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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/36426-0.txt b/36426-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3d10d71 --- /dev/null +++ b/36426-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7640 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Motor Girls at Camp Surprise, 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 at Camp Surprise + The Cave in the Mountains + +Author: Margaret Penrose + +Release Date: June 14, 2011 [EBook #36426] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR GIRLS AT CAMP SURPRISE *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + THE MOTOR GIRLS + AT CAMP SURPRISE + + Or + + The Cave in the Mountains + + BY + + Margaret Penrose + + The + GOLDSMITH + Publishing Co. + + CLEVELAND OHIO + MADE IN THE U.S.A. + + + + + CONTENTS + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. An Unpleasant Awakening 1 + II. The Lost Trail 10 + III. Two Strange Men 18 + IV. A Curious Story 26 + V. Counterfeit Tickets 34 + VI. Off to Camp 42 + VII. Jack’s Bath 50 + VIII. The Storm 58 + IX. Tied Up 67 + X. A Night Ride 74 + XI. In Camp Surprise 83 + XII. Disappointment 90 + XIII. That Noise 98 + XIV. Was It Thunder? 108 + XV. A Narrow Escape 115 + XVI. Lost 122 + XVII. Two Men 131 + XVIII. Real Surprises 138 + XIX. Where’s My Light? 147 + XX. More Happenings 158 + XXI. A Dancing Light 163 + XXII. A Mountain Cave 170 + XXIII. The Trembling Noise 178 + XXIV. The Secret Passage 184 + XXV. The Patched Tire 191 + XXVI. The Dropped Bundle 200 + XXVII. The Girls’ Discovery 207 + XXVIII. Prisoners 214 + XXIX. To the Rescue 222 + XXX. All’s Well 235 + + + + +THE MOTOR GIRLS AT CAMP SURPRISE + + + + +CHAPTER I—AN UNPLEASANT AWAKENING + + +“Look where you are steering, Cora Kimball! You nearly ran over a +chicken that time.” + +“Yes, and avoiding the chicken on that side, you nearly hit a child on +this side. Such a dear little boy—or was it a girl? I never can tell +when they’re so young.” + +“Two misses are as good as two miles,” misquoted the bronzed girl at the +wheel of the automobile, as she straightened the car on the long, shaded +road, where the trees met in a green archway overhead, and where the +golden shadows flitted in the dust like so many little chickens running +to cover, away from the fat-tired wheels. + +“Why are you in such a hurry, Cora?” asked Bess Robinson, as she tucked +back a straying lock of brown hair. “It’s too perfect a day to do +anything in a hurry—even run a car.” + +“Bess doesn’t believe in doing _anything_ in a hurry,” lazily droned her +sister Belle, from the rear seat. “That’s why she’s so fat.” + +“Don’t dare use that objectionable word!” stormed Bess, turning about so +suddenly that she sent Cora’s elbow against the plunger of the horn, +thereby producing a sudden blast. + +“Oh!” exclaimed Bess. “Did we run into something again?” + +“Again?” demanded Cora. “Come, I like that—not! We haven’t run into +_anything_ yet.” + +“That chicken,” murmured Belle, even more lazily. “Yes?” + +“Was a good fifty feet out of danger!” declared Cora indignantly. + +“And what of the child?” + +“That never _was_ in danger. I didn’t see him—her or it—until we had +passed. But the child—gender unknown—was playing in the dust beside the +road. Queer how mothers can let them.” + +“Probably the mother didn’t know a thing about it,” said Bess, who had +discovered that she was the sole cause of the needless alarm in regard +to the horn’s blast. “One can’t be always on the lookout.” + +“Don’t start a discussion,” begged Cora, as a backward glance showed +some signs of Belle’s stirring up sufficiently to refute her sister’s +remarks. “It’s too hot.” + +“It is when you slow down,” observed Bess. “But the breeze is perfectly +fascinating when you keep the car moving, Cora.” + +“Well, I don’t intend to slow down right away. Have you girls any +particular desire to go to any particular place?” + +“Spare us all nerve-racking _particulars_ on a day like this,” entreated +Belle, sliding down into a more comfortable position in the big, +cushioned seat she occupied all alone. “It is so warm! Summer is coming +with a vengeance.” + +“And it makes me wish we had set the date of our departure for Camp +Surprise a week or so earlier,” remarked Cora. “I wonder if we could +arrange to go any sooner.” + +“I could,” declared Bess. “I haven’t a thing to do.” + +“Except reduce,” put in her sister tantalizingly. + +“Belle Robinson! If you don’t stop those mean, insinuating remarks, +I’ll—I’ll——” + +“You won’t give me any more of those chocolates you sneaked into your +bag as we were coming out,” finished Belle. “I saw you, and you know +what Dr. Blake told you would happen if you didn’t stop eating sweets. +You’ll get so——” + +“These aren’t sweet!” interrupted Bess. “They’re the bitter kind, and +they’re delicious, too. They have them so fresh at Gordon’s.” + +“It’s a wonder she wouldn’t give us a chance to decide for ourselves, +instead of introducing expert testimony on her own account,” laughed +Cora. “Come, Bess, out with them!” + +“Certainly,” agreed the plump girl, with easy grace. “I intended to +share them all along, but it was so warm——” + +“Don’t say warm again!” drawled her sister. “Your nose is as shiny now +as a tin teakettle.” + +“Belle Robinson! It is not!” + +Instantly Bess had her little mirror and vanity box in use, and a quick +dab on her rather up-turned nose did away with the condition complained +of, or at least alleged, by her sister. + +“There, does that satisfy you?” she asked, turning about for inspection, +as Cora swung the big car around a turn in the road. + +“Oh, I’m easily satisfied,” Belle murmured. “What a perfectly gorgeous +view!” she cried, as she looked down from a height toward a village that +lay nestled in a green valley, girt around by a winding, silvery river, +glimpses of which could be had now and then between the trees that lined +the shores. + +“Yes, it is a good view,” agreed Cora, stopping the car. “Cheerful +Chelton looks even more amiable and love-like than usual to-day. It’s +cooler up here, too. Now pass over those chocolates, Bess.” + +“And watch her get more and more—well, I’ll say plump—before your eyes, +like that fat boy Scott tells about,” laughed Belle. + +“It wasn’t Scott’s fat boy. He was in Dickens,” corrected Cora. +“Nicholas Nickleby, I think.” + +“Pickwick Papers!” voiced Bess. “There! I know something even if I +am—plump. But, girls, I have lost five pounds in the last month.” + +“Not so’s you’d notice it,” murmured Belle. + +“Cease! Cease and have done!” admonished Cora. “How does that new one +go—two slow and one quick to the side and then——” + +“Not slow at all!” interrupted Bess. “You’ve got to follow through or +you’ll slice the ball and——” + +“What in the world are you talking about?” demanded Cora, her eyes +opening wide. “Slice the ball? What’s that in? The fox trot?” + +“I was speaking of golf,” murmured Bess. + +“She’s taken it up to—reduce,” whispered Belle. + +“I thought you meant that new three-step we tried the other night,” came +from Cora. + +“It’s too warm even to talk about dancing,” declared Belle. “Really we +must think of getting away sooner. Do you think we could get that +bungalow at Camp Surprise earlier than we had planned to take it, Cora?” + +“I don’t know. Mother made all the arrangements. But I can find out. Do +you really think you’d like to go sooner?” + +“I certainly do,” murmured plump Bess, who seemed to feel the sudden +summer heat more than did Cora, or the more svelt Belle. “Oh, by the +way, Cora! why do they call it Camp Surprise?” + +“I meant to ask that, too,” added Belle. “It’s such an odd name.” + +“And there’s an odd story connected with it,” said Cora. “I’ll have to +ask mother about it. She merely mentioned it, and something else came up +so I forgot to get the particulars. I’ll find out when we go back. But +if you girls are really in earnest about starting our summer vacation a +little earlier this year——” + +“I most certainly am in earnest,” Bess said. + +“And I,” added her sister. + +“Then I’ll see what we can do,” went on the girl at the wheel. “Oh dear! +I wish I hadn’t eaten those chocolates!” she exclaimed, making a wry +face. “I ought to have known better. Candy always makes me thirsty, and +I didn’t bring the vacuum bottle.” + +Belle sat up, carefully removed, with the tip of her tongue, some brown +chocolate stains from the tips of her pink, well-manicured fingers and, +looking up and down the road, announced: + +“That dear little tea room—Ye Olde Spinning Wheel—is only about a mile +farther on. Suppose we go there? I’m dying for a cup of tea with lemon +in it.” + +“Oh, so am I!” added Bess. “They say lemon is thinning.” + +“Then you’d better have lemonade with a leaf or two of tea in it,” said +Belle. + +“You—you——” spluttered Bess, drawing back her hand in which nestled a +chocolate. And then her desire to throw it was overcome by her appetite +for the confection. + +“Ye Olde Spinning Wheel,” repeated Cora. “That sounds most enticing. +We’ll go there, if only to keep you two from bickering. What’s gotten in +you sisters to-day, I never saw you so on each other’s nerves.” + +“It’s the weather,” returned Belle. + +“Let us hope so. Well, if you’ve admired the view enough we’ll go on.” + +They had come to a pause at the crest of a shaded hill, and down below +them lay the village in which the three girls lived. Cheerful Chelton it +had been designated, and cheerful it was. + +Cora, who had not stopped the engine, slipped the clutch in after +shifting the gear and the car moved down the slope, gradually cutting +off the view of the town. + +“What about the boys?” asked Bess, apropos of nothing in particular. + +“What boys?” demanded Cora. + +“Ours, of course,” and Bess looked surprised that any others should have +been thought of. “I mean your brother Jack, Walter Pennington and Paul +Hastings. Didn’t you say Paul was thinking of going to camp with our +boys, if they took the little bungalow near ours at Camp Surprise?” + +“Yes, Paul is coming,” Cora said. + +“Well, can the boys get away earlier if we do? It won’t be any fun going +there alone, particularly if there’s a mystery about the place.” + +“I didn’t say there was any mystery about the place,” corrected Cora. +“Though there may be. Besides, we’re to have a chaperon, you know. Or at +least the caretaker and his wife live in Camp Surprise, and I presume +she will be a chaperon.” + +“But it won’t be half the fun if the boys don’t come along,” declared +Belle. “They are so jolly, and—er—well, you know what I mean,” she +finished a bit lamely. + +“No need to explain at all,” said Cora cheerfully. “It’s perfectly all +right. If I go, that means mother can close the house so much earlier. +Jack won’t stay there alone, I know, so he’s likely to tag along.” + +“And if Jack goes Walter will. I guess we can count of making an earlier +start on our vacation than we contemplated,” said Bess. “It will be +lovely.” + +“Yes,” Cora assented. + +“There’s the tea room,” added Belle a little later as the car came out +on a long, level stretch of road. “It’s a perfect dear of a place; isn’t +it?” + +“A regular gazelle,” agreed Cora mockingly. + +She swung her machine into the parking place provided, and a few minutes +afterward the three girls were sitting at one of the wicker tables, in +wicker chairs, near a window which opened on a vine-shaded porch, while +electric fans hummed and droned breezily and refreshingly behind them +and in front of them stood rose-tinted plates heaped high with pale +yellow cream, nestled alongside of which were delicately browned +macaroons. + +“Oh, what a symphony of color!” murmured Cora, as the white-capped, +colored waitress set the refreshments from off her mahogany-cretonne +tray. + +“If it tastes half as good as it looks,” murmured Bess, “I’m going to +have another plate, if I have to roll twice my usual number of times +before I go to bed to-night.” + +“It is good,” said Belle. “It’s delicious!” + +“I could just sit here and—dream,” announced Belle, as she closed her +“effective” eyes, as Jack Kimball had designated them. + +“Yes, it is very soothing and restful,” agreed her sister, who had been +rendered sleepy by the combination of heat, a refreshing meal and the +droning of the electric fans. + +“I feel sleepy myself,” Cora confessed, closing her eyes. + +She opened them a moment later though, for a cry from Belle brought her +and Bess to a most unpleasant awakening. + +“Your car, Cora!” cried the slim Robinson twin. “Some one is taking your +auto!” + + + + +CHAPTER II—THE LOST TRAIL + + +“My car! Some one taking my car!” repeated Cora Kimball. “Who is it, +Belle?” and she hurried to the window from which the tall, willowy +Robinson twin was gazing toward the spot where the auto had been left. + +“Two young men. I saw them get in, and—there they go! Out into the road! +We must stop them!” + +Belle turned to make her exit, but her dress caught on a chair, and as +Cora and Bess were behind her, they, too, were delayed. + +“Oh, hurry!” begged Cora. + +“I can’t tear my dress,” retorted Belle. + +With a pull she loosed it from a splinter of the wicker chair, and then +made for the doorway, followed by the other girls. + +And while they are thus on their way to intercept those who had taken +Cora’s car I will devote a few minutes to acquainting my new readers +with the characters and incidents that go to make the previous volumes +of this series. + +“The Motor Girls,” was the title of the initial book. In that we find +Cora Kimball, the daughter of a wealthy widow, with her brother Jack, +living in “Cheerful Chelton,” as it has been called, a village on the +Chelton river, in New England, not far from the New York boundary. Cora +and Jack each had an automobile, but most of the adventures took place +in or about Cora’s car, in which she and her two most intimate chums, +the Robinson twins—Bess and Belle—went for many a ride. + +The Robinson girls were the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Perry Robinson, +the former a rich railroad man, and I think I have already sufficiently +indicated to you their characters. Bess was plump, and Belle tall and +willowy, inclined to indolence which she imagined was graceful. Cora +Kimball was a leader, and where she went the Robinson twins generally +followed. + +Jack Kimball, a student at Exmouth college, was almost as much a chum of +Cora’s as were her girl friends, and the girls regarded Jack and his +chums, Walter Pennington and Paul Hastings, as their especial retainers +and vassals as the case demanded. Paul’s sister Hazel, a sweet girl—if +you know what I mean—had been quite friendly with Cora and her chums, +until her removal to another city. Hazel was expected for a visit to +Cora soon, and, as has been mentioned, Paul contemplated going camping +with the boys. + +Soon after Cora secured her car the Robinson twins induced their father +to purchase one. The Motor Girls, as they had come to be known, went on +a tour, in the course of which many things happened. They had more +adventures at Lookout Beach, and also when they went through New +England. + +In succession Cora and her friends paid a visit to Cedar Lake, down on +the coast, and next they spent a summer on Crystal Bay. They had there a +most delightful time, but perhaps not more so than that told of in the +book immediately preceding this one. + +That volume is named “The Motor Girls on Waters Blue.” I forgot to +mention that the girls, after having served their apprenticeship, as it +were, in automobiles, had acquired a fine, large motor boat. In this +they had many good times, though it was not this boat that figured +largely on the blue waters. When Mr. Robinson had been called to Porto +Rico on business he had taken his daughters and Cora with him. + +How the steamer on which Mr. Robinson sailed to another island was +endangered, how the _Tartar_ was chartered by Cora and her chums to look +for the shipwrecked ones, and how Inez Ralcanto, the beautiful Spanish +girl, and her father, a political refugee, were aided—all this is set +down in the book preceding this present volume. + +It was not until after many hardships and not a little anxiety that +matters were finally straightened out, and our friends came back to +Cheerful Chelton, which had never seemed so homelike or so desirable, +Cora said, as after the exciting episodes in what was practically a +foreign land. + +A fall and winter of gaiety had brought spring and early summer, in +which delightful time of the year we now find our girl friends once +more. + +“It is gone! My car is gone!” exclaimed Cora, as they ran out of the tea +room. + +“Of course it is!” declared Belle. “Didn’t I see them take it!” + +“Two young men, you say?” asked her sister. + +“Yes. I didn’t see their faces, but I knew they were young by the way +they moved about—so lively!” + +“Say!” cried Cora, imbued by a sudden idea. “Could they have been Jack +and Walter?” + +“Your brother?” asked Bess. + +“Yes. I heard him say he was coming over in this direction in his car. +He and Walter might have driven up, and, seeing my car and guessing that +we were inside, may have gone off in it just for a joke.” + +“It’s _possible_,” assented Belle. “Anything is possible for Jack and +Wally. But if they came here they must have left their car near by. Turn +about is fair play—let’s annex theirs.” + +“Let’s find it first,” said Cora. + +They hurried out to the road. A quick look up and down showed no +automobile in sight—not even Cora’s. + +“They must have speeded up,” murmured Belle. “Oh! why weren’t we +quicker?” + +“It doesn’t amount to anything if those young men were really Jack and +Walter,” Cora said. “But we can’t be sure of that; can we, Belle?” + +“No, I can’t. I only had a glimpse of their backs, and all backs look +alike to me.” + +“It can’t have been Jack,” declared Bess, “or his car would be somewhere +in sight. He wouldn’t know we were in the tea room until he came up +close, and then there wouldn’t have been time to run his car back.” + +“You can’t tell what they would do,” said Cora. “Come on, we’ll walk as +far as the turn in the road, and see what’s down there.” + +“Hadn’t you better report your loss to the proprietor of the tea room?” +suggested Belle. “He might send a man out to look for the machine.” + +“I don’t want to make too much fuss if it was Jack and Walter,” Cora +objected. “Let’s take a look ourselves first.” + +The girls hurried down the road, all their drowsiness gone now. They +were rather alarmed in spite of the cool way in which Cora took it. + +“It’s dreadfully warm walking,” complained Bess. “I shall have to have +more cream after this is over.” + +“You can go back and wait for us,” suggested Cora, “if you’re too——” + +“Don’t dare say I’m too stout to keep on the trail!” cried Bess. “I’ll +never give up!” + +They were almost at the turn when the honking of an automobile horn +warned them of the approach of a car. + +“There they come back!” cried Belle, in relieved tones. + +But a moment later, as a machine swung into view around the curve, the +girls saw that it was not Cora’s. + +“But it’s Jack and Walter!” cried the former’s sister. “Wait! Stop!” she +begged. “Jack—Wally—we’re in trouble! Did you take our car?” + +“Take your car?” repeated Jack, bringing his machine to a stop with a +screeching of brakes. “What’s the joke?” + +“It isn’t a joke at all!” declared Belle. “I saw two young men making +off with Cora’s car. At first we thought it might be you and Wally.” + +“Not guilty!” affirmed the latter, holding up a protesting hand. + +“Where did all this happen?” Jack wanted to know. + +“At the Spinning Wheel tea room. We stopped there,” his sister informed +him. + +“Which way did they go?” asked Walter Pennington. + +“Down this way,” Belle said, explaining what she had seen, and how they +had come along the road thinking to meet the perpetrators of the joke. + +“Come on, Wally!” cried Jack. “We’ll get after those fellows. It may +have been a joke, and, again, it may not. No use taking any chances. +There have been several cars stolen around here lately. Maybe there’s a +regular organized gang. Go on back to your tea and cakes, girls. We’ll +round up the villains. Ha! Ha!” and he struck a theatrical attitude. + +“We’ll wait at the tea room for you,” Cora said. “You can trace my car +in the dust, Jack, by the tire-marks. There’s a big patch, where it was +vulcanized. It’s on the right forward wheel, and it makes a mark like a +big Z. Look for it.” + +“I will, Sis. But there isn’t much chance. Too many cars pass along this +road to let the dust-marks of any particular one stay in sight long. But +we’ll do the best we can.” + +Jack backed and turned his car around, and was soon off down the road in +a clatter of exhausts, while the three girls went back to Ye Olde +Spinning Wheel. + +“Who do you suppose they could be—those two fellows?” asked Bess. + +“Haven’t the least idea,” her sister assured her. + +“It couldn’t have been Paul Hastings, could it?” + +“Of course not!” declared Cora. “Paul isn’t given to playing such jokes. +Besides, he’s in the auto business you know, and he doesn’t believe in +taking chances with the cars of others. It may be a joke, as Jack says, +and some of our numerous friends may have tried to scare us, or it may +be——” + +“Don’t say your lovely car is really _stolen_!” interrupted Bess, +impulsively. + +“Well, I’d have to say it if it were,” declared the practical Cora. “And +the sooner we find out the better, in order to get the police after the +thieves.” + +Wearily they trudged back to the tea room, which they had left so +suddenly. + +“Let’s have some more ice cream while we’re waiting,” suggested Bess. + +They had nearly finished their second plates when the honking of a horn +warned them of the approach of some one. Eagerly they looked out to see +Jack and Walter returning. + +“We lost the trail!” Jack called. “I saw the tire marks, Cora, for a +little way, then they disappeared. We’ll have to notify the police. Your +car’s stolen all right.” + +“Oh, Jack!” + +“Might as well realize it first as last, Sis! Where’s a telephone?” he +asked the waitress. + + + + +CHAPTER III—TWO STRANGE MEN + + +“What are you going to do, Jack?” asked Cora. + +“Notify the Chelton police, and also the authorities here. They will +send out a general alarm better than we can. Now who saw these chaps, +and how did they look?” + +“Belle saw them.” + +“Then, Belle, I’ll have to call on your detective abilities. Describe +these villainous characters.” + +“I wouldn’t call them particularly villainous looking,” said the tall +girl. “In fact we thought for a time it was you two, and——” + +“I see,” interrupted Walter. “Belle, I thank you for your good opinion.” + +“Come on, get down to business!” exclaimed Jack Kimball. “I want to know +how these fellows looked so I can tell the police. Were they young or +old?” + +“Two young men,” answered Belle. “They were about your age, Jack.” + +“But, unfortunately, they did not have his angelic disposition,” mocked +Walter. “Bouquets are coming your way fast, Jack.” + +“I’ll dispense with them. Come on now, Belle. Anything else except that +they were young?” + +Belle thought for a moment. She had had such a momentary glimpse of the +two that, really, it was hard to describe them adequately for the +purposes of police detection. + +“Why not describe the car?” asked Cora. “No matter who is in my machine +they haven’t a right to it, and they should be arrested on sight.” + +“Good idea!” agreed Jack. “I can describe the car right enough.” + +“And give the license numbers,” said Bess. + +“Of course. Good girl. Let me have them, Cora.” + +They were the only ones in the tea room at this time, and the excitement +was only communicated to the help. The waitress showed Jack where the +telephone booth was, and while Cora, Walter and the girls explained to +the girl cashier at the desk what had happened, Jack got the Chelton +police over the telephone and asked them to send out an alarm, and also +to be on the lookout for the thieves. + +The tea room was in Pepack, the township next to Chelton, and Jack also +called up the town hall and notified the authorities there, who promised +to do what they could. + +“But they may have taken any of half a dozen roads leading out of here,” +Walter said. “They must have hurried away.” + +“And you didn’t have a glimpse of them?” asked Belle. + +“Not a trace,” answered Jack. “We managed to pick up the trail by means +of that patch on the tire. Saw it in the dust several times. Then it was +lost in the shuffle, as you might say, so we thought it better to come +back. I wonder if the people here noticed anything of two strange men +hanging about.” + +“We’ll ask the cashier,” suggested Cora. + +She knew, slightly, the girl who sat at the cash register, for Ye Olde +Spinning Wheel was a popular resort for automobile parties. + +“Yes, Miss Kimball,” the girl said, “there were two young men in here +this morning, though whether they were the ones who took your car I +can’t say.” + +“How did they look?” asked Jack. + +“Well, I don’t know that I can tell you. They were both of medium +height, and were smooth shaven—I mean they had no beards or moustaches, +though both of them would have been better for a visit to the barber’s.” + +“What did they do or say?” asked Walter. + +“They came in and each had a plate of cream,” went on the girl. “I +didn’t exactly like their looks, for, though we try to run a place that +will suit every one, we are a bit particular too. But they didn’t make +any fuss, and even tipped the waitress.” + +“Then they must be ‘regular fellows,’” said Walter, jokingly. + +“‘Scuse me,” broke in the voice of the waitress—the same one who had +waited on the girls—“but de dime tip dey gibbed me wasn’t any good.” + +“Why not?” asked Jack. + +“It was plugged. Look!” and she exhibited it. + +“So it is!” exclaimed Cora’s brother. “They weren’t so regular after +all.” + +“I didn’t see it till after dey’d gone,” the negress went on. + +“Perhaps you can describe them for me,” Jack suggested. + +It developed that the waitress could give a better word-picture of the +two young men than could the cashier, whose attention, naturally, was +taken up with her duties at the desk. + +Jack noted down the none too good distinguishing marks as described by +the waitress, and went to telephone them to the police as an additional +help in capturing those who had gone with Cora’s car. + +There was nothing more that could be done just then, and Jack was about +to suggest that, by means of a little crowding, he could take his sister +and her chums back to Chelton in his car when the young woman who had +charge of the tea room entered, it being her hour to go on duty. + +“What’s the matter?” she asked, as she observed the group of excited +young people about the cashier’s desk. + +“Two strange young men went off with Miss Kimball’s auto,” was the +cashier’s answer, and the circumstances were related. + +“Two young men!” exclaimed the manager. “Why I remember those two who +had cream in here this morning. They spoke to me as they came out on the +porch, and I bought tickets of them.” + +“Tickets!” exclaimed Jack. “Tickets?” + +“Yes. They seemed all right—I mean respectful and all that. They said +they had unexpectedly run out of funds and wanted to know if I wouldn’t +buy some railroad tickets they had to New York. I said I hadn’t any use +for them, and couldn’t get off to go to New York anyhow, as this was our +busy season.” + +“So you didn’t buy them?” asked Cora. “But I thought you said——” + +“I didn’t buy the railroad tickets,” said the young lady manager. “But I +did purchase two tickets for the opera performance that is to be given +at Chelton on Friday night. I’d been wanting to go, and I was going to +telephone for tickets when these young men said they had two good ones +they’d let me have for less than the regular price.” + +“And you took them?” asked Walter. + +“Yes. It seemed a bargain, and I am desirous to see the play.” + +“Do you mind letting me see the tickets?” asked Jack. + +“Certainly you may see them,” was the answer, and from her pocketbook, +which she had left in charge of the cashier, the manager took out two +slips of blue pasteboard. + +“Hum! They seem regular all right,” remarked Jack. “Date and seat +numbers all proper. I know where those seats are, too, right in the +middle of the first row balcony. I always sit there myself when I go.” + +“They said they were good seats,” declared the girl, “and I saved a +dollar. They wanted the money they said, for they had spent their last +for some ice cream. They seemed to be all right.” + +“Maybe they were,” agreed Jack. “Of course it’s perfectly proper for +persons who can’t use railroad or theatre tickets they have purchased, +to sell them again. And these tickets seem to be the same as those you +would get at the box office. And there’s no crime in being without cash. +But it is a crime to take an automobile.” + +“The only question is whether the same two fellows are involved,” +suggested Walter. + +“That’s it,” agreed Jack. “I wish you girls had had a better look at +those who went off in the machine.” + +“It all happened so suddenly,” Belle explained. + +“Yes, such things generally do,” remarked Cora. “Well, there’s nothing +else to do, is there?” + +“I guess not,” said Jack, who had telephoned in the additional +description of the young men who had sold the tickets, adding the +information that there was only a suspicion that they were the same two +who were responsible for the taking of the car. + +“If they had only kept the theatre tickets, instead of selling them,” +said Walter, “we’d have a good chance of arresting them.” + +“How?” Belle demanded. + +“By watching those two seats. As soon as the fellows came in to take +their places we could have an officer arrest them.” + +“Please don’t try it on me,” begged the young lady who had purchased the +coupons. “I don’t want a scene,” and she regarded Walter smilingly. + +“Of course not,” agreed Cora. “Oh, dear! My nice car, that I was +counting on taking to Camp Surprise with me.” + +“We’ll get it back before then!” declared Jack. + +“Oh! but we’re going earlier than we planned originally,” said Belle. + +“And she wants you boys to come, too!” cried Bess. + +“No more than you do!” snapped Belle, her fair face flushing. + +“What’s the idea?” asked Walter. + +“It’s getting so unbearably warm,” said Cora, and then she explained +that they might go earlier than originally planned to the bungalow camp +in the mountains. + +“Well, we might manage it,” Jack said. “We’ll talk it over, Wally. Have +to see Paul, though I guess he’d fit in anywhere Bess went.” + +“Oh! is that so?” cried the plump girl, blushing in her turn. + +The tea room people promised to be on the lookout for the strange young +men, and to notify Jack or the police if they came around again. + +“But if they were the ones who took the car they won’t come back,” +Walter declared. + +By crowding, all the young people managed to get in Jack’s car. On the +way back to Chelton a sharp lookout was kept for the missing machine, +but no trace of it was seen, and Cora was much depressed when she +reached home. + +“Never mind,” whispered Jack, “you may use mine, Sis, until yours shows +up. Don’t worry, we’ll get it yet.” + +“I hope so,” murmured Cora. + + + + +CHAPTER IV—A CURIOUS STORY + + +Such measures as one might expect to have taken in a place like Chelton +and the surrounding towns were taken by the authorities in an endeavor +to recover Cora’s stolen automobile. For