them make a charge against whoever may be +guilty. They will be ransacking here next." + +"Oh, goodness! I hope not," cried Marita. "I think we should have +police protection." + +"And have officers ringing our door bell all hours of the night +because someone forgot to turn out the dining room light, or the side +window was found unlocked," said Cora. "They have very few officers +here, I should imagine, and if we really gave them something to do +they might insist on doing it." + +"Tell us more about it," begged Marita, who was naturally fascinated +with the "scary" part. + +"I only know that his shack was entered and all but torn down," said +Cora. "As to who did it, or why it was done, we can only surmise. But +don't talk too much about it. We want to keep it quiet." + +"Why?" demanded Marita. + +"Because by letting other people talk about it we may be able to trace +the perpetrators. We could easily find out who knew it had happened, +in that way." + +"Oh, I see," Marita answered vaguely, although her tone did not +indicate comprehension. "Freda and Mrs. Lewis are going out; aren't +they?" This question implied "why" also. + +"Yes," Cora answered again. "They have some business to attend to. I +told them not to hurry back for lunch--we would attend to it. We +really need the exercise." + +"But I am going canoeing directly after lunch," Lottie objected. + +"After lunch?" repeated Belle. "This will be before lunch--the getting +ready." + +"Oh, you know what I mean," Lottie grumbled. "It makes one's hands so +horrid to handle cooking things." + +"Were you going to paddle?" asked Cora, innocently. + +"I was going to try," admitted Lottie. + +"Then your hands will be in better shape from some active work," Cora +added, mischievously. "It is awful to try to paddle with soft hands." + +"Oh, I guess mine are not any too soft," Lottie retorted, a bit +abashed that she should have fallen into the trap. + +"Where are you going, Lottie?" asked Marita. "You know it is only safe +to canoe near the shore. The water can be very rough sometimes." + +"I don't think you ought to go in a canoe until you can swim," said +Cora. "You know a canoe is the most uncertain of craft, except that it +is absolutely certain to upset if you draw a breath in, when you +should send a breath out. Jack says a canoe is more than human, but I +won't shock your ears by saying what he thinks it is." + +"I am sure there is no danger when one sits still," Lottie insisted, +"but if you don't want me to go, Cora----" + +"Of course I want you to go, and have a nice time," Cora explained, +"but I don't want you to upset. You should wear a bathing suit and be +ready to swim in case of a spill." + +"Oh, I couldn't do that!" exclaimed Lottie, rather shocked. "I am +going with Clem." + +"Well, I hope Clem will put you in the very bottom of the boat, and +not trust to a seat. Even a big cushion is wobbly," finished Cora. +"Now, young ladies, are you ready for a tramp? We have to walk to the +old village this morning to shop, unless you want to go to the dock +and take Frank's ferry. He will take us across for ten cents each, and +we need things to eat." + +"Oh, do let us walk," begged Bess. "I haven't seen half the things +that grow around here." + +"Do _you_ grow around here?" asked Belle, maliciously, inferring that +the desired walk was needed to "reduce." A withering look was the +answer she received from her twin sister. Just the same the walk was +decided upon, and a little later the wintergreen path was alive with +voices. It was one of the delights of Summer to tramp and ramble; and +in spite of the joys of motor boating the girls were not slow to +appreciate the pleasures of dry land decked in various shades of +foliage green and floral tints. + +The mountain laurel was at its best--that little tasselled thing we +call "pfingster," but which looks quite aristocratic enough to belong +to the orchid family, made bouquets of itself in every appropriate +spot, while the glorious rhododendrons put forth a display sufficiently +beautiful and courageous to last all Summer. + +"Oh, my, look at the style!" Lottie exclaimed as a party of young +folks appeared before them. They were evidently coming from the Cliff +Hotel, and made the most of that fact. + +"There's Hilda Hastings!" Cora said, in surprise. "I didn't know she +was down here." + +A remarkably pretty girl, light-haired and wearing lilac shades, with +a parasol that reflected that becoming tint, was Hilda. She evidently +saw, and recognized Cora just as the latter spied her. + +"Cora Kimball!" cried Hilda, in the delighted way that usually marks a +meeting with a home friend in the midst of vacation time. "Where did +you come from?" + +"Oh, Hilda!" answered Cora, advancing to meet the girl who almost ran +to greet her, "I am so glad to see you. We are stopping at our own +little bunk--the Motely Mote--on Pine Shade Way. And where do you put +up?" + +Introductions followed, and girls from the Mote were plainly delighted +to meet the others from a fashionable hotel. The meeting also resulted +in a general invitation from the Cliff girls to the Motes to attend a +hop to be given the next evening at the hotel. + +"And do bring every boy you can scrape up," Hilda enjoined. "We shall +be sure to need them." + +"What dress?" asked Lottie the Vain. + +"Linen or lace, doesn't matter in the least," declared a young girl +whom they called Madge. "We will wear whatever we fall into for +dinner." + +"All right," answered Lottie for all, fluttering at the prospect of a +real hotel hop. "We will wear whatever we may find pressable--we have +the awfullest time with wrinkles down here." + +"Don't mind them," answered Hilda. "Wrinkled clothes are a seaside +fad, you know. If you have none you will be suspected of being the +Press Club Trust. That's a clothing club--not literary." + +With other pleasantries the two sets parted, but not until all sorts +of invitations to come and visit had been extended and accepted. + +"What nice girls," the timid Marita remarked as the fashionable ones +turned into the lane. "Isn't Hilda pretty? Are they from Chelton?" + +"She is and they are," answered Cora. "But I do not see how we are +going to that hop. The boys were going to take us out in a sail boat, +you know." + +"Oh, I would be frightened to death in a sail boat," objected Lottie. + +"And perfectly safe in a canoe," observed Belle. "Charlotte, that is +scarcely understandable." + +"Well," said Lottie, turning a deeper shade of pink, "I am afraid of +that big pole in a sail boat. It looks as if it would sweep one's head +off every time it veers around." + +"Just duck," advised Belle. "It's a great teacher of the proper mode +of ducking; and that is not to be despised, Lottie, whether one has to +duck harsh words, or big poles. But I want to go sailing. I can't see +what fun there is in going into a stuffy hotel on a beautiful +moonlight evening when we can go out on the water and see something." + +"Don't you think we would see something in the Cliff ball room?" +challenged Lottie. + +"Peace!" called Cora, good-naturedly. "It looks as if we might have to +take a vote on the question. But I can't say that the boys would be +willing to accept a negative answer." + +"Oh, won't they come?" Lottie asked in surprise. + +"I don't believe they will forego the sail," replied Cora. "However, +we won't decide until we ask them. If they want to postpone the water +sport we may take in the hop." + +This was looked upon as a reasonable solution of the problem, and +while some of the girls hoped for the sail, perhaps an equal number +wished to go to the dance. + +It was a delightful morning, and the woods were fairly alive with young +folk. It seemed there could be very few mothers or chaperones at Crystal +Bay, for even in marketing hours it was always the girls with baskets, +or the boys with huge paper bags, who were encountered. On benches along +the beach, to be sure, "elders" might be found sunning themselves and +ruining their fading sight with alleged art embroideries, but in the +matter of housekeeping it was youth that prevailed at the bay. + +It was a long walk to the general store at the point, but there was a +resting place there, and if one wanted to tarry and felt like dancing, +a very accommodating young man sat near the piano ready to play at the +shortest notice. Belle and Lottie usually took a twirl while Bess and +Cora did the shopping, but to-day having walked instead of coming by +motor boat they sank into a seat at the water's edge and watched +others try the newest steps. + +Around the drug counter a number of men were engaged in earnest +conversation with the salesman. Belle needed cold cream and was +waiting her turn to tell the clerk so. + +"We just about have it," said one man to the man behind the counter. +"There is no question about the legal right; it is only a matter of a +lost document. We may get along without it, but we understood you were +a life-long resident, knew the people, and thought perhaps you could +tell us something about it. Of course we don't want anyone's time for +nothing." + +The clerk scratched his head and looked over his glasses. The scale +was tipping with white stuff and a customer was waiting. + +"That may be so," he replied, slowly, "but I should think, young +fellow, that them folks themselves would know more about their own +business than anyone else. Why don't you go to them?" + +"Do you think for a moment that anyone is going to do themselves out +of house and home like that?" asked the taller man, angrily. + +"Oh, that's the game; is it? Well, see here! Do you think for one +moment that I, Bill Sparks, am going to do a poor widow out of house +and home to suit you!" + +He had raised his voice to angry tones, a remarkable thing for Bill to +do in business hours, but those around who heard had no blame for him. +The strangers left without taking up their cigars or paying for them. +Bill looked after them quizzically. + +"That's the way to answer that sort," he remarked to no one in +particular. "Too many of them speculators around the bay, lately. Cold +cream?" he inquired of Bess. + +Cora had seen the men, although she was in the grocery department, and +when Bess told her what she had overheard she looked troubled. + +"We must not put that off another day," she told Bess. "I am convinced +that those men are dishonest, for why should they go sneaking around +that way? Why not ask for information from the proper persons?" + +Scarcely had she spoken than Mrs. Lewis and Freda appeared in the +doorway that led from the boat landing. Freda's face was flushed, and +Mrs. Lewis's was pale. + +"What is it?" Cora asked, hurrying up to them. + +"They have started a mill dam across the creek," replied Freda. "If +they turn that water into use for mill purposes the whole shore of the +bay will be ruined!" + +"Don't go so fast, daughter," urged Mrs. Lewis. "We can stop them; we +must get a lawyer at once." + +"Of course," answered Cora, "I think they call it an injunction, or +restraining papers. Who is your lawyer, Mrs. Lewis?" + +"We haven't any," Freda replied for her mother. "We were told if we +engaged counsel they would eat up the whole thing. Oh, isn't it +dreadful!" and the brave Freda was on the verge of tears. + +"I'll see Jack at once," declared Cora, "and if there are not +trustworthy lawyers here we will fetch our own down from Chelton. The +senior member of the firm would do anything reasonable for our family, +and when mother is away she leaves Jack and me full discretion. Let us +hurry back before the boys get out on the water. Bess, call Belle and +Lottie." + +The look of relief that spread over the widow's face was a more +eloquent form of thanks than words could have been, so without further +delay they all hurried to the motor boat in which Mrs. Lewis and Freda +had come over. It was from a bay front hotel and had come over for the +eleven o'clock mail. + +The boy at the wheel started up as soon as all were seated, and as the +launch was a good-sized one the trip across the bay was both +comfortable and enjoyable. Of course Belle and Lottie wanted to know +more than they could be told about the coming of Freda and Mrs. Lewis, +so they had to content themselves with a word and a look from Cora. + +The boys were at the landing as the boat came in. This was exactly +what Cora had wished for. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +AN ALARM + + +"I will go to Lamberton this afternoon," declared Mrs. Lewis, after +having conferred with Cora and Jack. "I know a man there who was a +great friend of my husband. He told me to come to him any time I +needed advice, and he is a prominent lawyer. I have never troubled +him--had no good cause to until now." + +"I think that would be a good plan," Jack agreed. "I fancy as soon as +we come down on those fellows good and hard, they will be forced to +show their hand." + +So it was arranged that Mrs. Lewis should go to the town, some +twenty-five miles away. + +"And Freda," she said, "don't worry if I am not back until the last +train, for if he should happen to be in New York I will wait for him." + +"Be careful of that cut in the old road," Freda warned. "Mother, you +know it is always dark through there, even in broad daylight, and +after dark it is pitchy." + +"I can't get any train until one o'clock," went on Mrs. Lewis, "so, +Freda, we will hurry back to the bungalow and leave everything ready +for tea. We can prepare things while the girls are lunching." + +"Now, you needn't do anything of the kind," objected Cora, "we girls +can well enough take care of ourselves once in a while. Why, Mrs. +Lewis, you have us all spoiled. We are supposed to do most of our own +housekeeping in Summer camp, you know." + +"Indeed, you do that now," returned Mrs. Lewis, who was more than +grateful for the opportunity for work that Cora had afforded to her. +"I like housekeeping when there is someone to keep for." + +"You had Freda," Jack reminded her. + +"And she wouldn't let me do enough to keep in practice," replied Mrs. +Lewis. "Here we are, and the young ladies are stringing beans!" + +"Now that is what I call sweet of you," Jack observed as he greeted +the four girls, all seated around a low porch table with knives and +beans plying from basket to pan. "Who told you we were coming to +dine?" + +"You positively are not, Brother Jack," Cora declared. "You boys think +our place is an elastic delicatessen. Why, we never know whether we +are going to have enough for another meal or not, and we can't go to +the point again to-day." + +"All right, Little Sister. If you have the heart to eat good string +beans from old Henry's garden, and know that your brother is starving +for a single spoonful, just go ahead. They will rest heavy on your +heart, though. I warn you." + +"You may help!" offered Lottie. "Just take that paper bag and scoop up +the ends. Bess spilled them." + +"I absolutely refuse," replied Jack, haughtily, "to be a scraper-up +for such mean people. No, sir! I have just been manicured," and he +gazed lovingly at his much-neglected hands. + +"It does seem as if all we do is to get ready to eat and then eat," +said Belle with a sigh. "I would never keep house for myself if I +starved. At least, I would manage on fewer meals. We have only been to +the point since breakfast and now it is time to eat again." + +Cora had gone in with Freda and Mrs. Lewis and very soon afterward +luncheon was announced--the beans were laid over for the evening meal. +Jack stayed, of course, and wondered (so he said) why the other +fellows did not come in search of him. + +An hour or two later Mrs. Lewis hurried off to the little station, +after promising Freda that she would be most careful of the dark road +known as the "Cut." + +"For, Mother dear," warned Freda, "I do believe those land sharks +would do almost anything to scare the information out of us. They have +threatened to have it at any cost, you know." + +"Oh! I am surprised at you being so nervous, dear," replied the +mother, kissing Freda reassuringly. "I never felt less nervous. In +fact, I think now things will soon be righted. Good-bye, dear. And +have a good time with your friends." + +Freda watched the little woman step lightly away over the white path. +Then, with a sigh, she turned back to the bungalow. + +"Freda! Freda!" called Bess. "You have not eaten yet, and I'm to do +the dishes. Hurry this minute and just fill up! I must be finished in +time for a nap, for I am nearly dead." + +Freda did eat, though somehow she felt unusually depressed. Even +Cora's encouraging words, given into Freda's ear when no one else was +at hand, did not seem to cheer her. + +"Just come down to the bay and go out with me," urged Cora. "I