stolen it certainly was, and +not taken in a joke. That fact was patent when several days passed and +no trace of it was found and no word received as to where it might have +been taken or abandoned by the two strange young men. + +“They might merely have taken it to get some place, seeing that they had +no money,” observed Belle, when the three girls were talking the matter +over one day at Cora’s house. + +“They had railroad tickets, though,” said Belle. + +“Yes, but to New York, and perhaps they didn’t want to go there.” + +“I should think New York would be just the place where they would want +to go if they had no money,” came from Cora. “There are so many chances +to make money there.” + +“Perhaps they didn’t dare go,” suggested Belle. + +“What do you mean?” came in a duet from the others. + +“They might have done something—perhaps have taken another auto—and they +knew the police would be after them,” explained Belle. + +“Quite dramatic,” observed Cora. “But whoever they are or whatever their +motive, I wish they’d send back my car. I want it.” + +“I don’t blame you a bit,” came from Bess. “Come on, we’ll go out on +another searching tour.” + +“All right,” agreed Cora, and they were soon on the road again in the +car of the Robinson twins. The girls had not left it all to the +authorities to find the missing automobile. They had made diligent +inquiries themselves on all roads leading out of Chelton and in the +vicinity of the tea room. Nor had the boys been idle. Paul Hastings +arrived in town on business connected with the automobile concern by +which he was employed, and he, Jack and Walter, made it their business +to scurry around in Jack’s car, looking for clews. + +But the slender ones they found proved unavailing. Automobiles are all +too common to attract attention unless there is something unusual about +them. And Cora’s car, while it was a fine one, was not unusual enough to +call for special notice. + +The number on the license plates had been given to the police and +constables, but it would have been a comparatively easy matter for the +thieves to change the number or rub oil on and let dust accumulate until +it would have been all but indecipherable. Then, too, persons seldom +notice the number on a car unless there has been some accident. + +“It just seems to have disappeared,” declared Cora at the close of the +day, when a long tour and many inquiries had resulted in nothing. “I +just wish I had hold of those two fellows!” + +“It _is_ provoking,” agreed Belle. “Let’s stop at the tea room and see +if they’ve heard anything more there.” + +The girl at the cash register, the young lady manager, and the colored +maid who had waited on them before greeted the three pretty chums +smilingly as they again entered the pleasant tea room of Ye Olde +Spinning Wheel. + +“Were your tickets for the play all right?” asked Cora as the manager +stepped over to inquire if everything was to their liking. + +“I haven’t used them yet. They are for this week Friday. Oh! I’m sure +they’re all right. Some of my friends bought tickets from the same +fellows for the same night and they are next mine.” + +“Those chaps must have planned for a regular theatre party,” observed +Belle. + +“Have you had any trace of your car yet?” the cashier asked, as Cora +went up to pay the check. + +“No, I’m sorry to say, I haven’t.” + +“If you don’t get it soon, Cora,” said Belle, “you’d better plan to use +ours to go to Camp Surprise.” + +“Oh, we’re going in the motor boat,” Cora said. “I didn’t tell you, but +mother learned that the roads around the camp were so rough that it +would certainly spoil a car to take it to camp, so I wouldn’t take mine, +anyhow.” + +“Camp Surprise,” repeated the pretty cashier. “That sounds interesting.” + +“I hope we don’t find it too much so,” returned Belle. + +The plans for going to live at the bungalow with the odd name, which was +situated in the mountains some miles west of Chelton, had been talked +over at length, and an earlier trip than the one originally decided on +had been voted for. + +“Going in the motor boat! How nice!” cried Bess, as they went out of the +tea room. “Then it doesn’t matter about your auto, Cora—I mean, of +course—oh! I don’t mean that!” she cried, blushing. “Of course you want +it back——” + +“Well, I should say I do!” exclaimed Jack’s sister with mock +indignation. + +“I mean we won’t have to wait until you get your car back before going +to Camp Surprise,” Bess went on. + +“No,” agreed Cora. “That won’t delay us.” + +“And now don’t you think you ought to tell us why the camp where we are +going to spend most of the summer has such an odd name?” asked Belle. + +“I’ve been meaning to this long while,” assented Cora, “but so many +things have happened that I didn’t get to it. Come on, let’s sit out +here on the porch, where it’s so nice, cool and shady, and I’ll tell you +all I know.” + +“You couldn’t, Cora, dear—not in the limited time at our disposal,” said +Belle, languidly sinking into an easy wicker chair. “You know too much.” + +“Thank you. I believe this was my treat, so now we’re even. But I meant +all I know about Camp Surprise.” + +“First, how did it get its name?” asked Bess. + +“Because of the surprising things that happen there.” + +“Happen—happen?” queried Belle. “Do you mean they still happen?” + +“Well, so mother said,” observed Cora. + +“Bur-r-r!” shivered Bess, with a hasty glance over her shoulder. “I’m +not so sure I want to go there.” + +“Nonsense!” cried Cora. “If there’s a ghost we’ll lay it—whatever that +means.” + +“Oh, Cora! Ghosts!” + +“Oh! I don’t mean that, exactly. It isn’t so bad as that. The worst +things that have happened are that things in the bungalow seem to be +upset and misplaced without reason.” + +“Upset? Misplaced?” murmured Belle. + +“Without reason?” added her sister. + +“Oh! perhaps I am making a mountain out of a molehill,” confessed Cora. +“This is how the matter stands. Up in the mountains are a number of +camps, cottages, bungalows—what you like—which belong to a development +company. The bungalows and camps are rented, furnished, to whoever wants +them. Camp Surprise, where we shall have a good-sized bungalow to live +in, is one of the best of these resorts. It is about five miles in from +the Towanda river, which is what the Chelton is called up state, and it +was going up the river that I planned to use the motor boat.” + +“How do we get over the five miles?” asked Bess. + +“By buckboards over a mountain road. That’s why we won’t need the autos. +Of course we could use a car, but as long as mine is still among the +missing we won’t make any such plans. Camp Surprise is right on the edge +of a stream which is quiet enough in dry weather, but a torrent when +there’s a heavy rain. And there’s a little lake and a waterfall near the +bungalow.” + +“That sounds lovely,” remarked Belle. + +“It is lovely,” asserted Cora. “I’ve seen pictures of it. And while our +bungalow is on one side of the mountain torrent there is another one, +not far off, on the other side, where the boys are going to stay.” + +“How nice,” commented Bess. + +“Is that other bungalow within sight or calling distance of ours?” asked +Belle. + +“One or the other, yes,” assented Cora. “But why so anxious?” + +“Because when those ghosts, or whatever they are, get to moving things +about I want a man, or at least a good-sized boy around,” was the +answer. + +“Nonsense!” exclaimed Cora. “It isn’t so bad as that.” + +“Say it again,” begged Bess. “You told about unseen hands moving chairs +and tables.” + +“I didn’t mean it exactly that way,” and Cora smiled. “You see there is +a man and his wife who have rooms in the bungalow, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd. +They look after the place, and they’ll be our chaperons. I did think +mother might be able to go with us, but she won’t. But mother knows Mrs. +Floyd, and says she’s very nice.” + +“I hope the ghosts will be nice,” said Belle. + +Cora laughed. + +“Oh, you funny girl! Why will you persist in calling them ghosts?” + +“Well, aren’t they? Moving chairs about?” + +“Is that what happened—or happens?” asked Bess. + +“So I understand,” returned Cora. “Mr. and Mrs. Floyd don’t use the main +bungalow, keeping to their own rooms. But they wrote mother that, of +late, there have been some queer goings on. They said they would go out, +leaving the rooms in perfect order, only to find them all upset on their +return. Chairs would be misplaced, tables that had been in the middle of +the room would be shoved back against the wall. Dishes would be taken +out of the closets, and——” + +“Tramps!” interrupted Belle. + +“What?” cried Cora, rather startled by the suddenness of the +ejaculation. + +“I mean tramps got in and did it.” + +“No, I don’t think so,” and Cora spoke slowly. “For, though the dishes +were taken from the pantry, there was no food missing. Tramps would take +food.” + +“Is this all that happened?” Bess demanded. + +“Well, once something was taken,” Cora said. “A party had the bungalow, +and when they left at the end of their stay, they forgot to take some of +their silver with them. Then came one of the upsetting periods, and the +furniture was misplaced and the silver taken.” + +Belle and Bess looked at their chum, then the former said slowly: + +“I—I don’t believe we want to go to Camp Surprise, Cora.” + + + + +CHAPTER V—COUNTERFEIT TICKETS + + +Cora laughed melodiously. Belle and Bess looked at her with just a shade +of indignation in their eyes. + +“I didn’t think you’d be such—such, well, I won’t say cowards,” Cora +voiced, when the gale of merriment had passed. “But I think, Belle, that +you would rise above the occasion, even if Bess——” + +“Now what is there she can do that I can’t?” demanded the plump twin +truculently. “I guess if it’s a question of bravery, I’m as willing as +she is to go to Camp Surprise.” + +“I thought you’d be,” Cora observed. + +“But is it a question of bravery?” asked Belle. + +“What else?” her sister demanded. + +“Well, from the way in which Cora told it, I should think it would need +some members of the Society for Psychic Research to get to the bottom of +all those queer manifestations. Cora Kimball!” Belle suddenly exclaimed, +sitting up in her chair. “You haven’t been hoaxing us; have you? This +isn’t a joke; is it? I mean all those things really did happen; didn’t +they?” + +“My! what a lot of questions to set off at once,” objected Cora. “But I +can answer them all by saying that I have given the story to you just as +it came to me. As far as I know, it’s no joke, and the way the furniture +behaved, or rather, was made to act, is strictly true.” + +“And you are still going to Camp Surprise?” asked Bess. + +“Certainly. Why not?” + +“Well—er—that is—— Oh! of course I know there’s no such thing as a +ghost,” said Belle. “But, at the same time, even if those things +happened by human agencies—as naturally they did—it might make it very +unpleasant for us up there.” + +“Nonsense!” cried Cora. “It will make it all the more interesting. Think +of the fun we can have, organizing ghost-detecting parties, sitting up +until all hours of the night, daring the boys to sit with us. And then, +after all, finding out it is only the tricks of some alleged fun-loving +person, or perhaps boys of the neighborhood.” + +“Do you really think so, Cora?” Belle asked. + +“Why, yes.” + +“I don’t know,” murmured Bess, thoughtfully. + +“Come! Where has all the bravery of the Motor Girls vanished to?” +demanded Cora with a silvery laugh. “We didn’t act thus timidly when we +solved the secret of the red oar on Crystal Bay. And perhaps——” + +“Cora’s right!” interrupted Belle. + +“She generally is,” contributed Bess. + +“There’s a secret here, and we will solve it!” her sister went on. “I +didn’t look at it that way before, but I see it now. We mustn’t be +driven away, or kept from going just because of these rumors. We’ll go +to Camp Surprise and surprise those who are making such a fuss there. I +wonder some one hasn’t done it long ago.” + +“Just what I was about to remark,” came from Cora. “I’m glad to see that +your natural courage has come back. I thought it would. We haven’t been +together on various quests for nothing. Now we’ll prove ourselves true +Motor Girls, and get at the bottom of these surprising happenings. You +won’t back out?” + +“Never!” affirmed Bess. + +“Cross my heart!” laughed her sister, with the old, familiar, childish +gesture of emphasizing a statement. + +“Then it’s all settled. Now let’s go home. Jack and Walter said they +were going over to Meadport to-day to see if any word had been received +there of my missing auto. They may have returned with some news.” + +“Why was Meadport regarded so favorably?” asked Bess. + +“Well, a constable there sent word to our police that there had been a +number of petty robberies committed in the neighborhood. A number of +thefts would take place in one night, and so far apart that the only +probable theory was that the thieves used an auto. Jack thought my dear +car might be used for such base purposes, so he and Wally went over +there to-day.” + +“Let us hope they have good news,” said Belle, as with her sister and +Cora she entered the Robinson automobile and headed back for Cheerful +Chelton. + +“Nothing doing,” announced Jack, as his sister and her chums came in +sight of the Kimball home, and saw him with Walter, sitting on the +broad, shady piazza. “Absolutely nothing transpiring, as the poet +saith.” + +“College hasn’t improved your slang any,” observed Bess. + +“No, I guess I’ll have to take a P. G. course to accomplish that. I am a +bit rusty. Wally, suppose you give them a sample.” + +“Spare us,” murmured Cora. “Was there really no news, Jack?” + +“Not an atom, or even a molecule. Which is smaller, Wally? I forget.” + +“Same here. Anyhow they hadn’t caught those Meadport thieves, so whether +they have your auto or not, Cora, my dear, remains yet to be proved.” + +The young people talked on, the conversation reverting naturally to Camp +Surprise. + +“What do you think it all means, Jack?” asked Bess. + +“Kids playing tricks,” declared Jack tersely. “So it didn’t scare you +girls out from going?” + +“Of course not!” declared Bess indignantly. A look passed from her to +Cora, from Cora to Belle—and that was all. + +“That’s right!” chimed in Walter. “Don’t let a little thing like that +scare you away. We’ll get at the bottom of this mystery.” + +“When do you plan to go?” asked Cora of her brother. + +“As soon as Wally can get his new suit that he’s ordered from that nobby +tailor.” + +“Don’t you believe him,” cried Walter, thumping his chum on the back. +“I’m as ready as he is. He’s waiting for one of those sport shirts——” + +“Go on! I wouldn’t wear one!” + +“Well, make up your minds, and we’ll all go together,” urged Cora. “We +can go up in the motor boat as far as possible, and take buckboards the +rest of the way. We’d like to have you boys on hand when we begin the +investigation of Camp Surprise.” + +“Oh, ho! Afraid?” laughed Walter. “I thought there was a mouse in the +woodpile somewhere, Jack, my boy!” + +“Nothing of the sort!” came from Cora. “Besides, you’re thinking of the +mouse and the lion. It is an African gentleman of color who makes the +woodpile his habitation.” + +“That’s right,” admitted Walter. “I never was very good at dates +anyhow.” + +“Fig paste is more to your liking. Have a chocolate,” urged Bess. + +“We want you along to bear testimony when we have routed out the +mischief-makers,” said Cora, after the laughter had subsided. “Your +bungalow is near ours, and we can call to you to come and hold the +disturbers when we capture them.” + +“Is that what you’re going to do?” asked Jack. + +“Certainly,” returned Belle, as if the girls had never hesitated. + +“Well, it would be a pity to disappoint you,” Walter declared. “We’ll go +when they do, Jack. But—whisper—they’ll be more than a week yet. I know +girls.” + +“You only _think_ you do,” mocked Cora. “We’ll be ready before you are.” + +Then they began to talk seriously and plan for their summer outing. It +was not the first time they had been away together, the boys and girls +often going to the same resort and occupying adjacent bungalows or +cottages. In this way they divided such work as there was, and +multiplied the possible good times. + +Mrs. Kimball was to go to the Thousand Islands with her sister, which +left Jack and Cora free to do as they pleased. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson +would, as usual, occupy their seashore cottage, but Bess and Belle would +not join them there until later in the season, going first to Camp +Surprise with Cora. + +“Well, now it’s all settled,” declared Cora, after a season of talk. +“We’ll go to Camp Surprise two weeks from to-day. I’ll tell mother, and +have her write to Mrs. Floyd to have everything in readiness.” + +“Even the ghosts?” demanded Walter. + +“Even the ghosts,” agreed Cora, accepting the implied challenge. + +“Good!” cried Jack. + +A few days after this the three girls, all of whom belonged to a church +home mission society, went to take some medicine and food to an old +woman who was one that the society looked after. This dependent lived +some distance out of Cheerful Chelton, and the Robinson twins brought +their car in which to carry the baskets of food. + +They had done their little errand of mercy and on the way back Cora +proposed that they stop at Ye Olde Spinning Wheel for some tea or ice +cream, as the girls preferred. + +They had the place practically to themselves, as it was not the hour +when most motorists stopped for refreshments. Cora and her chums spoke +to the manager, and noticed that she seemed a bit downcast. + +“What is the matter?” asked Cora. + +“Oh, it’s something that happened last night. You know I told you I had +two tickets for the opera. My friend gave me the money to get them, and +I bought them off the two young fellows who were here one day last +week.” + +“Yes, it was the time my auto was taken,” Cora said. + +“Of course! I ought to have remembered. Well, I bought two tickets for +the opera from those men at a reduced price.” + +“And couldn’t your friend go with you?” asked Belle sympathetically. + +“Oh, yes. He came for me all right. But when we went to go in they +wouldn’t let us.” + +“Who wouldn’t let you, those two young men?” asked Cora eagerly. + +“No, I only wish it had been the young men. I’d have had ’em arrested. +But the doorkeeper would not let me and my friend in on those tickets.” + +“Why not?” asked Bess. + +“Because he said they were counterfeit. And after my friend had given me +his good money for them. I was that angry I could have cried! +Counterfeit tickets! What do you know about that?” + + + + +CHAPTER VI—OFF TO CAMP + + +“Really, were they bogus tickets?” asked Cora after a pause. + +“And wouldn’t they let you in?” Bess cried. + +“How could they tell they were counterfeits?” was Belle’s question. + +“’Cause some one else had our seats, or the seats our tickets called +for,” said Miss Magin, the manager of the tea room. “This is how it was. +I got all ready to go—it was my day off, you know, and I had a new +dress. Had my nails manicured and went to a hair dresser, for I wanted +to look nice. My friend is some swell dresser himself, and you know how +it is. You want to be a credit when a person goes to the trouble to take +you out.” + +“I know,” Cora murmured. + +“Well, I did look nice, if I do say it myself,” went on Miss Magin, “and +I was quite pleased when I handed my friend back a dollar. + +“‘What’s this for?’ he asked me. + +“‘What I saved on the tickets,’ I told him, and I mentioned how I’d +bought two from the fellows who were here trying to sell some railroad +transportation as well. My friend was quite pleased, of course, for he +has to work hard for his money. ’This’ll do to help get a lunch after +the show,’ he said, and I was glad. + +“Well, we got to the opera house all right, but they wouldn’t let us in. +That is, they wouldn’t give us the seats our coupons called for. We did +get in, but when we went to the seats there was a couple already in +them. + +“My friend thought the usher had made a mistake, and there was a mix-up +for a while. Then the usher got the other couple’s coupons and they were +the same number as ours. They called the manager, and he said our +tickets were counterfeit. + +“First my friend wouldn’t believe it, but the manager showed by the +other tickets taken in that ours were different. The print was the same, +and so was the color of the pasteboard, but it was stiffer than the +regular tickets. There was no way out of it. We had been cheated, and so +had some other people who had bought tickets from those fellows. There +was quite a disturbance.” + +“It’s too bad!” exclaimed Cora. “Then you didn’t see the opera after +all?” + +“Oh, sure I did!” exclaimed Miss Magin. “My friend wouldn’t see me +disappointed. He bought other tickets, though they weren’t as good as +the ones I had—or thought I had.” + +“And they really were counterfeit?” repeated Bess. + +“Yes, but cleverly done. It was only the quality of the paper, or +pasteboard, that showed,” went on the tea room manager. “If we had +gotten there first we might have had our seats without any trouble, +though of course when the folks came in that had the real tickets it +would have been found out, I s’pose.” + +“And you say others also bought the bogus tickets?” Cora asked. + +“Yes, quite a few. Got them from the same fellows, too, who told the +same story about being hard up for cash, and wanting to sell the tickets +they’d purchased.” + +“Were they the same young men?” asked Belle. + +“The descriptions were the same as the two who were here, and who must +have taken your auto, Miss Kimball. When I found out our tickets were +worthless I told the manager about your car, though of course he had +heard of it from reading the paper. Oh! I just wish I could have them +arrested!” + +“So do I,” agreed Cora. + +“Could they find out where the tickets were printed?” asked Bess. + +“Not just by looking at them,” answered Miss Magin. “The bogus ones +looked for all the world like the real ones, even to the company’s name +that was printed on them. But the opera house manager kept those my +friend and I turned in and said he’d make an investigation. Say! I felt +pretty cheap when it turned out I’d bought bogus tickets with my +friend’s money.” + +“Oh! you couldn’t help it,” Cora said, her chums murmuring their +agreement. + +“Well, I meant all right,” Miss Magin went on, “but I cost my friend +more than if I hadn’t a’ been so soft-hearted wanting to help out those +fellows who told a hard-luck story.” + +“They’ll be caught some day,” declared Bess. “Printing bogus theatrical +tickets isn’t easily done. Care has to be used, and sooner or later +those fellows will be arrested.” + +“The sooner the better,” said Cora. “I want my car back.” + +The girls and the manager talked for some little time longer about the +happenings of the night before. Presently a man alighted from a taxicab, +or rather, one of the town’s few jitney cars, and entered the tea room. +He looked rather sharply at our friends—at least so Cora thought—and, +taking a seat at a table not far away, ordered a cup of coffee and a +sandwich. + +He spoke casually to the waitress, and as Miss Magin, as was her custom, +walked up to see if the service was satisfactory, he spoke also to her +pleasantly, and she replied. + +“Was it one of the young ladies here who recently purchased some bogus +theatre tickets?” the man asked, after some casual remarks. + +“I hope you haven’t any more to sell!” retorted the manager, a bit +sharply. + +“No. I am a detective sent out by the agency which prints theatre +tickets for many shows. This isn’t the first time we have had trouble, +and I want, if possible, to get on the track of the persons responsible. +Do you mind telling me all you can of this?” + +Of course Miss Magin was only too glad to do so, and, incidentally, she +mentioned the loss of Cora’s automobile. Naturally that brought our +friends into the conversation, and the detective, who introduced himself +as Mr. Boswell, went over to the girls’ table. He spoke of having been +for some time unsuccessfully on the trail of the bogus ticket sellers. + +“Taking automobiles is a new line for their activities, though,” said +Mr. Boswell. “This may make it easier to catch them.” + +“Of course,” suggested Cora, “we are not altogether certain that the +same persons who sold Miss Magin the tickets took my auto.” + +“Very likely they were,” declared the detective. “They probably realized +that they had done all the illegitimate business possible in this +neighborhood, and they wanted to get as far away as they could before +the fact about the tickets became known. An auto offered the simplest +means.” + +“I should have locked the ignition switch,” said Cora. “I usually do +when I get out. But we thought we would stay only a little while, so I +didn’t do it this time.” + +“Too bad,” said Mr. Boswell. “If I get on the track of your car, Miss +Kimball, I’ll let you know.” + +He made a memorandum of the description of the two men as furnished by +Miss Magin, and took his departure, promising to let Cora hear from him +in case anything developed. + +“More of the mystery,” remarked Bess, as she and the others were on +their way back in the automobile. “What with this and what may happen at +Camp Surprise, I can see we are in for a busy summer.” + +And busy enough the girls were during the next week. There were trunks +to pack, messages to send to the caretakers at the camp, dresses to have +finished in time, and many odds and ends to be looked after before +leaving for so long a time. + +“There’s a nice dancing pavilion not far away,” Cora told her chums. +“And of course there’ll be one or two formal affairs at a neighboring +hotel.” + +Hazel Hastings had come on to be Cora’s guest and was staying at the +Kimball house. She was the same sweet girl as before, though a little +older, and not quite so timid as she had been. + +Paul was the same jolly chap, quite engrossed in his automobile +business, but not so much so that he could not enjoy the little outing +in prospect. + +“I’ve sent a description of your car, with the number of it, the number +of the engine and other identifying marks, to all the second hand +dealers,” he told Cora. “If it’s offered for sale to any one in the +dealers’ association I’ll hear of it and there’s a chance that we’ll get +it back for you. + +“Of course there are some ‘outlaw dealers’ who do not belong to the +association, and who might take a chance on buying a stolen car,” said +the young automobile agent. “But we can’t help that. I think we’ll get +your machine sooner or later.” + +Cora was grateful for Paul’s efforts, but she had about given up hope. +The police had secured no clews, and, though they professed to be +active, there really was little for them to do. + +The motor boat had been overhauled and put in shape for the trip up the +Chelton river. Though the craft offered accommodations for sleeping on +board they did not plan to use the berths on this occasion. They were to +make an early start and reach Riverhead, the end of navigation on the +Chelton, early in the afternoon. From Riverhead they would go to Camp +Surprise in wagons of the buckboard type, made with wooden slats for +springs, very comfortable to ride in over rough roads. + +The boys were to go with the girls, Jack and his sister acting as +chaperons for the others until camp was reached, when Mr. and Mrs. Floyd +would perform this office. + +Light baggage would be taken with them on the boat, the trunks being +sent on ahead. + +“And we’ll take lunch along, of course,” Bess said. + +“Of course,” echoed her sister. “We don’t want to go hungry any more +than do you.” + +The day of departure came at last. Bess and Belle were early at Cora’s +house, and found her, Jack, Paul and Hazel busy making the final +preparations. + +The valises and bundles were carried down to the motor boat, good-byes +were said over and over again, various cautions were given by Mrs. +Kimball and Mrs. Robinson, and then Cora, standing at the wheel of the +craft, steered out into the middle of the pretty stream. + +“Off for Camp Surprise!” she cried gaily. + + + + +CHAPTER VII—JACK’S BATH + + +Out into the sunlit Chelton river swung the smart motor boat with Cora +at the wheel. The sun glinted on the water, it reflected from the +polished brass rail and the white forward deck of the craft, it sparkled +from the brass letters of the name—_Corbelbes_, and danced in javelins +of light on the little waves. + +The _Corbelbes_ was the latest name of the motor boat which had been +variously christened at times. The craft was owned jointly by Cora, +Belle and Bess, and in accordance with their agreement they had in turn +the privilege of naming it, such name to be used during a whole season. + +In turn the girls had adopted various more or less classical +nomenclature. Each one’s time having expired, it came to Cora again, and +she confessed that she did not know what to select. + +“Let me name the boat for you,” suggested Jack. “I’ve thought of a swell +name.” + +“Something ridiculous, I’m sure of that,” ventured Cora. + +“No, something really classy. How’s this,” and Jack quickly printed on a +piece of paper the name now glinting on either bow of the craft. + +“_Corbelbes_,” repeated his sister. “That isn’t half bad. What is it, +Spanish or Latin?” + +“It’s French for curling iron and face powder,” laughed Jack. + +“You mean thing!” + +“No, it isn’t, Sis. Don’t you see, it’s the first part of the names of +all three of you.” + +“Oh, so it is.” Cora was smiling now. + +“What better name could you have for a boat?” Jack demanded. “It’s +something distinctive and individual.” + +Cora and her chums agreed with him, and the motor boat became the +_Corbelbes_, and as such had remained. + +“Does she steer all right, Cora, with the new tiller ropes on?” asked +Jack, as he lolled lazily on one of the cushioned lockers, which, at +night, could be turned into comfortable bunks. + +“A bit stiff,” responded his sister. + +“Well, the ropes will stretch, after they’ve been used a bit, so it’s +just as well to have them tight now. You get quicker action when you +turn the wheel, though the river will not be crowded after we get up a +way.” + +Bess, Belle and Hazel busied themselves setting to rights their various +possessions in the little cabin, and then they sat out in the wicker +chairs in the after part of the craft, where Jack and Walter were. Paul +seemed to find entertainment up in the bow with Cora. + +“Where are the eats?” demanded Walter, when they had been under way for +perhaps a half hour. “Didn’t I see you smuggling something on board, +Bess?” + +“Eats? Now?” cried Jack. “And if you saw Bess have anything it was a box +of chocolates.” + +“It was not, Jack Kimball!” retorted the pretty, plump twin. “I’ve given +up chocolates.” + +“For how long?” he teased. + +“For ever. I’m eating lime drops and lemon drops now. Have some?” + +“I knew I saw you have something,” declared Walter. “Why, they’re +chocolates after all!” he went on, as he helped himself to what Bess +offered. + +“I know they are, but the chocolate coating is very thin,” she said. +“They’re sour inside.” + +“Sort of Christian Science treatment,” remarked Jack. “Bess couldn’t +altogether give up her chocolate, so she takes it in homeopathic doses. +Whew! they _are_ sour!” he cried, as he bit into one of the candies, +making a wry face. + +“Fruit acids make one thin, I read,” Bess stated, “so I had these made +to order.” + +“Bess Robinson, you never did!” voiced her sister in surprised accents. + +“Why shouldn’t I? They didn’t cost any more than the others. All the +candy shop did was to dip their regular lime and lemon drops into +chocolate for me.” + +“Well!” exclaimed Belle. “Did you hear that, Cora?” + +There was no reply from the girl at the wheel. She and Paul were busy +talking. + +“Let her alone,” urged Bess. “She knows about my candy. I told her.” + +“Yes, don’t disturb ’em,” agreed Walter. “But I want something more +substantial than candy. Didn’t you bring anything else, Bess?” + +“Yes, we have a nice lunch, but I’m not going to have you spoil your +appetite by eating now,” declared Belle. + +“You don’t know how hard it is to spoil his appetite,” laughed Jack. +“I’ve tried several times to find out just where the vanishing point is, +but I haven’t succeeded. I’ve begun to believe that his appetite is like +the poor—always with us—or him.” + +“Base traitor!” retorted Walter, reaching out to punch Jack, but finding +him too far away he did not exert himself. + +The Chelton river was a busy place in the neighborhood of the town where +our friends lived. On the way up the _Corbelbes_ passed a number of +craft, some of them slow-moving coal or grain barges, others passenger +steamers, and not a few pleasure craft. Those in charge of the latter +recognized the _Corbelbes_ and saluted her with the regulation three +whistles, which Cora returned. + +“We couldn’t have had a better day,” remarked Paul, as he sat beside +Cora. + +“No, it’s perfect. If the weather only behaves when we get to camp we’ll +be in all sorts of ways obliged to it.” + +“Oh, I guess it will,” was the comment. “Look out for that fellow, Cora. +He doesn’t seem to know which way he wants to go.” + +“I’ve been noticing him,” and Cora looked at a man in a rowboat who was +yawing from side to side as though unfamiliar with the proper method of +navigation. + +Cora blew the whistle sharply as the man seemed about to cross her bows, +and this further confused him so that he was really in danger of being +run down. + +“Look out!” cried Paul again, instinctively, though he knew Cora knew +how to manage the boat. + +And she proved that she did by quickly reversing the propeller, while a +series of sharp blasts informed any craft coming astern to look out for +themselves. + +“What’s the matter with you?” demanded Paul, as the _Corbelbes_ passed +the man in the rowboat. “You ought to take lessons before you come out +on the river.” + +The man looked frightened but did not answer, pulling awkwardly away. + +“What are you trying to do, Cora?” demanded Jack. “Have an accident +before we’re fairly started? Better let me steer.” + +“I will not, indeed! It wasn’t my fault!” + +“I should say not!” cried Paul. “That fellow was a dub!” + +That was the only near approach to a collision, though the river was +unusually crowded that morning. In a little while, however, the water +traffic thinned out, and Cora did not have to devote so much attention +to the wheel. + +“Say, isn’t it time for lunch now?” demanded Walter, insinuatingly. + +“It’s only eleven,” announced Belle, with a look at her wrist watch. + +“That’s his regular feeding time—at least he’ll say so,” put in Jack, +before his chum had a chance to answer. + +“I had an early breakfast,” put in Walter in extenuation. + +“Oh, well, give the child something,” laughed Bess, “and let us have +peace!” + +Sandwiches, cake and other things were brought out, set on a table which +unfolded from the side of the boat, and the merry chatter was soon +interspersed with periods of silence to allow a chance to eat. + +“We’ll get there in good season,” Cora was saying, when the engine gave +a sudden combined cough, wheeze and sneeze, and stopped. + +“No gasoline!” cried Walter. + +“Indeed not!” answered Cora. “Both tanks are full.” + +“Ground wire broken,” suggested Paul. + +A hasty look at the conductors proved this theory to be wrong. + +“Then it’s the carburetor,” Jack affirmed. “The worst possible place for +trouble. I’ll look after it, Sis. I’ve had the dingus apart, and if +anybody knows about its insides I do. Throw that anchor overboard, +Wally, and I’ll tinker with the troublemaker.” + +A small anchor splashed into the river, while Jack, putting on an old +jumper and overalls, kept for such emergencies, took off the carburetor +and proceeded to examine it, from cork float to butterfly valve. + +“Must be poor gasoline they’re serving us lately,” he said. “It’s +awfully dirty. Look!” and he held up his grimy hands. + +“Have you found the trouble?” Cora asked. + +“Yes, it was the air intake valve. Little speck of carbon in it +prevented the proper mixture. I’ll have it fixed in a jiffy.” + +Jack proved the truth of his assertion by replacing the carburetor, and, +a little later, by starting the engine without any trouble. + +“Hurrah!” cried Paul. “That’s what it is to have a good mechanician +aboard.” + +“It’s a wonder you wouldn’t qualify yourself,” said Jack grimly. “Look +at me! I’ll have to take a bath!” and he held up his hands, grimier than +ever. + +“There’s some of that mechanic’s soap—with pumice stone in it—in one of +the lockers,” volunteered Cora. “Use that, Jack.” + +The anchor was hauled in and the _Corbelbes_ started up the river once +more. Jack knelt down on one side of the stern deck, and, reaching down +into the river, wet his hands, rubbing on them some pasty soap, +guaranteed to remove grime of all kinds and leave most of the original +skin. + +“Where’s the camera?” asked Bess. + +“What for?” demanded her sister. + +“I want a view of Jack at his bath. Doesn’t he look cute?” + +“Wait until I pose for you,” Jack suggested, making a lather of the +soap. “I’m a dandy when it comes to poses. Just watch me.” + +He stood up on the after deck, but his foot slipped on a bit of the +lather that dropped from his hands, and, a moment later, Jack plunged +overboard. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII—THE STORM + + +“Oh, Jack!” cried Cora, as she had a hasty glimpse of her brother making +a rather ungraceful dive over the side of the _Corbelbes_. “Oh!” + +Her words were echoed by Bess and Belle, and while they started up, +overturning the chairs on which they had been sitting, Cora, alive to +the emergency, quickly threw in the reverse clutch, and a smother of +foam arose under the stern of the boat as it lost way. + +Nor had Walter and Paul been idle. The former seized a canvas covered +cork life ring, and, waiting a moment to catch a glimpse of the bobbing +head of his chum, threw the ring to him, with a cry of: + +“There you are, Jack!” + +“I’ll go after him in the boat!” called Hazel’s brother, for a small +dingey was riding astern of the larger boat, and Paul now hauled this +toward the side. + +There was no need for any one else to go overboard, for Jack, as his boy +and girl chums well knew, could swim excellently, and he had fallen in +with only overalls and jumper on, which made raiment almost as light as +a bathing suit. True, he had on his shoes, but in several tests at +summer camp Jack had swum across a lake with all his heavy clothes on. + +Still Paul was not sure but what his chum might have struck his head +going overboard, and in this case it would be advisable to have the +little boat ready. + +“There he is—he’s all right,” cried Walter, as he saw Jack striking out +for the motor boat, ignoring the life ring. + +“Get it, Jack! Get it!” cried Cora, indicating the white, floating +object. + +“Don’t need it!” Jack sung out, cheerfully enough. “What do you think I +am, an invalid?” + +However, he was glad enough to crawl into the smaller boat, which Paul +sent over toward him, for Jack found his shoes heavy, and the side of +the _Corbelbes_ was high out of water, making it difficult for one to +reach the gunwale. + +“All right?” asked Cora, as Jack sat dripping on the stern seat. + +“Sure I’m all right. I was going in for a swim anyhow, and this saved me +the trouble.” + +“Well, come on board and we’ll start again,” Cora said. “Pick up the +ring, Paul. I don’t want to lose it!” + +“Aye, aye, my captainess!” and he saluted with an oar. + +“How did it happen, Jack?” asked Walter, when his chum, dripping, was +safe on board again. + +“Somebody pushed me! I think it was Hazel,” and he winked at the others +while he gazed as severely as possible (which was not greatly) at the +blushing girl. + +“Oh, Mr. Kimball! I—I did not!” cried Hazel. + +“My goodness, how very formal! _Mr._ Kimball!” mocked Bess. “Since when, +Hazel?” + +“Since he accused me that way.” + +“Oh! I’ll withdraw the accusation if you’ll only call me Jack! I love to +hear you say that, Hazel! Call me Jack.” + +“Silly!” muttered Cora. + +“Mushy, I call it,” declared Bess. “Downright mushy!” + +“You’re jealous,” added Walter. + +“Say Jack!” commanded the dripping owner of the name, “or I’ll come over +and sit by you, Hazel, and I’m almost sure that blue dress of yours +spots.” + +“It does! Oh, don’t let him come near me!” begged Hazel, trying to +retreat into the cabin. + +“Say Jack then!” commanded the relentless one, dripping at every step as +he pursued her. + +“Oh—Jack!” she complied. + +“Your brains seem to have gone overboard, and not to have come back with +you,” said Cora to her brother. “Quit your fooling. You’re getting the +cushions all wet.” + +Jack subsided after blowing a kiss to his sister, and sprinkling her +with water from his dripping hair. Then the boat was put back on her +course, the dingey was made fast, the life ring put in place, and there +was peace and quietness once more, broken only by Jack’s grunts and +exclamations as he struggled to get off his wet shoes. + +“Cora,” called Jack, from the curtained cabin, where he was changing +into dry garments, “I didn’t put an extra pair of shoes in your valise; +did I?” + +“I rather guess not,” was the quick answer. + +“Then I haven’t any,” wailed Jack. “I’ll have to borrow a pair of you +girls’ slippers. The biggest I can get—don’t all speak at once.” + +There were some subdued giggles. + +“Did I hear Cora say hers would be too big for me?” asked Jack. + +“Oh, do get sensible!” commanded his sister. “There’s a pair of worsted +bedroom slippers of mine you can take until your shoes get dry. You +can’t stretch them any too much. Put your shoes near the muffler. +They’ll dry there.” + +“Yes, and get all out of shape,” objected Jack. “I’ll put them on the +forward flag staff and let the gentle breezes dry them. ’Tis Nature’s +way.” + +“You’ll do nothing of the sort!” groaned Cora. “What would people say on +seeing a pair of shoes at the top of the staff? Please put them near the +muffler and they’ll dry all right.” + +This Jack did, the iron cylinder that received the burned gases from the +engine being quite hot, so that the wet garments and shoes bid fair to +dry speedily. Jack, meanwhile, donned a pair of his sister’s slippers—a +pink one and a blue one, Cora not having been able to find mates. + +“I don’t know what’s in him to-day,” Cora confided to Hazel. + +“He’s awfully jolly, I think,” said Paul’s sister. + +“Jolly? You wouldn’t think so if you had to live with him as long as I +have had to.” + +“Is he always this way?” + +“No, thank goodness; it goes by streaks, like the lean and fat in a +piece of bacon.” + +“The idea of comparing Jack to a piece of bacon!” commented Bess, who +overheard. + +“Well, he is that way,” insisted Cora. + +“I hope my shoes get dry by the time we reach Riverhead,” Jack confided +to Paul and Walter. “I have another pair in my trunk, but that may not +be there when we get to camp. And I do hate wet shoes to dance in.” + +“Who said we were going to dance?” asked Walter. + +“I did,” replied Jack. “There’s a hotel not far from the camp, I hear, +and the season ought to be partly in swing now. Well, if you fellows +don’t want to go I can borrow your shoes.” + +“Who said we didn’t want to go?” Paul cried. + +“Oh, well, don’t bite me!” pleaded Jack, in falsetto accents. + +The little excitement caused by Jack’s involuntary bath gradually +subsided. He made a final and fairly successful effort to rid his hands +of the grime caused by cleaning the carburetor, and then, attired in dry +garments, and with one pink and one blue slippered foot resting +“nonchalantly” (as he called it) on the rail, he watched the receding, +wooded shores of the Chelton. + +From somewhere in the distance a factory whistle blew. + +“One o’clock!” cried Jack. “Is dinner ready? I say, Cora, I have a +wonderful appetite!” + +“Never knew you when you didn’t have,” she replied. + +“Why, we just had lunch—just before Jack fell overboard!” ejaculated +Hazel. + +“That won’t make a bit of difference to him—or them,” said Belle, with a +resigned air. “We’ll have to serve another meal I suppose.” + +“A regular one this time, if you please,” begged Walter. “Those olives, +anchovies and the caviar sandwiches only made me a bit keen.” + +The girls were nothing loath to put out the food again, for, truth to +tell, the river air had given them, as well as the boys, an appetite. +They had brought plenty with them, for though they had requested Mr. +Floyd to have supper ready when they reached the bungalow (the first +meal in camp the boys were to share with the girls), still Cora had +feared they would arrive late, and had made arrangements accordingly. + +They had as much fun over the regular lunch as they had had over the +“temporary” one, as Walter and the boys designated the first meal, and +the afternoon waned pleasantly. + +“I hope we shall get to Riverhead before the storm,” observed Cora, as +she came back to take her place at the wheel again, a post she had +abandoned while she helped the girls put away the dishes and what was +left of the food. + +“What storm?” asked Paul. + +Cora indicated a bank of sullen-looking clouds in the west. They were +sufficiently ominous to cause Cora to speed up the motor a bit, and to +request her brothers and his chums to see to the side curtains. + +“We ought to get in long before that breaks,” Jack declared. + +But he did not count on the speedy approach of the storm, nor on the +fact that the boat ran into a shallow section of the river, where there +grew long grass which got entangled in the propeller. + +Though the _Corbelbes_ managed to force her way through this patch of +“seaweed” as Jack called it, when she emerged into free water again the +motor could hardly turn the screw. It was necessary to reverse the +engine, to unwind the grass, and even then some had to be pulled away +with the boat hook—no easy task. + +And then, when they were once more under full speed, the storm came down +with a rush and a roar, with blinding sheets of rain, with a wind that +caught the boat broadside, where the rubber curtains made a wide sail +area, and heeled her over at no small angle. + +With the rain came thunder and lightning, sufficiently fierce and loud +for a time to terrify at least Belle, who was the most nervous of the +girls. + +“I can hardly see to steer,” said Cora, peering out of the rain-drenched +windows of the cabin. + +“Want me to take the wheel?” asked Jack. + +“No, thank you, I think not. We ought to be almost there now. But I +don’t know about going over the mountain trail in this storm.” + +“Maybe it will stop,” suggested Belle. + +“It doesn’t act so,” commented Walter. + +The thunder had almost ceased, and the lightning was not so startling, +but the rain came down harder than ever. + +“I declare I can’t see either bank of the river,” Cora said. “I hope I +shan’t run into anything.” + +They kept on for perhaps an hour longer, the rain never ceasing. But +they were good and dry in the snug motor boat. + +“I think we’d better put ashore and find out where we are,” suggested +Jack, after a bit. “We may have run past Riverhead, Cora.” + +“Run past it! How could we, Jack? The river’s almost too shallow for a +rowboat past Riverhead. We’d be aground.” + +“Not necessarily. They’ve lately dredged a channel about a mile beyond, +to let boats bring ice down from the houses up above. You may be in the +channel,” Walter said. + +“I don’t believe—” began Cora, when suddenly the boat ran against an +obstruction. The occupants were almost thrown off their feet. A +grinding, scraping sound was heard and Cora threw out the gears. + +“Why—why!” she cried, as she looked out into the dark mist of the storm. +“We’ve run ashore!” + + + + +CHAPTER IX—TIED UP + + +Silence followed Cora’s startling announcement—that is comparative +silence, for the rain, hissing into the river, and pelting on the deck +and cabin roof, made quite a noise. + +“What’s that you say?” demanded Walter, arising from a stern locker +where he had been talking more or less nonsense to Hazel. + +“Run ashore?” echoed Jack. + +“At least I suppose it’s the shore,” said Cora, who had stopped the +engine, the controls being near the wheel. “There aren’t any islands in +this part of the river; are there?” + +“Not one,” said Jack. “It is the shore,” he confirmed after a look +through the cabin window. + +“Any damage done, Sis?” + +“Not to the shore, at any rate. We didn’t hit very hard. I saw something +looming up through the mist and slowed down.” + +“We must be up to Riverhead all right,” remarked Bess. “Though I haven’t +noticed anything like a town.” + +“You couldn’t notice much of anything in this rain,” Cora said. “We’re +not aground, at all events,” for they could feel the boat moving down +stream under the influence of the current. + +“Switch on the searchlight and see if we can discover where we are,” +suggested Belle. + +“Good idea,” commented Captain Cora. A push of a button and the small +but powerful searchlight, mounted amidships on the cabin roof, gleamed +out. It was operated by a storage battery, which, in turn, was charged +by a small dynamo connected to the engine fly wheel. And by means of a +worm gear, operated by a wheel near the steering apparatus, the light +could be deflected in any direction. + +Cora trained it on the bank. Looking through the rain-covered windows of +the cabin the girls, and their boy guests, saw a water-soaked bank, +covered with bushes and rushes. It was dusk now. + +“That doesn’t look like Riverhead,” commented Jack. + +“More like river-end,” said Paul. “Where in the world are we?” + +“Don’t ask me!” exclaimed Cora, a trifle nervously. “I’m sure I did the +best I could in the mist.” + +“Of course you did, Sis,” said her brother soothingly. “It isn’t any +one’s fault. We’re all right. The boat doesn’t seem to be damaged by +trying to poke her pretty nose into the bank, and if we can’t go on to +Camp Surprise in the darkness and rain we can go to some hotel and stay. +There’s one in Riverhead.” + +Just then, into the radiance of the searchlight stepped a man clad in +yellow oilskins, rubber boots and with a sou’wester on his head. + +“I’ll ask him,” said Jack. “He’ll tell us where we are.” + +The individual—evidently a fisherman, as indicated by his unjointed pole +and a basket—stopped in some surprise as he saw the big motor boat so +close to shore, with lights gleaming and the powerful beams of the one +on the cabin roof setting him out in bold relief in its glare. + +“How far to Riverhead, if you please?” called Jack, sliding back one of +the cabin windows. + +“Riverhead?” cried the man, and surprise was plain in his voice. “Why, +Riverhead’s over on the Chelton side, about ten miles from here.” + +“On the Chelton side!” repeated Jack. “Isn’t this the Chelton?” + +“No. This is Batter Creek,” the man explained. “The Chelton river +branches off to the right, six miles down. You must have taken the left +turn where Batter Creek runs into it. First you know you’ll be up in the +swamp.” + +“Good-_night_!” cried Jack, with a tragic gesture. + +“On Batter Creek!” echoed Walter. + +“Ten miles from Riverhead!” was Cora’s gasping remark. + +“No wonder the poor boat ran ashore,” commented Bess. “She’d rather do +that than get lost in a swamp.” + +“So this is Batter Creek,” went on Jack. “I see how it happened. You +steered over to the left at the junction, Cora, instead of following the +right shore—I mean the right hand shore.” + +“I suppose I must have,” Cora admitted. “But I couldn’t see in all that +storm.” + +“Of course not,” said Hazel, slipping her arm around Cora’s waist. “It +wasn’t your fault.” + +“Certainly not,” added Walter and Paul in a duet. + +“Jack, please shut the window,” begged Belle. “That is, if you have +finished talking to that man. The damp wind will——” + +“Take all the frizz out of your hair—I know!” Jack cut in. “All right. +Much obliged to you, sir,” he continued. + +“Don’t mention it,” replied the man of the yellow oilskins. “Quite a +drizzle; isn’t it?” + +“Regular Scotch mist!” chuckled Walter, in exaggerated Highland accents. + +“I suppose we can get to Riverhead by turning around, following the left +shore here until we come to the place where Batter Creek runs into the +Chelton, and then go up the river?” suggested Jack, as he slowly slid +the window shut. + +“That’s right,” returned the fisherman. “But don’t go up this creek any +further, or you’ll run aground in a swamp.” + +“Thanks,” called Jack. “Oh, I say, are you going or coming?” + +“What do you mean?” + +“I mean have you been fishing, or are you just going?” + +“Just going. They always bite pretty well for me in a rain.” + +“Oh. I thought maybe if you had any we’d buy ’em.” + +“Sorry, but I haven’t anything but shiners for bait. I’m going down to +the deep water.” + +“What in the world did you want to buy fish for, Jack?” asked his sister +as he closed the window, and the yellow figure splashed away. + +“To eat,” was his answer. “We’ve got to have supper; haven’t we?” + +“But can’t we go on to Riverhead, and then to the bungalow?” asked Bess. + +“Hardly,” declared Jack. “It isn’t so late, of course. But this rain is +going to keep up, if I’m any judge, and though we might manage to reach +Riverhead, we certainly couldn’t undertake a ride over the mountain +trail in an open buckboard in this downpour.” + +“But what are we going to do?” cried Hazel, opening her eyes wide. She +seemed in much distress. + +“Do? Why, stay right here, my dear,” said Jack. “That is, if you will +allow that poetic license—because ‘dear’ rhymes with ‘here.’” + +“Oh,” murmured Hazel, blushing. “Stay here?” + +“We have remained on board over night,” Cora remarked. “But we’ll be a +bit crowded,” and she glanced appraisingly at Jack and his chums. + +“Don’t worry about us, Sis,” he hastened to assure her. “We can bunk +anywhere, or sit up. I don’t feel sleepy anyhow.” + +“But we’ve got to eat,” said Walter. “Too bad that chap didn’t have any +fish. We could have fried them on the gasoline stove.” The _Corbelbes_ +was fitted up with a little galley, the girls often having stayed on +board for days at a time. + +“Maybe we can catch some ourselves,” suggested Paul. + +“No outfit or bait,” remarked Jack. + +“A bent pin and a piece of string?” suggested Paul, but not with any +degree of enthusiasm. + +“Well, we’ve got to do something,” Cora declared. She had again set the +engine in motion, but it was running only fast enough to overcome the +sluggish current in the creek. + +“Stay here,” urged Jack. “We know where we are now, but if we go down +stream in the darkness we may fetch up at a place we don’t know.” + +“You mean tie up here?” asked his sister. + +“Sure. Cast the anchor, set the riding lights, make everything snug +below and aloft, my captainess, and turn in. Set an anchor watch, heave +the lead, and ’ware the lee shore and breakers ahead! Yo ho! My +hearties! The stormy winds do blow, do blow, do blow!” and Jack began +howling an old sea-song at the top of his voice. + +“Jack, be quiet!” insisted Cora. “You’ll arouse the neighborhood.” + +“There aren’t any neighbors here,” he laughed. “The only one there was +has gone fishing, and he doesn’t mind! Yo, he ho!” + +“I guess to tie up is the best thing to do,” said Paul, and there was +something in his manner that caused Cora to say: + +“All right, Jack. Drop the anchor, and we’ll stay here for the night.” + +“And then see about something to eat,” suggested Walter. + +Jack made a dash outside, shoved over the anchor, took a turn of the +cable about a deck cleat and came back into the cabin. The _Corbelbes_ +was tied up for the night. + + + + +CHAPTER X—A NIGHT RIDE + + +“Well, now that we’re here——” + +“Because we’re here,” Walter interrupted Cora, in the words of the +foolish song. “Excuse me,” he added, as he caught her look, “I didn’t +mean anything special.” + +“Now that we’re here,” Cora resumed, “hadn’t we better——” + +“See to the eats,” broke in Paul. “No offense, loidy!” he hastened to +add, imitating a tramp, “but wees would loik a bit of a bite——” + +“Speaking of bites,” laughed Jack, “some fish wouldn’t go half bad.” + +“Will you be quiet!” commanded Cora. “I want to say something!” + +“Say on!” urged Jack. “Now that we are here, as snug as a rug in a +bug——” + +Cora reached for something, she was not just sure what, and Jack, +knowing that his sister had a straighter aim than have most girls, +cried: + +“Don’t shoot, Davy Crockett, I’ll come down.” + +“You’d better,” Cora said, laughing in spite of herself. “Now that we +are here——” + +“She said that before,” whispered Jack, but his sister took no notice, +going on with: + +“We must see about something to eat. We have enough for supper, but +breakfast will be another matter. I’d like to get some bacon and eggs. +That, with coffee, will make a good morning meal.” + +“And what, if I may be so bold as to ask,” came from Bess, “is to be the +menu for this evening.” + +“We’ll have a look,” suggested Cora. Attached to the small galley, in +which was a gasoline stove, was a sort of cupboard. An inspection of +this did not reveal as much as Cora had hoped for. + +“There isn’t a great deal left; is there?” she said. + +“I should say not!” cried Jack, peering over his sister’s shoulder. +“Fellows, we’ve got to rustle for the grub! Don’t all speak at once. +Listen to that!” and he signaled for silence, which, when it came, +enabled them all to hear the swish and patter of the raindrops on the +roof. + +“I’ll go,” offered Walter. “I’m hungrier than any of you, I guess, and I +have a pair of rubbers in my valise.” + +“Regular fireman you are,” commented Jack. “Why didn’t you bring rubber +boots?” + +“And I see Cora has an umbrella,” Walter went on, ignoring Jack’s +sarcasm. “I’ll go out in the rain, and——” + +“Give a correct imitation of a duck doing its Christmas shopping!” gibed +Jack. “Wally, you’re all right!” + +“If you had some of his public spirit we’d all be better off,” said +Cora. + +“Oh, don’t um be mad at um’s ‘ittle bruver!” mocked Jack. + +“Oh, quit it!” begged his sister. + +“Where can you get anything to eat around here?” asked Paul. + +“I don’t know, but I can forage for it. The presence of that fisherman +clearly proves that this is an inhabited land, and where there are +inhabitants there must be food. I may find a country store, or, if I +can’t find that, I’ll find a house, describe our plight in such moving +words as I am able to command, and buy what they’ll sell.” + +“I’d like a cup of tea,” murmured Belle. “My nerves——” + +“Are nothing to what they’ll be when the ghosts of Camp Surprise begin +to make the stairs stand on their head,” broke in Jack. + +“We have tea,” Cora said. “I’ll put the kettle on at once. It seems a +pity to have you go out in this storm, though, Walter.” + +“I don’t mind a bit. I’m glad to do it.” + +“He’ll say anything as long as there are ladies present,” declared Jack. +“But wait until you’re gone. He’ll say you drove him to it.” + +Walter paid no attention to his tormenting chum, but began talking to +Cora as to what best he had better try to get in the way of food, +provided he could find a store or a house where some might be obtained. + +And then, having donned his rubbers, and taking Cora’s umbrella, Walter +set off on his quest. It was still raining hard, but the thunder and +lightning had ceased some time since. + +While he was gone the others began their preparations for spending the +night on board. The girls would occupy the main cabin, where there were +four berths. The after part of the boat had been enclosed in heavy +curtains when the rain set in, and here the boys could sleep on the +locker cushions spread on the floor. They had done it on one or two +other occasions. + +There were a few blankets, besides those for the bunks, but the boys +said they would not need many coverings, as the night was warm. + +Cora put the kettle on the gasoline stove, and as soon as it boiled, tea +was made. There was condensed milk in the larder, and sugar for those +who wished it, though Bess bewailed the lack of lemon, for she wanted to +“reduce” she said, and some one had told her lemon juice in tea was +helpful. + +Cora was setting out what remained of the sandwiches and cake, and Jack +was eyeing, rather dubiously, the apology for a meal, when they heard a +hail: + +“_Corbelbes_ ahoy!” + +“That’s Walter!” declared Paul. + +“And may he come well-laden!” ejaculated Jack. + +“You poor boy!” exclaimed Cora, sympathetically, as Walter came dripping +into the after cabin. “Are you soaked?” + +“Not quite so bad as that,” he answered, laying down some +brown-paper-wrapped bundles. + +“Never mind how _he_ is, what about the eats?” asked Jack. + +“You are heartless,” said Hazel, and then she wished she had not spoken, +for Jack flashed a look at her, and whispered: + +“Can you blame me for being heart-_less_ where _you_ are?” + +“Oh, oh!” she murmured. + +“Found a store about half a mile down the—well, I wouldn’t call it a +road,” and Walter looked at his mud-splashed feet. “Say, rather, down +the swamp. Found a store there, and I got a few things.” + +“I should say you did!” exclaimed Bess, who, with Belle, had opened the +packages. “This will be fine,” for Walter had purchased jellies, jams, +some tinned meat, bacon, eggs and enough canned food, together with some +rather doubtful oranges, to make a substantial meal. + +“That looks good to me!” declared Jack, while Walter divested himself of +his rubbers, and put the umbrella where it would not flood the cabin. + +“Oh, and even olives!” gasped Hazel. + +“Olives for Olivia,” crooned Walter. “Say, Jack, s’pose those overalls +you went bathing in would be dry enough for me?” + +“Sure! Try ’em on. You’ll look sweet in ’em.” + +“I don’t care whether I look sweet as long as I feel dry,” retorted +Walter. + +And while the girls prepared the supper, he changed to the garments Jack +had used, they having dried sufficiently. + +With the hot tea, and with what Walter had foraged for, a really good +meal was made. The young people were hungry, and their appetites made up +for any lack in the nicety of the food. + +“It was a regular country store,” Walter explained, “but they had some +good things.” + +“And now we have ’em,” murmured Jack, tipping back on his stool +contentedly. + +It was still early, for the storm had brought darkness ahead of time, +and, unwilling to retire so soon with no very good prospects of +sleeping, the boys and girls sat up and talked. + +“I wonder what Mr. and Mrs. Floyd will think, when we fail to arrive on +time,” remarked Cora. “I hope they don’t send telegrams home, telling +the folks we have turned up missing.” + +“I don’t believe they will,” argued Jack. “They’ll know the storm +delayed us. And in the morning we can send telegrams ourselves, +notifying our folks that we’re all right, any reports to the contrary +notwithstanding.” + +The girls passed a fairly comfortable, and