want to +try the boat with the new control, and I don't want to go out alone!" + +"Of course I will go with you," assented Freda. "I have only to change +my blouse." + +The motor trip was delightful. The _Chelton_ seemed to have missed the +guiding hand of its fair owner, for while the new piece of mechanism +was being put in Cora had not been using the boat. + +"How different from the one we rode in this morning," Freda remarked. +"I always feel as if something were going to explode when I sit near a +noise such as that old engine made. I wonder that a big house like the +Laurel can keep such a tub." + +"Guests are always glad to get on the water," answered Cora, "and I +suppose they are not particular as long as they do not have to pay +extra for the sail. Most of the hotels down here hire out their +launches, I believe." + +They headed straight for the island, and then ran around it to come +back on the east shore. In many of the passing boats were young +friends of Cora, and all sorts of messages were shouted back and +forth. + +"I guess I had better go in early," Cora remarked, "as we really have +not decided on this evening's plans. Some want the hop and others want +the sail." + +"And I have a lot to do, too," Freda said. "Mother and I have to take +so much time from what we would like to do for you girls." + +Cora protested against this, of course, declaring that the girls never +had such help before, and regretting that Freda should take the matter +so seriously. + +"I cannot get over the attempt to rob Denny," Cora went on, as they +neared the bungalow. "I am glad they chose a time when he was not +around, for he would certainly fight. He thinks he has the same +strength he enjoyed years ago, and I hate to think what might have +happened had he met those fellows." + +"Wasn't it awful?" commented Freda. "And to think that it must have +been on our account, for I am convinced that those men were searching +for papers they believe Denny has." + +"No doubt about it," said Cora. "But he has none; has he?" + +"He has never mentioned such a thing, and with us worrying as we are, +I am sure that if he had any of our papers he would show them to +mother. I know my grandfather trusted him more than he even trusted my +father, his own son; but that is easy to understand, for Denny had +settled for life here, near the property, while father was likely to +go to any part of the world, had he lived. He always wanted to +travel." + +"This is a splendid afternoon to write letters," Cora remarked, "and I +owe a very long one to mother. That, at least, I will get off on the +last mail." + +"I have some to write, too," Freda rejoined. "I had that very task in +mind. I have to write to those 'in-laws' I interviewed last week. They +will think I am very ungrateful not to have written since my return. +So long," she called out cheerily. "I hope when mother comes back we +will all have cause to rejoice. That friend of father's is a very good +lawyer." + +"But he may not be able to say much until he has had a chance to look +into the case," said prudent Cora. "We must not expect results so +soon." + +"Oh, I do," persisted Freda. "I know when he hears all that mother has +to tell him he will be able to say something quite definite." + +So the girls parted, Cora to go to her letter writing, and Freda to +hers. It seemed the entire household at the Mote was very busy that +afternoon, some resting for the evening, others arranging the fussy +trifles so important to young girls. + +It was getting dark when Freda came out at the side porch and looked +anxiously down the road. + +"Mother should have come on that train," she told herself. Then she +waited to hear the train pass at the second crossing. "She would be on +her way up now if she came," Freda reflected, "I'll get my things on +and go to meet her." + +Coming down the stairs she called Cora, but receiving no reply she did +not wait to find her. She expected to be gone only a few minutes and +it was not worth while to wait to tell Cora where she was going. + +The dusk came down quickly. Even as Freda passed under the big elm +tree she could not see the moss at its trunk. + +She hastened on, and was almost startled into a scream as she heard a +noise. It was but the tinkle of a bell. + +"Someone on a bicycle!" exclaimed Freda, in relief. + +The bell tinkled again, and through an opening in the trees she caught +a glimpse of the messenger boy from the railroad station. He saw her +and called: + +"A message for you!" + +"A message for me?" she repeated in surprise. "Who can it be from?" At +once she thought of her mother. + +"I don't know," answered the lad. "Mr. Burke, at the station, took it +over the telephone, and wrote it out. Here it is," and he held up an +envelope. "It's all paid, and you don't have to sign the book; it +isn't a regular telegram." + +With trembling fingers Freda tore open the envelope. There was a +single slip of paper inside and on it was written in the hand of the +station agent: + +"If you would do your mother a service come to Wickford Junction at +once." + + * * * * * + +"Wickford Junction!" gasped Freda, as the messenger boy rode away. +"Why, how did mother get there? That's in the opposite direction from +Lamberton. Oh, there must have been some accident, and she has been +taken there! I must go to her!" + +Hastily Freda looked in her purse. She had barely money enough for the +ticket, but she would go. On eager and anxious feet she sped toward +the railroad depot. It was getting much darker. + +"Oh, Mr. Burke!" Freda gasped, when she saw the agent behind his +little wicket gate, "I've got to go to Wickford Junction. Mother is +there." + +"She is, Freda? Why I sold her a ticket to Lamberton this morning." + +"I know. But there must have been some accident. I just got a message +from Wickford Junction." + +"I know, for I wrote it down. The person wouldn't give any name, but +I'm sure it wasn't your mother." + +"No, it couldn't have been! She's hurt!" + +"Hurt?" + +"Well, of course I'm not sure, but I fear she is. She must have told +someone to send it. I've got to go. How much is a ticket?" + +"Eighty-five cents. The train's due now. There she comes," he added, +as a distant whistle sounded. + +Freda had barely time to get her ticket and hurry aboard. + +"Don't worry," the agent called out to her. "There hasn't been any +accident, or I'd have heard of it." + +But Freda did worry. All the way in the train she was a prey to +nervous fears, and when the Junction was finally reached she was +hardly able to keep up. + +But there was no sign of an accident, and her mother was not there +when she alighted--the only passenger to get off. + +Wickford Junction was hardly more than a flag station, and there was +an agent there only part of the time. He was not there now, but in the +dingy waiting room, where Freda went to make inquiries, she found a +shabbily dressed woman. + +"Are you Freda Lewis?" the latter asked, starting forward. + +"Yes, I am. But how did you know? Where is my mother? Did you send me +a message? Oh, tell me quickly, please!" + +"Now, dearie, don't get excited," soothed the woman in accents that +only made Freda worry more. "It will be all right. I sent for you to +come here because I wanted to have a chance to talk to you alone. Now +if you'll sit down----" + +"What do you mean?" asked Freda, quickly. "I don't know you. What do +you want?" + +"Just to have a little talk with you. I thought it better to take this +means than to go to your house. Sit down. You and your mother are +trying to establish a claim to some property; aren't you?" + +"Yes, that is well known. But what do you----" + +"Never mind about that. I will tell you all in due time. Have you any +papers to prove your claim?" + +"Any papers?" asked Freda, suspiciously. + +"Yes--deeds, mortgages or the like. I have studied law, and I may be +able to help you. I have had experience in many disputed claims." + +"We don't know where----" Freda was about to say that they did not +know where the papers were, when she thought better of it. Was it +right to confide thus in a stranger? + +"Now, dearie, tell me everything," said the woman. "You can trust me. +Or, better still, if you will come with me to the country hotel where +I am stopping we will not be disturbed. Better come with me," and in +her eagerness she caught Freda by the arm. + +"No, no! I'll not go!" gasped the girl. "I want to find my mother. Who +are you, and why do you ask me these questions? Did you send me that +false message? What was your purpose in so deceiving me?" + +"I did not deceive you!" replied the woman, sharply. "It was for the +good of your mother that I asked you to meet me here. I will explain +all to you later, but not here. I can do you good. Only trust me. Come +with me. I have a carriage waiting outside." + +Again she caught Freda's arm. + +Then the harassed and nervous girl burst into tears. A kindly-faced +hack driver, waiting outside in the hope of having some belated +traveler hire him, heard. Dick Bently was a benevolent sort of chap, +with daughters of his own. Hearing a girl crying he went into the +depot. + +"What's the matter, Miss?" he asked, and his tone was reassuring. + +"Oh, it's my mother!" gasped Freda. "She isn't here, and this--this +person sent me a message----" + +"It was for your good, my dear," interrupted the strange woman, with +an evil smile. "I'm trying to settle that property matter for you, my +dearie!" + +"Who are you, anyhow?" asked Dick belligerently. He did not like the +appearance of the woman, nor her tone. + +"It is not necessary for me to tell you anything," she replied, with +assumed dignity. "If I am not wanted, I will go." + +"Maybe it would be better," said the hackman. "Now, can I help you, +young lady?" he asked kindly, as the woman hurried off. + +"I only want to go home to Crystal Bay, and to my mother," said Freda, +and she briefly explained the circumstances. + +"Well, it's too bad, but I'm afraid you can't get back to Crystal Bay +to-night," declared the hackman. "The last train has gone." + +"The last train gone!" gasped Freda. "Oh, what am I to do?" + +"Now don't you worry a mite," replied Dick. "I'll just take you home +to my wife, and she'll look after you. Don't you worry," and, after +some persuasion he prevailed on Freda to go in his ramshackle rig to +his home, where she was kindly received by his wife. + +"I'll go back to the station to meet the express that sometimes stops +at the Junction," explained Dick, "and, Miss, if there come any +inquiries for you I'll tell where you are. But you'll have to stay +with us till mornin', I reckon." + +Freda's mind was easier now, but she could not imagine what had been +the object of the strange woman, nor why she had sent the telegram. + +Meanwhile, back in the bungalow, there was much alarm when Freda was +missed. And when her mother came home safely, and found her daughter +gone, she almost collapsed. + +"Where can she have gone?" she wailed. + +Hasty inquiries were made, and one of the boatmen told of having seen +Freda start out through the woods, and meet the station messenger boy. +After that it was easy to trace her. + +Mr. Burke told of the 'phone message, and of having seen Freda board +the train for the Junction. + +And then a new difficulty arose. There was no train to the Junction +that night; but Mrs. Lewis was in such a state that nothing short of a +visit to the place would satisfy her. There was no telephone available +then, the Junction station being closed. + +Cora solved the trouble. + +"We can go to Hartford in our boat," she said, "and from there it is +only a short trip to the Junction. We could hire an auto." + +This was done. In the _Chelton_, the motor girls and the boys went to +Hartford, making good time in getting there. A neighbor came over to +the bungalow to stay with Mrs. Lewis, who grew more alarmed as the +night deepened. + +The trip by auto, which was taken only by Jack, Cora and the +chauffeur, was marked by the mishap of a blown-out tire, but that was +all. When the Junction was finally reached, there, true to his +promise, was the hackman, and to Cora's excited inquiries he gave +reassuring answers. + +Yes, Freda was all right, and safe at his house. He directed Jack and +Cora there, and soon all were reunited. Then explanations were +offered, Freda's fears about her mother were quieted, and the trip +back to Hartford made, where the motor boat party was anxiously +waiting. + +"And now for the bungalow!" sighed Cora, as she took her place at the +familiar wheel. A little later it was reached, and mother and daughter +were together again telling their stories, and speculating much about +Freda's strange message and the mysterious woman. But the puzzle could +not be solved. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A BAD CASE OF NERVES + + +"Would the boys have anything in their camp, do you suppose?" asked +Bess, with a long sigh. + +"Anything for what?" asked Lottie, as she looked surreptitiously into +the mirror of her vanity box. Lottie was always worried about the +effect of late hours. + +"Is it something to eat?" asked Marita in her timid way. "If you want +that, Bess, I'll go over and help you carry it." + +"Gracious, I hope we don't need anything in the food line," said Cora. +"I thought we stocked up with enough to last the rest of the week." + +"I want something for my nerves," went on Bess. "They're on the ragged +edge, and I jump at every sound." + +"And no wonder," agreed Belle, as she went over to a hammock suspended +between two trees. "Get something for mine, while you're at it, Bess. +I think they use bromide, or something like that. But I doubt if the +boys would have any. They don't seem to have a nerve in their bodies, +though goodness knows they're 'nervy' enough at other times. Pardon +the colloquialism," she murmured as she sank back. + +It was the morning after Freda's return, and the night had been rather +a troubled one. No one in the girls' camp felt much like eating +breakfast, though they managed to nibble at a bit of toast and drink +some coffee. + +The alarm about Freda had giver the motor girls the keenest anxiety, +and while Jack and the boys tried to make Freda and the girls believe +the woman and the telephone message had been a joke, it looked to be +too serious a matter to be lightly passed off. + +The odd woman who had met Freda at the country junction had shown, by +her questions, that she knew much about the disputed property. And her +manner had been, in a way, rather threatening. It was too unusual to +have been accidental, at any rate. + +But Freda had reached home in safety. The motor girls were glad of +that, but they were all suffering from a bad case of nerves, though, +so far, Bess and Belle had been the only ones to admit it openly. + +"I wouldn't take any of that bromide, if I were you, Bess," said Cora, +as she straightened out some of the things in the living room. The +usually homelike apartment had taken on a most woebegone appearance +since the previous night. Everyone had left everything just where she +had happened to let it fall. + +"But I've got to do something!" declared the plump twin. "My hand +shakes--see, I can't hold it still," and in proof she held it out. + +"It does shake," spoke Marita, in an awed whisper. "Maybe she had +better have a doctor." + +"Doctor! Nonsense!" laughed Belle. "Her hand trembles because she had +her arm up so long this morning, trying to do her hair up that new +way. Sit down, Bess, and you'll be all right in a few minutes." + +"But I can't sit still, that's the trouble. I'm so nervous!" and Bess +hastily arose from a chair in which she had seated herself, and began +pacing up and down the broad bungalow porch. + +"I have an idea!" exclaimed Cora. + +"Don't let it die of lonesomeness," suggested Belle, with a laugh. +"Think up another and have a pair of ideas." + +"I will," replied Cora, promptly. "I think if we go out for a little +spin in the boat it will do us all good. It's a lovely day--too lovely +to let our nerves get the best of us. What do you say?" + +"I'll do anything rather than sit here and think of what might have +happened," sighed Bess. + +"Oh, you're taking it entirely too seriously," put in Lottie, as she +used a buffer on her already pink and polished nails. "What could have +happened?" + +"Why, they might have taken Freda away!" + +"Who would?" + +"Those persons--men or women--or both--who are trying to get +possession of the Lewis property. And, in a way, we might have been +involved," went on Bess. + +"I don't see how," observed Cora. + +"Why, we've given advice to Freda and her mother, and if things went +wrong some persons might say we had an object in it." + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Belle. "You've surely got a case of nerves, all +right. Come on, let's do as Cora says and take a trip on the water." +She got out of the hammock--Belle could accomplish this difficult feat +more gracefully than anyone else, Cora always said. + +Then they all went down to the little dock where the _Chelton_ was +tied, and Cora, with a quickness born of long experience, ascertained +that there was plenty of gasoline and oil in the craft. She tested the +vibrator and found the current good, though at times, when not +suffering from a fit of stubbornness, the engine had been known to +start with the magneto. But it was not safe to depend on it. + +"Are you all ready?" asked Cora. + +"I guess so," answered Bess. "I guess I won't have to have bromide, +after all. I feel better already." + +"I thought you would," laughed Cora. "Marita, just straighten out that +stern flag, will you? Thank you. You're a dear!" + +"Look out!" laughed Belle. "When Cora begins calling names there is no +telling when she will stop." + +"Don't worry," was Cora's answer, as she stooped over to crank the +motor. It started on the first turn and soon the _Chelton_ was +chugging a course over the sun-lit waters of Crystal Bay. + +"Do you see anything of the boys?" asked Cora, as she turned to the +others from her place at the steering wheel. + +"No, there's their boat--at least Jack's apology for one--tied to the +stake," said Lottie. "Does that boat ever go out two days in +succession, Cora?" + +"I don't believe it does," answered Jack's sister. "It was a sort of +makeshift, anyhow. Jack only got her running because someone said it +couldn't be done--it was a sort of dare. But the poor old boat seems +to suffer from some intermittent fever. It runs one day and rests the +next." + +"And the _Dixie_--she's resting, too," went on Bess, as she looked +down the bay to where Dray Ward's fine racing craft was moored. "The +boys are not around yet." + +"Probably sleeping," murmured Belle. "The indolent creatures!" + +"Folks who live in glass houses--and all the rest of it," said Cora. +"It's nearly eleven, and we haven't been long away from the breakfast +table ourselves." + +"It's a case of carrying coals to Newcastle; isn't it?" asked Lottie, +drying with her filmy handkerchief a drop of water on her dress. + +"You mean the pot calling the kettle black," laughed Cora. Lottie +never could get her proverbs just right. + +"Oh, well, it's all the same as long as there's black in it," +responded Lottie. "I knew I had part of it right." + +On went the _Chelton_, and she had that part of the bay all to herself +for the time being. A little breeze ruffled the water, and the sun +shone brightly. Under these calming influences of nature the +girls--even nervous Bess--felt themselves growing calm, and at peace +with the world. The trouble of the night before seemed to melt away, +and assume a less sinister aspect. But Cora could not get over the +feeling that something akin to a tragedy had nearly happened. + +"And it may again," she thought. "I do wish we could help Freda and +her mother, but I don't see how. Land troubles are always so +complicated." + +As Cora turned the wheel and swung the boat about in a wide circle, +she was aware of another craft coming toward her. She did not remember +having seen it before, and as it drew nearer she noted that it +contained but a single occupant--a young man, who, as Lottie said +afterward, was not at all bad-looking. + +The young fellow guided his boat closer to the _Chelton_, and after +she had done making mental notes of the new craft's characteristics, +Cora had an idea that the stranger wanted to speak to them. Such +evidently was his intention, for he slowed down his engine, so as to +muffle the noise of the exhaust, and called out: + +"On which point is Bayhead, if you please?" + +"Over there," answered Cora, pointing to a promontory that jutted out +into the bay. "But be careful and go well out when you round it. There +are some dangerous rocks at low tide. How much do you draw?" + +"Thirty-four inches." + +"That's too much to try the short cut." + +"Thank you for telling me," went on the young man. He certainly was +good-looking. Even Cora, conservative as she always was, had to admit +that. + +"We are going over that way," went on Cora. "If you like, I will pilot +you." + +"You are very good," returned the young man. "If it will not be too +much trouble, and not take you out of your way, I would like very much +to have you show me the course. I'm a stranger here." + +Cora and the motor girls had been on so many trips on land and water +that they had learned how to meet and accept the advances of +strangers, even when they were good-looking young men. There was, too, +a sort of comradeship about a motor boat that lent a chaperonage to +the effect of girls talking to men to whom they had never been +introduced. Cora's chums realized this and thought nothing of her +offer. + +"Follow me," Cora called, as she opened the throttle a little wider, +and the _Chelton_ shot ahead. The other boat came right after, with a +promptness that caused Cora to think it had more speed than she at +first suspected. + +"My nerves are much better--now," said Bess in a whisper to Lottie, as +she stole a surreptitious glance at the young man. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +A LITTLE RACE + + +For some time Cora held the lead in her boat, with the other following +in her wake. The girls talked among themselves, speculation being rife +as to what the young man wanted in Bayhead. + +"It's an awfully swell place," said Lottie. "I spent one Summer there, +and it was nothing but dress, dress, dress all the while! Either for +motoring, tennis or bridge. Oh, I got so weary of it!" + +"But you liked it--especially the dressing," put in Belle. + +"I should have, my dear, I don't mind admitting that, if only I had +had enough gowns," went on Lottie, with a sigh. "But I didn't have +half enough. Papa was dreadfully poor that year. I believe he said +there had been a 'slump in the market,' whatever that means. + +"Anyhow I know I couldn't begin to dress as those in my set did. So +that's how I remember Bayhead. I should like to go there again. It's +perfectly stunning." + +"That young fellow doesn't look to be any too well dressed," remarked +Bess. + +"Naturally he wouldn't--going out in a boat," said Cora. "Something +seems to be the matter with his engine," she added, for the stranger +was bending over it. + +Whatever it was did not seem to be serious, for the lone motorboatist +straightened up again presently. He increased his speed, and came +alongside the _Chelton_. + +"We seem to be some distance from the point," he said, with a smile. +"Don't you want a little race? You can call it off before we get near +the danger spot." + +Cora was rather taken aback by the proposal. It was one thing to +direct a stranger, even when he was a youth good to look at, and it +was all right, too, to even pilot him on his way in strange waters; +but it was quite another matter to have the aforesaid stranger invite +himself to a race. It was like having a beggar apply at your front +door, and when given a sandwich, calmly ask for soup. + +"I don't believe----" began Cora, but Bess slid up to her on the long +seat and whispered: + +"Oh, do, Cora! It won't do any harm, and it will complete the nerve +cure you have begun so well. Besides, we need a little practice in +racing. We may take part in the water carnival down here." + +"Well, if the rest of you are willing, I'm not going to be the one to +object," returned Cora, smilingly. + +"Will--will it be dangerous?" faltered timid Marita. + +"Not a bit--you dear little goose!" exclaimed Belle, putting her arm +about the shrinking one. "We've raced lots of times--and won, too!" + +"Against such appealing strangers?" asked Lottie, raising her eyebrows +in a rather affected way. + +"Oh, it's all in the game!" laughed Bess. Certainly her nerves seemed +all right now. + +The young man--he had refrained from giving his name, either by +accident or design--had been bending over his motor during the +whispered talk among the girls. Now he looked up again. + +"Well," he asked, pleasantly, "is it to be a race?" + +"If you like," answered Cora, calmly. + +"I certainly do like. I'm going to enter some of the Bayhead races, +and I'd like to see how my boat will go." + +"But it's a lighter boat than ours," returned Cora, who was not +willing to give nor take an unfair advantage. "And we have five +passengers." + +"I've thought of that," the young man went on. "I'm willing to accept +a handicap. I'll drop back about five hundred feet and allow you that +much." + +"That would be fair," assented Cora, who, from having taken part in +various races knew what would be about right. + +"Then here goes!" cried the stranger, as he throttled down his motor. +"I'll give you a hail when I'm coming on." + +The _Chelton_ at once began drawing away from the _Pickerel_, which +was the name of the stranger's boat. + +This craft, it seemed, had a clutch arrangement, so that the motor +could be allowed to run without the propeller revolving. Cora's boat +was likewise equipped. + +"Are you going to beat him?" asked Lottie, as she moved back where no +drop of spray could spot her blue dress. + +"I am certainly going to try," said Cora with a smile. "What does a +race amount to if you don't try to win?" + +"Oh, of course, but then I thought this was only in fun." + +"It's a race for keeps," announced Cora. "And I think we'll win. That +last gasoline we got is the best we ever had. It gives us more power, +and the _Chelton_ is running like a sewing machine, as Jack says. I +think we're going to win!" + +She opened the throttle a little wider and the _Chelton_ responded +instantly. + +A moment later there came a hail from the rear. + +"Distance enough! I'm coming!" + +Cora glanced back. + +"He certainly was generous," she said. "That's a good five hundred +feet." + +"He looks like a generous chap," murmured Lottie. She was again +polishing her nails. Possibly she thought she might be introduced to +the stranger, later on. + +There was the sound of a louder exhaust from the boat astern. The +young man evidently was going to try his best to win. + +But Cora had no intention of letting him do so. She had shrewdly +estimated the ability of his boat, as well as she could, though of +course it was difficult, in the case of a craft she had never before +seen. + +"Sit on the other side; will you, Lottie dear?" asked Cora, as, +grasping the steering wheel with firmer fingers she looked at the +course ahead of her. + +"Oh, I'm so comfortable here," objected Lottie. + +"I know, but the boat isn't trimmed properly, and she can't do her +best unless she is." + +"Like us girls," remarked Belle. "We, too, must be properly trimmed to +do our best." + +"Trimmed!" exclaimed Lottie. "I don't see any frills on the _Chelton_." + +"You may later, if we win the race," said Bess. "But what Cora means +is that the boat isn't properly balanced. There is too much weight on +the starboard side." + +"Oh, then I'm on the starboard side," said Lottie. + +"Yes, or on the right, according to the new navy rules," agreed Cora. +"But, really, someone must shift." + +"But if I go over there I'm afraid the spray will get on my dress," +objected Lottie. "And it spots terribly, especially with salt water." + +"I'll change over," said Marita. "I don't mind if my dress does get +wet." + +"You're a dear," sighed Lottie, as she settled back among the +cushions. + +"And you're a bit selfish," thought Cora. + +The _Chelton_, now in better trim, skimmed over the bay. Behind her +came the _Pickerel_. And, as Cora looked back she noted that the young +man's craft was slowly overtaking her. + +"He has more speed than I thought he had," she mused. + +Foot by foot the young man urged his boat onward. Clearly he was not +of that false chivalrous type that permits a lady to win whether she +has the ability or not. To a really athletic girl, pitted against a +man in an equal contest, nothing is more humiliating than to realize +that her opponent is not putting forth all his powers. There are some +men who will never try too hard to win from a woman. This stranger was +evidently not of that type, and Cora valued him accordingly. + +"Can you get up any more speed?" asked Belle, anxiously. + +"I've got a bit left," said Cora, as she opened the throttle a little +wider. "And I think I'll need it," she added. + +"He certainly is coming on," added Belle in a low voice. "Are we +getting too near the rocks, Cora?" + +"No, it's safe so far. But I think I'll go out a bit. I want to win +this race." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +MORE SUSPICIONS + + +Cora Kimball well knew the capabilities of the _Chelton_. She had +steered other motor craft in many races, and was aware, almost to a +revolution, just how much speed was available in a boat of this kind. +And while she did not know what the rival boat could do, she was too +expert at water sports to use up her last reserve of speed. + +So, even while she watched the other boat creep up on her, she did not +open the throttle to its fullest extent, nor did she advance the +timer, which controlled the spark, to the limit. + +"I'm going to be in shape to spurt if I have to," reasoned Cora. + +Foot by foot the other boat crept on. + +"He's going to win!" exclaimed Bess, in disappointed tones. + +"Don't be so sure," laughed Cora. "Remember, we have been in races +before, and in many a seeming hopeless one we have come out ahead." + +"You girls are just--wonderful!" breathed Marita, as she crouched on +the seat she had taken. + +"You don't know us yet," laughed Bess. "Wait until you see some of the +things Cora can do." + +"Don't believe her!" exclaimed Cora, turning for an instant to smile +at the girl who always seemed to be effacing herself for others. Then +as she saw the spray coming up against the bows, and dashing over +Marita, she added: + +"Oh, you poor child! Why didn't you say you were getting wet?" + +"Oh, I don't mind," was the brave answer. + +"But you must," insisted Cora. "Here, put this on," and from a forward +locker she pulled an oilskin coat, flinging it back to Marita, as at +that moment the boat yawed when a big wave hit the bows, necessitating +a firm hand on the wheel. + +"Oh, it's getting rough!" exclaimed Lottie, apprehensively. + +"Put away your nail-buffer and hang on," advised Bess. "It may be +rougher before it's calmer." + +"I--I wish I hadn't come," mourned Lottie. + +"You aren't going to be ill, I hope," said Cora, quickly. + +"No, but my dress may be all spotted----" + +"Here, take this," offered Marita. + +"No, indeed, you keep that," said Cora, quickly. "There are more in +the lockers. Belle, will you get them out? It is a bit rough out +here." + +They had gotten beyond the protection of the arm of land that enclosed +the bay, and with a strong tide running there were more waves than +there had been at first. + +But the girls did not mind, save perhaps Lottie, and her chief anxiety +was for her dress. An oilskin coat, however, averted this danger, and +she settled back in her place. + +Cora looked back at the oncoming boat of the young man. It was within +ten feet of her now, and as she opened the throttle of the _Chelton_ a +trifle more, she tried to get a glimpse of the controlling mechanism +of her rival's craft. + +She stood up to do this, and, as she did so there came a slapping wave +against the bow of her boat. Cora staggered at the wheel, and Lottie +screamed. + +"Be quiet!" commanded Cora. "It's all right." + +"But we roll so!" + +"There _is_ a bit of a sea on," admitted Cora, calmly. "It will be +over in a few minutes, though. I'll have to tell him we're close to +the danger point, and will have to slow down." + +Determining to end the race in good style, Cora opened up the throttle +full, and advanced the spark to the limit. The _Chelton_ responded +with a sudden burst of speed that carried her some distance ahead of +the rival craft. + +But the young man was evidently not going to take his defeat easily. +The louder exhaust from his engine told that he, too, had put on more +power. + +But it was not enough, for as Cora raised her hand, in automobile-signal +fashion, to warn her follower of an impending stop, the end of the +impromptu race course was reached. + +The girls had won. + +"What is it?" called the young man as he stood up at his wheel. + +"The rocks," answered Cora. "We can't race any more." + +"We don't need to," he replied. "You won. I congratulate you!" + +His tone was sincere, his manner courteous, but, as Cora looked into +his boat, when it rushed up alongside her slowed-down