the boys a rather +uncomfortable night, but it could not, as Jack said, last forever, and a +bright morning sun made them all forget the discomforts. + +Hot coffee, bacon and eggs, that were fresher, Cora said, than the +high-priced ones at home, made them all look at the day’s prospect with +genial spirits. + +“And now we’ll make another attempt to get to Camp Surprise,” said Cora, +as the anchor was hauled up and the engine set in motion. + +“I’m surprised that we didn’t get there before,” Jack said. + +“Oh, what a miserable pun!” groaned Walter. + +Good time was made to the junction where Batter Creek flowed into the +Chelton river. It was not much of a junction and the creek was so +unimportant a stream that Cora and her friends had never thought of +going up it. + +“But this time we did it in spite of ourselves,” said Bess. + +“It was only because of the mist and darkness that I made the wrong +turn,” declared Cora. + +They stopped long enough to send reassuring telegrams home, and also one +to Mr. and Mrs. Floyd, explaining the delay. + +Again they were on their way up the Chelton river, and for a time all +seemed to go well. But four miles from their destination, engine trouble +developed, and when the cause of it was discovered, it proved to be a +break that needed the attention of a machinist. + +“We could leave the boat here and go on,” Cora said, “but we have made +arrangements to have it taken care of at Riverhead, and the man I have +engaged won’t know what to think if we don’t come.” + +“Oh, let’s wait here until it’s fixed,” suggested Belle. “We want to +arrive in style. It won’t take long, and to go on we’d have either to +hire another boat or go by wagon.” + +“All right,” Cora agreed. + +The repairs took longer than they anticipated, and it was not until late +afternoon that they were able to go on. This time they arrived safely at +Riverhead, shortly before dusk, which was the time they should have been +there the previous evening. + +The man who was to dock the _Corbelbes_ was on hand and took charge of +the craft. He also directed the party to the big waiting buckboard, in +charge of a driver, that had been sent by Mr. Floyd to meet the girls +and boys. + +“You’re a little late,” said the man. “Not that I mind, but we’ll have +to make a night drive of it.” + +“We don’t care,” Cora said, “as long as the roads are safe.” + +“Oh, they’re safe enough.” + +“What about supper?” asked Jack. + +“Mrs. Floyd said she’d have it ready for you,” the driver stated. + +“I’ve got some sandwiches and a box of candy,” observed Bess. + +“Then we won’t starve,” said Jack. + +“May blessing be upon thy head!” intoned Walter. + +The driver looked at them in a queer sort of way, as though he did not +know altogether how to take them, and he was heard to murmur something +about “queer city folks.” + +The valises and other belongings they had brought along on the motor +boat were put in the big wagon, the driver climbed to his seat, and, +with the shadows of night falling, they set off up the mountain for Camp +Surprise. + +“Some buckboard this!” remarked Jack, as he surveyed the vehicle. + +“It sure is,” responded Walter. “The largest buckboard I ever saw.” + + + + +CHAPTER XI—IN CAMP SURPRISE + + +“Isn’t it dark!” voiced Belle, nestling against her sister. + +“Well, we don’t have many electric lights up here,” chuckled the driver +of the buckboard. + +“How do you see the road?” asked Cora, the wagon lurching along over the +rocky way, though riding much easier than an ordinary vehicle would have +done, for buckboards are made for just this purpose. + +“I don’t try to see it,” the driver said. “I let the horses pick their +way. They’re like cats, I reckon—can see in the dark.” + +“What sort of place is this Camp Surprise?” asked Jack, giving Walter, +next to whom he sat, a nudge as a signal to play second to his game of +questioning. “We’ll get some inside information about this business,” +Jack said in an aside to his chum. + +“Camp Surprise?” repeated the driver. “Well, it’s a mighty nice place, +as far as scenery goes—for them as likes scenery,” he hastened to add. +“I don’t care much for it myself. There’s a waterfall, and a little +lake, though I don’t reckon you could get your boat up to it,” and he +chuckled. “Yes, folks what come up here always like this neighborhood, +and Camp Surprise is one of the best outfits around here. You boys are +going to take the small bungalow, I hear.” + +“Yes,” assented Jack. “If we get there alive!” he said quickly, for the +wagon gave such a lurch that Jack, who was on his feet to assume a more +comfortable position, nearly slid out. + +“Oh, this isn’t anything,” the driver said. “That stone must ‘a’ been +put there since I come down this afternoon,” and he chuckled again. +“We’ll get there alive all right.” + +“But what I meant was,” went on Jack; “what sort of place is our camp? +It has a queer name, you see, and they say—at least we’ve heard—that +queer things go on there. What are they?” + +The driver was silent a moment, and then he answered: + +“Well, I don’t take much stock in them stories myself. I never see +anything out of the way happen.” + +“Oh, don’t spoil all the romance that way!” begged Cora. “Aren’t there +any ghosts?” + +“Ghosts! Huh!” the man fairly snorted. “I never see any.” + +“But about things being taken?” ventured Bess. + +“And the furniture being moved?” asked Belle. + +“Humph!” and the driver seemed out of patience. “Things will be taken +from almost any camp or bungalow if you don’t watch ’em. Thieves up here +aren’t any more virtuous than in the city.” + +“And didn’t you hear anything about chairs and tables being moved +about?” asked Cora. + +The driver fidgeted in his seat. + +“G’lang there!” he called to his horses. + +“Didn’t you?” persisted Jack’s sister. + +“Oh, yes, there was some such story,” the driver finally admitted, +slowly. “But I reckon it was just boys skylarking. That was all. Boys +will go into any place they can get in you know, and I reckon when they +found the bungalow of Camp Surprise without any one in it they just +naturally went in and cut up.” + +“If they try anything like that when we’re around, there’ll be trouble!” +threatened Jack. + +Cora sighed. + +“All the poetry seems to be going out of it,” she said. “I hoped we +would have at least one visitation from the spirits.” + +“You may yet,” Walter whispered in her ear. “In my private opinion this +driver person is concealing something from us.” + +“Do you think so?” asked Cora, hopefully. + +“Yes. He’s afraid we won’t stay if he tells all the horrible details of +the story.” + +“What object would it be to him to have us stay?” + +“Why, he may get a percentage on our board. Or perhaps he has the only +mountain-cruising buckboard in these parts, and he doesn’t want to lose +trade. Have done with thy queries, Friend Jack,” he went on. “We’ll +scare up a ghost or two for the young ladies ourselves, if this sordid +and heartless driver person refuses.” + +Jack left off with his questions about Camp Surprise, and the +conversation became general. The driver, who volunteered the information +that his name was Jim Dobson, said there was good fishing in the pool of +water at the foot of the cataract. + +“All you have to do is to throw in your baited hook,” he told the boys, +“and haul out as many fish as you want for breakfast, dinner or supper.” + +“That sounds good!” commented Jack. “I’m glad I brought my pole.” + +“Same here,” echoed Paul, who, when he had time, was an ardent +fisherman. + +Up and up, and on and on they went over the rough mountain trail, for +they had to ascend to a height of about fifteen hundred feet to reach +the reservation owned by a company which had divided it into camps and +bungalows. + +“My, but it is dark!” said Cora, after a period of silence. + +A lantern was slung under the buckboard, and cast gleams of light on the +ground, but the darkness seemed only blacker by contrast. The horses, +however, did not seem to find any difficulties in making their way. They +never stumbled, though the boys and girls tried in vain to distinguish +anything like a road ahead of them. The wagon was going along in a lane +of trees, which in most places met in an arch overhead, thus cutting off +what little light might have come from the stars. + +Occasionally there would be a break in this leafy arch, and then +glimpses could be had of the star-studded sky above. It was a +beautifully clear evening, and warm enough to be comfortable. + +Now and then Jim Dobson spoke without being asked a question, but he was +not unduly talkative. He seemed to enjoy the chatter of the young folks, +chuckling now and then at some of their remarks. + +As for Cora and the others they talked about everything imaginable, as +you may well imagine, from the latest dance steps to what they would do +now that they were really starting their summer vacation. + +“Is there any golf up here?” asked Bess, who had taken up the sport to +“reduce.” + +“Well, not enough to hurt,” the driver said. “Once in a while I hear of +a case, but it ain’t nothing like as bad as hay fever, and there’s none +of that here.” + +“Mercy!” whispered Bess to Cora. “I guess he thinks golf is a disease!” + +“Well, don’t say anything. He’s real nice.” + +“I won’t. But I guess I’d better ask only plain questions after this.” + +“I guess so,” Cora agreed. + +“Come on there, boys, not that way!” the driver suddenly called, as he +pulled his team to the right. “They want to take the road home,” he +explained. “There’s a turn here.” + +“How you know it I can’t tell,” said Jack. “It’s all as dark as a +pocket.” + +“Oh, I’m used to it and so are the horses. We’re on a private road now, +leading to Camp Surprise. Be there in half an hour.” + +“Are you sure this is the right road?” asked Cora. “We don’t want to be +lost again,” and she mentioned their going up the creek instead of the +river. + +“Oh, sure, this is the right road,” the driver assured them. + +There was silence for a little while, and suddenly Belle grasped Cora’s +arm, and whispered: + +“What’s that?” + +“Where?” inquired Cora, for Belle’s voice was startling. + +“Over to the left—in the woods. Don’t you see something white?” + +Cora looked where Belle directed. At the moment the others were deep in +a discussion about something of comparative unimportance. + +“There!” whispered Belle, tensely, and she gripped Cora’s arm hard. + +“Yes—yes. I see it!” + +“It—it looks like a—a ghost!” + +They both saw something white that seemed to float, rather than move +among the trees, and Cora was about to call it to the attention of the +others when it disappeared. + +“Don’t say anything about it,” she quickly whispered to Belle. “Of +course it wasn’t a ghost. It may have been a wisp of fog, or some one +going through the woods. Then there’s that—oh, what do they call that +light which comes from rotting wood?” + +“You mean _ignis fatuus_?” asked Belle. + +“Yes; that’s it. Will-o’-the-wisp some folks term it. It comes from +phosphorus. It may have been that.” + +They went on a little farther, and suddenly a light shone through the +woods, while a dull rumble and roar, increasing in intensity, came to +the ears of all. + +“What’s that?” asked Jack. + +“Camp Surprise,” announced the driver. “That’s the waterfall you hear. +Here we be!” he called in louder tones, as an approaching lantern +flashed through the dark forest. + + + + +CHAPTER XII—DISAPPOINTMENT + + +“Well, well! Glad to see you!” called a small, grizzled, but +cheerful-faced man, as he came out to the buckboard. “Got here all right +did you?” + +“This is Mr. Floyd,” explained the driver. + +“Yes, we’re here,” said Cora. “Sorry to be so late, but we had engine +trouble and——” + +“Don’t make no manner of difference at all. We’re used to seeing people +come early and late. I’ll help set your things inside. Here comes Mrs. +Floyd.” + +“Is that them?” asked a woman’s voice. “The Kimball party?” + +“They’re here,” her husband answered while the boys helped the girls +down from the wagon, and the driver and Mr. Floyd looked after the +baggage. + +“Glad to see you all!” went on Mrs. Floyd, who was the same genial sort +of personage as her husband. “I was afraid you’d give us another +disappointment, and not get here.” + +“Oh, we’re here,” affirmed Cora, “and we’re sorry to give you so much +trouble by being late.” + +“No trouble at all!” the chaperon assured them. “Come right in. Supper +is all ready and——” + +“Whoop!” + +“Supper is my middle name!” + +“Lead us to it!” + +Thus in turn cried Jack, Walter and Paul. + +Mrs. Floyd looked a bit startled as she stood revealed in the light of a +lamp, the illumination streaming out of the door of a big bungalow. + +“It’s only the boys,” explained Cora. + +“Only!” accented Bess with a resigned expression. + +“Jack!” chided Cora. “Why don’t you behave? Hazel, say something to your +brother, you and I have more responsibility than the twins.” + +Hazel did not know what to say, and the girls could not help laughing, +in spite of themselves at the antics of Jack and his two chums. + +“Welcome to Camp Surprise,” said Mrs. Floyd as the girls followed her +into the house, or rather, bungalow, for it was of that style of +architecture, and was but a story and a half high. The boys followed the +girls, Mr. Floyd and the driver bringing up the rear with the valises. + +“Do we eat with the family, or at second table?” Jack demanded. + +“You shan’t eat with us if you don’t behave,” his sister threatened him. +“Do quiet down, boys. Mrs. Floyd may not like——” + +“Oh, don’t worry about _me_, Miss Kimball,” the chaperon hastened to +say. “I’ve raised a family, and I know what _boys_ are.” + +“If she doesn’t she’ll find out before those three leave,” observed +Belle. + +The buckboard rattled off in the darkness and the young people were thus +thrown on their own responsibilities as far as getting away from the +place was concerned, for it was near no railroad. + +“Isn’t he afraid to go home alone?” asked Belle. + +“Who?” inquired Mr. Floyd. + +“That driver; Mr. Dobson I think he said his name was.” + +“Afraid? Him? I guess not!” exclaimed the caretaker. “What’s there to be +afraid of?” + +“The dark woods,” said Belle. “Cora and I thought——” + +“Belle, dear, don’t you think we’d better see to our baggage?” +interrupted Cora with a sharp glance at her chum. She raised her +eyebrows meaningly. + +“Oh, yes, I suppose we had. Of course he, being a big man, wouldn’t have +anything to be afraid of,” she concluded, nodding in the direction of +Mr. Dobson. + +“But there’s nothing here to be afraid of,” insisted Mr. Floyd. +“Leastways, nothing you can put your hand on, though——” + +“Harry,” said Mrs. Floyd, and it seemed as though there was a caution in +her voice, “I think I’ll have to ask you to bring in some more wood. I +want a hot fire to finish supper.” + +“All right,” he answered, and went out. + +“Now if you young ladies want to freshen up you’ll have time before I +get the meal on the table,” went on the chaperon. “The boys can go with +my husband and they’ll be shown where they are to stay. Their bungalow +is just across on the other side of the mountain stream. I don’t know +just what arrangements you made about the meals for the young men, Miss +Kimball——” + +“Oh, they’re to shift for themselves,” said Jack’s sister. “They are so +uncertain, going and coming, that no earthly mortal could tell when to +feed them. They were to have supper with us to-night, and perhaps +breakfast in the morning, my mother said. But after that they’ll look +after things themselves. They’d rather, anyhow.” + +“Sure,” assented Jack, while the others nodded assent. “We can’t be +positive when we’ll be on hand.” + +The boys followed Mr. Floyd, while Cora and her chums looked about the +bungalow before going to their rooms, where their trunks had been +carried, having arrived safely the day before. + +The main floor of the bungalow consisted of one big living room, with +three smaller rooms opening off from it. These could be used as sitting +rooms or bed rooms, folding bunks making beds at night. The living room, +as also an alcove dining room, was simply but tastefully furnished, with +rustic furniture. At one end was a big stone fireplace, though it was so +warm now that no blaze was needed. + +A broad stairway gave access to the upper story and here the bedrooms +were. Though the rooms there were not high-ceilinged they had such large +windows that plenty of air was assured. There were two bath rooms, a +spring up in the hills filling a tank on the roof so that a supply of +running water was to be had. + +The bedrooms each contained a white iron bed and just enough furniture +to make a simple life agreeable. There was a touch of daintiness, +mingled with utility, and the girls were delighted with their +apartments. + +Soap and water, with a mere suggestion of talcum powder, wonderfully +refreshed the four, and they were ready for the appetizing meal, odors +of which were wafted up from the kitchen. + +This was in a separate part of the bungalow, and the quarters of the +caretaker and his wife were in a building connecting with the bungalow +by a covered passageway. + +“There come the boys back!” exclaimed Hazel, giving a hasty glance in a +mirror, as she floated out of Cora’s room, having come in to borrow some +hairpins. + +“Yes, you can hear them before you see them,” agreed Jack’s sister. “I +hope Mrs. Floyd has enough for them to eat.” + +“And for us, too. I’m hungry, Cora. But she looked like a good cook.” + +“Mother said she was. Well, are you ready to go down?” she called to +Bess and Belle. + +“Whenever you are,” answered the plump twin. + +They found the boys waiting for them in the dining room, which opened +off the living room at the rear, and a supper which met the most +exacting requirements of Jack and his chums was soon on the table. + +“How do you like your quarters?” asked Cora of her brother. + +“Couldn’t be better. Not that we’ll be in them much, though. We’ll be +over here or out-of-doors most of the time.” + +“You can’t live here,” Cora warned him. + +“Oh, you’ll be glad enough to have us when the ghost begins to walk,” +prophesied Walter. + +“Has anything really strange happened here, Mrs. Floyd?” asked Cora, +determined to get at the bottom of the matter. + +“Well, I suppose you must have heard the stories about Camp Surprise,” +answered the chaperon. “It would be strange if you had not. And I must +admit that there have been little happenings here that I can’t explain.” + +“Such as——,” hinted Bess. + +“Oh, disturbances in the bungalow when we weren’t here. Misplaced +furniture, and once some silver was taken. But that might be the work of +tramps. I don’t set much store by that. However, don’t let it worry you. +I don’t believe anything will happen while you’re here.” + +“I hope it does,” Jack said. “We’re going to lay the ghost.” + +Talk went on during the meal and toward the close Jack said: + +“This sure is a fine place! You ought to see the waterfall.” + +“Is it nice?” asked Cora. They could hear the roar of it as they sat at +table. + +“It’s great! I’m going to take some pictures of it,” said Walter. “And +the way to our bungalow is over a bridge just made for lovers to stand +on and look down into the water.” + +“As long as they don’t _fall_ down into the water they’ll be all right,” +commented Paul. “But it sure is nice. Our shack is just across the +stream.” + +“We’ll be all ready to respond to the first alarm, girls,” promised +Walter, as the boys left the main bungalow later in the evening to +repair to their own. “If the tables begin dancing, or the chairs do a +jig, call us.” + +“It’s a little far to shout,” said Cora. “We’ll have to put up some sort +of telephone from one bungalow to the other.” + +It must be admitted that the girls were a little nervous when they went +to bed that night. Tales of queer happenings, not easily explicable, are +apt to get on the nerves of the best of us. But the young people were +tired from their journey and lack of restful sleep the night before, so +they had hopes of a good rest. + +Cora was awakened by a shout under her window. + +“I say! Sis! Cora! Stick out your head!” cried Jack. + +Slipping on a robe Cora went to the casement. + +“Go on away, Jack!” she ordered. “Let the girls sleep.” + +“Sleep? Why, it’s nine o’clock,” he said. “Say, did the ghost walk?” + +Cora yawned. + +“Not even a creep,” she said. “I didn’t hear a sound.” + +“Well, if that isn’t poor luck!” exclaimed Jack in disappointed tones. +“There we go and stay awake half the night, expecting a summons to +capture a spirit, and nothing happens. Camp Surprise! Where’s the +surprise come in, I wonder.” + +But there was plenty of time, as Jack soon learned. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII—THAT NOISE + + +One after another the girls drifted lazily downstairs to the dainty +breakfast Mrs. Floyd had prepared for them. + +“I just couldn’t bear to get up,” confessed Bess, “though I knew it was +a perfectly glorious day outside.” + +“It is wonderful,” declared Cora. + +“How do you know? Have you been out?” asked Hazel, with a questioning +look at Cora’s negligee. + +“Peeped from the window—Jack called to me,” explained his sister. + +“I was _so_ tired,” said Belle. “I thought I never would get enough +sleep. I wouldn’t have gotten up if a ghost had called me.” + +“Jack was a bit disappointed that we didn’t call on them for help,” +remarked Cora, and she detailed her brother’s morning salutation. + +“I think it’s all perfect nonsense,” declared Belle. “Of course I don’t +mean you, Cora,” she said, “for you only told us what you heard. But I +don’t believe a thing will happen.” + +“I hope nothing unpleasant does,” remarked Bess, tucking back a +rebellious lock of her pretty hair, and glancing at her pink nails which +she kept, as Jack taunted her, “in a state of faultless repair.” + +“Did you sleep well?” asked Mrs. Floyd, coming in with more coffee. + +“Fine,” answered Cora. “And please don’t think we are going to impose on +you in this way every morning. We came up to help with the work, and +we’re going to do it. But this morning——” + +“I know, my dear. You girls don’t exactly need any beauty sleep,” and +she beamed at the four pretty faces that smiled back at her, “but you +must have been tired after your trip. I don’t in the least mind.” + +“You’ll find us quite energetic after this,” predicted Belle. “That is +all but my sister, and you see she is——” + +“Belle Robinson! If you talk about me that way I’ll—I’ll—— Oh! why do +you all poke fun at me?” and Bess seemed quite distressed. + +“I won’t any more,” promised Belle. “She is trying to ‘reduce’” she +added to Mrs. Floyd, “so let her do all the work she wants to. We shan’t +stop her.” + +“What’s the program to-day?” asked Hazel, as the girls finished their +coffee. “It is perfectly glorious outside. From my window I can see part +of the fall. It’s beautiful. I could sit and look at it forever.” + +“And not want anybody to share the view?” asked Cora, pinching her +blushing cheek. + +“The witness refuses to answer,” mocked Belle. “But we mustn’t dawdle +here all day. Let’s go and get dressed, and by then——” + +There came a knock at the door. + +“May we come in?” asked Walter. + +“We—want—our—breakfast!” bawled Jack and Paul. + +“Mercy no! Don’t let them in!” cried Bess, beating a precipitate +retreat. + +“We—are—coming!” chanted Walter. + +“Stay out a minute,” ordered Cora. “Don’t be afraid, the door’s locked,” +she added to her companions. “We’ve just finished,” she went on in +louder tones. “Hurry with your breakfasts, and then prepare to give us a +good time.” + +“Your majesty’s wishes shall be obeyed,” declared Paul, and as the girls +went upstairs to put on more conventional garments, the boys hurried in, +bubbling over with good spirits, greeting Mrs. Floyd effusively, and +preparing to devour everything in sight, which not very remarkable feat +(for them) they nearly accomplished. + +“Did that waterfall bother you?” asked Jack, of his chums. + +“Kept me awake a little,” admitted Walter. “Sounded a bit like the surf +at first, and I dreamed I was down at Crystal Bay again.” + +“We sure had a swell time down there,” said Jack. + +“I like the mountains better,” confessed Paul. “This place suits me.” + +“It will be all right,” Jack said. “Now then, let’s see what’s doing.” + +“Fishing for mine,” declared Walter. “That pool below the fall looks +good to me.” + +The others also voted to try their luck as disciples of Izaak Walton, +and presently, with rods and lines, having dug some worms where Mr. +Floyd showed them a place, they were patiently waiting on the bank of +the stream that flowed away from the waterfall. + +Camp Surprise was situated amid one of the wildest and most desolate +parts of the mountains west of Chelton. It was remarkable, in a way, +that such a lonesome place could be found so close to such a number of +large and thriving towns and villages. But it was this wildness and +isolation that gave it the peculiar charm, and which had led the land +company to establish a number of camps and bungalows in the vicinity. + +So rugged and diversified was the scenery, that, with the exception of +the two bungalows occupied respectively by the boys and girls, no other +two buildings were in sight of each other. Though not far removed from +one another the dwelling places were off by themselves, giving a +seclusion so often demanded by those who go to summer resorts. + +At present, as the season had hardly opened, there were no other +visitors at Camp Surprise, though many were expected later in July and +August. Camp Surprise was not the real name of the place, which was +called by the development company, Mountain View. But Camp Surprise had +been applied because of the queer happenings, as has been intimated, +though so far our friends had seen no occasion for such appellation. + +The waterfall and the stream which flowed from it divided practically in +half the area of land owned by the Mountain View Company. Having its +origin some miles back in the mountains, the stream was augmented by +brooks, creeks and other streams until, on reaching Camp Surprise, it +had become almost a river. + +Flowing along peacefully, through green meadows, or down the slope of +some rocky hill, the river came suddenly to a great cleft in the hills, +and down this it plunged in a most beautiful fall, from a height of +about fifty feet, and perhaps a hundred feet in breadth. + +At the foot of the fall was a deep pool, worn in the limestone rocks by +the erosion of the falling water, and there the white foam boiled and +bubbled in a miniature whirlpool and rapids until the stream slipped +farther on down the side of the mountain, in a series of little +cascades, in which were, so it was said, many fishes. + +The boys had selected as their spot a quiet one, where a sort of eddy, +or back-water, made a quiet pool that looked, as Jack said, “like a +regular bachelor apartment for fish.” + +“Keep still! Don’t move!” called Belle, as she and her chums, now with +all their “war paint on,” as Walter hinted, approached the three young +men. + +“What is it—the ghost or the furniture mover?” asked Walter. + +“I just want to get a picture,” Belle explained, snapping her camera. +“You look so respectable to what you do ordinarily.” + +“Just for that you shan’t hold my hand!” declared Paul. + +“Don’t come any nearer,” warned Walter. “I think I have a bite. Yes! +He’s on!” he cried as the tip of his pole bent, and a moment later he +hauled out a flashing beauty. + +“Oh, I want to catch one!” cried Cora, who was as ardent a lover of +outdoor sports as any of her boy friends. + +“You may take my pole,” offered Paul, as Walter unhooked his fish. + +“Oh, no, I don’t want to deprive you,” Cora objected. + +“I’ll sit near and watch you—have all the fun and let you do the work,” +he retorted. And the boys and girls were soon together on the bank. + +Luck was fairly good, and presently enough fish had been caught for a +“good mess,” as Mr. Floyd observed when he came past. + +“We’ll cook them for you,” offered Belle. “Won’t we, girls?” + +“Do you know how?” asked Jack. + +“Listen to him!” mocked Bess. + +As Mr. Floyd and his wife had to go to one of the more distant +bungalows, to see about some repairs, and as they would be gone most of +the day, Cora and her chums agreed to be the housekeepers and to let the +boys share the lunch with them. + +“Which isn’t such a concession after all,” Jack said, “seeing as how we +caught the fish.” + +“I caught one myself,” Cora declared. + +“With Paul’s pole, so that doesn’t count,” retorted her brother quickly. + +They had a jolly time at lunch and spent the afternoon roaming about the +mountainside. The girls took pictures of the fall, which was really a +beauty-spot, and some of the prints were afterward enlarged, and they +made most charming pictures. + +“There’s the hotel,” said Paul, as they came out on a ledge of rock, and +looked down in a valley. “That’s where I’m going to have some tango +tea.” + +“To-night?” asked Jack. “I’m with you if you go.” + +“Count me in,” added Walter. “I haven’t had a good dance, not since——” + +“The one with me,” cut in Cora, for she and Walter were good partners. + +“Right—oh, little one!” he cried. “Shall we all go down to-night?” + +The hotel was about a mile from the Mountain View property, and was +quite a well-known hostelry, though the season was not yet in full +swing. + +“Some other night,” suggested Cora. “We haven’t really gotten settled +yet, and we don’t know what time Mrs. Floyd will come back. Besides, do +they let any others than guests and their friends dance?” + +“Oh, I guess so,” said Walter. “We’ll find out. But if you don’t want to +go to-night we’ll wait.” + +This was agreed to, and the rest of the day was spent on the part of the +girls in getting their rooms in order, putting away their dresses and +arranging for supper, for they were going to do much of their own work +in camp, Mrs. Floyd being more of a chaperon and general manager than +housekeeper or cook. + +The boys said they would shift for themselves. + +“Aren’t you going to get your suppers?” asked Cora of her brother, as +she saw him and his two chums going down the road about five o’clock in +the afternoon. + +“Later,” he answered. “We’re going for the mail now. It gets in about +this time, and Walter is expecting a letter.” + +“No more than you are!” was the quick retort. + +“Bring us all one!” called Bess. “Does the mail really come up here?” + +It did, twice a day it developed, coming to the little village of +Mountain View, which was about a mile from Camp Surprise. + +“Maybe there’ll be some word about your car, Cora,” said her brother. + +“That’s too good to hope for, Jack.” + +There was a letter for Cora from her mother, but there was no news of +the car. And as there were epistles also for Bess, Belle and Hazel, the +boys took great credit to themselves for having fulfilled the commands +of the girls. + +“And we think we ought to be rewarded, too,” said Walter. + +“What form ought the reward to take?” Cora asked. + +“The form of supper,” was the quick answer. “We don’t feel like pitching +in and opening a tin of corned beef just now. Feed us to-night, and +we’ll rustle the grub for ourselves after this.” + +“Well, in view of the fact that you’ve been so nice to us, we will. +Shan’t we, girls?” asked Cora. + +“Yes!” came in an unhesitating chorus; and once more the boys ate +bounteously with no effort on their part. + +Mrs. Floyd and her husband returned about eight o’clock, to find the +young people playing games in the big living room, and having a jolly +time. + +They planned an excursion for the next day, to include a stop at the +hotel to ask about dance privileges, and then, this having been arranged +for, good nights were said. + +Cora, whose room adjoined that of Belle, was awakened some time in the +night by a touch on her arm. + +“Yes! What is it?” she asked, sitting up quickly, and reaching for the +little electric flashlight she always had under her pillow. “Oh, it’s +you,” and she revealed Belle’s face. “What’s the matter—are you ill?” + +“No, but listen! Did you hear that—that noise?” + + + + +CHAPTER XIV—WAS IT THUNDER? + + +The silence of Cora’s room, into which Belle had tiptoed, was broken +only by the accentuated breathing of the two girls. + +“I don’t hear anything,” began Cora. “Are you sure——” + +“Listen!” interrupted her chum. “Did you hear it then?” + +For a moment Cora was not aware of anything, and then there seemed +gradually to come to her a dull, scraping sound. Perhaps it would be +more correct to call it a vibration. If you have ever tried to raise a +window which fits loosely in the frame sidewise, as compared to the +other direction, and have felt it go up in a series of vibrations, you +will understand what is meant. The whole room seemed to tremble like the +shaking of the window. + +The whole bungalow, too, seemed to be vibrating and delicately trembling +from some cause—a deep, low and hardly audible sound that was, in +effect, more sensation than noise. + +“It’s the waterfall,” said Cora. “Don’t be a goose, Belle!” + +“I’m not. It’s a noise. Can’t you hear it above the sound of the water?” + +Cora listened more intently. + +“Yes, I can,” she reluctantly confessed. “It’s like the rumbling of a +wagon going past the house.” + +“Yes,” agreed Belle in a whisper. “But it isn’t a wagon. There isn’t any +out at this hour, and the noise is in this bungalow, not outside.” + +Cora agreed to that, also. She snapped on the switch of her little +portable light, so that it would glow without the necessity of holding +her finger on the push-button, and then she slipped on her robe, and put +her feet in slippers. Belle was similarly attired. + +“What are you going to do?” asked Belle. + +“Find that noise,” whispered Cora. “But don’t let’s wake up the others. +It may be—nothing, and they’d only laugh.” + +“It can’t be nothing,” insisted Belle. “There it sounds louder than +ever.” + +Together they went silently to the door of Cora’s room. But either their +movements or the queer noise had awakened Bess in the adjoining +apartment. + +“Is that you, Cora?” she called. + +“Yes. It’s nothing. I’m going to get a drink, Bess. I am,” she added in +a whisper to Belle, to justify herself. + +“Bring me one,” begged Bess, sleepily. + +It was evident that the noise which had alarmed—or if not alarmed, had +awakened—Belle, had not disturbed her sister. For as Belle and Cora went +toward the door they could both hear and feel the vibration more plainly +now. + +“What can it be?” asked Belle. “Some one trying to get in?” + +“Nonsense!” chided Cora. + +“But it sounds like raising a sticking window. Are you going to call Mr. +Floyd?” + +“I wish he weren’t so far off,” said Cora, pausing undeterminedly in the +middle of the room. “He might just as well be in another building as +where he is. I don’t like going through that connecting passage. And he +and his wife both sleep soundly. She told me so.” + +“We ought to have some means of summoning them—or the boys,” continued +Belle. + +“We can always scream,” Cora remarked. + +“Yes, and startle every one. I almost screamed when I heard the noise, +and then I thought I’d come in to you.” + +“I’m glad you did. Can you hear it now?” + +They were out in the hall, and could see the light that was kept aglow +in the bath room. Cora switched off her electric. + +“I don’t hear it,” affirmed Belle. “The noise has stopped.” + +It had, that was certain. The silence of the night outside was broken +only by the distant roar of the waterfall, a sound with which by this +time the girls had become so familiar that they did not notice it unless +they listened especially for it, as the receiver of a wireless message +must be tuned to catch the wave impulses of a certain length. + +“I can’t hear it,” said Cora, breathing softly, as Belle was doing. + +There was no more noise. + +“Could it have been distant thunder?” asked Cora, when a minute passed +in silence—and a long minute it seemed to the waiting ones. + +Belle stepped to the window and looked out and up at the sky. + +“The stars are shining,” she said. “If there is a storm it is a distant +one, and one that far off wouldn’t sound so near. I don’t believe it was +thunder.” + +Whatever it was, the sound was not repeated. Together Cora and Belle got +a drink in the bath room, and brought one to Bess. Cora called softly to +her, but the plump twin had gone to sleep again, without waiting for the +water. Cora set it in a chair by the bed and came out of the room as +softly as she had gone in. + +“No use letting her know about it,” she remarked to Belle. “And we won’t +tell anything in the morning, until we hear what the others have to +say.” + +“All right,” agreed Belle. “I’ll lie with you a while.” + +“Yes,” assented Cora. She understood Belle’s feelings. + +The two girls talked in whispers, straining their ears for a repetition +of the strange noise, but none came, and finally Belle, who was fighting +off sleep, announced that she was going to her own room. + +Cora and Belle looked significantly at one another across the breakfast +table, and Bess remarked: + +“Did you hear me knock it over?” + +“Knock what over?” asked Cora, wonderingly. + +“The glass of water in the chair by my bed. I didn’t know it was there, +and just before daylight I awoke, and as I put my arm out of bed I +knocked the glass to the floor. I thought sure you must have heard it.” + +“No,” Cora replied. “Did you break it?” + +Bess shook her head. + +“It fell on the rug, but the water splashed in my ties. I’ll have to +wear my high shoes until the others dry. Why didn’t you tell me the +water was there?” + +“You were asleep when I brought it in,” Cora said, “and I felt it was a +pity to disturb you.” + +“What were you prowling around for?” asked Hazel. + +“Oh, just for fun,” Cora said, with another warning look at Belle. + +“They didn’t hear anything,” the latter said to Cora when they were +alone a little later. + +“No, and Mrs. Floyd or her husband didn’t either, for they didn’t say +anything.” + +“Unless they heard it and don’t want to tell us.” + +“Why shouldn’t they tell us?” Cora asked. + +“Oh, they might think we’d go away if the queer things begin happening.” + +“It wasn’t so very queer—just a noise,” declared Cora. + +“Was it just a noise?” asked Belle, suspiciously. + +“I don’t know—was it—or—wasn’t it?” Cora questioned. + +“I guess we’ll have to let it go that way,” Belle decided. “Here come +the boys. Shall we tell them?” + +“No—that is, not directly. I’ll see if I can’t find out in an indirect +way.” + +“All right, I’ll leave it to you.” + +After some general talk when the boys had come in, Cora brought the +subject around to the waterfall. + +“Have you boys gotten used to the noise of it yet?” she asked. “You’re +nearer to it than we are. Does it keep you awake now?” + +“Can’t anything keep me awake,” yawned Jack. “I don’t get half enough +sleep as it is.” + +“You certainly slept soundly last night,” said Walter. + +“How do you know? Did you stay awake to find out?” + +“No, but I heard it thundering, and I called to you that you’d better +put your window down, for your room faces the west and most storms come +from there this time of the year. You didn’t answer so I concluded you +must have been sleeping.” + +“I was,” declared Jack. “Thunder, eh? I didn’t hear it.” + +“It was only a rumble,” Walter said. “I didn’t stay awake longer myself +than to hear that.” + +“They heard it, too,” said Belle, when she and Cora had walked off by +themselves. + +“Yes,” agreed her chum. “But was it thunder?” + +“We’re right back where we started,” laughed Belle, “arguing in a +circle. Let’s forget it.” + + + + +CHAPTER XV—A NARROW ESCAPE + + +But though Cora and Belle agreed to drop the matter of the unexplained +noise, they could not dismiss it from their minds. Several times that +day Cora would notice Belle in a brown study, and on taxing her with it +would be met with the statement: + +“I can’t think what caused it.” + +“That noise you mean?” + +“Yes. Wasn’t it queer?” + +“Oh, not so very. At home we wouldn’t give it a second thought.” + +“Yes,” agreed Belle, “but there are so many ways of explaining noises in +town, and so few ways up here. I wonder if that is the beginning of the +surprises, Cora?” + +“If it is they aren’t so unpleasant. Noise never hurt any one.” + +So they said nothing to the others about the little disturbance in the +night, and the only remark the others made, having any reference to it, +was that of Walter’s about thunder. + +“It must have been thunder,” Cora said, “for if the noise had been in +our bungalow the boys couldn’t have heard it in theirs.” + +“I don’t see how they could,” Belle agreed. + +“But, all the same, I’m going to have some way of calling to Jack and +the others without screaming our lungs out,” declared Cora. “It’s only +right to be able to summon them if we want them. One of us might become +ill, and they’d have to go for the doctor. I’d rather call Jack than Mr. +Floyd.” + +Cora spoke to her brother that afternoon. + +“We should have some sort of speaking tube,” he assented. “I might rig +up one of the string telephones we used to make with tin baking powder +boxes that served both as transmitter and receiver.” + +“Can you do it?” asked Cora. + +“I guess so.” + +“I know something better than that,” Paul put in. “There’s a toy +telephone that comes now, made of string, but the baking powder boxes +are replaced by wooden cylinders with parchment tightly stretched over +one end. You can hear quite well with them.” + +“Where can we get it?” asked Cora. + +“I have one,” Paul said. “I bought it just before we left to come up +here, intending to give it to a kid cousin of mine, but I forgot to mail +it. You can use that if you like.” + +“Just the thing!” exclaimed Jack. “The dear girls can’t get along +without us after all; can they?” + +“Oh, don’t flatter yourself that we’re as fond of you as all that,” +laughed Belle. “But we do like to have you within call—especially up +here.” + +“Why, have you seen any suspicious characters lurking around?” asked +Walter. + +“Nary a lurk,” responded Cora. “We’re just getting ready for +emergencies.” + +The toy telephone was strung that day from the girls’ bungalow to that +of the boys’, and it worked quite well. As simple as it was, and it +scarcely could have been more simple, talk could be plainly heard over +it. The string took up the vibrations imparted to the parchment by the +voice, and transmitted them across space to the other end of the line. +Of course the string had to be tight, and it must not touch anything in +its course, or the vibrations would have been interfered with. But space +was what they had most of in Camp Surprise. + +“To my mind the camp isn’t living up to its name,” declared Paul, after +the telephone had been put up and tested, the boys sending any number of +foolish messages over the string. “No, sir! There hasn’t been a surprise +worth talking about,” went on Paul. “Why doesn’t something happen?” + +“Give it time,” suggested Jack. + +“Perhaps that noise was the start,” said Cora to Belle when they were +alone. + +“Perhaps.” + +The trip down to the hotel had given the young folks the information +that there were dances twice a week, the Saturday night “hop” being +quite an event. They were cordially invited to attend, and the first +Saturday night in camp they took advantage of the chance. + +The crowd was not large, but, as Walter said, it was “nice and +comfortable,” and the girls and boys thoroughly enjoyed the dance. The +hotel proprietor introduced them to some other young folks and, as was +voted by Jack and his chums afterward, “a large and glorious time was +had by all.” + +“What a splendid moon!” cried Belle, as she walked along with Jack on +the way home. “It’s a shame to go to bed.” + +“Let’s don’t!” proposed Paul. “Let’s go down where we left the motor +boat and have a ride.” + +“Let’s don’t!” cried Cora. “Walk over that rough mountain road at this +hour of the night? I guess not!” + +“But look at the moon!” begged Paul. “The glorious moon!” + +“You’ve been looking at it too long already,” was Cora’s retort. “I +guess you’re looney.” + +And so, laughing and joking, they walked on. + +“This is how it goes!” said Belle suddenly, seemingly apropos of nothing +at all, and, at the same time she began to step backward and forward in +a peculiar manner in the road. + +“What in the world——” began Hazel. + +“That new Cortez step the girl in pink was doing with that nice man +dancer,” Belle explained. “I’ve been puzzling over it. I hoped he would +ask me to dance, but he didn’t.” + +“Say, I like that!” cried Walter. “Didn’t I ask you?” + +“Yes, but you can’t do that step. I remember now how it went. I was +watching that couple. It’s a rocking step forward, then one back, step +back with the left, draw the right and go forward again with the left, +see!” + +She executed it there in the road, her shadow, cast by the moon, bobbing +curiously back and forth. + +“It is pretty,” agreed Cora. “How does it go?” + +Belle and she took a dancing position and Cora had soon acquired the new +Cortez step. + +“Now you’ve got me doing it!” cried Jack. “Come on, Hazel, I’ll show +you.” + +“He doesn’t even know himself,” derided Cora. + +“You watch!” challenged Jack. + +“Why, he can do it,” said Belle, as she looked at Jack and Hazel. For +Hazel was a natural dancer and, it developed, she, too, had been +watching the girl in the pink dress. + +“Well, here we are,” said Bess, as they reached their bungalow. “I’m +tired.” + +“Is that all you’re going to say, after we took you to the dance?” +demanded Walter. + +“Don’t we get asked in to have some cake and chocolate?” questioned +Jack. + +“Shall we?” queried Cora. + +“Please do!” urged Paul. + +And they did. + +The plans for the next day included a long walk up the mountain to a +place where it was said a wonderful view could be had. They were to take +their lunch and stay all day, for they could not get back to the +bungalow by noon. + +“All aboard!” cried Jack, as he and his two chums called for the girls, +crossing the rustic bridge at the foot of the fall. “All aboard!” + +They started off merrily together, talking and laughing. Walter had been +down to get the early morning mail, and there was a letter from Cora’s +mother, which said, among other things, that the police had some clews +to the men who took the automobile. + +“Good!” cried Jack, when Cora read out this. “What’s the rest of it?” + +“Well, it seems that some more bogus tickets have been disposed of in +places around Chelton, and the men who sold them are described as the +same two who sold the coupons in the tea room. The police seem to think +there is a good chance of getting them.” + +“They didn’t see them have your car; did they, Cora?” asked Hazel. + +“No such luck, I suppose. But mother doesn’t mention that.” + +The view was voted all that had been said of it, and after admiring it +for some time, preparations were made to eat lunch. + +“Let’s sit down here,” proposed Cora, pointing to a grassy spot in the +shade of a big sycamore tree. “Boys, spread the cloth and unpack the +baskets. Oh, what a curious root!” she cried, stooping over toward +something near a stone. + +“Look out!” suddenly cried Paul, pulling Cora back so sharply that she +nearly toppled over. The next moment Paul caught up a stone and threw it +with all his force at the spotted root. There was an angry hiss. + +“Narrow escape for you, Cora,” said Paul, a trifle pale. “That was a +copperhead snake!” and he pointed to the writhing, dying reptile. His +stone had struck it fairly. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI—LOST + + +Cora Kimball was not an unusually nervous girl, nor was she given to +hysterical demonstrations, but, somehow or other, she felt sick and +faint as she looked at the wiggling snake in its death agony. Her eyes +saw black, and she swayed so that Paul stepped forward and slipped an +arm around her waist. + +“I thought you were going to faint,” he said in explanation. + +“I—I was,” faltered Cora. “But I’ve gotten over the notion. Thank—thank +you, Paul. Could I have a drink of water?” + +Jack brought her some from a spring not far away. + +“Brace up, Sis,” he said with rough, brotherly kindness. “You’re all +right. That snake wouldn’t have killed you anyhow. I’ve been bitten by +’em, and it isn’t much worse than a mosquito.” + +“You have?” cried Paul, in such a queer tone that all save Cora realized +that Jack was bluffing for the sake of minimizing the effect on Cora. + +Jack made this plain to Paul by winking quickly, and motioning to him to +confirm what he had said. + +“Oh, yes, that’s right,” Paul went on. “I’d forgotten that the +copperheads aren’t poisonous this time of year. You wouldn’t have been +much damaged, Cora, if you had been nipped by this fellow,” and with a +swift motion of his foot he kicked the still writhing reptile to one +side. + +“Really?” she asked. + +“Really.” + +She looked relieved. The faint spell passed and Cora smiled. The color +was coming back to her cheeks. + +“I’m sorry I acted so,” she said, “but I have a terrible fear of snakes, +even harmless ones. I thought this one was a curiously mottled root, and +I was going to pick it up. Suppose I had? Oh!” + +She shuddered and looked at Paul. + +“A miss is as good as a bird in the hand,” he misquoted. “Come on now, +let’s eat.” + +“Say, old man,” said Jack to Paul, when they were alone a little later, +“that snake was a bad chap, wasn’t he?” + +Paul nodded in confirmation. + +“I thought so,” Jack went on. “Just as well, though, not to let her +know, she’s so deadly afraid. There’d have been trouble if she had been +bitten?” he questioned. + +“Yes,” said Paul, simply. “Of course they’re not sure death, but they’re +dangerous enough.” + +“I thought so. Shake!” + +After the temporary scare of the snake had passed, the picnic party made +merry, laughing and talking as they enjoyed the lunch the girls had put +up. It was a perfect day, rather warm, but cool enough in the shade, and +the mountain air was invigorating. There followed a delightfully lazy +time, lying on the grass under the trees when every one had eaten +enough. + +Then they packed up the rest of the food and walked on, intending to +make a circle and return to Camp Surprise late in the afternoon. Now and +then they would come to some open space, where the sloping mountain +dropped away suddenly, revealing below a vista which made them pause in +admiration. + +Once they reached a point where they could look down on Mountain View, +and, though they could not distinguish their own bungalows, they could +see about where they were situated. + +Cora stood gazing down, in rather a thoughtful mood. Walter was by her +side, and noted her abstraction. He held up the proverbial penny. + +Cora shook her head. + +“No. I won’t tell,” she said with a smile. + +Walter guessed that she was thinking of the snake, but he refrained from +saying so. And then Cora, fearing he might put a wrong construction on +her words added: + +“I was just wondering when they were going to continue.” + +“What was going to continue?” he inquired. + +“The surprises in our camp. You know——” + +“Continue!” he interrupted. “I didn’t know we had had any. I had begun +to think it was all a hoax.” + +“Oh, no,” cried Cora, impulsively. “There was a——” + +She caught herself just in time, for she recalled that she and Belle had +agreed not to mention the queer noise. + +“Was it a ghost?” asked Walter. + +“It wasn’t anything,” Cora hastened to say. “Look, see that curl of +smoke. Isn’t it just like a great big ostrich plume? What a hat it would +require to carry it! A giant’s hat.” + +“Lady giant you mean,” said Walter. “But look here, Cora, you are +keeping something from me.” + +“Not at all.” + +Her manner was light, but Walter was a good guesser. + +“Yes, you are!” he insisted. “Something did happen, Cora. Go on, tell a +fellow.” + +“Nothing really happened, Walter.” + +“Then you heard something.” + +“How did you know?” she asked with a start. + +“I thought I’d catch you. Come now. Own up. You didn’t have that toy +telephone strung to our bungalow just on general principles. Did you +hear something, Cora?” + +She looked around to make sure none of the others were listening. Then +she told Walter of the queer noise, enjoining him to secrecy, however. + +“So that’s what it was,” he said. “I thought it was thunder myself, but +if you heard it in your bungalow it couldn’t have been.” + +“And it was in our bungalow,” Cora said. “Seemingly away down in the +cellar, or sub-cellar, if they have such a thing.” + +“Not as deep as that, I guess, Cora. But it was a queer rumbly noise, +though how I could hear it, when it was under your bungalow I can’t +imagine.” + +“Unless it came from the waterfall.” + +“How could it come from the waterfall?” Walter asked. + +“I don’t know,” said Cora. “But there might be some sort of hollow +rock—blowing stones I believe they are called—and when air is forced +into the hollow, by the action of the water, it might give a roaring +sound, and vibrate the earth.” + +Walter considered a moment. + +“It’s worth looking into,” he said. “I won’t say anything, but the first +chance I get I’ll have a peep at the fall. I think I can get behind the +water curtain.” + +“Oh, Walter! don’t take any risks.” + +“I won’t, Cora. But come on. The others will wonder what we find to talk +about and look at here. Not that I wouldn’t want to stay talking a great +deal longer, but, well——” + +“I understand,” and she smiled. + +“We’re going berrying,” cried Bess, as Walter and Cora came up to join +the others. “That is, unless you two want to stand there on the edge of +‘Lovers’ Leap’ and think sad thoughts.” + +“Is that place called Lovers’ Leap?” asked Cora. + +“Well, it might be if any lovers ever jumped off there. Do you want to +go berrying?” + +“Surely,” said Cora, and Walter nodded assent. + +The berry hunt was not very successful, though a few early ones were +found. However, it served as an incentive to call the young folks +farther afield and up the mountainside, and they found new beauties of +nature at every step. + +“This is the nicest place I was ever in,” declared Hazel. + +“I like it, too, almost as well as any place we ever picked out for our +vacation,” said Belle. “My hair doesn’t get so slimpsy as at the beach.” + +“We’re getting beautifully tanned, instead of the lobster-red I always +turn at the shore,” said plump Bess. + +“Say, hadn’t we better begin to think of turning back?” asked Cora, +after a while, when the few berries that had been gathered had been +eaten, though Jack begged that they be saved for a pie. + +“Yes, it’s getting late,” said Paul, looking at his watch. “And we have +a few miles to go.” + +“I should say they were a few!” chimed in Walter. “Seven at the least +back to Camp Surprise.” + +“Don’t say that!” begged Bess. “You’ll have to carry me.” + +“All right. We’ll make a litter of poles and drape you over it in the +most artistic fashion,” said Paul. “Do you prefer to be carried head or +feet first?” + +“Feet, of course. Riding backwards always makes me car-ill.” + +“It’s down hill, that’s one consolation,” came from Jack. “Well, come +on. All ready! Hike!” and he marched off, swinging a long stick he had +picked up to use Alpine-stock fashion. + +There was a patch of woodland to go through, a fairly good path +traversing it. The party of young people went along, talking and +laughing, occasionally breaking into song as one or another started a +familiar melody. + +“Say, Jack,” remarked Cora at length, “aren’t these woods pretty long?” + +“What do you mean?” + +“I mean oughtn’t we to be out of them by this time? Are you sure you’re +going the right way?” + +“Well, I never was here before,” said Jack, “but I set our course by +compass,” and he indicated the little instrument on his watch chain. + +“We started to walk due west,” he said, “up the mountain. Now we are +going east, as you can see, because the setting sun is at our backs. So +we are going toward camp.” + +“But we swung off to the right as we came up the mountain,” Cora went +on. + +“Exactly, a sort of northwest course,” agreed Jack. “And now we are +heading southeast, which is exactly the reverse. Look for yourself, +Sis.” + +He held out the compass, the tiny needle vibrating as the instrument +rested in his hand. Cora was enough of a navigator to see that Jack was +right. + +“Well, the only thing to do is to keep on,” she said. “But I should +think, by this time, we’d be somewhere near the camp.” + +“Oh, not yet!” declared Jack. “We’ve got miles and miles yet to go!” + +“You horrid creature!” cried Bess. “Oh, my feet!” + +“This is the best exercise for reducing you could have,” laughed Paul. +“Come on, I’ll race you.” + +“Run? Never!” wailed the plump one. “I can only hobble.” + +They tramped on. The afternoon shadows were lengthening now, and Cora’s +face wore a somewhat anxious look. They entered another patch of +woodland, and as they emerged into a clearing Cora cried: + +“Look at the sun!” + +“What’s the matter with it?” Belle demanded. “I think that is a +perfectly good sun.” + +“But it’s in front of us,” said Cora. “It’s in front of us!” + +For a moment the others did not realize what she meant. They stared at +the big red ball which was sinking to rest amid a bank of gorgeously +colored clouds. Then Jack exclaimed: + +“By Jove! you’re right, Sis. The sun should be back of us. We were going +east, but we’ve got turned around, and are going west.” + +“Unless the sun has changed,” put in Paul, with a laugh, “and is coming +up in the morning. We may have been walking all night and didn’t know +it.” + +“It’s no joke,” said Cora, seriously, as the others laughed. “Jack, +we’re lost!” + + + + +CHAPTER XVII—TWO MEN + + +Naturally enough Cora’s words were echoed aloud by some of the party. + +“Lost!” cried Belle. “How do you know?” + +“We’re going in the wrong direction,” Cora said. “Don’t you know when +persons get lost in the woods they always go around in a circle? Nearly +always they turn to the right, as we have done. I forget the +explanation, but it has something to do with the right side of the body +being stronger than the left. And that’s what we’ve done. We’ve wandered +around in a circle, so of course we’re lost.” + +“That doesn’t follow at all,” declared Walter. + +“Why not?” challenged Cora. + +“Because the path may have been shifting. We’ve only followed the trail +through the woods. We haven’t gone off it.” + +“That’s so,” chimed in Paul. “We’re still on the path, and it must lead +somewhere.” + +“Perhaps it’s a cow-path,” suggested Bess. “It’s narrow enough for one.” + +“Well, even a cow-path leads somewhere,” said Hazel. “We’ll end up at a +stable.” + +“Or a dairy,” added Jack. “Some bread and milk won’t go bad if we miss +our supper.” + +“Oh, we won’t miss it,” declared Walter. “We’re bound to end up +somewhere, and even if we come out a mile or more from our camp. And if +we see a house, we can hire a farmer to drive us over, if we’re too +tired to walk.” + +“Yes, we could do that,” Cora assented. “But what plan is best to follow +now? Shall we keep on the way we are going, on this path, even though it +leads west and our camp is to the east? Or shall we go back until we +find a path extending in an easterly direction?” + +“Whew!” whistled Jack. “That sounds like a question in my old school +geography. What’s the answer, Cora?” + +“I wish I knew,” said his sister. “Let’s take a vote on it.” + +They discussed the matter a little while, and the general opinion was +that it was better to go on than to retreat. + +“We didn’t see any houses in all the distance we came,” said Walter, +“and it is getting so late now we may have to appeal to a farmer to +drive us back. I say go ahead, even if the direction seems to be wrong. +We may reach a house this way.” + +“I guess you’re right,” admitted Cora, “though it seems illogical to go +deliberately away from, instead of toward, our camp.” + +“Perhaps it isn’t called Camp Surprise for nothing,” suggested Hazel. + +“What do you mean?” asked her brother. + +“I mean it may surprise us by appearing when and where we least expect +it.” + +“You always were a hopeful child,” laughed Paul. His sister blushed. +“You believed in Santa Claus long after I had detected our respected +parents sneaking down the back stairs with the presents,” he continued. +“Hope on, foolish one.” + +“She may be right at that,” said Jack, championing Hazel’s cause. “If +the sun insists on appearing where we think it oughtn’t to be the camp +may take a notion to do the same thing. Come on! Forward!” + +A little anxious, they kept on, rather tired, but not greatly +discouraged. Youthful hearts are not made for discouragement, +fortunately. + +“Anything left to eat?” asked Jack after a bit, when the path seemed to +be shifting somewhat toward the east. + +“A little,” announced Walter, who was carrying the basket. “But you +can’t have any.” + +“Why not?” demanded Jack, indignantly. “I have as good a right as you. +Who delegated you to carry the rations?” + +“Nobody else seemed to want to. Now I’m in charge of the commissary +department, and I’m going to put you, and myself included, on short +rations. We may have to stay out all——” + +“Ahem!” interrupted Paul, giving Walter a nudge. “Do you see anything +like a house through the trees? Cut out that talk about having to stay +out all night, if that’s what you were going to say,” he added in a +quick whisper. + +“It was,” Walter admitted. “But I’ll cease.” + +“You’d better. We don’t want the girls to get nervous.” + +“I don’t see any house,” Jack reported, having looked in the direction +indicated by Paul. + +“I thought I saw smoke, and where there’s smoke there’s generally a +house or a camp,” Paul said. “However, I may have been mistaken.” + +It was evident that he had been, but a little later, as they once more +emerged from the woods, Cora gave a joyful cry and called out: + +“There it is!” + +“What, our camp?” asked Belle. + +“No, a house! See it?” + +They looked to where her finger pointed. Undoubtedly, it was a +farmhouse, located on the farther edge of the clearing in which they had +halted. There was a vacant space about it, and several barn-like +structures. But there was a curious lack of life around the place. + +“I don’t believe any one lives there,” said Jack. + +“Don’t be a pessimist,” urged his sister. “Let’s go and find out.” + +They hurried toward the house, but the nearer they approached it the +more it seemed that it was not a farmhouse in the ordinary sense of the +word. Though in the midst of cleared fields that must at one time have +been part of a farm, there were no growing crops. The fields were +overgrown with weeds, there were no horses or cattle to be seen, and no +challenging dog rushed out to bark at the boys and girls. + +“Still some old man or woman may live there who can put us on the right +road,” Cora suggested. “We won’t give up yet.” + +Confirmation of Jack’s idea that the house was uninhabited was given as +they went up the weed-entangled front path. And the sight of broken +windows, a door sagging open on fractured hinges gave further aspects of +abandonment. + +“Anybody home?” called Walter, knocking on the door, which swayed as +though it wanted to part company from the only hinge that held it up. +“Who’s in here? Hello inside!” + +An echo was his only answer, though as they had approached the place +Paul had said he heard a noise inside. + +“Nobody home,” said Jack. “But this is at least encouraging. We are +getting ‘warm’ as they say in hunt the thimble. Let’s go around back. +Maybe they don’t use the front door.” + +He started around a side path, followed by Cora, Bess and Belle. The +others straggled along in the extreme rear. As the four in the lead +turned around an ell of the house, Cora uttered a cry and pointed to two +men who were running out of the barn, not far off. + +“Look, Jack!” she cried. + +Jack stood still, quite taken by surprise, and then Belle added: + +“Why, Cora! I declare! One of those men looks like one of the two who +ran off with your car!” + +“Are you sure about that, Belle?” demanded Cora’s brother. “I don’t want +to make a mistake.” + +“I only saw their backs, of course,” explained Belle, quite excited. +“But that one on the left looks like the one who took the wheel and +steered Cora’s auto away from the tea room. The coat is just the same.” + +“Well, it’s pretty slim evidence on which to chase after two strange +men,” said Jack, “but here goes. Come on, boys!” he called to Walter and +Paul. “Tally-ho!” + +“What’s the excitement?” asked Walter, as he and Paul came running +around the corner of the house. “Dog after you, Jack?” + +“No, but we want to get after those two fellows. See ’em?” + +He pointed to the fleeing men. + +“Who are they?” Paul queried. + +“Belle thinks they’re the ones who took Cora’s auto. It’s a rather slim +identification, but we’ll take a chance.” + +“Yell at ’em,” suggested Paul. + +“Good idea,” commented Jack. “I say there—you two! Hold on a minute, we +want to talk to you!” he cried. + +The two men, running away, never heeded nor looked around. They ran on +toward the woods, the boys following, while the girls stood in a group +near the deserted house. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII—REAL SURPRISES + + +“They aren’t going to stop,” observed Paul, as he ran along beside Jack, +watching the fleeing men. + +“No, and that makes me suspicious. Why should those men run away just +because we hailed them? They don’t know us—that is, they haven’t any +reason to suppose we represent the girl whose auto was taken. They have +never seen us.” + +“And they didn’t have a chance to get a good look at Cora and the other +girls, even supposing they are the thieves who took the auto. According +to what Belle says, the men didn’t once look around as they got into the +car and drove off. + +“Though they must have been hanging around the Spinning Wheel for some +time to have disposed of the tickets,” said Walter. “They might have +seen the three girls, and again recognized them as they came along now.” + +“Possibly, but not probably,” declared Jack. “They are either tramps, +who have been sleeping in the barn and think we own this place and have +come to drive them out, or they are the auto thieves, and naturally +would run.” + +“I’m inclined to the tramp theory,” declared Paul. “They don’t look like +knights of the roads, though.” + +“I guess we won’t have much further sight of them,” commented Jack. +“They’re almost at the woods, and going strong.” + +The men, indeed, were distancing the boys, running fast with never a +backward glance. + +“Give ’em another hail!” cried Paul. “All together. Tell ’em we only +want to ask the way from them. Now yell!” + +The three lads united their voices in a loud shout, but it had no +effect, and, a moment later, the two fleeing men plunged in among the +trees. + +“Shall we follow?” asked Paul, bringing his run down to a walk. + +“Hardly worth while,” commented Jack. “We’d never find them in the +woods.” + +“Besides, we don’t want to leave the girls alone,” added Paul. + +“They are evidently determined not to be left alone,” commented Jack +with a smile. “There they come after us.” + +Cora and her chums were advancing across the weed-grown field that lay +between the house and the woods, and over which the unsuccessful chase +had taken place. + +“Come on, we’ll give it up,” Walter said, as he started back to meet the +girls. + +“We didn’t like to stay there all alone,” confessed Cora. + +“So we observe,” remarked Jack. + +“You didn’t get them?” questioned Cora. + +“They wouldn’t even hesitate,” laughed Walter. “Now for an inspection of +the barn and house.” + +“Are you going in?” asked Hazel. + +“Why not? We may find some valuable evidence that will put us on the +track of Cora’s auto. We may even find some hermit living in the house +who can put us on the right road. Let’s try the barn first, though, as +it was from there the men came.” + +The girls would not go in, but Walter and Jack did, leaving Paul to stay +with his sister and her friends. + +“Just keep your eyes open, Paul,” suggested Jack. “Those fellows may +come back while Wally and I are inside.” + +“Trust me,” observed Hazel’s brother. + +But Jack and Walter found little to repay them for their inspection of +the barn. It was a dilapidated building, almost tumbling down in fact, +and contained nothing save some wisps of hay and straw. In one corner, +though, was a pile of old feed bags, arranged as a rude bed. + +“Tramps been sleeping here,” observed Walter. “Maybe those two men.” + +“Maybe,” agreed Jack. + +But that was all they could gather, and they came out. + +“Now for the house,” suggested Walter. + +“There’s some sort of lane over there, leading to the cow shed,” said +Cora. “Suppose you look in that building.” + +“Might as well,” agreed Jack. And it was in approaching the smaller farm +building through the grass-grown lane that they made a discovery. + +“There’s been an auto in here!” cried Paul, as he saw some depressions +in the ground. “An auto has been driven in here and out again. I can see +two sets of wheel marks plainly.” + +“Did one tire have a vulcanized patch on?” Cora asked eagerly. “Mine +had.” + +“The marks aren’t plain enough to decide that,” said Paul. “If there +were dust or dirt here I could tell, but grass and weeds don’t take a +good enough impression. The auto was put in the shed, evidently.” + +That proved to be a good guess, for the marks of the big-tired wheels +went up to the shed, which was roomy enough for a car. + +“Yes, one’s been in here!” cried Jack, as he swung open the door. “See +the tire marks on the boards.” + +“Was it mine?” asked Cora, eagerly. But again the impression left was +too faint to show the vulcanized patch. + +“Maybe some autoists, caught out in a storm, put in here,” suggested +Walter. “We mustn’t build up too hopeful a theory on a slender basis of +fact.” + +Traces of the automobile wheels were lost a short distance down the +lane, and none appeared in the road which ran in front of the house—near +which the highway did not seem to be much traveled. + +“And now for the house itself,” said Jack. “Come on, boys!” + +“And girls, too!” exclaimed Cora. “We’re not going to be left outside.” + +They entered the old farmhouse, calling aloud to ascertain if in some +distant room there might not be an occupant. But their voices were +answered only by echoes, with which their footsteps mingled. + +The house was typical of many another deserted farm residence, of which +there are many throughout New England. + +Windows were void of glass, doors hung uncertainly on one hinge, moldy +wall-paper drooped down from the ceiling like unlovely Spanish moss, and +in many of the rooms the dampness and rain had loosened the plaster +which had fallen. + +There were some old boxes, a broken chair or two, and a moldy horsehair +settee that, in bygone days, must have graced the closed-up parlor, +opened only for marriages or deaths. Or, perchance, on its glossy and +slippery surface, lovers had sat long ago. + +“Ugh!” exclaimed Cora, with a little shudder. “Come on out. It gives me +the creeps in here.” + +“Yes, I guess there’s nothing to gain by staying,” Jack remarked. +“Nobody home, and there’s no use wasting time.” + +“I wish we were home,” said Belle. + +“And I. At least, back in camp,” added her sister. + +As they went from the house they saw out in the road a man driving a +horse attached to a farm wagon. + +“Oh, there’s something human at last!” cried Cora. “Wait, please, we +want to ask you something!” she called impulsively. + +But the man had already stopped of his own accord, and a look of +surprise came over his face as he saw the party of young folks come out +of the abandoned house. + +“Can you tell us the way to Mountain View?” asked Jack. + +“Yes, I’m going that way myself,” the man answered. “At least within a +mile of it. Want to ride?” + +“Oh, do we!” exclaimed Bess with such a sigh of relief that the others +laughed. + +“Pile in,” invited the farmer. “You aren’t thinking of buying the old +Mellish place; are you?” + +“Is that what this is called?” asked Walter. + +“Yes. Zeb Mellish used to own it, but he went crazy and hung himself and +nobody’s lived here since; ’ceptin’ maybe tramps.” + +“Yes, we saw two run away from the barn as we came up,” stated Jack. + +“Humph!” commented the farmer. “I’ll have to speak to the constable +about ’em. Too many of us have been losin’ chickens lately. I suspected +it was tramps. Which way’d they go?” + +The boys told; also narrating the details of their little picnic and of +their becoming lost. + +“Well, that ain’t surprisin’, considerin’ how th’ cow paths in the woods +twist to and fro,” commented the farmer, who gave his name as Anthony +Wale. “So you’re from one of the bungalows in the Mountain View +property; eh?” + +“Yes, Camp Surprise,” said Cora. + +The man seemed to start, and looked sharply at Cora. + +“Camp Surprise; eh!” he exclaimed. + +“Know anything about it?” asked Walter. “We have been expecting to be +surprised, but haven’t been, so far.” + +“I know they tell queer stories about it,” said Mr. Ware, “but that’s +all I do know. Maybe the surprise party hasn’t started yet.” + +“Well, if it’s bound to happen, I wish it would get over and done with,” +said Cora. “It’s awfully good of you to give us a lift this way.” + +“Glad to do it,” said Mr. Ware. “There’s room on the seat with me for +two of you gals—at least the thinnest ones—not meanin’ anything against +you,” and he looked at Bess, half smiling. + +“Oh, I’m used to it now,” she declared. “You can’t hurt my feelings. +I’ll be glad to sit on one of the boxes.” + +The wagon contained several crates, and these were utilized as seats, +Hazel and Belle, as the “thinnest gals,” sitting on the seat with Mr. +Ware. + +He drove them to within a half mile of their own camp and they were soon +at the bungalow, just as Mr. and Mrs. Floyd were getting anxious about +their charges, and were talking of going in search of them. + +“What happened to you?” Mrs. Floyd inquired. + +“Lost,” explained Jack, sententiously. + +The adventures of the day were gone over again at a joint supper, the +boys being invited in by the girls. + +“You aren’t doing any housekeeping at all,” Cora complained to Jack, +afterward. + +“What’s the use when you girls are such good cooks?” he asked with a +laugh. “We’re thinking of hiring a chef, anyhow, and then we’ll +reciprocate and give you a good feed.” + +A trip down the mountain stream to where it widened into a lake was the +plan for the next day, and an early start was made, Mrs. Floyd and her +husband stating that they had to go to town to do some shopping, and +would not be back before night. They started before the young folks +left, and the girls locked their bungalow as they came out. + +Nothing of moment occurred on the trip to the little lake, if the fact +that Jack fell in up to his knees, while trying to get some pond lilies +for Hazel be excepted. + +“Well, I wonder if anything happened while we were away?” asked Cora of +Walter, as they neared their camp on the return trip. + +“Why do you suggest that?” he queried. + +“Oh, I don’t just know. I have a funny sort of feeling ‘in my bones,’ as +mother used to say.” + +Cora had the key and opened the door. The boys were coming in, as they +usually did, and stood waiting for the girls to enter. + +As Jack’s sister threw back the door she gave one look in the living +room, and exclaimed: + +“It’s here!” + +“What?” asked Walter, quickly. + +“The surprise! Look!” + + + + +CHAPTER XIX—WHERE’S MY LIGHT? + + +Crowding up behind Cora, the others peered over her shoulders. The +setting sun, streaming in through the windows, revealed a strange sight +in the big living room. Several chairs were overturned, a large couch +that had been against the wall was out in the middle of the floor, a +table that had been piled with magazines and books was turned on its +side, and turned upside down on the overturned table was perched a +chair, as though children had been playing some simple game, like +stagecoach or steamboat, with the table and chair to represent +make-believe articles of locomotion. + +For a moment surprise and wonder held them all dumb, then Jack burst out +with: + +“Say! who did this monkey-business, anyhow?” + +“Monkey-business?” repeated Cora. + +“It’s the surprise!” exclaimed Belle, and her voice was not quite +steady. “We’ve been expecting this. The ghosts have paid one of their +visits. Oh dear!” + +“Don’t be silly!” exclaimed Bess, who, perhaps because her nerves were +better protected, did not give way to emotion so readily as did her +thinner sister. “Isn’t this just what we’ve been looking for—and hoping +for?” + +“Hoping for?” asked Paul. “Well, I must say it’s a queer sort of hope!” + +“Oh, I don’t mean that, exactly,” Bess went on. “But we knew something +like this was bound to happen, and this is the first manifestation.” + +“No, not exactly the first,” Cora said. + +“What do you mean?” asked Bess. “Isn’t this the first time anything has +been upset in our bungalow?” + +“Yes, but it isn’t the first manifestation,” Cora went on. “Shall we +tell, Belle?” she asked. + +“Yes,” nodded the slim Robinson girl. + +“Though how you can connect the queer noise with what has taken place +here I don’t see,” put in Walter who had been looking curiously about +the upset room, which none of them had ventured yet to enter. + +“What! Does he know about it, too?” asked Belle. + +Cora nodded. “He heard it, and thought at first it was thunder.” + +“Say, what’s this all about?” demanded Jack. “Are you hiding part of the +secret from us, Sis?” + +“Well, in a way—yes.” + +“That isn’t fair. If there’s a secret here we ought to share it. And if +you girls are going to keep things to yourselves we fellows will pack up +and leave, and——” + +“Don’t dare desert us!” cried Belle. “I won’t stay here a minute after +the boys go; will you, Cora?” + +“Well, I like to have them here, of course,” answered Jack’s sister. +“But if we talk that way about them they’ll get an exaggerated idea of +their importance, and there’ll be no way of enforcing discipline. So if +they want to go let them, and we’ll solve this mystery ourselves.” + +“I think we’re making a mountain out of a molehill,” declared Walter. “I +don’t see any great mystery here. A few chairs and a table are upset. +It’s the most natural thing in the world.” + +“Natural? How do you make that out?” asked Bess. + +“Why, Mrs. Floyd has been sweeping and dusting in here, and she has +moved the chairs about. They always do it at our house. And say! some +days it’s as much as your life is worth to try to navigate through the +misplaced furniture. You need a harbor pilot and a searchlight, to say +nothing of a chart and an automobile road map. That’s all that’s +happened here. Mrs. Floyd has been doing a little house-cleaning.” + +“So that’s your explanation of it; is it?” asked Cora. “Then how do you +account for the fact that Mrs. Floyd and her husband have been away all +day?” + +She pointed toward the road and the others saw the two caretakers in Mr. +Floyd’s light wagon approaching the bungalow. They were returning from +their day’s shopping trip, as was evident by the number of bundles in +the vehicle. + +“I think you’ll find that Mrs. Floyd hasn’t done any house-cleaning +to-day,” said Cora. “You can’t account for the surprise that way.” + +Cora was right, in so far as Mrs. Floyd was concerned. The chaperon and +her husband had been away all day. + +“What is it? What has happened? Is anything the matter?” asked Mrs. +Floyd, as she saw the young people on the porch of the bungalow, looking +in at the open door. “Is any one hurt?” + +“No, it’s just the surprise,” said Cora. “Is that what has happened +before, Mrs. Floyd?” + +The caretaker looked inside, and caught her breath sharply. + +“Yes—yes,” she answered slowly. “This has happened before, but never as +bad as this. I mean it never before was quite so upset. I—I can’t +account for it.” + +“It’s them pesky tramps!” said Mr. Floyd. “I’ll notify the constable +again; that’s what I’ll do!” + +“Do you think it was tramps?” asked Jack. + +“Who else could it be?” the caretaker demanded, and neither Jack nor the +others could answer, though Walter asked: + +“Well, if it were tramps, wouldn’t they steal something if they had the +chance they’ve had to-day? Let’s take a look and see if anything is +missing.” + +Then they went in, a bit gingerly at first, for there is a queer, +uncanny sort of feeling in coming back to find the furniture upset in a +strange fashion. They all felt it, even joking Jack. + +But, aside from the misplaced tables, chairs and couch, nothing wrong +was found. Nothing was missing, as far as could be ascertained, and no +food had been taken from the pantry, though more than once, Mrs. Floyd +said, on former occasions when the “surprise” had been manifested, the +larder showed signs of an unknown visitor. + +“Now before we set things to rights,” suggested Jack, “suppose we see if +there are any clews. Let’s go at this thing right. Look at each piece of +furniture and see if it has——” + +“Any finger marks on? Is that what you mean, Jack?” asked Paul. + +“No, I’m not drawing it quite as fine as that. I mean look around on the +floor for bits of mud, for any signs of foot prints—anything, in fact, +that would give us a line on who did this.” + +“It seems to have been done deliberately, anyhow,” observed Walter. “The +chairs and other things weren’t misplaced in a hurry. They took their +time. Why any one but a child would want to pile that chair on the table +is remarkable.” + +“That very thing may indicate that it was just some skylarking boys,” +commented Jack. + +Mr. Floyd shook his head. + +“There aren’t any boys around here,” he said. “Of course lads might come +out from the village, and break in to do this mischief, but it isn’t +likely. This is private land, and on several previous occasions +trespassers have been arrested, so the boys don’t generally come here. +Besides, they wouldn’t have had a key to come in with.” + +“Did they use a key to enter?” asked Paul. + +“The door was locked when we got back,” replied Cora, as if that settled +it. + +“And the window fastenings are still on,” reported Jack, who made a +quick inspection. + +“Here’s a bit of mud near this one chair, as if it had dropped from some +one’s shoe,” Walter said. “So the surprisers must have come in from +outside.” + +“Where else would they come from?” Jack demanded. “Did you think they +were concealed in the bungalow?” + +“I don’t know what to think,” Walter answered slowly. “It’s a queer +mystery.” + +“I hope it won’t cause you folks to leave,” said Mrs. Floyd a bit +anxiously. “We’d like you to stay on.” + +“And we will!” cried Cora. “We knew that a surprise awaited us when we +came here, and we haven’t been disappointed. And, now that it has come, +we’re not going to turn cowards and run away. We’ll get to the bottom of +this mystery.” + +“That’s right!” cried Jack. “Who’s afraid? You aren’t; are you, Hazel?” + +“Not—not if——” + +“Not if _I_ stay! There, I knew it!” and Jack puffed out his chest. “See +what it is to have confidence in a man. Now if the rest of you will act +as I do, we’ll soon——” + +“Oh, I didn’t say that at all!” cried the blushing Hazel. “I meant I +would stay if the _rest_ did.” + +“Squelched!” murmured Jack in dejected tones. “Never mind, I’ll lay this +ghost yet. Now let’s get things to rights, and then we’ll stay to supper +with you girls.” + +“Hadn’t you better wait until you’re invited?” asked Cora. + +“Oh, do let them stay!” begged Belle. “I—I’m a bit nervous over this.” + +“Another manly protector needed,” murmured Paul. + +“Let us stay and we’ll help find the ghost,” suggested Walter, and the +girls were glad enough to agree, for, truth to tell, they were a bit +upset, and even Cora looked over her shoulder nervously as she ascended +the stairs. + +“Well, they didn’t come up and disturb your bedrooms this time,” said +Mrs. Floyd, as she went to the upper story with the girls. + +“Do you mean to say they actually have upset the things in the +_bedrooms_?” asked Belle. + +“Sometimes,” replied the caretaker. “Though that hasn’t happened of +late.” + +“Oh, dear!” sighed the slim girl. “I did hope we would be safe from them +up here.” + +“Oh, they never come—that is, things never happen—when any one is in the +house,” Mrs. Floyd hastened to add. “It’s always when the place is left +to itself.” + +“Then the—er—well, call it ghost, for want of a better name,” said +Jack—“then the ghost must keep watch to know when we go out.” + +“I’m sure I don’t know,” said Mrs. Floyd. “It’s very annoying, and I do +hope you will find out what does it and stop it.” + +“We will,” Jack declared. “I’m sure, after all, we’ll find out that it +is due to perfectly natural causes.” + +“That’s what I believe,” said Walter. “I wonder if it could be an +earthquake?” + +“Earthquake?” echoed the others. + +“Yes,” Walter went on. “You know that queer noise which Cora, Belle and +I seem to have heard to the exclusion of you others? Well, that was a +sort of rumbling of the earth. It might have been a slight shock, a +reaction from a distant quake. Such things have been known to happen. +And if there was one there might well be another. If the bungalow shook +hard enough the chairs might have been upset as we found them.” + +Jack shook his head. + +“Your theory won’t hold water,” he said. “If there was a hard enough +shock to knock over chairs and tables, the dishes in the closets would +have been broken.” + +“I think so, too,” declared Paul. “The earthquake won’t account for it, +Walter.” + +“Perhaps not. But I can’t think what else it could be.” + +“A human agency, you may be sure of that,” declared Cora. “I don’t +believe in the supernatural. This was done by human hands and, sooner or +later, we’ll discover by whom. Humans are fallible and will make a +mistake. We must watch for that mistake.” + +They righted the furniture and talking of the matter seemed to make it +lose some of its mysteriousness. The boys stayed to supper and until +late in the evening. Jack offered to remain all night, and sleep on the +couch downstairs, but Cora would not hear of it. + +“We’ll be all right,” she declared. “We can call you on the telephone if +we want you. Besides, Mr. Floyd is going to leave open the door leading +to his quarters, and he can hear if we call. We’ll be all right.” + +“Well, ring us up if you find the chairs doing a fox trot or hesitation +waltz in the middle of the night,” suggested Walter. + +The girls went upstairs together, casting quick, nervous glances over +their shoulders as they ascended. They locked their hall doors as soon +as they were inside. But as the four chambers communicated, it was as if +they were in one large apartment. + +“Oh dear!” exclaimed Cora, as she was taking down her hair. “I’ve +forgotten it.” + +“What?” asked Bess, who was taking off her shoes. + +“My flashlight,” Cora answered. “I left it on the table in the living +room. I meant to bring it up, for I like to see what time it is if I +awaken in the night.” + +“I’ll go down with you if you want to get it,” offered Hazel. + +“No, thank you. I’ll do without it. I dare say I shan’t need it.” + +“Let’s burn a light all night,” proposed Belle. + +And no one called her silly. So the lamp was left aglow, turned down a +little. + +Contrary, at least to some expectations, the night passed peacefully. +There was no disturbance, and the girls awoke refreshed and with only a +little feeling of uneasiness as to what might happen in the future. + +But when Cora went downstairs, and began looking among the things on the +table in the living room, another manifestation of the queer happenings +was in evidence. + +“Where’s my light?” she demanded. “I left my flashlight here last night, +and now it’s gone. Did any one take it?” + +No one had, the boys and girls denying all knowledge. Nor had Mr. or +Mrs. Floyd removed it, and Cora was positive she had left it on the +table. She recalled her remarks about it the night previous. + +“Well, it’s gone,” she said. “Another one of the mysteries.” + +“You seem to be singled out,” observed Walter. “First it’s your auto, +and now your light.” + +“Do you think the two cases have any connection?” asked Cora. + + + + +CHAPTER XX—MORE HAPPENINGS + + +Walter considered the matter rather judicially before answering. Then he +gave as his decision: + +“No, I can’t say that I do. It is, perhaps, only a coincidence that your +automobile and your flashlight should have been taken. I dare say that +had it been a light belonging to any one else it would have disappeared +just the same.” + +“You mean that they—the mysterious They—would have taken the light, no +matter to whom it belonged?” asked Jack. + +“Exactly! It was a case of wanting a light and taking it.” + +“But how did they get in to take it?” asked Paul. “There’s no sign of +anything having been broken; is there—no doors or windows?” + +“We didn’t look,” Cora said. + +“Then that’s what we’d better do,” Jack suggested. + +But an examination did not show that any means had been used to force a +passage from without. The windows were provided with screens which +fastened from within in such a way that force would have to be exerted +to slip them. And this had not been done. Nor had the door been tampered +with. + +“There’s only one way to account for it,” said Walter, “and that is on +the theory that the Surprisers, Ghosts, They—whatever you choose to call +them—used skeleton keys. And they must be professional burglars, or they +would have made noise enough to have aroused you girls. You didn’t hear +anything; did you?” + +Not one had heard a sound. + +“But if they were professional thieves wouldn’t they have taken +something else besides a flashlight?” asked Jack. “There’s plenty of +other things they might have picked up.” + +This was true enough, for the girls had left many of their more or less +valuable belongings downstairs. But none of them had been taken. + +“Perhaps they just needed Cora’s light to help them in some of their +other surprise visits,” suggested Bess. “Isn’t it most delightfully +mystifying?” + +“I don’t know that I find it especially so,” retorted Belle, with a +quick glance over her shoulder. “It’s getting on my nerves.” + +“Well, you can quit and go away when you want to,” suggested her sister. + +“Never!” cried Cora. “We’re not going to desert in the face of danger; +are we, Belle?” + +The slim twin hesitated a moment, and then answered, but not very +decidedly: + +“No.” + +“I knew you wouldn’t,” said Jack’s sister. “We Motor Girls aren’t +cowards.” + +“We give you credit for that,” declared Walter. + +In spite of the brave front of Cora and her chums, the happenings at +Camp Surprise were getting on their nerves. The boys, true to their +promise, began to plan to do their own cooking; but in view of the fact +that the oftener they were in the girls’ bungalow the better Cora and +her chums liked it, it was decided to have the boys take all their meals +with the girls. Jack, Walter and Paul would merely sleep in the smaller +building, where they were in close call by means of the telephone. + +For the next two days nothing happened. No more articles were missed, +and the furniture remained where it was put. Then came two or three days +when our friends were off on long picnics, remaining all day, leaving +Mr. and Mrs. Floyd in charge. Nor on these occasions did anything +happen. The bungalow was as peaceful when they returned as when they +left. + +“I guess it’s all over,” said Cora, when nearly a week had passed, and +there had been no more manifestations. “It was a flashlight they were +looking for all the while, and, now that they have it, they are +satisfied.” + +“It might be,” admitted Belle. “I hope it is.” + +There were happy days in the mountains. Sometimes the young folks would +wander far afield or through the woods, taking their lunches and staying +all day. Again they would go berrying or fishing. And they did not get +lost again, for the boys became familiar with the lay of the land. Cora, +too, as well as Belle and Bess, got her bearings, and knew how to find +the back paths. + +Fishing formed a pastime that all enjoyed, for the streams and ponds in +Mountain View were private property, and had not been depleted of their +finny inhabitants. So fish formed many a dainty dish for the table. + +It was one day when Mr. Floyd had gone in to town, and Mrs. Floyd had +departed to one of the more distant bungalows to get it in readiness for +occupancy, that Cora and her friends again went on a little trip to the +small lake which once before they had visited. + +“And make sure everything is well locked,” Belle advised, as they +started away, boys and girls together. + +Windows and doors were seen to, though no one had more than a faint +suspicion that any unbidden visitors would call. They got back rather +early in the afternoon, for a thunder shower was threatening, and as +Jack opened the door and looked in the living room, he called out: + +“All serene. They haven’t been here this time.” + +“That’s good,” said Belle. “I guess we’ve broken the hoodoo.” + +But when Cora and Hazel went upstairs there came simultaneous cries of +surprise from them. + +“Oh, Cora!” cried Hazel. “Look at my room!” + +“And look at mine!” Cora added. + +“What’s the matter?” asked Jack from below. + +“Everything!” answered his sister. “They’ve been up here, Jack!” + +“Who?” + +“The Surprise, of course. Our rooms are all upset.” + +“Is anything taken?” asked Jack, who, with the others, came up to look +at the strange evidences left by the mysterious visitors. + +“We can’t tell yet,” said Cora. “Oh dear! what does it all mean?” + +No one answered for a moment, but Belle and Bess looked half-fearfully +about, as though even then they might be standing in the presence of +some unseen creature. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI—A DANCING LIGHT + + +“This is getting to be the limit of patience!” exclaimed Jack a bit +wrathfully, as he looked at the disordered rooms. “Why can’t we do +something?” + +“We could, if we knew what to do,” said Walter. “But you can’t fight +nothing with something.” + +“It is very intangible,” said Cora. “Oh, all my pretty things scattered +about!” + +“Look and see if anything is taken,” suggested Paul. “If we can find out +what is missing—I mean the character of the things—we can get a better +line on who might have taken them. So far, the flashlight indicates +regular burglars.” + +For a time the girls were so put out, and so nervous over what had +happened, that they could not ascertain what, if anything, was missing. + +Then Cora began to reckon up her belongings, and found that a number of +articles had been taken. Hazel found the same misfortune had visited +her. + +“There are lots of my things gone,” said Cora. + +“What?” asked Walter, producing pencil and paper. “Let’s get at this +systematically.” + +“Oh, well, there are lots of things you—you wouldn’t understand about,” +said Cora, blushing slightly. + +“That’s true enough,” Walter admitted with a smile. “You are not on the +witness stand, so you needn’t mention face powder, nose rings——” + +“Well, I like that!” cried Cora. “As if we used face powder!” + +“Just for that he will have to eat at the second table,” pronounced +Hazel. + +“Come on!” challenged Jack, laughing. “Get down to business. What sort +of things are missing, Cora?” + +“Girls’ things, of course,” said his sister. “We didn’t have much else +up here.” + +And that, it developed, was what was missing. Trinkets, some toilet +articles, including a silver-mounted set belonging to Cora which Jack +had given her the previous Christmas, were gone. Hazel lost a +silver-backed mirror and a box full of bright ribbons. + +“Well, this beats me!” said Walter with a puzzled air, as he looked at +the list he had made. “They took some things they may possibly dispose +of at a pawnshop, but why grown men burglars should want hair ribbons, +or neck ribbons, or whatever ribbons they are, gets me.” + +“What makes you think they were men?” asked Belle. + +“Who else would it be?” + +“Well, we first had a theory that the upsetting might have been done by +boys,” said Cora. + +“Yes, that theory would fit, under certain circumstances,” agreed +Walter. “So would the taking of the flashlight. Almost any boy would +have been glad to get that. But what boy would take a lot of pretty +ribbons, even though he were enough of a criminal to know that he might +be able to dispose of the silver-mounted toilet articles? It doesn’t +jibe.” + +In the main, they were forced to agree with Walter. + +“Well, the fact remains that we have had another visit from the +unknowns,” concluded Walter, “and what are we going to do about it?” + +For a moment no one knew what to say. And then, as brains were busy with +the mystery, several schemes were offered. + +“Put some animal traps about and catch the intruders,” said Jack. + +“One of us stay and watch, while the others go away,” was Paul’s +contribution. + +“Sprinkle talcum powder on the floor, and then we can track them by the +marks,” offered Hazel. + +“Not such a bad idea,” declared Jack, as the others laughed. “It has +been known to work.” + +“Call in the police,” came from Bess. + +“Pooh!” scoffed Cora. “If they couldn’t get back my automobile they +can’t find mysterious thieves who enter through locked doors or windows, +and vanish into thin air with their ill-gotten gains.” + +“Let—let’s go home!” faltered Belle. + +“Nonsense!” cried Cora. “We’ll stick it out. It is just getting +interesting.” + +“That’s all right,” announced Belle, “but suppose—suppose they come in +the night, when we’re asleep, and take one of us?” + +“Let them begin on Bess,” suggested Jack, with a laugh. “No offense, of +course, fair one,” and he bowed, “but you know you could give a good +account of yourself if some one did try to walk off with you.” + +“Don’t dare suggest such a thing!” cried the plump twin. “I’d never go +to sleep if I thought they’d come at night.” + +“They do seem to confine their visits to daytime, and to the periods +when we are away,” said Cora. + +“Which makes it look, more than ever, as if they watched the bungalow +and knew just when to take advantage of our absence,” commented Paul. + +“Oh, don’t say that!” begged Belle. “Just think—they—they may be +watching now!” + +“Well, if they are let’s go and see if we can rout them out,” suggested +Jack. “There aren’t many places of concealment about the bungalow.” + +While the other girls helped Cora and Hazel put to rights the upset +rooms, the boys made a thorough search outside. There did not seem to be +any place where the mysterious persons might conceal themselves in order +to spy on the bungalow. There were trees all about, but the underbrush +had been cut away, and there was small chance for concealment. The boys +also started to make an inspection about their own bungalow, but this +was cut short by a shower that came up. + +“Well, so far, we are just about where we started,” said Jack, as he and +his two chums were eating supper with the girls that night. “We haven’t +found out anything.” + +“But we will!” declared Cora. “I’m not going to be beaten this way. +We’ll organize a campaign.” + +They talked to this end, making a tentative plan that the next time they +went off on a trip, some member of the party would be left behind in +concealment in the bungalow, to see, if possible, who the visitor or +visitors were. + +“And if that doesn’t work we’ll try something else,” said Walter. + +It was evident, though, that after the first few trials the new plan was +not going to work. Though the boys took turns in remaining in +concealment while the others went away, not a sound or sign of +disturbance was noted. No furniture was misplaced, and nothing was +taken. + +“We’ve got to have a new scheme,” said Cora. “Let’s talk to Mr. and Mrs. +Floyd about it. Maybe they can suggest something.” + +But the caretaker and his wife had nothing to offer. They were as much +worried and disturbed by the queer happenings as were the girls and +boys. And though they were generous and kindly souls, they were not +quick thinkers, and had little imagination. + +“It’s just spirits,” said Mrs. Floyd. “Spirits come and go.” + +“There aren’t any such things,” declared Cora. + +“Maybe it’s lightning,” suggested Mr. Floyd. “We have pretty heavy +thunderstorms up here.” + +“Lightning can’t move furniture, nor carry off looking glasses and hair +ribbons,” Cora went on. + +“Well, once lightning struck Jim Dobson’s cabin,” the caretaker said, +“and knocked all his pots and pans off the stove, and burned a hole +right through his clock.” + +“That’s within the bounds of possibility,” admitted Jack. + +“It’s boys!” decided Walter. “You’ll find that some youngsters are up to +these tricks, and they’re cute enough to cover up their tracks.” + +“That’s it,” said Paul. “They’re too cute. They don’t leave any tracks. +How they get in and out again, without leaving a clew or a mark is more +than I can see.” For an examination of the place after the losses +suffered by Cora and Hazel had disclosed no apparent means of egress or +ingress. + +One evening when the girls had gone over to the boys’ bungalow to sit +and talk, Cora, who had gone to the end of the porch, whence a view +could be had of the other building, uttered an exclamation. + +“There’s a light in our bungalow!” she called. “Did we leave one +burning?” + +“No,” answered Belle. “I put it out, as I was afraid of fire.” + +“Well, one’s there now. See how it dances about!” + +Indeed, a light could be observed, dancing up and down, flashing first +from one window and then from another. + +“It’s Mr. or Mrs. Floyd,” said Jack. + +“They’ve gone to the village,” Paul said. “I saw them go.” + +“It’s the mysterious visitors!” cried Walter. “They’re using Cora’s +flashlight! Come on, boys, this time we have them!” + +He ran toward the bungalow, followed by the others. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII—A MOUNTAIN CAVE + + +Advancing rapidly toward the girls’ bungalow, where so many strange +happenings had occurred, and where even now the strange light was +flashing, first at one window, then at another, Cora and her chums—boys +and girls—speculated on what could be the cause. + +“Let the boys go first,” cautioned Belle. “We don’t know what it might +be.” + +“That’s right! Wish the danger on to us!” commented Jack. “But we’re not +afraid.” + +“It’s only those mischievous boys,” declared Paul. “We’ll catch ’em in +the very act now.” + +“But how did the little rascals get in without our seeing them?” asked +Walter. + +“We weren’t watching the bungalow very closely,” said Paul. “They could +easily have slipped in from the back, around on the forest side. They +watched their chance.” + +“But what’s their game?” asked Jack, as they crossed the rustic bridge +on the run, their footsteps echoing dully on the boards. + +“Go easy!” cautioned Walter. “Don’t make so much noise, or we’ll scare +them away before we have a chance to catch them.” + +“They can’t hear us above the noise of the waterfall,” declared Jack. +“But what’s their game? That’s what I want to know. Why are they +flashing that light about so?” + +“There must be two or three of them with lights,” said Cora. “For first +I noticed it up in the window of my room, and a second later, certainly +in less time than any human boy could make the trip downstairs, the +light showed from a window in the living room.” + +“Probably there are three or four of the little rascals,” said Walter. +“Come on now, we’re almost there.” + +“Wait here, girls,” suggested Cora. “Let the boys go ahead, though after +they catch these mischief-makers I’ll feel like giving them a good +shaking myself.” + +Walter, Paul and Jack advanced toward the bungalow. They went softly up +on the porch, looking sharply for a sign of the light. + +“Seems to have gone out,” commented Jack in a whisper. + +“Yes. They must have heard us and switched it off.” + +“Probably they’ve skipped out, too, worse luck!” came from Paul. + +Indeed, as they listened, they could hear no sound from the bungalow, at +the door of which they now stood. All was silent and dark within. + +“Got a match?” Walter asked. + +“Take my flashlight,” returned Jack. “It’s stronger than Cora’s.” + +The brilliant white beam of light from the electric flash which Jack +handed to Walter illuminated the interior of the living room. And at the +sight which met the gaze of the boys, they could not restrain murmurs of +astonishment. + +“Well, would you look at that!” + +“Same thing over again!” + +“And right under our noses too! They never made a sound!” + +“What is it?” called Cora, from where she and her chums stood waiting. +“Did you catch them?” + +“Haven’t yet,” answered Walter, playing the light about the room. “But +the furniture is all upset, just as it was the other day, only more so. +Come on up, girls. I guess there’s no danger. The boys have probably +skipped out, though we may get them yet. Jack, you go around to the side +door. Paul, you cover the back. I’ll take a run through the bungalow and +stir them up.” + +Pausing to light a lamp in the living room, Walter ran up the stairs to +the apartments of the girls, while Jack and Paul formed a guard outside +the bungalow. The girls still remained a little distance away, awaiting +developments. + +But there were none—at least inside the bungalow. Walter came down +stairs to report that no one was up there. + +“But are things upset in our rooms?” asked Bess. + +“And is anything taken?” Hazel questioned. + +“I didn’t stop to look,” confessed Walter. “I was just trying to drive +out intruders.” + +“None came out the door I was watching,” declared Jack. + +“Nor where I was,” said Paul. + +“How in the world did they get away so quickly?” asked Walter. + +No one could answer him and they all turned their attention to the +living room. + +As Walter had said, it was more upset than on the other occasion. Every +chair in the big apartment had been overturned, and in some cases two +were jammed together, the legs interwoven. On a table two chairs had +been piled, while the couch was turned completely upside down, and a +stool perched on top of it, a sofa cushion surmounting that. + +Other sofa cushions were tossed about the room, as though the intruders +had been having a pillow fight, and in fact the whole room had that +appearance. + +“But nothing seems to have been taken,” said Cora, after a look around, +when the furniture had been put to rights. + +“Better not be too sure,” cautioned Walter. “Wait until you take a look +upstairs. I only glanced around.” + +“How in the world could they do all this without making a noise?” asked +Paul. “It seems to have been done in a hurry, and boys are rather +clumsy—I know I was. They ought, by rights, to have stumbled all over +themselves, doing this by the light of only a pocket flash. And yet we +heard no racket as we ran up. It was all quiet.” + +“That’s one queer part of it,” admitted Walter. “It almost makes one +believe in——” + +“Ghosts! Go on and say it,” challenged Cora. “You can’t scare us.” + +“Any more than we are frightened now,” said Belle. + +“Are you frightened?” asked Jack. + +“A little,” she confessed. “Wouldn’t you be—if you were I?” + +“I might be,” he admitted. “But we’ll get at the bottom of this for you, +and catch those youngsters.” + +“If we only could be sure they were boys,” Belle murmured. + +“Who else could it be?” asked Jack. + +“Ask us something easier,” suggested Paul. “Go ahead upstairs, girls, +and see if anything is missing.” + +This advice was acted upon, and when the place was aglow with lights +Cora and her chums took “an account of stock,” as Jack said. + +“Well, any of your ‘war paint’ missing?” he demanded of his sister when +she came down. + +“Only a few little trinkets,” she said, “ribbons and things like that. +If it were not impossible, I should say girls had a hand in this.” + +“It isn’t impossible,” declared Walter. “Girls can do almost anything +nowadays. But it isn’t likely. Some boys are just as fond of bright +things as are girls, and probably these youngsters hope to make neckties +of your ribbons.” + +“Well, what are we going to do about it?” asked Jack, when they had sat +discussing the curious happening for some time. + +“What _can_ we do?” Walter demanded. + +“I know one thing _I_ am going to do,” declared, Belle, “and that is I’m +going home in the morning.” + +“No!” cried Cora. + +“I am if this mystery isn’t cleared up. It’s getting on my nerves +horribly,” and she gave a quick glance over her shoulder as a slight +noise sounded. + +“I did that,” confessed Hazel, who had dropped a book. + +“Don’t do it again, my dear,” begged Belle. + +“Now look here!” cried Cora, “this won’t do. We’re going to stick it +out. We agreed on that, you know. We’re going to find out what this +mystery is.” + +“That’s what I say!” came from Bess. + +“I’m willing to stay,” declared Hazel. + +“Well, since I seem to be in the minority I’ll have to give in,” sighed +Belle. “I’ll stay if you all do, but I really think some one ought to be +in this bungalow with us—one of the boys or——” + +“I’ll stay here,” came from Jack, Walter, and Paul in a trio. + +But when Mr. and Mrs. Floyd returned from town, and heard of the strange +happenings, they offered to sleep in a small room opening off the living +apartment. + +The night, however, passed without incident, though none of the girls +slept well. Morning seemed to quiet the frayed nerves, and the +happenings of the night before did not seem so mysterious in the glare +of the golden sun. + +The season for berries was at its height now, and as many varieties grew +on the mountainside the young campers organized another expedition one +day, about a week after the disturbance in which the light figured. Mrs. +Floyd promised to bake the pies if the boys and girls gathered the +berries. + +They planned for an all day stay, taking their lunch, and early in the +afternoon all berry baskets were filled. Then, as there were some +ominous-looking clouds in the west, they decided to start for the +bungalows. + +They were about half a mile from Camp Surprise, on a new short cut which +Mr. Floyd had mentioned, when Cora, who was hurrying along in the lead, +slipped on a slight declivity and, to save herself from falling, grasped +a bush. + +The bush, however, offered little hold, for it came away in her hand, +and Cora slid on, until she brought up on a level place. She looked +back, to join the others in the laugh at her slight mishap, when her +eyes noted the place from which the bush had pulled away. + +“Why look! Look here!” she called to the others. “Here’s a regular +cave!” + +“A cave?” echoed Jack. + +“Yes. There’s a big hole which I’d never have seen only the bush became +uprooted. Come here!” + +“Come on!” cried Jack. “Let’s see where this leads to. It may have +something to do with the mystery.” + +“What mystery?” asked Bess. + +“What mystery? The mystery of Camp Surprise! Maybe the boys hide in this +cave. Come on!” + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII—THE TREMBLING NOISE + + +Jack, Walter, and Paul tore away more of the bushes screening the mouth +of the natural cave. As they removed the leafy branches the black hole +was seen to be of large size, fully high enough to permit even a tall +man to enter without stooping, and wide enough to enable three to walk +abreast. + +“This is some cave!” exclaimed Jack. “I wonder Mr. Floyd never told us +about it.” + +“Perhaps he didn’t know,” suggested Cora. “I wouldn’t have seen it, and +I was within a few feet of it, if I hadn’t slipped and pulled away the +bush.” + +“Well, we’ll soon see if it amounts to anything,” declared Paul, setting +down the pail of berries he was carrying. + +“Are you girls coming in with us?” asked Walter, looking at Cora and her +chums who had not advanced. + +“I don’t know. Shall we?” asked Hazel, looking at her brother. + +“I don’t want to stay here,” said Cora. “Besides, something might happen +to the boys. But how are you going to explore the cave in the dark? And +it is as dark as a bottle of ink in there. Have any of you your +flashlights?” + +“We can make a torch of wood,” said Jack, when it developed that none of +them had one of the pocket electric lights. + +But just as Jack and the others were about to enter the cave the +mutterings of thunder which had been increasing, culminated in such a +clap that the girls, involuntarily placed their hands over their ears. + +“Come on! Run for the bungalow!” cried Cora. “Else we’ll be caught in a +terrible storm! It’s starting to rain now.” + +Some hot drops hissed down, the prelude to an almost tropical fury of +the elements it seemed. + +“We can go into the cave,” suggested Paul. + +“No!” cried his sister. “You shan’t go in there with this storm coming +up. The cave will keep. Come on, let’s run!” + +She darted off down the side of the mountain, the other girls following. +The boys hesitated a moment, and then, not wishing to desert the girls, +even though the latter ran first, they followed. + +“We can come back to the cave to-morrow,” said Walter. “It won’t run +away. And to explore it well we ought to have the electric lights. Come +on.” + +Paul and Jack followed him, and they all reached the girls’ bungalow +just as the deluge of rain came down. + +For an hour or more the storm raged, blinding lightning and deafening +thunder succeeding one another. But the bungalow was snug and safe, +though once, when a tree was struck not far away, the girls screamed in +terror. + +That crash, however, seemed to be the culmination of the outburst, for +from then on the rain began to slacken, and the thunder died away in +muttered rumblings and the lightning became paler and paler until it was +only a faint, shimmering light. + +Then the dark sky cleared and the sun came out, shining through the +storm-riven clouds and warming the ground and trees which were dripping +from the vigorous bath. + +“We got home just in time,” commented Cora, as they looked out on the +ceasing storm. “A little longer on the mountain and we would have been +drenched.” + +“That cave was a find,” commented Jack. “I want to see what’s in it.” + +“Probably nothing more than a hole in the side of the mountain,” +commented Bess. + +“I wouldn’t be too sure of that,” voiced Walter. “I wonder if Mr. Floyd +knows anything about it?” + +It developed that the caretaker did not, though he said there were +several small mountain caves in that section, and this was probably one +of them that he had not chanced upon. + +“Do you think smugglers or pirates might have used it?” asked Hazel, +with a smile. + +“Hardly pirates,” commented Jack. “Too far from the water. But smugglers +might have done so. We’re not so far from the Canadian line.” + +“All bosh!” declared Paul. “It’s probably a garage dating from the stone +age when the early inhabitants used the dinosaur as a jitney!” + +They all laughed at his conceit and talked further of the cave and what +they might find in it when they explored it the next day. + +Whether it was the severe thunderstorm, or whether it was the +culmination of the happenings of the past few weeks was not made clear, +but it was certain that the girls, even Cora, were more nervous than +they had been at any time yet. + +“I—I wish we didn’t have to stay here to-night,” said Belle when supper +was over, and they sat out on the porch, gazing into the fast-gathering +darkness. + +“Why?” asked Cora. + +“Because I—I’m afraid. Come now, aren’t you?” she challenged. + +“Well, I can’t say I like all the mysterious happenings,” Cora admitted. +“And now that we know there is a cave near us—more than one perhaps—and +that we don’t know who—or what—may be in them, why, I can’t say it is +the most pleasant vacation we have experienced.” + +“This bungalow gives me the creeps!” complained Hazel. + +“Why not take ours?” suggested Walter. “It’s large enough for you to +sleep in, and we’ll take this one. Come on, what do you say?” + +“No, not to-night anyhow,” decided Cora. “We’ll keep to our agreement +and stay here. Mrs. Floyd will be here with us.” + +“And not Mr. Floyd?” asked Belle. + +“No, not until later. He has to go to some town meeting I believe, and +will come in around midnight. But nothing has happened in the last few +days—not even a noise.” + +“I’ve heard noises,” confessed Belle. + +“What sort?” Jack inquired. + +“Oh, sort of rumbling, trembling noises, and they seemed to be away down +under the ground. I heard one yesterday, when I came back to get my veil +after the others had gone out. It scared me,” Belle added. + +“I think the waterfall causes those rumbling noises,” said Walter. +“We’ll have to investigate that to-morrow.” + +The boys went to their own bungalow, and Mrs. Floyd came in to occupy +the small temporary bedroom. Her husband would be in later, she +explained, confirming Cora’s information in that respect. The +thunderstorm had cooled the rather oppressive air and there was a +refreshing breeze blowing as the girls went up to their bedrooms. + +Just who awakened first, it would be hard to say. Probably it was Belle, +as she was the lightest sleeper. Cora heard her calling, and at the same +time she was aware of another disturbance. + +“Do you hear it?” asked Belle from her room. + +“Yes,” Cora answered. At the same time she could hear Bess and Hazel +getting up. + +The whole bungalow seemed filled with a roaring, trembling noise, and +there was a slight vibration of the building. + +“What is it? Oh, what is it?” cried Belle, in hysterical tones. + +“I don’t know,” answered Cora. “But I’m going to find out.” + +“How?” + +“By calling the boys. Mrs. Floyd, are you awake?” Cora demanded, going +to the head of the stairs. + +“Yes. That noise awoke me.” + +“Is Mr. Floyd home?” + +“Not yet.” + +“Then I’m going to telephone for the boys!” + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV—THE SECRET PASSAGE + + +Hastily donning robes and slippers, the girls gathered about Cora as she +rang the electric bell which had been arranged to summon the boys in the +other bungalow to the toy telephone. Meanwhile, Mrs. Floyd had arisen +and dressed to let in the boys. The rumbling, trembling noise had +stopped. + +“Oh, why don’t they answer?” cried Cora, impatiently pushing the +electric bell button again and again. + +Then, through the toy receiver came a faint voice. + +“Hello! Hello, there! Is that you, girls? What is the matter?” + +“This you, Jack?” Cora asked. + +“Yes.” + +“Come over as fast as you can! Hurry!” + +“What’s the matter?” he asked. + +“Don’t stop to question! Hurry over!” Cora begged. “It’s that terrible +noise again. Can’t you hear it?” + +“No,” answered Jack. “But we’ll be right over. Come on, fellows!” Cora +heard him call to Walter and Paul, as he left the telephone. “The girls +are scared.” + +“I guess he’d be too, if he heard that noise,” Cora said. “Did you all +hear it?” and she appealed to her chums. + +“I did,” affirmed Hazel. “It sounded like distant thunder.” + +“Could it have been?” asked Mrs. Floyd, who had joined the girls. + +“The stars are shining,” reported Belle, looking from a window, shading +her eyes with her hands from the light in the room. They had partly +dressed and gone down to the living room. There they listened and waited +both for a recurrence of the noise and for the approach of the boys. + +The latter made their presence known first, fairly running along the +graveled way that led from their bungalow, over the rustic bridge, to +the girls’ abiding place. + +“What’s all the racket about?” demanded Jack, as he and his two chums +entered, rather breathless from their run and their hurry in dressing, +the hurry showing itself in the absence of collars and ties. + +“It’s that noise,” said Cora, her voice trembling slightly. “We heard it +again, Jack.” + +“Was it so scary?” demanded Paul, looking at his sister. + +“It certainly was—too scary for words!” answered Belle. “I’m not going +to pass another night in Camp Surprise!” + +“It _has_ been a surprise with a vengeance,” declared Bess. “Boys, can’t +you do something?” she appealed. + +“What’s to be done?” asked Jack. “We’ll have to wait until we hear the +noise again, and then we can tell from which direction it comes. +Suppose, while we’re waiting, you girls just tell us what you heard.” + +They had all heard something different, it developed. At least, they all +had a different impression of the noise. + +Cora described it as a “trembling roar.” + +Bess said it was a rumble, as though a heavy wagon had passed in front +of the bungalow. + +Belle said it reminded her of a deep, heavy sound, such as she had once +heard in a blast furnace. + +It was reserved for Hazel to describe accurately the noise, though none +of them knew her description was correct until afterward. + +“It was like a factory or machine shop next door,” said Paul’s sister. +“It seemed to shake the bungalow as though heavy machinery were +working.” + +“It must be the waterfall,” decided Jack. “Only a large body of water, +tumbling down into some chasm, could make a noise like that. There’s no +machinery around here. Besides, the waterfall is bigger than ever now, +on account of the rain. It must be that.” + +“It wasn’t!” declared Cora, though when pressed for reasons to bolster +up her denial she could give none. “It wasn’t that sort of noise at +all,” she affirmed. “It was more like——” + +“What’s that?” asked Belle so suddenly that the other girls jumped +nervously. + +It was the sound of a footstep on the porch, a firm, unhesitating +footstep. + +“I expect that’s my husband,” said Mrs. Floyd. + +It was Mr. Floyd, and he was, greatly surprised to see the “whole family +up,” as he expressed it. + +“What’s the matter?” he asked, looking around on the circle of rather +startled faces, ending with his wife’s. “Did you sit up to see how late +I got in? Strictly business, young ladies and gentlemen,” he went on, +smiling at them. “The committee had considerable to transact, and I had +to stay.” + +“This is a sort of surprise party,” Cora told him. “Camp Surprise is +living up to its name,” and she went on to tell about the noise, the +others adding bits here and there. + +“Pshaw now! That’s queer!” commented Mr. Floyd. “I have heard them +rumblings myself, but I laid ’em to the waterfall. It’s a curious +cataract at times.” + +“This noise,” began Cora, “isn’t like anything I ever——” + +She paused midway in the sentence, and a strange look grew and spread +over her face, as it did over the faces of the others. + +“There it is now,” whispered Bess. “That—that noise!” + +They all heard it, a dull, rumbling roar that made the bungalow tremble +as when a heavy wind blows and vibrates the timbers of a house. + +“So that’s what it is!” exclaimed Jack. “This is my first experience.” + +“I heard it once, though distantly,” said Walter. + +“Listen!” cautioned Cora. + +The noise seemed to increase. + +“Say, that is curious!” commented Mr. Floyd. “I never noticed that +before. Where does it come from?” + +Hardly had he spoken than the rumbling ceased, and there came a sharp +crash, as though wood had broken somewhere. + +“The chimney’s fallen!” cried Mrs. Floyd. + +“Nonsense, Eliza,” said her husband. “The crash would be up on the roof +if the chimney toppled over. Besides, there’s no wind, and the noise +didn’t come from above, it came from—down there!” + +He pointed to the floor of the living room, which was of bare boards, +with rugs here and there. + +“That’s right!” cried Jack. “The crash was below us. It’s under this +bungalow somewhere. Up with the floor boards! We’ll get at the bottom of +this!” + +There was no doubt on that score. Every one in the room was sure the +noise had come from under the floor. + +“But how could it?” asked Walter. “There’s no cellar to the bungalow; is +there?” + +“None that I ever heard of,” said Mr. Floyd. “I didn’t live here when +the bungalow was built, but I’ve always understood it had no cellar.” + +“It hasn’t,” Cora affirmed. “At least none that you can find. There are +no cellar stairs and the place seems to rest on piles.” + +“But the noise came from down there,” and Jack pointed to the floor. +“The only way to find out is to take up the boards. May we, Mr. Floyd?” + +“Why, yes, I reckon so. We’ve got to get at the bottom of this. It’s +better to spoil the floor than to lose the renting of the bungalow by +ghosts scaring tenants away. Take up the boards. I’ll get an axe and a +crowbar.” + +And so, in the middle of the night, for it was close to twelve o’clock, +the strange work of looking under the floor of the bungalow for the +source of the queer noise was begun. + +“Where shall we start?” asked Jack, when Mr. Floyd had brought the +implements. + +The caretaker considered a moment. + +“If there is some sort of cellar, or space under this bungalow, it must +be near the center of the floor, I’m thinking. We’ll begin there. Don’t +be afraid of spoiling the floor. I’ll take the responsibility.” + +Jack swung the axe vigorously, and, being aided by Walter, soon had +removed two or three of the narrow boards. As they were prying on +another, a queer thing happened. + +A solid section of the floor from the middle of the room suddenly sank +down, and then rolled back, exactly as a sliding door rolls, only this +door was horizontal instead of vertical. Back it rolled, leaving what +was practically a trap in the floor, and as the light shone down this a +flight of steps was revealed leading into darkness. + +“Great bumblebees!” gasped Jack. “See what we’ve done! Uncovered a +secret passage! Now for the solution of the mystery!” + + + + +CHAPTER XXV—THE PATCHED TIRE + + +Crowding around Jack they all gazed down into the opening. For a moment +no one spoke. Then Cora softly murmured: + +“A secret passage.” + +“What else is it?” demanded her brother. “No one knew it was here. You +didn’t; did you?” he asked Mr. Floyd. + +“Never had the least notion of it. How it got here is a mystery to me.” + +“It must have been built in the bungalow, or put in after it was built,” +said Bess. “What does it mean? What’s it all about?” + +“That’s what