craft, she noted +that his throttle was still partly closed. + +Instantly a suspicion came to her. + +"He did not try to win!" was the suggestion that flashed to her mind. +"He didn't try!" + +For a moment her brain was in a whirl, and she had an idea that she +ought to tell her chums what she had in mind. Then she decided to be +cautious--to wait and watch a little longer. She wanted to find out +his reason. + +Who was this strange young man who seemed so friendly? What did he +want in Bayhead? Why had he proposed a race? And then, after proposing +it, why had he not won it when, clearly, he might have done so? + +These were the questions that Cora asked herself as she slowed down +her motor. + +She had used up her limit of power in an honest endeavor to win, but +the young man had not. He had held back purposely. + +Why had he done it? + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +ODD TALK + + +"Sorry I couldn't beat you!" called the young man, waving his hand to +the girls in Cora's boat. "You had more speed than I thought." + +"Are you sure it was a fair race?" asked Cora, looking at him sharply. +Her tone was peculiar. + +"A fair race? What do you mean?" he asked, wonderingly. "Do you think +I should have given myself more of a handicap?" + +"Oh, no indeed!" exclaimed Cora, blushing that he should have mistaken +her meaning. "You were generous--too generous, I think." + +"Oh, that's all right. I'm not complaining. Of course it was a fair +race. The faster boat won." + +"I'm glad you think so," spoke Cora, meaningly, as she thought of the +partly-closed throttle. + +"Oh, yes indeed. I'm satisfied!" he exclaimed in generous tones. "But +is the dangerous place you spoke of near here?" + +"Right ahead," answered Cora, pointing to where the water was swirling +in over some partly-hidden rocks. "Keep well out, and when you round +the point you'll be at Bayhead." + +"I'm greatly obliged to you," was his reply. But Cora did not look at +him, nor return his bow. She swung her boat around and started back +for the bungalow. The young man, with a curious glance at her, bent +over his motor to make some adjustment. In another instant his craft +shot ahead, seemingly at greater speed than it had made at any time +during the race. + +"I don't think much of him," observed Lottie, as she took a more +comfortable position on the cushions. + +"Why not?" Belle asked. + +"Because he didn't even invite us to a tennis game, to say nothing of +ice cream sodas, and there's a place in Bayhead where they have the +most delicious chocolate!" + +"Lottie!" gasped Marita. "Would you have gone with him?" + +"Oh, well," with a shrug of her shoulders, "I don't know as I would, +only--he might have asked us." + +"No, he wouldn't," said Cora, and the manner in which she spoke caused +her chums to look curiously at her. + +"What makes you think so?" inquired Bess, merely for the sake of +argument. She had stopped eating sweets--for the time being. + +"Because he had a special object in view in asking us to race, and +once that was accomplished he had no further use for us." + +"Why, Cora Kimball!" cried Belle. "What makes you say that?" + +"Because I think it. You didn't see all that I did." + +"What did you see?" asked Bess, eagerly. "Did he have some sort of +weapon? Or do you think he tried to get us over this way, hoping we +would be wrecked on the rocks? Maybe he was a wrecker, Cora. I've +heard that there are some of those terrible people in this section." + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Cora. "I only mean that his boat is a very +powerful one. He did not 'let her out,' as Jack says, to the limit. He +could easily have beaten us if he had wanted to." + +"The idea!" cried Belle. "I don't like that kind of young man." + +"Nor I," agreed Cora. "Not because he refused to win when he could, +but because of what may be his object. That he had one I'm certain." + +The girls turned to look at the other motor boat. It was rounding the +point to Bayhead now, and seemed to be going at remarkable speed. + +"How fast it goes!" exclaimed Lottie. + +"Yes, much faster than the _Chelton_," responded Cora. "I told you he +was holding back." + +"What could have been his object?" asked Belle. + +And that was a question all the girls asked themselves. + +"Well, my nerves are better, anyhow," observed Bess, as she threw back +the clustering hair from her face so that the wind might caress her +cheeks, now flushed with excitement. + +"That's good," spoke Cora. + +"The antidote of the race and the excitement of the mystery, as to why +the nice young man didn't want to win, are guaranteed to cure nerves +or money refunded," said Lottie with a laugh. "Where are you going, +Cora?" + +"Back to the bungalow, of course. Mrs. Lewis may be anxious about us. +It is nearly lunch time, anyhow." + +"Then it is time for us to be anxious about ourselves," said Bess. +"But I don't believe Mrs. Lewis will worry. You know she went away +right after doing up the breakfast things. She said she was going to +consult some friends, for those she saw last night could not help her, +and she may not be back yet. So there's no need to hurry." + +"Then I have an idea!" cried Cora. "We have our tea outfit with us, +and some crackers. Why not go ashore and have a little picnic? It will +complete the nerve treatment, perhaps," and she smiled at Bess. + +"Good!" cried that girl. "It will be just the thing. Are you sure you +have enough crackers, Cora? If not we could stop at the store on the +point and get some." + +"Oh, there are more than are good for you," was the answer. + +Cora changed the course of the boat to send the craft over toward a +pretty little wooded cove where the girls had often gone ashore for +luncheon. They always carried in the boat an alcohol stove, with the +necessary ingredients for tea. + +Soon the _Chelton_ was beached at a place where the small waves would +do her no damage, and the girls were preparing luncheon. + +They carried their own fresh water with them, not depending on finding +a spring. Condensed milk, sugar and some tins of sweet crackers +completed the meal, which was served on the grass for a table, paper +napkins adding to the luxury of the occasion. + +The picnic place was on a spit of land that jutted out into Crystal +Bay. It could be approached from either side, and on one side there +was some dense shrubbery that hid the water from sight. + +It was when Cora and her chums were in the midst of their impromptu +luncheon that they heard a boat grate on the beach that was hidden +from view by the bushes. + +"Someone is coming!" exclaimed Bess. + +"Maybe it's the boys," remarked Belle. + +"It's about time they followed us," suggested Lottie. "They don't give +us a moment's peace." + +"Do you want it?" asked Cora pointedly, for Lottie had been rather +taken up with Jack, of late. + +"Oh, I don't know," answered the girl. "Of course the boys are nice, +and----" + +"'Handsome is as handsome does,'" quoted Belle. "But that doesn't +happen to be the boys." + +"How do you know?" asked Bess. + +"I just had a glimpse of them through the bushes. It's a strange motor +boat--neither the _Dixie_ nor the _Lassie_." + +"Who is in her?" asked Cora. + +"I can't make out. Listen!" + +She raised her hand for silence, but there was no need. The girls +ceased chatting at once, and silently followed Cora toward a hedge of +underbrush, some little distance from where their luncheon was spread. + +Then they heard some odd talk--at least it seemed odd until they +understood the meaning of it. + +"So you had a race with them?" one voice asked. + +"Yes," replied another, who had just landed on the spit of the land. +"I raced 'em, but I didn't beat 'em!" + +"Couldn't you?" + +"Couldn't I? Say, you know what the _Pickerel_ can do when she's +pushed to it. I held back the throttle." + +Cora started. Her suspicions were unexpectedly confirmed. + +"You can see them from over here," whispered Belle, pulling Cora's +sleeve. Cora moved to where an opening in the bushes afforded a +glimpse of the strangers. + +She saw three men, and one of them she knew in an instant to be the +young chap who had raced with her. His boat, too, was on the beach. It +was from her that the men had come. + +"Well, you know how fast the _Chelton_ can go now, that's sure," spoke +a voice. + +"Yes," answered the young man, "I know. We needn't fear her if it +comes to a chase. That's what I wanted to make sure of." + +"Then all we have to do is to get the rest of the evidence, and the +property is ours." + +"Yes. We can turn the widow and the daughter out, all right, if we get +the necessary papers. Then we can go ahead and build the dam across +the brook." + +"That's going to arouse a lot of opposition!" exclaimed the third +member of the trio. "It will spoil the park." + +"Well, we can't help it. We need the dam for power for our factory, +and the people don't really need the park. We'll do it." + +"You mean we'll make Shane do it!" exclaimed the young man who had +raced with Cora. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE NIGHT PLOT + + +The girls looked at one another with startled glances. Cora bent +forward eagerly in order to better hear what else was said. She had no +compunctions as to eavesdropping, feeling that it was justified under +the circumstances. + +"They must mean Denny Shane, the old fisherman," whispered Bess. + +"Hush!" cautioned Cora. Not only did she want to listen, but she was +fearful lest the men on the other side of the hedge discover the +presence of herself and her chums. + +"Yes," resumed the speaker, "we must make old Shane do it. Once we get +him in the proper frame of mind he'll testify just as we want him to. +And we need some testimony to offset that of the widow and her girl. +Otherwise we'll never get the property without a long delay." + +"But how can we get Shane in the proper frame of mind to testify as we +want him to?" asked another of the trio. + +"Leave that to me," answered the one who had been in the fast motor +boat. And Cora started as she noted the difference in his tone now. It +was hard and cruel, while, in speaking to her, his accents had been +those of a cultured gentleman, used to polite society. There was a +metallic ring to his voice now that boded no good to Denny Shane. + +"Yes, I guess we'll leave it to you, Bruce," said a voice, "though +maybe Kelly could put it over him with a bit of blarney. You know +Shane is Irish." + +"Hush! No names, and not so loud!" cautioned the one who had been +addressed as Bruce. + +"Who'd be listening?" asked the other. + +"You never can tell, Moran," was the retort. + +"There you go!" exclaimed Bruce, fretfully, and the girls knew it must +have been the one called Kelly who spoke that time. + +There was a movement on the other side of the bush, and Cora, with a +sudden motion, crouched down, signalling the others to do the same. It +was only just in time, too. Fortunately for the girls they were in a +sort of depression, and by crouching down they got out of sight, as +one of the men came forward to peer through the underbrush. He saw +nothing, as was evidenced by his report a moment later. + +"There's not a soul here," he said. "There's been some picnic party +around, but they've gone. It's as deserted as a graveyard." + +"I'm glad we came away from our luncheon," whispered Cora, as the men +resumed their talk. The wind sprang up, for a moment, and carried +their tones away from the girls, so that only an indistinct murmur +could be heard. Then there came clear talk again. + +"Well, what's the program, then?" asked one whom the girls could tell +was Moran. He was the same man they had seen before in the drug store. + +"Get at Shane first of all," decided Kelly. "I'm willing to let Bruce +do it, even if I am Irish." + +"We'll all have to call on him," said Bruce, grimly, "but only one +need actually do the business. We've got to deal with him in two ways. +We've got to make him tell what we want brought out in court, and +we've got to scare him so that he won't tell what we don't want known. +And there are two ways of doing that." + +"How?" asked Kelly. + +"First we can offer him a reward. It will be worth it, even if we have +to pay something to have him testify as we wish. The committee allowed +us a certain sum for--well, let us say for witness fees. I'd rather +pay him a hundred dollars and have it all over with. It's better to +have a friend than an enemy, and you never can tell which way a thing +like this is going to swing." + +"Sposin' he won't take the cash?" asked Moran. + +"Then I have another plan," and Bruce laughed bitterly. "I guess I +don't need to say what it is." + +"I'm wise," remarked Kelly. "Only--not too rough, you understand. He's +a feeble old man." + +"No rougher than's necessary," agreed Bruce. + +Cora clasped her hands, and looked with fear in her eyes at her chums. + +"We----we mustn't let them harm dear old Denny!" whispered Belle, +shivering with nervousness. + +"Hush!" cautioned Cora. "Don't talk--think!" + +There was a movement on the other side of the screen of bushes, as +indicating that the men were about to leave. + +"Well, we'll let it go until to-night then," said Kelly. + +"Until to-night," agreed Bruce. "And we know, in case of a slip-up, +that there's no motor boat around here that can catch us when we make +our get-away." + +"There's the _Dixie_," suggested Moran. + +"She's out of commission, I heard," responded Bruce. "And she won't be +in shape for a day or so. The _Chelton_--well, I gave her a try-out a +while ago, and I know what she can do." + +"Oh, do you?" thought Cora. "Perhaps you don't." + +"I have to laugh when I think how I took those girls in," went on +Bruce. "I pretending that I was a stranger in these waters, and they +kindly offering to pilot me. I guess they took me for some society +swell of Bayhead." + +"The mean thing!" hissed Lottie. + +"Well, you can do the society act when you have to," said Kelly. "Only +I guess we won't need that now. Shane doesn't move in society circles. +How'd the game with the widow's daughter work out?" + +"It didn't work at all. 'Confidence Kate' didn't gain her confidence. +That's why I'm switching to Shane," answered Bruce. "But we'd better +be going. There's lots to be done." + +Cora and the motor girls listened in silence as the men crunched their +way down the beach to their boat. + +A little later they were chugging away in the speedy _Pickerel_. + +"Isn't that just awful!" gasped Belle. + +"It's a villainous plot!" exclaimed Bess. "Oh, I'm so nervous! I know +I'm going to cry--or laugh--or do both." + +"Bess Robinson, if you do anything foolish, or faint, you shan't do a +thing toward helping to save Denny Shane!" exclaimed Cora, vigorously. +"And I know you do want to help him." + +"I certainly do. I'll behave. Oh, let me have a cup of tea." + +"I think we'll all be better for it," assented Cora. "Come, girls, +let's eat and then we'll get back. We, too, have a great deal to do." + +"Do you mean that you girls are going to try to----to outwit those +desperate men?" asked Marita, her eyes opened wide. + +"We certainly do mean to!" insisted Cora. "Who else would do it?" + +"Why, the police." + +"There are only constables in a place like this. We can do better than +they--especially with the boys to help." + +"Oh, of course, the boys!" agreed Marita, and she seemed relieved. + +"I must say it was most providential that we heard what they said," +spoke Lottie, looking to see if there were any grass stains on her +dress. + +"Indeed it was," assented Cora. + +It was rather an excited little luncheon, but the hot tea did them all +good, and then, rapidly talking over what they had just gone through, +and making all sorts of plans to outwit the schemers, the girls got +into their boat again, and headed for the bungalow. + +"Of course we must warn Denny at once," said Cora, and to this the +girls agreed. "Then we'll tell the boys, and see what they suggest. +But I almost know what Jack will say!" + +"What?" asked Lottie. She was very much interested in Jack. + +"Oh, he'll want to hide and capture the villains 'red-handed,' as he +calls it." + +"And I don't know but what that's as good a plan as any," remarked +Belle. "I'd like to see them do it!" + +Cora and her chums found Mrs. Lewis rather worried over their absence +from the bungalow. She had returned, unsuccessful, from seeing her +friends. Freda was recovering from the shock and fright of the day +before. + +"Where have you been?" Mrs. Lewis asked Cora. + +"Oh, just off on a little picnic," was the answer, and Cora motioned +to her chums to say nothing of what they had heard. They had agreed +that it would be better for the widow not to know, at least for the +present. + +"Dinner will be ready soon," suggested Mrs. Lewis. + +"We'll have it a little late to-day," replied Cora. "We have had some +tea, and I want to go over and see Jack. They haven't been around here +since we left; have they?" + +"Oh, yes," answered Freda. "They were all here, wanting to know where +you'd gone; but of course I couldn't say. Then they went out in your +brother's boat, but they didn't get far before they had a breakdown." + +"It's the _Lassie_'s day off again," laughed Belle. + +"Why didn't they take the _Dixie_?" asked Bess. + +"Something is the matter with her, too," replied Freda. + +Cora and her chums exchanged meaning glances. The talk of the men was +confirmed. Evidently they had their own way of getting information. + +"Well, we'll go over to Camp Couldn't," suggested Cora, after a pause. +"They're probably there now." + +They found the boys grouped about, in and out of the tent. + +"Here they come!" + +"Where have you been, girls?" + +"We've been lonesome for you!" + +"How bright the day seems now, to what it was before!" + +Thus chanted Jack, Walter, Ed and Dray Ward, as they saw the advancing +girls. + +"Oh, stop that nonsense, Jack!" exclaimed Cora, as her brother waltzed +forward to do a two-step on the moss with timid Marita. + +"Why, what is wrong?" + +"Lots!" she exclaimed, and her manner must have impressed Jack, for he +grew grave at once. + +"Has anything more happened since last night?" he asked. + +"There has. We've discovered the meanest plot to harm Denny Shane. +Listen." + +"We list!" recited Walter, but Cora quieted him with a look. + +Then began the telling of the overheard conversation. + +"Well, what do you know about that?" + +"The nerve of that chap wanting a race!" + +"We'll race _him_, all right!" + +"And so they're going to do up old Denny, eh?" + +"Well, I guess we'll have a hand in that!" + +These were the comments of Jack and his chums. + +"Now don't do anything rash," begged Cora. + +"We've got to do _something_," insisted Jack. + +After some consultation it was agreed that the boys should go over and +have a talk with the fisherman, and then, among themselves, they would +decide on what was best to be done. + +Meanwhile the girls would go back to the bungalow, there to await the +report of the boys. Nothing would be said to Mrs. Lewis, for she had +had alarm enough. + +It was anxious waiting for the girls, and they were so nervous that +they did not enjoy the dinner Mrs. Lewis had prepared, at which lack +of appetite she wondered much. But she ascribed their distraction, and +their rather strange comments, to the alarm of the day before. + +Finally the _Lassie_, which had somehow been induced to "mote," was +descried coming across the bay from the direction of the old +fisherman's cabin. + +"Come on, girls!" called Cora as she saw the boys. "We'll go down and +meet them." She did not want Mrs. Lewis to hear the talk. + +"Well, Jack?" asked Cora, as the boat came in. + +"Not well--bad," he said. "Denny wasn't at home, and no one knew where +he had gone. So we left a note for him, and we'll be on hand +to-night." + +"What about us?" asked Bess. + +"You'd better stay here," said Jack. "No telling what sort of a row we +may run into, and you're better at home." + +"I think so, too," agreed Cora, but the look she gave her chums had +more meaning in it than the mere words indicated. Bess and the others +understood. + +"And now," went on Jack, "we'll proceed to find out why the _Dixie_ +won't mote. We want her in shape to-night." + +"That's right," assented Dray. "I think it's the carbureter. I'll get +a man from the garage to look it over." + +"We'll want a fast boat if the one those fellows have is as speedy as +you girls say," remarked Walter. + +"Couldn't we take the _Chelton_?" asked Ed. + +"The _Pickerel_ beat us to-day," said Cora. "Besides, it might be good +to have her in reserve. Try and have the _Dixie_ fixed up." + +"We will!" promised her owner. + +The remainder of the day seemed like a dream to the girls. Never had +time passed so slowly. They were waiting for what the night might +bring. + +The boys made several other trips to the fisherman's cabin, going +afoot through the woods, as the _Lassie_ had again gone on a strike, +and a man from the garage was working over the _Dixie_. + +The fisherman's cabin could be reached in two ways, but the water +route was preferred by the young people, even though it was longer. + +The boys could not find Denny at home, however, and planned to be at +his cabin just at dusk, and to remain there until something happened. + +"So we'll be sure to be there when the men arrive," said Jack. + +Finally twilight came, and with the falling of night the repairs to +the _Dixie_ were completed. She seemed to be running better than in +some time. + +"Well, here we go!" remarked Walter, as the boys took their places in +the swift craft. "We'll let you girls know what happens--as soon as it +happens." + +"You'd better!" laughed Cora. "We'll be very anxious." + +She and her chums had come down to the dock to see the boys leave on +their trip to save Denny from an unknown danger. + +Then came more anxious waiting. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE BREAKDOWN + + +"Well, he hasn't come back yet." + +"No. It's sort of queer, too. I wonder where he can be keeping +himself, all day?" + +"Maybe those fellows have got to him after all." + +Jack Kimball and his chums, landing at the fisherman's dock from the +_Dixie_, thus commented when they paid another visit to Denny's cabin, +and found him still absent. + +"No, I don't imagine anything has happened," said Jack. "You know he +often goes off and stays a long time in his boat. He's got a crazy +sort of motor in it, that runs about as often as the one does in the +_Lassie_. He may be stuck somewhere." + +"Or else waiting the turn of the tide," suggested Ed. + +"That's right," chimed in Dray. "I've heard him say that certain fish +won't bite when the tide's running out, and that you can catch others +only when it's coming in. Maybe he is hanging around for that." + +"Then he ought to be back soon," declared Jack, "for the tide turned a +half-hour ago." + +"If he's far out in the bay it will take him a long while to come in. +His boat doesn't make very good time," observed Walter. + +The boys walked around the cabin. It was closed and locked, and the +warning note they had left for the fisherman was still pinned to the +door. + +"Which shows that those men haven't been here," said Jack. "That makes +me fear that they may have gotten to him before us." + +"Why so?" asked Ed. + +"Well, it's evident that the men haven't been here since the girls +gave us the alarm. If they had they'd have torn up that note. Then, +too, you'd think, if they were going to try to make Denny do what they +wanted in the way of giving testimony, they'd be getting at it. He +goes to bed early, as everybody around here knows, and locks up. If +those fellows wanted to get at him without breaking in they'd come +early. All of which makes me think that they may already have had a +serious interview with him." + +"I hope not," observed Walter. "I'm more inclined to believe that he's +out on the bay somewhere. If he is he's all right." + +"Say, fellows, I've got an idea!" cried Jack. + +"Hold fast to it--they're scarce," remarked Ed. + +"No, but seriously. Suppose we cruise about a bit. We needn't go far +from the shore, and we can have an eye on the cabin. In case Denny is +out on the water we may pick him up. Then we could tell him what was +on, and warn him. We could do it even better than on shore here, for +there's no telling but what some of those fellows may be in hiding +around here," and Jack cast a look about. It was dark, but a full moon +was coming up to make a light that revealed most objects. + +"Then if there is a possibility that someone may be in ambush here," +said Walter, "we'd better keep a bit more mum. But I think Jack's plan +is a good one. Let's cruise about a bit, but keep within sight of the +cabin." + +No one had any objections so, after making a casual search about the +cabin, and not finding anyone in hiding, the boys again got aboard the +_Dixie_ and started to cruise on the bay, that was now sparkling in +the moonlight. + +Jack and his chums kept a careful watch for Denny Shane's boat. There +were several motor craft out, for the night was one that invited trips +on the water--calm and still, with a gentle breeze that had in it the +tang of salt mingled with the sweet odors of Summer. + +"I feel just like singing," remarked Ed, after a pause during which +the _Dixie_ cruised about, not too far from the cabin. + +"Have some regard for our feelings," begged Jack. "Remember that we +are under a great strain." + +"And Ed would be, too, if he sang," said Walter. "At least I would +feel constrained to remonstrate with him." + +"Huh! Think no one can sing but yourself!" retorted Ed. + +"Moonlight always did have a queer effect on him," remarked Jack. + +Round about they cruised, and they were thinking of returning to make +sure that Denny had not reached his cabin by some other route, unseen +by them, when the motor of the _Dixie_ gave a combined cough, groan +and sneeze, and stopped short. + +"There she goes!" exclaimed Ed. + +"You mean there she _doesn't_ go!" corrected Walter. + +"Get the talcum powder," suggested Jack. + +"I'm sure Dray didn't use the tooth brush on her before we came out," +spoke Jack, accusingly. + +The boys had a way of doing the most absurd things, from a mechanical +standpoint, whenever their motors refused to mote. They would dust +talcum powder on the cylinder tops, or tie a piece of baby-blue ribbon +on the pet-cock when they had exhausted every other means of making a +rebellious motor operate. + +And the odd part of it was that, often, when they had done these +seemingly silly things, the boat would start. So they were rather +superstitious about it, and they did carry a tin of talcum powder with +them, much to the amusement of the girls. + +In turn the usual sources of trouble were looked for and eliminated +one after the other. + +No wires seemed to have broken, the current was good, the vibrator +buzzed when the contact was made and there was plenty of gasoline in +the tank. + +"Put in a new spark plug," suggested Jack. + +"New ones went in to-day," answered Dray. "They can't have sooted +already. It isn't there." + +"Give her a little more air," proposed Walter. "I think she's getting +too rich a gasoline mixture." + +"I'm not going to touch the carbureter!" declared the young owner of +the _Dixie_. "It was trouble enough to get her fixed before. Hand me +that talcum." Gravely he dusted some on the pump rod. + +Then another attempt was made to start the motor, but it only sighed +dismally, and refused to do its duty. + +"I say!" cried Jack, looking up from where he had been examining the +carbureter with an electrical pocket flash, "we're drifting out to +sea!" + +"So we are!" agreed Ed. "Say, can't you get her going?" + +"Can't seem to," replied Drayton. "I'll sell this boat and get another +as soon as I can. She's a nuisance!" + +"Well, we sure are broken down," sighed Jack, "and how we are going to +get back to the cabin is more than I can figure out." + +"Let's whistle for help," suggested Walter. + +"Look!" exclaimed Jack, pointing in the direction of shore. "There's a +light in Denny's cabin!" + +They all looked, and saw a flickering gleam of fire near the shack +that had been deserted all day. + +"Something's doing!" cried Ed. "And we're stuck out here!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +AT THE CABIN + + +"Girls," declared Cora Kimball, "I can't stand it any longer! I've got +to do something--or have nervous prostration." + +"And that's just the way I feel!" said Bess. "Waiting is the most +nervous thing in the world." + +"Have another chocolate," suggested Lottie, helping herself from the +box on a table near her. + +"How dare you suggest such a thing?" demanded Bess. "As if I wasn't +trying to do all I could to reduce." + +"Oh, well, I was thinking of your nerves," observed Lottie. + +"But what is it you want to do, Cora, dear?" asked Marita. + +"I want to go to Denny's cabin, and see what has happened," was the +answer. + +"What!" cried Belle, with an exclamation of surprise and alarm. "Tramp +through the woods at this hour of night?" + +"It isn't any such great, or late, hour of night," replied Cora, +calmly, "and the woods are not dark. There's a lovely moon. But I +don't propose to go through the woods. What is the _Chelton_ for if we +can't use her?" + +"Cora Kimball, do you mean to say that you'd go out on the bay, and +over to Denny's cabin, after dark, with the prospect that some +desperate men are going to attack him?" asked Bess. + +"The boys are going to be there," answered Cora, still refusing to +become excited. "Besides, they may need our help. We could take a +prisoner or two in our boat." + +There was a chorus of screams. + +"Cora Kimball--how dare you?" demanded Belle. + +"Oh, I meant if he was tied hand and foot," went on the leader of the +motor girls. "Villains are always tied hand and foot, you know. They +can't move. They're gagged, too. I think I should insist on having our +villain gagged. It might happen to be that young man who raced with us +to-day, and he might get sarcastic if he could talk. Yes, I think he +must be gagged." + +"Oh, Cora, you're hopeless," sighed Lottie. "What would my mother say +if she could see me now." + +"She'd tell you to stop eating chocolates and come with me," returned +Cora, firmly. "I'm going to the cabin." + +"I--I'll go with you," volunteered Marita, and then she blushed at the +attention she attracted. + +"Well, if Marita isn't afraid to go, I'm not," announced Lottie, with +spirit. "Come on, Cora." + +"Oh!" gasped Bess. + +"Oh, dear!" echoed Belle. "Do we have to stay here all alone?" + +"Either that, or come with us," invited Cora. "I'm going over to the +cabin in our boat." + +There was a step at the door of the living room, and Mrs. Lewis looked +in. + +"Did I hear you girls say you were going out?" she inquired. + +"Just for a little trip on the water," replied Cora, signing to her +chums to keep silent. "It is so lovely with the moon, and we won't go +far." + +It was not a great way to Denny's cabin. + +"Well, don't be gone too long," cautioned the widow. "You must +remember that I am, in a way, responsible for you girls." + +"Oh, we'll be careful," Cora promised. "We'd take Freda with us, but +perhaps she had better stay with you." + +"Yes, I think so. Besides, she is so nervous after what nearly +happened last night, that I'd rather she wouldn't go out. Oh, if only +things were settled! If only we were sure we could get that property +back, and not have to worry about it being taken away from us!" + +"Have they been annoying you of late?" asked Cora, thinking perhaps +there had been some developments of which she was unaware. + +"No, nothing special, since that horrid woman. But it is a constant +worry to me." + +"It must be," returned Cora, sympathetically. "Well, we will hope for +the best." + +Cora did not say so--even to her chums, but she had great hopes that +something might develop from the events of this night. If the +unscrupulous men could only be caught in some wrong-doing a hold might +be obtained over them that would enable them to be defeated in court. +Thus their claim to the property--which claim Cora felt sure was a +false one--might be disproved. + +That there were papers in existence which would show the widow and her +daughter to be the rightful owners Cora did not doubt. Freda's +grandfather, from all accounts, was a careful business man, if +eccentric in some ways. He would not have come into possession of +property without having the papers to prove his claim. And he was not +a man to put them in some safe deposit vault and leave no memorandum +as to finding the key. + +Perhaps they were concealed in some nook or cranny in the widow's +home. Cora made up her mind to have a search made after this night was +over. + +Then, too, Denny might be able to come upon them. Eccentric in some +ways, as Freda's grandfather had been, he might have hidden the papers +in Denny's cabin. + +That was a new thought. Perhaps the scheming men knew this, and that +is why they wanted to attack the old fisherman. + +"We simply must go to his cabin," decided Cora, "and find out what has +happened. I can't wait any longer." + +Wraps were quickly donned, and down to the dock went the girls. The +_Chelton_ was in running order, and soon they were out on the moonlit +waters of the bay. + +"There's a light in his cabin," said Cora, as they came out from +behind a point, and had a view of the little cove where nestled +Denny's cottage. + +"I hope the boys are there," remarked Bess, "and that they have the +villains all tied up and ready for delivery." + +"Ugh!" exclaimed Belle. "If they have I wish they'd send them by +parcel post instead of asking us to take charge of them." + +"They'll be harmless," guaranteed Cora. "Besides, the _Dixie_ can't +hold more than the boys; our boat is larger." + +"We could let the boys run this one, after the men are tied in her," +suggested Lottie, "and we could come home in the _Dixie_." + +"Never!" exclaimed Cora. "You can't rely on her. I'll stick to the +_Chelton_." + +But if the girls had only known that, at that moment, far out on +Crystal Bay, was the ill-fated _Dixie_, drifting to sea, while the +boys tooted hopelessly for aid on the compressed air whistles! + +The _Chelton_ made a quick and uneventful trip to the fisherman's +cabin. From it a light peacefully glowed. + +"There's no one here," announced Bess. "Not even the boys." + +"Be careful," warned Cora. "It may be a trap. Let us go up softly." + +"But what about those men?" asked Belle. "Maybe they have taken Denny +away with them, and the boys, too." + +"Don't be silly," advised Cora. "Let's go up and look in." + +As they peered in the cabin window they saw Denny seated in an easy +chair. He was alone, and across his knees was the red oar of which he +seemed so fond. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +UNEXPECTED HELP + + +"Well, we certainly are up against it--good and proper!" exclaimed +Jack. "And I'm glad the girls aren't along!" + +"Why?" asked Walter, leaning back against the gunwale to rest after +laboring over the refractory engine of the _Dixie_. + +"Because they can't call me down for my slang. And believe muh--as the +telephone girls say--I can use slang now and then--some!" + +"It is aggravating; isn't it?" asked Dray. + +"Aggravating, my dear chap, is hardly the word," drawled Ed. "It's +humiliating!" + +He brought that out in such a droll way that the others laughed. + +For the engine of the motor boat still refused to be coaxed into +going. They were being carried out toward the mouth of the bay on the +outgoing tide, which was now running strongly. Soon they would be out +to sea, and though the moon still shone brightly there was a haze in +the sky that betokened a coming storm. + +But it was not so much the fact of the stalled engine, nor that they +were being carried out to sea, and were in some danger, that worried +the boys. + +"We're falling down on what we said we'd do," declared Jack. "We +promised the girls that we'd save Denny from those fellows, and we +can't do it. They may be at him now." + +"We certainly saw a light at his cabin," ventured Ed. + +"But we can't see it now," added Jack, straining his eyes for a +glimpse of the spot where the fisherman's shack stood. + +"Well, there's no use worrying over what can't be helped," observed +Walter, philosophically. "We're here and not there. Denny will have to +look out for himself--I guess he's able." + +"That isn't the point," rejoined Jack. "There we took the case out of +the girls' hands, so to speak. We said we were the big noise, and that +we'd look after things. Then we go and get stuck miles from shore +where we can't do a thing. They'll laugh at us when we do get back, if +they don't do any worse." + +"But we didn't know we were going to get stuck when we came out for a +little run, after we found Denny wasn't home," said Dray. + +"That's no excuse," returned Jack. "It's like a child breaking the +looking glass and then saying he didn't mean to. Well, I know one +thing Cora will say when we get back--if we ever do--and own up that +we weren't on hand when the play came off." + +"What will she say?" asked Dray. He was not well acquainted with the +doings and sayings of the motor girls, as yet. + +"She'll say that she and Bess and Belle and the rest of them could +have done better themselves, if we'd left it to them. And I guess +she'd be more than half right," sighed Jack. + +"Well, there's no use crying over a bridge before you come to it," +observed Dray. "Let's have another go at that engine." + +They began their labors all over again. They even took out the spark +plugs, though they had been new that afternoon. + +Nothing could be found wrong there. The feed pipe from the gasoline +tank was examined, but it seemed to provide a good flow. The timer was +adjusted and readjusted. The coil was looked to. Everything, in short, +that the boys could think of, or that previous trouble had taught them +to look for, was tried, and all with no effect. + +They even did more absurd things, such as the talcum powder act, while +Jack spouted some Latin verses at the forward cylinder. But the motor +refused to mote. + +"And, all the while, we're going out to sea," remarked Walter. + +"Out to sea to see what we can see," said Jack. + +"Oh, hush-a-bye-baby on the jokes," exclaimed Dray, a bit petulantly. +"If ever I buy a speed boat again you'll know it! A good old-fashioned +make-and-break motor for mine after this--one you can depend on." + +"Haven't you an oar or a paddle?" asked Ed. + +"Not a thing that we could use to work against the tide," answered +Dray, gloomily. "There's a boat hook, but that isn't any better than a +straw. I left the oars out after the man got through fixing the motor +to-day. He said I wouldn't need them." + +"The regard that individual has for the truth is something scandalous!" +said Walter, grimly. "I shall acquaint him with the fact on my return." + +"When we _do_ return," returned Jack, gloomily. + +"Oh, we're bound to be picked up--sooner or later," declared Walter. + +"Mostly later," went on Jack, more gloomily. + +"Well, here goes for another try," said Dray. + +"That's right. Maybe the machine has just been giving us a try-out," +suggested Ed. "We certainly have said mean things about you, old Mote!" +he went on sarcastically. "Kindly forgive us and go. 'See by moonlight +'tis 'most midnight, time boat and us were home hour-and-a-half ago,'" +he said, quoting from the old nursery rhyme. + +But the motor only coughed and sighed and wheezed like an old man with +the asthma, and the boat still drifted. + +They called, they blew on the compressed air whistle until all the +reserve supply of oxygen was exhausted from the tank, and then they +had to resort to their voices again. + +"Well, there's one thing left," answered Jack, tragically. + +"What is it?" begged Ed. + +"We can swim for it. That's better than being carried out to sea. +Let's swim before it is too late." + +"That's what I say!" exclaimed Dray. "Let the _Dixie_ go--she's no +good!" + +The others were considering Jack's startling proposal, when Ed looked +up, and exclaimed: + +"Hark! Don't you hear something?" + +The others listened. Faintly from the direction of the sea came a +sound--unmistakable. + +"A boat!" cried Jack. "I'll not take off my coat yet." + +"A motor boat, too," added Ed. + +"And coming this way," went on Walter. + +"Come on, fellows, give 'em a hail!" suggested Dray. + +Up to now, with all their shouting and blowing of the whistle, they +had neither seen nor heard of a craft. They had drifted too far out. +If any had come within hearing distance the occupants had paid no heed +to the calls for help. Now there was one approaching, that was +evident. + +"All together, now!" called Jack, and they united their voices in a +shout. + +"There are her lights!" called Dray. + +"Yes, and she's heading right over here," agreed Ed. + +A little later the red and green lights came nearer. + +Then, as the craft surged up to the stalled Dixie, and came to a stop, +the engine still running with the clutch thrown out, a voice asked: + +"Do you fellows want a tow?" + +"Do we?" came in a chorus. "We don't want anything any more." + +"Fling us your rope," was the curt order. + +Unexpected help had arrived. But it was too late. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +DENNY'S SOLILOQUY + + +"What shall we do?" asked Cora, in a whisper. + +"It _is_ rather a puzzle," admitted Bess. + +The motor girls were standing outside Denny Shane's cabin, looking in +on him as he sat at his ease, with the red oar over his knees. + +"He doesn't seem to be in any danger," went on Cora. + +"No, those men either haven't harmed him, or they haven't arrived +yet," returned Belle. + +"Oh, but suppose they should come while we are here?" suggested +Marita, shrinking against Cora. + +"Don't go to supposing such uncanny things," objected Cora, as she put +her arm about the other. "Are you afraid?" + +"I don't know," was the hesitating answer. "I suppose one ought to be +afraid, coming at night to a cabin where some horrible men are +expected. And yet, somehow, I don't seem to be," replied Marita. "I +know I would have been a few months ago, but since I have met you +girls, and seen the things you do, why it's queer, but really I--I +rather like it!" and she laughed. + +"See what your influence has done," whispered Cora. + +They had all spoken in low tones, for Denny was sometimes sharp of +hearing, and they did not want to arouse him. + +The girls were really puzzled, not only at the peaceful surroundings +at Denny's cabin, but at the absence of the boys. Of course they could +not know that Jack and the others had been there and gone, not finding +Denny at home. Nor did they know anything of the note left pinned to +the door. + +"Do you suppose it could all be over?" asked Lottie. + +"All over? What do you mean?" asked Cora. + +"I mean could the men have been here, and been captured by the boys +and taken to jail?" + +"Oh, it's possible, but not very probable," returned Cora. "They +surely would have managed to get some word to us if anything like that +had happened." + +"But what are we going to do?" asked Bess. "We ought not to stay +here." + +"No, I suppose not," admitted Cora, slowly. "It might be a good thing, +though, just to stop and speak to Denny. Then we'd know, soon enough, +what had happened. Suppose we do that?" + +The others agreed. They had stepped away from the window for a moment, +but now Cora walked toward it again. Denny was still holding the oar, +but he must have gotten up, for the window was now partly open, and it +had not been so at first. + +Denny was talking to himself. He was indulging in a soliloquy, +apparently addressing himself to the oar. + +"If you could only talk," he said, "if you could only talk, what a +tale you could tell. Yes, indeed!" and he sighed. "A tale of the sea +and the land--of calm and storms." + +"He's very poetical; isn't he?" whispered Bess. + +"Hush!" cautioned Cora. "Listen to what he says." + +Denny was evidently in a talking mood, and was living the past over +again. + +"If only Grandfather Lewis were here, what tales he could tell, too," +Denny went on. "And there's one tale I'd be glad to listen to. He +could tell where the land papers were. If only I could find 'em +everything would be all right, and the factory men--ha! we could laugh +in our sleeves at 'em. Laugh in our sleeves! Ha! Ha! No, we could +laugh in their faces, so we could; couldn't we?" + +He held up the oar, speaking to it as one might to a favorite dog. + +Denny swung it above his head, as though testing its weight as a club. + +"'Twas so he swung it the night of the storm--the night he saved my +life!" murmured Denny. "My, what a night that was! What a night!" + +He seemed lost in recollection for a moment, and then resumed his +self-communion. + +"'Twas so he held it--held it out to me in the smother of foam and +spray when I was goin' under. And what was it he said? + +"'Grab holt!' says he. 'Grab holt and I'll pull you in. Don't be +afraid, the oar is strong!' And so it is--a grand, strong oar. As +strong as old Len Lewis himself. What a grand old man he was! A fine +old man! + +"But he's gone, and we all have to go. I'll have to go with the rest, +I suppose. But before I do go I wish I could find them land papers. +What in the world did Grandfather Lewis do with 'em anyhow? + +"They must be around here. He ought to have kept 'em in the bank, or +in a strong box; but he was always like that. Hidin' his things away +in curious places. He even did it with his tobaccy. A strange man! + +"But I'll wager the papers aren't far from the land. That would be his +way--to keep the papers near the land. 'A place for everything and +everything in its place,' he used to say. What more natural than that +he'd have the papers near the land? + +"I wonder, though, did he stick 'em anywhere around me cabin? He come +over here often enough to sit and chat. Ah, many's the good old talk +we used to have--a talk of the old days. Often I'd come in from me +boat, and find him here. He might have brought the papers an' hid 'em +here when I was out. I wonder if he did?" + +Denny looked around his simple cabin. He laid the oar down gently, as +a thing revered. He walked about the room, looking in various places. + +"No, the papers wouldn't be here," he mused. "I'd have found them +before this. And those fellows, who came and upset my place when I +wasn't home--they'd have found 'em if they was here. I wonder what +Grandfather Lewis did with them papers?" + +It was a puzzle that others than Denny Shane would have given much to +solve. + +Cora and her chums looked at one another in the moonlight outside +Denny's cabin. His talk had revealed something to them, but there was +no clue to the missing papers which could prove the title of Mrs. +Lewis to the valuable land. + +"Well, there's one thing sure, Denny hasn't been attacked as yet," +whispered Bess. "And the boys haven't been here to warn him, or he'd +show some signs of it." + +"I think you're right," agreed Cora. "What had we better do? Tell him +ourselves?" + +"That's what I say--let's warn him," suggested Belle. + +The girls started for the cabin door, but paused midway as they heard +the approach of a motor boat near the fisherman's little dock. + +"Wait," suggested Cora. "That may be the boys now." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE PLOTTERS ARRIVE + + +"What's the trouble?" asked one of the four men in the boat that had +come to the rescue of Jack and his chums. "Engine broken, or are you +out of gasoline?" + +"We've got gas, but there may be water in it," replied Dray. "I +watched the fellow when he filled the tank, though, and he used the +chamois all right." + +"You can't always go by that," said another of the accommodating +strangers. "There's an awful sight of poor gasoline being palmed off +nowadays. Have you got a long rope?" + +"We sure have," answered Jack. "It's mighty good of you to stop and +give us a tow." + +"That's all right," laughed one of the men. "We never can tell when we +might want a helping hand ourselves. Pass us the rope." + +It was flung over. The two boats were now bobbing side by side, for +they were well out in the bay, and the sea was quite choppy. The tide +was running out, and help had come to the boys not any too soon. + +The rope, passing from the bow of the _Dixie_, where it was made fast +to a ring bolt in the deck, was caught on to a cleat in the stern of +the other boat. + +"You'll look after the steering; will you?" asked one of the men. + +"Surely," answered Dray. + +"Because there's nothing harder than towing a boat that yaws from side +to side," the man went on. + +"We'll keep a straight course," declared the owner of the speedy boat +that had proved such a disappointment of late. "We know something +about gasoline craft." + +"Glad to hear it," remarked one of the occupants of the rescuing boat, +in a grumbling sort of voice. "There's so many launched on the bay +now, with a lot of chaps running them who don't know any more than to +turn on the gasoline and switch on the spark." + +"And girls, too," added another of the men. "Though I must say there +are some girls here who----" + +"Easy there!" called one of the rescuers sharply. + +He might have been speaking to his companion, who was attending to the +fastening of the towing rope, but to Jack it seemed as though there +was an injunction to be careful of what was said. + +Somehow or other, though why he could not tell, Jack's suspicions were +aroused. He tried to get a good look at the faces of the men, but the +moon was hidden behind some clouds just then, and it was out of the +question. The light was too baffling. + +"Well, I guess we're ready," announced the man who was making fast the +towing rope. "Now where do you fellows want to go? We can't promise to +take you home, as we have some business of our own to attend to." + +Jack always said, afterward, that nothing could have been more +providential than the way the moon shone out brightly just as he was +about to reply. + +He had it on the tip of his tongue to ask that, if possible, they be +landed near Denny's cabin, when a ray of moonlight glinted on the name +of the rescuing boat, painted on her stern. There Jack read the word: + +_Pickerel._ + +"Great Scott!" he almost ejaculated aloud. "The boat that raced with +Cora! The same men who are after old Denny!" + +Jack made up his mind in a flash. It would never do for the men to +know that he and his friends were on their way to save Denny from the +very fate the men had in store for him. + +"Oh, if you can land us anywhere near Buler's Pavilion, it will +answer," said Jack, naming a place not far from the entrance to the +bay, and not far from where they were at that moment. + +"Buler's Pavilion!" cried Ed. "Why that's----" + +"It's probably closed, by this time, I know that!" answered Jack, +quickly, giving Ed a sly kick. "But we can get somebody up, I guess." + +Then, in a tense whisper he hissed into Ed's ear: + +"These are the men after Denny. I know them by their boat. Don't let +on who we are. We're going to Buler's." + +"Sure, we can rouse somebody up if they are closed," answered Ed, +quickly falling in with Jack's scheme. "That will do us, all right," +he added to the men. "That is, if it won't be too much out of your +way." + +"Not at all," said one. "We'll be glad to leave you there. Maybe you +can find somebody to fix your boat. All ready?" + +"Let her go," said Jack. He wanted the _Pickerel_ to get far enough +ahead so that he could talk to his chums without the danger of being +overheard. + +The engine of the rescuing boat was set going more rapidly, and the +clutch was thrown in. The craft forged ahead, and soon the _Dixie_ was +under way again. She was being brought back from the sea which had so +nearly claimed her, and in a strange manner. + +"Why did you want to say we'd like to be landed at Buler's?" asked +Dray of Jack. + +"Because I want to fool these fellows," and Jack quickly told how he +had seen the name of the boat that had raced with his sister's. "If we +do land there," he went on, "they won't know who we are. We can tell +them to cut us off before we get to the dock, in case the place should +happen to be open and lighted up. Then they can't see us." + +"Good idea," said Dray. "You're a wise boy, Jack." + +"I just saw that name in time," went on Cora's brother. "Otherwise it +would have been all up with us." + +"But what about Denny?" asked Ed. "How are we going to save him if we +land at Buler's, and let these fellows go on?" + +"I've thought of that," answered Jack. "We'll have to get another +boat, if we can, and go to Denny's cabin in her. The _Dixie_ is no +good. Oh, excuse me!" he said quickly to Dray. "I didn't mean +that--exactly." + +"It's all right, old man, the _Dixie_ is certainly no good to-night. +Say all you please about her, you can't hurt my feelings." + +"If only the _Reliance_ is at Buler's we can get her and go to the +cabin flying," went on Jack. "If not, we'll do the best we can. Maybe +Denny can stand them off until we arrive." + +"Say, what's the matter with up and telling these fellows we know who +they are, and who we are," suggested Walter. "We can tell them we know +what they're up to, and threaten them. Won't that stop them from +bothering Denny--at least to-night?" + +"Not a bit of it," returned Jack, quickly. "Do you know what they'd do +as soon as they found out who we were?" + +"What?" asked Ed. + +"They'd know at once we were working against them, and they'd cut us +adrift. Then we would be out of it. And I haven't any desire," added +Jack, with a shrug of his shoulders, "to go out to sea again." + +"We land at Buler's," said Walter, decidedly. + +And a little later they landed at that resort, which had closed +unusually early, for some reason. + +"All right--cast off!" Jack had called as they neared the dock, and +the _Dixie_, with trailing rope, ran up to it under her own momentum, +while the other craft swung off into the darkness, the boys calling +their thanks to the men. + +"And if they only knew who it was they had given a tow to!" chuckled +Walter. + +"They'll know, soon enough," replied Jack. "We've got to look up a +boat to take us to Denny Shane's. We've simply got to get there." + +And while the boys were thus looking for a boat to take the place of +the disabled _Dixie_, the plotters, in their swift _Pickerel_, were +hastening toward the little cove where the fisherman's cabin stood. + +The men in the boat were Moran, the slow-moving character whom Cora +had seen in the store; Bruce, the "society" chap; Kelly, a blunt and +unscrupulous Irishman, who handled the money for the factory +interests, and a man to run the boat. He had been brought in at the +last minute. + +"We lost a lot of time, towing those chumps," grumbled Moran, as the +_Pickerel_ forged ahead. + +"Well, we were early," said Bruce. "I've had a man keeping watch on +Shane's shack, and he was late getting in. He telephoned to me. It's +just as well to let Shane get a bit settled before we tackle him. He +was out fishing until long after dark." + +Then the engineer slowed down the powerful motor as they came up to +the dock. + +It was this sound that Cora and her chums heard. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +CORA'S BRAVE RESOLVE + + +When the girls heard Cora's remark, that the approaching motor boat +might contain the boys, Lottie said: + +"Oh, we're all right now!" and she sighed in relief. + +"How much you depend on them!" observed Belle, in a low voice. "When +you've been with us a little longer you'll learn that we can do almost +as well by ourselves." + +"But I am glad the boys have arrived," agreed Cora. "I never was so +pleased to know that they were on hand." + +But a moment later, as they saw the forms of four men leaving the +motor boat, which had been made fast to the dock, Cora shrank back, at +the same time whispering a warning. + +"Girls, something is wrong! Those aren't the boys. Quick, get out of +sight!" + +She pulled Bess behind a row of bushes, and the others followed +silently. They had started down to the beach from the cabin, but +fortunately managed to conceal themselves in time. The men, walking up +the little slope toward the cabin, had not seen them. + +Trembling with nervousness, Cora and her chums awaited the new turn of +events. That it would come soon seemed likely, for the men appeared +bent on something. They had made fast their boat, and came up the +slope openly, as though their errand was the most innocent in the +world. The light still glowed in the cabin. + +"Oh, Cora!" gasped Marita. "Suppose they do----do something!" + +"Which is very likely they will do," replied Cora. "But don't talk--I +want to watch." + +From behind the screen of bushes Cora watched the men coming forward. +The moon still gave a good light, though it was declining in the west. + +"Is he there?" Cora heard one of the men ask. + +"He seems to be--there's a light going, anyhow," was the answer. "I'd +rather found him in bed, but we can't have all we want." + +"Oh, where are the boys!" cried Bess, frantically. "Why don't they +come?" + +"I don't know," answered Cora. "Surely they should have been here. But +there must be a good reason why they are not. Jack wouldn't disappoint +us." + +"Why don't you include Walter and the others?" asked Belle. + +"Of course you know I meant them," Cora retorted. "I can't understand +it--really I can't." + +"Perhaps they are in hiding," ventured Lottie. + +"They'd have been out before this, if they were," declared Cora. + +There came a sudden knock. It was one of the men striking on the door +of Denny's cabin. From their hiding place in the bushes the girls +heard it plainly. + +"Listen!" whispered Cora. + +They heard the voice of the old fisherman call: + +"Who's there? What do you want at this time of night?" + +"We've come to see you," was answered in tones Cora recognized as +those of the young man who had raced with her. + +"What about?" inquired Denny. "I have no fish to sell." + +"And we don't want fish," was the retort. "Come, Shane, open your +door. We want to talk to you. It's important, and there may be +something in it for you." + +"Yes--trouble, more or less. I can't see anything else," was the +grumbling response. "Wait a minute." + +Cora looked over the bushes. She could see the men grouped in front of +the cabin door. Then she saw it open, and a broad beam of light shoot +out. + +"Come in," invited Denny, and the plotters entered. + +"Now's our chance!" exclaimed Cora, her heart beating rapidly. "We +must see what those men do. We may have to give evidence." + +"Oh, dear!" sighed Marita. "I never could do it. I'd faint, sure." + +"Do what?" asked Cora. + +"Give evidence." + +"Don't worry. You won't have to do anything hard, dear," was the +gentle answer, as Cora slipped her arm about the timid girl. + +"Oh, I'll do anything you girls do," was the quick answer. "I want to +help." + +"And we want your help," whispered Bess. "But, Cora, can't we go +closer? We ought to look in and see what happens." + +"Brave Bess!" murmured Lottie. "You are certainly coming on finely." + +The plotters were now inside the cabin, so that it was safe for the +girls to advance. This they did until they were once more in a +position where they could look in the window of the cabin. + +They saw a strange sight. Old Denny Shane, brave and rugged, +confronted the four men who had called on him. In one hand he grasped +the red oar, while the other rested on the back of the chair from +which he had risen. + +"Well, Mr. Shane," said the man Cora knew as Bruce. "We come to see +you on business." + +"What kind?" asked the old man, and the girls could see him look +around as though seeking help or a means of escape. But there was no +fear in his eyes. Only defiance. + +"We might as well get to business at once," said one of the men, +sharply. That was Kelly. + +"That's right," agreed Moran. "Make him an offer. If he doesn't want +to take it then we'll talk another kind of talk. And be quick about +it." + +"I want no business with you!" cried Denny, sharply. "Why do you come +here bothering me?" + +"You know why!" exclaimed Bruce. "You are concerned in the Lewis land +matter. You can testify as to who owns it." + +"Well, supposin' I can?" asked the old man, defiantly. "What is that +to you?" + +"Lots to us, and it may mean a great deal to you, also!" snapped out +Kelly. "You may have some papers, too." + +"I may," returned Denny, "but you'll not get 'em." + +Cora and the others, listening, knew that Denny would only be too glad +if he did have the documents in question. But the girls had heard him +lamenting that he did not know where they were. + +Why did he now let the men think he did know? It was a puzzle to the +girls. + +"Not get them, eh?" cried Bruce. "That's to be seen. Now look here, +Shane. We came here to do business, and we're going to do it. By fair +means if we can, if not----" + +He paused suggestively. + +"Ah! I know you and your breed!" cried the old fisherman. "By fair +means or foul! But try it on! I'm not afraid of you." + +He stepped back a pace, the better to defend himself in case he had +to. The red oar was still in his firm hands. + +"Now wait a minute," put in Moran. "We'll try the fair means first. +What do you say to that? Show him the bills." + +With a quick gesture Bruce drew out a roll of greenbacks. + +"Here you go, Shane!" he exclaimed. "There's a cool hundred here, and +it's yours if you testify that the Widow Lewis has no claim on the +land. And she hasn't any claim that she can prove. All we want you to +testify to is that her husband's father sold the land some time before +his death. We'll do the rest." + +"But he didn't sell it!" cried Denny. "It was his on his dyin' day, +and it belongs to his son's widder and daughter now. That's the law, +an' you know it." + +"She can't prove that the land is hers," sneered Kelly. + +"Maybe she can," returned Denny, quietly. + +"Well, she can't unless you tell what you know," broke in Bruce. +"We've found out that much. Now the factory wants that land, and it's +going to get it. Here, I'll make it a hundred and fifty if you do as +we want you to." + +"An' testify to a lie?" cried Denny. + +"It wouldn't be exactly a lie. Besides, we're willing to pay the widow +a small sum." + +"Not what the land's worth. That's valuable property," insisted Denny, +"and it will keep her in her old age if she manages right. Be off with +you! I'll stick to the Widder Lewis, so I will. Be off!" and he +motioned them to the door. "You wouldn't have got this close if it +hadn't been that my dog was dead. Be off!" + +"Not so fast," Cora and her chums heard Bruce say. "We haven't said +all we intend to." + +"Oh, I'm sure something will happen now," quavered Bess. + +"Hush," cautioned Cora. "We must do something!" + +"Do something?" questioned Marita. "Oh, why don't the boys come?" + +Cora and her chums were close to the cabin now. They could look in the +door, and through the uncurtained window, and see plainly all that +went on. They could also hear plainly, for the men and old Denny spoke +loudly. And, as yet, the girls had not been noticed. + +"Now, look here!" said Bruce, and there was a snarl in his voice. +"This is our last offer, Shane. Either you take the hundred and fifty +dollars, and testify the way we want you to, or we'll find means to +make you, and you won't get the money. And I'll say this, that we'll +treat the Widow Lewis as fair as we can." + +"Which won't be fair at all!" burst out Denny. "Not at all!" + +"Well, what's your answer?" cried Kelly. "We can't stay here all +night. Give him the money, Bruce. When he feels it he'll hate to let +it go." + +Bruce held out the roll of bills. To the surprise of Cora and the +girls the fisherman took them. Was he going to betray Freda and her +mother? + +The next instant they knew Denny for the brave-souled man he was. + +"That's me answer!" he cried, throwing the bills in the face of Bruce. +"Take your evil money and get out. I'll stick to the widder!" + +For a moment the men were nonplussed. Then, with an angry exclamation, +Bruce started forward. + +"Come, girls," said Cora, "we've got to go to the aid of Denny. For +some reason the boys aren't here. We've got to save him!" and with +this brave resolve she moved toward the cabin. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +THE RED OAR AGAIN + + +"Cora Kimball, what are you going to do?" gasped Lottie, trying to +hold back her chum. + +"I'm going to go to Denny's aid. Why shouldn't I? It's four to one, +but even if we are girls we can perhaps turn the tide in his favor." + +"Oh, Cora, I don't dare!" admitted Belle. + +"Nor I," added her plump sister. "I'll faint if you go in where those +horrid men are." + +"Faint if you like," returned Cora, calmly. "Somebody else will have +to look after you, then, for I'm going." + +"But why?" asked Lottie. "We ought not to interfere when men are going +to fight, and I think that's what's going to happen in there." + +"That is what's going to happen," said Cora, "but perhaps we can +prevent it. For some unknown reason, though the boys promised to come +here and defend Denny, they haven't done so. Therefore, it's our place +to do it." + +"Yes, and I'm going with you!" announced Marita, determinedly. + +All this talk had taken but a few seconds of time, and, as it had been +in whispers, the men in the cabin had not heard it. The situation, +however, was rapidly becoming acute. + +With one accord, after Bruce had stepped toward old Denny, the others +advanced. They were evidently going to lay violent hands on him. But +the sturdy fisherman was not afraid. + +"Stand back!" he cried. "Stand back or I'll do you harm--you cowards!" + +"No use calling names!" sneered Kelly. "We're here to do you. We made +you a fair offer, and you wouldn't take it. Now you'll have to abide +by the consequences." + +"Get behind him," said Bruce. "I can take him from where I stand." + +"Get back! Get out of here!" ordered the old man. + +He raised the red oar over his head, threateningly. + +"Grab him!" cried Moran. "Grab that oar!" + +"You'll get it over the head before you grab it!" threatened Denny. +"Mind that, now!" + +The fisherman swung his weapon, but he either had not calculated on +the length of it, or he forgot that he was nearer to the wall than he +had been at first. The blade of the oar caught in a hanging picture, +and was entangled in the wire. + +Denny, putting all his strength into the blow he had hoped would +disable one of his assailants, was thrown off his balance. He toppled +and nearly fell. + +"Now we've got him!" yelled Kelly. + +The cowardly men, attacking the single fisherman with overwhelming +numbers, made a leap forward. + +"Stop! Let him alone. We'll call the police!" screamed Cora, and the +other girls added their shrill voices to hers. They rushed into the +cabin. + +"The girls I raced with!" muttered Bruce. "We've no time to fool with +them. Don't mind them. Get at Shane!" + +"Get at me, is it?" cried the fisherman. He had by this time +disentangled the oar from the picture wire. Again he raised it over +his head, intending to bring it down on Kelly. + +As the red weapon descended Kelly shot up his hand and caught it. He +twisted on the oar to wrest it from Denny's grasp, and the two +suddenly went to the floor, jarring the whole cabin. + +And at that instant there was a sound of splintering, breaking wood. +Some red slivers flew out from between the two prostrate men who were +struggling for possession of the weapon. + +"The red oar! It's broken!" cried Denny. "Me old red oar, that saved +me life in the hands of Grandfather Lewis! The red oar is broken, bad +luck to you! Cowards that you are!" + +The girls were screaming, but even Cora, brave as she was, dared go no +nearer to the two desperately struggling men. Bruce and Moran were +seeking an opening that they might get hold of Denny. The fourth man +had gone back to the boat, seemingly. He had leaped out of the window +as the girls entered. + +The cabin was a place of wild excitement. + +"Get that oar away from him!" cried Bruce. "Here's some rope. Tie him +up, and then we'll get what we want out of him!" + +"Don't you dare hurt him!" screamed Cora. + +"Ah, would you?" gasped Denny, as he rolled out from under Kelly, who +had sought to pass a rope about the old man's wrists. "I'm not down +and out yet!" he panted. "The red oar is broken, but I've got the best +end yet." + +He staggered to his feet, holding the handle of the red oar. One end +was splintered where it had been broken from the blade. + +"Come on! I'm not afraid!" yelled Denny. "Come on. You girls had +better leave----there's going to be trouble!" + +"We won't go! Help is on the way. The boys are coming!" cried Cora, +though she did not know when Jack and the others would arrive. + +"Oh, if they were only here now! When we need them so!" gasped Lottie. + +Again Denny swung what was left of the red oar around his head. He +aimed a blow at the face of Bruce, but it fell short and struck the +man on the shoulder. + +Then a strange thing happened. The handle of the oar split lengthwise, +and from a hollow place inside there flew out a roll of papers, yellow +with age. And on one of them was a red seal--a legal-looking seal. + +Bruce staggered at the blow, and a strange look came over his face. It +might have been that he was dazed, but his eyes lighted on the roll of +papers that had fallen to the floor. There they lay--a curious roll +that had come from the secret crevice in the red oar. + +The struggle had come to a sudden end. The girls ceased screaming and +stood looking on dumbly, unable to understand what had happened. + +As for the men they, too, seemed startled by the strange turn of events. +Kelly rose to his feet, and was creeping up on Denny from behind. His +arms were outstretched, and his fingers worked convulsively, as though +they would like to close about the fisherman's throat, and force him to +testify as the plotters desired. + +Cora wanted to scream a warning, but some strange force seemed to hold +her dumb. + +"The red oar--it's broken--broken! Me old red oar, that saved me +life!" murmured Denny Shane. "But I never knew 'twas hollow. Never! I +wonder did Grandfather Lewis----" + +He did not complete the sentence, for at that instant Bruce leaped +forward and caught up the roll of yellow papers from the floor. + +"Give me those!" cried Denny leaping at him with the jagged piece of +the red oar in his gnarled hands--the hands that had, so many years +ago, grasped the same oar in what was little short of a death-grip. +"Give me those papers!" fairly roared Denny. "I don't know what they +are, but they're not yours. Give 'em to me!" + +"Give you these! I guess not!" sneered Bruce. "They are just what we +want--the land papers. They're the only ones by which the widow could +prove her shadowy claim to the property, and with them out of the way +it's all clear sailing for us. + +"This is the luckiest thing that could have happened for us! The +breaking of the red oar came at the right time. Kelly, give me a match +and we'll make a little bonfire of these same papers." + +"Don't you dare!" cried Denny, and, making a leap forward he snatched +from Kelly's hands the precious documents that had so strangely come +from the secret hiding place in the red oar. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THE DISCOVERY--CONCLUSION + + +Wild with rage the three men with one accord made a leap for Denny +Shane. But the old fisherman was not to be easily taken. Holding the +precious papers close to him, he made a jump for a corner of the room, +where hung an old musket. + +"Oh, he's going to shoot!" screamed Bess. + +"And small blame to him if he did," declared Cora. "Oh, those men must +not destroy those papers, if I have to take them in charge myself!" + +Denny Shane had reached the corner where hung his musket. It was not +loaded. Cora knew this, for the old fisherman had said he was always +afraid of some accident happening, and he never kept a charge in the +gun. It was for the effect of it, he said, that he had it hanging on +his wall. Now it would be useful as a club, at least--more useful than +the easily shattered red oar had been. + +But before Denny could reach the gun Kelly was upon him. With a fierce +motion the desperate plotter grasped the fisherman around the neck. +Holding him thus with one arm, he snatched the papers from him with +his other hand. + +"Here you go!" Kelly cried to Bruce. "Take the papers while I hold +him. Burn 'em if you want to, but be sure you do the job well! Then +we'd better get out of here. I think I hear a boat coming. This place +will soon be too hot for us!" + +Bruce took the papers from his crony. Hastily scanning them, to make +sure he had the right ones, he struck a match that Moran handed him. + +Kelly and Denny were struggling in the corner of the room. But poor +old Denny had not much strength left. The events of the night had been +too much for him, and he was giving way under the cruel pressure of +Kelly's arms. + +"These are the very papers we want--or don't want, rather!" exulted +Bruce. "With them out of the way the property is ours." + +The match flickered in his fingers. + +"Don't you dare burn them!" cried Cora. + +One corner of the papers had caught fire. + +Then from without the cabin sounded a chorus of cries. + +"Come on, fellows!" + +"We're just in time!" + +"The girls are here ahead of us!" + +"What a night!" + +They were the voices of Jack and his chums. + +"Oh, the boys have come! The boys have come!" cried Lottie. + +"Jack! Jack! In here! Quick!" screamed Cora. "He's burning the papers! +Get them from him!" + +Into the cabin, already crowded, the boys flung themselves. + +"Just in time!" cried Cora, motioning to Jack. "Get those papers from +him before they burn!" + +Over in the corner poor Denny had fallen unconscious under the attack +of Kelly. + +"Cut it and run!" advised Moran, making for the door. + +"No, you don't!" shouted Walter, blocking it. "Guard the windows, +Dray--Ed!" he called. + +"The papers! The papers!" voiced Cora. "Get them before they burn, or +Mrs. Lewis will lose the land!" + +"I'll get them!" shouted Jack. + +He flung himself upon Bruce as he had often flung himself upon a +player in tackling him on the football field. + +"Look out for yourself!" threatened Bruce. + +But Jack was not afraid. He twisted himself about Bruce, and sought to +reach the papers. + +Bruce, to get them out of Jack's reach, held them high in the air, +over his head. The two were struggling. Moran and Kelly were wrestling +with Ed and Walter, while the other girls cowered behind Dray, who had +caught up a chair as a weapon. + +Cora saw her chance. She slipped around behind Bruce, and with a leap +that had often enabled her to outwit an opponent in playing basket +ball, the plucky motor girl snatched the papers from the man's hand. +Full and clean was her jump, and the smouldering papers came away in +her grasp. + +"I have them, Jack!" she cried. "Look out for the men!" + +And with that, to make sure that she would not lose the precious +documents, Cora held them tightly under her arm and ran out of the +cabin door, after putting out the little blaze. + +"All over!" cried Jack, putting out his foot, and tripping up Bruce, +who aimed a savage blow at him. "All over!" + +Bruce went down heavily. At the same time, from without the cabin +there flashed several lights, and the voices of men were heard asking: + +"What's going on here?" + +"Who's been screaming?" + +The plotters gathered together. Bruce leaped from the floor. + +"Come on!" he cried desperately. "It's all up. Get away!" + +He leaped out of the window, followed by the other two. + +"Get them!" yelled Ed. + +"No, let them go--it's the easiest way," advised Jack. "Cora has the +papers." + +"But maybe they've hurt Denny!" said Walter. + +"I'm all right," asserted the fisherman, as he slowly arose. "He just +cut off my wind for a minute. I'm all right. But where are the +papers?" and he looked about the floor, on which were scattered pieces +of the broken red oar. + +"They're safe," answered Jack. "Cora, my sister, has them. Guess we'd +better look for her though." + +There was no need, as Cora, holding the papers in her hand, re-entered +the cabin at that moment. Only one edge of the legal documents was +burned, and no real harm had been done. + +While the motor girls, and the boys and the neighboring men, who had +come to the rescue all but too late, were looking at one another there +was heard, at the dock, the puffing of a motor boat. + +"There they go!" exclaimed Walter. + +"Well, that's the best way," said Jack. "We're glad to get rid of +them." + +"How did you girls get here?" asked Ed. + +"How was it you boys _didn't_ get here?" demanded Cora, still panting +from her exertions. + +Explanations were then in order. I will be as brief with them as I +can. How the girls came to go to the cabin is already known. And how +the boys, foolishly perhaps, went out on the bay while waiting for +Denny to come back, and how they became stalled, is likewise known to +my readers. + +In the meanwhile Denny came to his cabin. + +Then came the unexpected help in the shape of a tow from the plotters +themselves. + +"They left us at Buler's," said Jack, "and then we had our own +troubles. We tried to get a boat to come on, for the _Dixie_ still +refused to move. But we couldn't get one for love or money, and it was +too rough to row." + +"What did you do?" asked Cora, looking at Denny, who was examining the +broken red oar. + +"We hired a horse and carriage, and came around the land way," replied +Walter. "It took us a long time, too, for we missed the road." + +"But we finally got here," spoke Ed. + +"And just in time," added Cora. "We were wild about you--couldn't +imagine what happened." + +"Didn't you get the note we left pinned to the door?" asked Dray of +Denny. + +"Nary a note," he said. + +Later it was found where it had blown into a clump of bushes. So that +accounted for Denny's not being warned in time. + +"But everything seems to be coming out right," said Cora, with a +rather wintry smile. All the girls were pale, and a trifle weak. The +boys, too, were tired. + +"And what are those papers?" asked Jack, taking them from Cora. + +"Those prove Mrs. Lewis's title to the land the plotters tried to +get," she said. "Oh, I'm so glad we found them." + +"Who found them?" asked Walter, giving Cora's hand a surreptitious +squeeze. + +"They were in the red oar," said Denny. "And to think I never knew it! +They were there all these years, and all of us worrying about them and +wondering where they were. But I understand now. Grandfather Lewis +must have hollowed out a hole in the handle, hid the papers in it, and +then plugged it up. Then he gave the oar to me to keep. I remember +well at the time he said it would prove valuable some day. I often +wondered what made the oar lighter than it had been. It was because it +was hollowed out. + +"I asked him what he meant by sayin' the oar was valuable, but he kept +puttin' me off. He said he'd tell me some time, but he never did. Then +the day he died he sent for me, and was trying to tell me, I guess, +but he couldn't. I remember I wondered what was on his mind, but he +was too weak to explain. So he died with his secret, and the red oar +had it and kept it all these years. + +"But the oar broke, or those men and myself broke it between us, and +the papers fell out. Now the widder will get her rights." + +And the Widow Lewis did. Leaving the valuable documents with Denny, +the motor girls and the boys went back to their stopping places--the +girls to the bungalow, the boys to the tent. + +And such a time as Cora and her chums had in telling the good news to +Mrs. Lewis and Freda! The latter could hardly believe it at first. + +"Oh, how can we ever thank you!" cried Freda, as, with tears in her +eyes, she embraced Cora. + +"Don't try," was the whispered answer. + +And so everything came out right after all. The papers so oddly hidden +in the red oar proved the widow's title to the valuable land beyond +the shadow of a doubt. As for the plotters, they were not seen again +in that part of the country. They realized that the sharp trick they +had tried to play had failed, thanks to the activities of Cora and her +friends. + +Mrs. Lewis easily established her claim to the land, moved back to her +cottage, and the project of spoiling the public park was abandoned. +The factory company was beaten in court and the members of the +corporation were forced to pay heavy costs. + +Old Denny came in for his share of credit, and he was very happy. His +one lament was that the red oar was broken, but he managed to patch it +together, after a fashion. And the motor girls got him another dog. + +The opening by which the papers had been put in the hollow handle had +been cleverly concealed, and, only for the accidental breaking of the +oar, might never have been discovered. + +It had probably been the intention of Grandfather Lewis to disclose +the secret hiding place of the land papers, but he had died before he +could do this. + +"But 'all's well that ends well,'" quoted Cora the next day, at a late +breakfast. "We have done a little good here by our vacation at Crystal +Bay." + +"A _little_ good!" exclaimed Freda. "I never can thank you enough, +Cora." + +"And we'll soon have to go back home--that's the worst of it!" sighed +Lottie. "It is so lovely here!" + +"Oh, well, we can come back next year," spoke Bess. + +"And then, too, Winter's coming on--something is sure to happen then," +added Belle. "Something always does." + +And what did happen that Winter will be told of in the volume to +follow this, which will be called "The Motor Girls on Waters Blue; Or, +The Strange Cruise of the _Tartar_." + +It was the next day. The girls disposed themselves about the bungalow +in picturesque attitudes, and the boys sat on the broad porch, telling +over again the adventures of the night. + +"There's only one point we're shy on," said Jack, when everything had +been told and retold. + +"And that's what?" asked Ed. + +"We haven't found out yet who the strange woman was who tried to get +information out of Freda, and who sent her the 'phone message." + +"Oh, we're just as well off without knowing that," said Cora. "I'm +sure she was in with the plotters. You know that man Bruce called her +'Confidence Kate,' as if he knew her well." + +"You must have been terribly frightened, when you found out there was +no way of getting home from the Junction," said Marita. "I think I +should have gone out of my mind." + +"Don't believe her, Freda," laughed Cora, putting her arm around the +timid girl. "Marita is braver than she thinks. She offered to go into +the cabin with me when those horrid men were there, and none of the +others would." + +"Come on over to Buler's and see 'em dance," proposed Jack. "The +_Dixie_ is running again." + +"We'll go in the _Chelton_," spoke Cora firmly, and in that boat they +went. And now for a time, we will take leave of the motor girls. + +THE END + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Motor Girls on Crystal Bay, by Margaret Penrose + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR GIRLS ON CRYSTAL BAY *** + +***** This file should be named 25873.txt or 25873.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/8/7/25873/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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