we’re going to find out,” declared Walter. + +“You don’t mean to say you’re going down—there!” and Belle, with a +dramatic gesture, pointed to the dark opening. + +“Why shouldn’t we go down there?” asked Paul. “It’s nothing but a +cellar.” + +“Cellar!” ejaculated Jack. “We’ll find this more than a cellar I’m +thinking!” + +“Well, the steps are just like cellar stairs,” said Paul. + +“Except they’re of stone,” added Walter, “and that passage isn’t going +to prove as prosaic as a cellar, I’m thinking.” + +“How did you come to open it, Jack?” asked Hazel. + +“That’s what I can’t tell you,” was the answer. “It seemed to open of +itself when the axe, or something, hit on the hidden spring. It’s a +secret door to a secret passage, and the land knows what we may find at +the end.” + +“Why, it’s just like in a book or a play!” gasped Belle. + +“More like a play,” said Cora. “They have sliding doors like this on the +stage where the spirits appear and disappear.” + +“That’s it!” cried Jack, as if an idea had suddenly come to him. + +“What’s what?” Walter demanded. + +“This is where the spirits came from—the spirits that have been having +fun with the furniture,” Jack went on. “Don’t you see? They came up +through this secret door, did what they pleased, and went down again, +closing the door after them by means of some secret mechanism.” + +“You’re not so far wrong at that,” remarked Paul, examining the queer +sliding door in the floor with a mechanic’s eye. “This is a pretty piece +of work. You seem to have smashed the operating part of it with your +axe, Jack, or at least the part of it that opened the door from this +side. It slides back and forth though,” and Paul rolled the section of +the flooring to and fro. + +“Don’t close it!” cried Walter. “You might shut it so we couldn’t get it +open again. We want to explore that passage.” + +“That’s what!” came from Jack. “This is where the furniture-movers came +from all right.” + +“Though why they should want to upset chairs is more than I can account +for,” commented Walter. + +“We’ll find out when we go down there,” suggested Paul. “Wait until I +take a look at this apparatus. We don’t want it closing over our heads +after we get down there.” + +The sliding door, or rather the section of flooring, was comparatively +simple in arrangement. It was made so that it could be dropped down two +inches, and then it could be rolled under the floor on small steel +wheels, which ran on projecting strips of wood. + +As Paul had said, Jack, by a blow of his axe, had destroyed the spring +that controlled the mechanism, but this very chance blow of the +implement had revealed the secret. Probably there was one certain board +which, when pressed on, or shifted, operated the sliding door. And so +cleverly was it fitted into the floor, and so tight was the joining, +that the presence of it would never have been seen. Only by chance had +they happened upon it. + +“Well, who’s going down?” asked Jack, as they stood looking into the +opening. “We’ll need lights, though.” + +“I have my flash,” said Walter. Paul, it developed, had his also. Both +were powerful pocket electric torches, with dry storage batteries. + +“We’ll all go,” suggested Paul. + +“No you won’t!” cried his sister. “We’re not going to be left here +alone, with that queer noise likely to happen at any time.” + +“I guess there won’t be any more noise, now that we have discovered +this,” said Jack, significantly. “This is where it came from all right.” + +“But what caused it?” asked Bess. + +“That’s what we’ve got to find out,” said Walter. “Come on, boys. Into +the secret passage!” + +“I’ll stay with you girls,” said Mr. Floyd. “Let the boys investigate +all they like. But this sure does beat me! To think this bungalow had +this concealed under the floor all the while, and I never knew it.” + +“No wonder this was named Camp Surprise,” said Cora. + +“I don’t believe even them folks that give it that name suspected +anything like this,” Mrs. Floyd remarked. + +“We’ll take all the surprise out of it before we’re through,” Jack said, +as he started down the stone steps. Walter and Paul followed, their +flashes switched on. The stone steps proved to be made of cement well +moulded, and there were ten of them, which led to a flat place under the +bungalow, the floor of which was now three feet above the boys’ heads. +They found themselves standing in a rectangular space, with heavy planks +on the sides. + +“Is it just a cellar?” called Mr. Floyd from up above, where he stood at +the edge of the opening, with the girls and his wife. + +“There’s a long narrow passage leading off somewhere,” Jack called back. +“We’ll investigate. It doesn’t seem to be just a cellar though.” + +“Be careful,” warned Cora, as the boys passed out of sight of those who +were watching. + +Jack, Walter and Paul found themselves in what was practically a planked +passageway, about four feet wide and eight feet in height. There was a +musty, damp smell to it, and when they had walked on a few feet over the +hard-packed dirt floor, Jack said: + +“This goes beyond the bungalow.” + +“What do you mean?” asked Walter. + +“I mean that we have passed beyond the limits of the bungalow. This +passage extends back under the ground, perhaps into the mountain.” + +“Maybe right into that cave we found to-day,” suggested Paul. + +“It might be,” agreed Walter. “There’s something queer about +this—something big, too. Keep on, and we’ll find where this passage +leads to. It’s been built some time, that’s evident.” + +This was shown by the fact that the planking on the sides and overhead +was old, and rotted in some places. And the ground underfoot was packed +so hard that it gave no evidences of footprints or other marks. + +Wondering what lay before them, the boys pressed eagerly forward. And +then, after a sudden turn, the passage came to an abrupt end. They found +themselves up against a stone wall, a veritable, and not figurative one. + +“Well, what do you know about this!” exclaimed Jack in chagrin. + +“This is the end,” said Paul. + +“Perhaps not,” asserted Walter. “This passage must lead somewhere. +Nobody would go to all this work making it, only to block it off in this +fashion. And it’s blocked off solidly enough, too,” he added as he +banged his fist against the stone. Like the steps it seemed to be of +cement. + +“Isn’t there any way of opening that?” asked Jack. + +“There doesn’t seem to be,” Paul said, examining it closely. “Looks to +be pretty solid.” + +“Can’t be,” declared Jack. “Else how could those spirits or boys get +through and up into the bungalow to play tricks with the furniture?” + +“If they were spirits a stone wall wouldn’t stop them,” Paul said. “But +we can’t do anything more to-night.” + +“Can we at any time?” asked Walter. + +“Sure!” cried Jack. “We’ll get crowbars to-morrow and tear down this +cement wall. Then we’ll find what’s at the other end of the passage. Now +come on back and tell the girls.” + +They found their friends eagerly waiting, though there was some +disappointment when the boys reported finding nothing. + +“Not a thing in that passage except the solid wall at the end,” Jack +said. “But we’ll tear that down to-morrow and see what’s beyond.” + +“Now hold on a minute,” said Mr. Floyd. “Of course I’m as anxious as you +folks are to get at the bottom of this. But I don’t own this property, +and before I let you go to work tearing down stone walls and so on, I’ll +have to get permission from the owners.” + +“Well, that’s right,” assented Jack. “Who are they?” + +Mr. Floyd gave the name, and added the information that they, or rather +the one man who owned this particular bungalow, could be reached by the +long-distance telephone. + +“Then we’ll call him up in the morning,” decided Jack. “I don’t know how +far the passage extends, or whether it’s all under the property that +goes with this bungalow, but we’ll get permission before we go ahead.” + +This was agreed to, and when the girls learned that there was nothing to +be alarmed at they went down into the passage also, as did Mr. and Mrs. +Floyd. + +“Well, there’s nothing more we can do,” said Cora. “Let’s get what +little sleep there is left, and then prepare for work in the morning.” + +“It’s almost morning now,” said Belle, pointing to the windows through +which they could see a faint glow in the east, presaging the rising sun. + +They were all too highly excited to sleep much, and they were up early. +Boards were laid over the opening in the floor, it being feared if the +sliding section was closed there might be trouble in opening it again. + +The strange happenings of the night formed the only topic at breakfast, +and then the boys set off for town to get in communication on the +telephone with the bungalow owner. + +“I can’t see why he would object,” said Jack. + +“Unless he made that passage for his own use, and doesn’t want any one +to meddle with it,” Paul remarked. + +“What could he use it for?” asked Walter. + +“Well, that may be part of the mystery. Let’s take a short cut to the +village,” and he indicated a path that led toward the cave in the +mountainside. + +They emerged into a country road, thick with dust, and were trudging +along this, talking on all the aspects of the queer discovery, when Jack +suddenly stopped and stared intently at something in the dirt of the +highway. + +“What is it?” asked Walter. “A snake?” + +“No, marks of an automobile tire,” Jack answered. + +“Nothing very remarkable in that,” laughed Paul. + +“There is in this one,” Jack declared excitedly. “See the big Z mark +where the tire has been patched—vulcanized. Boys, that’s the same mark +as was on the tire of Cora’s car! I believe her machine has been along +here this morning!” + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI—THE DROPPED BUNDLE + + +Walter and Paul stood beside Jack, looking at the queer mark of the +automobile tire in the dust. + +“It is just as Cora described it,” said Walter. + +“I remember, too,” added Paul. “She spoke about it at the time, saying +the man at the garage had made a poor job when he vulcanized on that +patch. He didn’t know his business, that’s a fact. But still there might +be other cars with that same sort of tire, Jack.” + +“Of course, but this is worth taking a chance on. What do you fellows +say?” + +“Tell us first what you want to do,” suggested Walter. + +“Follow this tire mark until we either see the car, or lose trace of +it.” + +“What about telephoning to Mr. Haight about permission to rip down that +cement wall?” + +“We can do that, too,” answered Jack to Paul. “This auto seems to be +headed for town, and that’s where we’re going. If we see the men who +have stolen Cora’s car, we’ll get it back for her.” + +“If the men let you,” added Walter, significantly. + +“Oh, we’ll get help if we have to,” said Jack. “Come on.” + +For some distance it was comparatively easy to follow the automobile +track by means of the prominent impression left by the patch on the +tire. + +“But if you can tell whether it’s going to town or coming from there, it +is more than I can,” asserted Paul, “and I know something about autos.” + +“Of course, I’m not sure of that part of it,” Jack admitted. “But we +have to go to town anyhow, and it won’t be any harm to go by this road, +on the chance of seeing Cora’s car; will it?” + +“No,” agreed Walter. “Perhaps we can kill two birds with one stone that +way, as well as any other.” + +But the hopes of the boys were doomed to disappointment, at least in +respect to getting further trace of Cora’s car, provided the tire marks +were made by hers. At least it was a temporary setback. For after about +half a mile there came a patch of hard oily road, in which the +impression of the big Z was lost. And when next a dusty stretch was +encountered, there were so many marks of automobile tires that it was +impossible to distinguish any particular one. + +“Baffled!” exclaimed Walter, semi-dramatically, after a back-aching +inspection of the road. + +“Only for a time,” added Jack, cheerfully. “After we telephone we’ll +take the trail of the marks, going in the other direction. That will be +back toward the cave, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some +connection between the cave, the passage under the bungalow and the men +in Cora’s car.” + +“Some cute little detective you’re getting to be,” laughed Paul. “Well, +it may be that you’re right. Go on.” + +A little later the boys reached the village, and, after executing some +commissions for the girls, including the purchase for Bess of a box of +chocolates, they found a long distance telephone in a drug store where +there was a booth to insure privacy. + +It was decided that Walter should explain matters over the wire to Mr. +Haight, the owner of the bungalow, and ask permission of him to batter +down the stone wall that brought the secret passage to such an abrupt +end. + +“And while you’re about it, Wally,” suggested Jack, “ask him what the +whole mysterious business means, what makes those noises, and why +spirits, or humans, should have the nerve to sneak into the girls’ rooms +and upset the furniture.” + +“I’d need a night letter to get all that information,” Walter retorted. +“You forget this is long distance telephone rates I’ll have to pay.” + +“We’ll whack up on it,” suggested Paul. “Go ahead, Walter, get all the +information you can.” + +Walter’s stay in the telephone booth was a lengthy one. His chums only +caught disconnected murmurs of his talk, but they had glimpses of his +face through the glass door and there was sufficient astonishment and +satisfaction depicted to whet their curiosity to the utmost. + +“Whew!” Walter exclaimed as he came out. “It was some hot in there!” + +“Never mind about that!” exclaimed Jack. “Can we tear down that wall?” + +“Sure!” gasped Walter. “Mr. Haight was as surprised as we were to hear +about it. He’s coming up to have a look.” + +“Do we have to wait until then?” asked Jack, in disappointed tones. + +“Not at all. He said to go right ahead.” + +“And doesn’t he know anything about the queer goings on, or who upsets +the furniture?” came from Paul. + +“Not in the least. It’s all news to him, though he says Mr. Floyd did +write a letter telling about some strange happenings. Mr. Haight didn’t +pay much attention—said he couldn’t make head or tail of the letter. He +intended to look into the matter when he had a chance, but now he +authorizes us to do it for him.” + +“And couldn’t he give even a hint as to why the sliding door was made in +the floor, and who cut the passage?” asked Jack. + +“No, though he said something which may prove to be a clew. He said he +bought the bungalow from a man who used to be a well-known actor. This +actor gave up the stage, and it was rumored that he was slightly +demented before he died. Now it occurs to me that this theatrical chap +may have had this sliding door made to gratify his whim for sudden and +unexplained comings and goings. Perhaps to frighten his servants. Any +sort of theory might explain it. That’s only a guess, but it’s as good +as any.” + +“It sounds reasonable,” admitted Jack. “At least the actor may have had +the secret door built, but the passage, which leads to goodness knows +where, looks more like the work of smugglers or a band of outlaws.” + +“Perhaps it may turn out to be that before we’ve finished,” said Walter. +“Anyhow, we have permission to go ahead, and the sooner we get at it, +and have that wall down, the sooner we’ll know where we’re at.” + +They hastened out of town, eager to begin work on the wall, and were +soon on the same highway where they had seen the automobile marks. + +“And this time we’ll follow them in the other direction,” said Jack. “We +might as well spend a little time on this end of the game now as later, +and it may be that this will fit in with the rest of the mystery.” + +“Good idea,” commented Walter. + +As the boys retraced their steps they took note of the fact that the +mark of the big Z in the dust became plainer. + +“We were wrong before,” decided Jack. “We were going in the direction +from which the auto had come. Now we’re following it.” + +“To its lair, I hope,” said Paul. “I’m anxious to get back to the +bungalow and have a go at that wall.” + +“Same here,” commented Walter. + +The boys were walking along, their eyes on the ground so as not to lose +sight of the marks, when Jack, raising his head, uttered a cry that +attracted the attention of his companions. + +“Look!” he cried, pointing down the road. “There’s Cora’s car now, and +two men are in it!” + +There was no doubt about it. Cora’s car was of a peculiar purple tint +with maroon trimmings. It had been made especially for her, and that it +was her machine was evident at a glance, especially to Paul who was in +the automobile business. + +“Come on!” cried Jack. “We’ve got ’em!” + +But had they? The automobile had turned out of a field, against a side +hill of which was built a wooden building, like a farmer’s spring-house. +The men seemed to have been using it as a garage, and Cora’s automobile, +occupied by two strangers, was rapidly speeding down the road. + +At Jack’s cry one of the men looked around, and then the machine was +speeded up, raising a cloud of dust. + +“No chance of catching them!” cried Paul. “We’ve got to get another +machine somewhere.” + +“We can’t!” exclaimed Jack. “We’ll have to follow until we see where +they go. We mustn’t lose sight of ’em now.” + +It seemed a hopeless chase, and it was, practically. Jack distanced his +companions, who called to him to come back so they could examine the +building in the lot. + +“Maybe we’ll find a clew there,” cried Walter. + +And finally even Jack gave up. Human legs, even those of an ambitious +youth, are no match for an automobile. But as Jack slackened his pace he +saw something which caused him to run forward again. For a bundle had +been dropped from Cora’s car, and the men did not stop to pick it up. + +“Maybe that will prove the best clew yet,” thought Jack, as he hastened +forward to pick it up. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII—THE GIRLS’ DISCOVERY + + +“Why don’t they come back?” + +“What keeps them so long?” + +“I declare this waiting is worse than——” + +“Doing nothing,” Cora finished for Bess. “Probably the boys can’t find +the kind of chocolates you ordered, pretty little plump maid, and +they’re afraid to come back without them.” + +“Silly,” protested Bess. + +“But they are a long time,” said Hazel, she and Belle having uttered the +two rather impatient sentences at the opening of this chapter. + +The girls were in the bungalow, eating, not exactly bread and honey, but +ice cream and cake, which Mrs. Floyd had made. And they were talking of +the absence of Jack and his chums, who had gone to town to telephone to +Mr. Haight. + +It was now lunch time and the girls, after waiting in vain for the boys, +had eaten, and were enjoying their dessert. Or rather, they were trying +to enjoy it under the rather unappetizing influence of impatient worry. + +“If they don’t come back pretty soon I’m going down there myself and see +if we can discover anything,” Cora declared. + +“Down where?” asked Belle. + +“In the passage, of course. I want to see if we can find where that +queer noise came from.” + +“And who upset the furniture,” added Bess. + +“Well, we’re on the track of it,” said Hazel. “We are pretty certain, +now, that whoever did it came up through that sliding door, and went +down the same way. That accounts for our never seeing any one enter or +leave the bungalow after the manifestations, and that’s why, after the +boys ran over so promptly the time we saw the dancing light, they +couldn’t find any one. Whoever it was just slipped down through the +secret passage, pulled the section of flooring back into place, and +there was no trace.” + +“But where did they go after they got down in the passage?” asked Belle. +“They couldn’t stay there all the while, and there’s no sign of any one +there now, unless they’re invisible. They couldn’t get past the blocking +cement wall.” + +“There’s something beyond that wall, and we’re going to find it!” +declared Cora. + +“Perhaps when the boys come back they won’t have permission to tear it +down,” suggested Bess. + +“Then we’ll begin our investigations from the other end,” Cora said. + +“What other end?” Hazel questioned. + +“The cave! I think this passage connects with the cave. That would +explain a hiding place for whoever has been playing these tricks on us, +and making that strange noise.” + +“You mean the cave you accidentally discovered yesterday?” asked Belle. + +“Yes,” Cora answered. “I’m sure that has something to do with the +mystery. So if Mr. Haight won’t let us open the wall, we may be able to +see what is on the other side by going to the cave, and finding the +passage that connects with the one which comes out into our bungalow.” + +“In that event the stone wall must be movable,” suggested Hazel. + +Cora jumped up so suddenly that she disturbed Bess who was leaning +against her. + +“That’s it! That’s it!” Cora cried. “I wonder we didn’t think of it +before. That surely is it!” + +“What is?” eagerly demanded Belle. “You are talking in riddles.” + +“This whole affair is a riddle, girls!” exclaimed Cora. “But what Hazel +said gave me an idea. That cement wall seems solid, but it can’t be. If +it were no one could pass. So it must be made to look solid to deceive +those not in the secret. Probably it is a balanced stone like the ones +you read of in stories of the cave dwellers. Some of them closed the +entrances to their caves by heavy rocks, set on pivots, turning when you +pressed on a certain mechanism. There are counterweights, just as in a +window, which makes the heaviest rock move easily. I’m sure that’s what +is in the passage—a balanced rock doorway. And there won’t be any need +of tearing the wall down at all!” + +“It sounds like a detective story,” commented Bess. + +“It may turn out to be one before we’re through,” Cora said. + +“Oh, dear! Why don’t those boys hurry back?” cried Belle for perhaps the +tenth time. “Let’s go out and look down the road to see if they are +coming.” + +The girls went out, too anxious and too eager to sit still, but they had +no sight of Jack and his chums. + +“I’m not going to wait any longer!” exclaimed Cora at length. “If I’m +right, there will be no need of tearing down the wall. That is, if I can +find the mechanism that turns the rocky door. And if I’m wrong, there +won’t be any harm in doing it.” + +“Doing what?” asked Bess. + +“Going down into the passage to see what we can discover. Will you +come?” + +“I will!” exclaimed Hazel. + +“Then we will, too, Belle,” said Bess, quickly. “They shan’t call us +cowards, even if we are twins.” + +“Come on,” cried Cora gaily. “We must do something or fly to pieces with +nerves. Anything is better than sitting still, waiting.” + +Back to the bungalow the girls hastened. The hole in the floor was still +open, the sliding door having been braced back so it could not be closed +by any accident. + +“We don’t want to go down there and not be able to get up again,” Cora +remarked. + +“Shall we tell Mrs. Floyd we’re going to see what we can find?” +suggested Belle. + +“No,” decided Cora, after a moment’s thought. “She might not want us to +until we have Mr. Haight’s permission. We’ll just do this on our own +responsibility. We won’t damage the wall any.” + +Down the cement steps went the four girls, into the dark passage. The +boys had left behind their flashlights and these were carried by Cora +and Hazel. The small, but powerful lamps gave a good light. + +“Ugh! It’s rather creepy in here,” complained Belle, looking back over +her shoulder. + +“Don’t be silly!” said Cora, sharply. “Just think of it! We may solve +the mystery all by ourselves.” + +“Let us hope so,” murmured Bess. + +They came to the cement wall that barred further progress along the +passage. + +“First to see if it’s solid rock,” Cora suggested. + +“How?” asked Belle. + +“By tapping. I brought along a hammer.” With this implement Cora gave +several blows against the obstruction. An unmistakable hollow sound +resulted. + +“I believe it’s only a wooden door, covered over with cement stucco,” +Cora said. “Now to find the secret catch.” + +With their flash lamps the girls went over every inch of the surface of +the door. At first it all looked alike, dull, gray, smooth cement. Then +Cora’s light lingered a moment on a certain place. + +“Girls, watch!” she said suddenly. + +With her thumb she pressed on the spot where it seemed the cement was +worn smoother than elsewhere. And then, to the surprise of even Cora +herself, the cement door swung slowly back, revealing a dark passage +beyond. + +“We’ve discovered it!” cried Cora. “No need to tear the door down. Just +as I suspected, it’s on hinges. Come on, girls!” + +Hardly realizing what they were doing, the others followed, their +torches illuminating the plank sides of the underground tunnel. + +“Are you sure this is all right, Cora?” asked Belle, as she stepped +beyond the open door. + +“I’m not sure anything is right about all this mystery,” was the answer, +“but this is a chance we mustn’t miss. Come on.” + +“But where are we going?” Belle queried. + +“I can’t tell, but I think to the cave,” Cora answered. “Don’t be +afraid. There’s no danger.” + +Hardly had she spoken than a noise sounded behind them. + +“Oh! what’s that?” cried Belle, rushing forward. + +“It sounded like a door closing,” said Hazel. + +She flashed her light back on the way they had come, and as she did so +she cried: + +“It was the door. It has swung shut, girls! We’re trapped!” + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII—PRISONERS + + +Walter and Paul stood close beside Jack Kimball, as he turned over the +package which had dropped from the automobile—Cora’s automobile, to be +exact. + +“What is it?” asked Walter. + +“Just what I’m going to find out,” answered Jack. “Feels like a package +of money, if I’m any judge.” + +“Whew!” whistled Paul. “Counterfeiters, do you think?” + +“I’m not so rash as to do any thinking after the queer things that have +been happening,” retorted Jack. “I’m going to make sure before I do any +guessing. Here goes!” + +He cut the string of the packet. It was well wrapped in stout brown +paper, and when Jack, sitting down on a wayside stone and resting the +bundle on his knees, had folded back the covering, there was revealed to +the boys bundles of tickets tied in little packets. + +“What in the world is this?” asked Paul, picking up one of the little +packages. “Tickets?” + +“Railroad and theatrical,” added Walter, as he examined some more +closely. “Say, this is a queer find!” + +Jack whistled shrilly and then cried out: + +“It fits in! It all fits in!” + +“What does he mean?” asked Paul. + +“I don’t know,” Walter answered. “Tell us, Jack. Can you see through the +puzzle?” + +“Part of it. Don’t you see? These tickets—some railroad and the others +for theatres and opera houses—they’re counterfeit—bogus—no good! They’re +just like those that girl in the Spinning Wheel tea room bought. Don’t +you remember, she purchased two of a couple of young fellows. It was +thought at the time they might have been the ones who went off with +Cora’s auto. Now we reverse the process. We find the bundle of tickets +that dropped out of Cora’s car, and we see two men running away in it. +They’re the same ones, or in the same gang, I haven’t a doubt. It’s up +to us to get after them.” + +“You seem to have struck it,” commented Walter. “Do you mean these men +have gone into the business of counterfeiting tickets on as big a scale +as this?” + +“I’m thinking that,” Jack answered. “You see it wouldn’t pay to print a +few tickets. They’d have to make a whole lot of them, and in the case of +theatrical coupons, sell them quickly, for the fraud would soon be +discovered. Railroad tickets might take a little longer to prove +invalid, for they would have to go to the head offices, and there the +railroad men could tell by the consecutive numbers that there was +duplication somewhere. And the tickets would have to be pretty well +distributed—only a few in each city.” + +“That’s what they wanted of Cora’s auto,” suggested Paul. “They wanted +to cover a big area.” + +“Yes,” Jack went on. “And they probably have accomplices in many places. +Once the tickets were printed, they had to distribute them over a wide +territory. Boys, I think we’ve discovered a daring band of +ticket-counterfeiters.” + +“But where do they do their work—their printing?” asked Walter. + +“Why not in the cave?” asked Jack. “It would be the most natural place +around here.” + +“What’s the matter with looking in that shack where the auto came from?” +asked Paul, nodding back toward the field against a hill in which the +shed was built. + +“I was going to suggest that,” Jack went on. “Perhaps that is another +entrance to the same cave Cora found. Come on, we’ll have a look, +anyhow. We’ve got this for evidence, in any case,” and he held up the +bundle of tickets. + +“Are you sure they are bogus?” asked Paul. + +“Well, not positive, of course,” Jack said. “But you’d hardly find so +many kinds of railroad and theatrical tickets, the latter for a number +of different cities, all in one bundle unless something were wrong. I +put these fellows down as counterfeiters of tickets, and you’ll see I’m +right.” + +“Well, we’ll take a chance,” decided Walter. “Now what are we going to +do about getting Cora’s car back?” + +“We can’t do much right away,” said Jack. “But those fellows will come +back, I’m sure. Let’s explore a bit in that shack, and then we’ll go and +rip out that door in the secret passage.” + +The doors of the shack which stood against the hill in the big field +were fastened with a cheap padlock, and Jack, after a moment of +hesitation, smashed it with a stone. + +“Come on in, boys!” he called, swinging back the doors. + +“It’s as dark as pitch,” complained Walter. “Did any of you bring your +flash lamps?” + +“Left ’em at the bungalow,” Paul answered. “I have some matches though.” + +By the glimmer of one he struck, the boys saw that the shack was a sort +of vestibule to a cave, for a big hole extended under the side of the +hill. + +“Jack was right!” Walter exclaimed. “This is a cavern, and it looks to +be a good-sized one. I wish we had a light.” + +“Here’s a lantern,” said Paul, who had lighted another match. “We’ll +explore a bit.” + +By the greater light of the lantern, which was found near the doors, the +boys saw that the cave was indeed a large one, extending well back under +the hill. They went in cautiously at first, not knowing what they might +find, or what hidden pitfalls might lie in their path. + +“Look!” exclaimed Jack, pointing to several boxes lying about. “They +must have been doing, or else are getting ready to do, lots of business. +Those boxes contain paper and cardboard by the looks and marks on them. +And now——” + +“Hark!” exclaimed Paul in a whisper. They all listened. From somewhere +far back in the cave came a dull, rumbling, vibrating noise, and the +ground faintly trembled. + +“There it is again!” said Walter—“that strange noise. Now we’ll find out +what it is. Come on.” + +He started forward, the others following, Paul in the rear with the +lantern, for it had a reflector on and gave better light when carried +behind the boys. + +“Wait a minute!” cautioned Jack. “I don’t seem to hear that noise now. +It’s stopped.” + +“So it has,” concurred Paul. + +They listened intently, then Jack said: + +“I hear another sound, though. It’s behind us, toward the mouth of the +cave. Boys, it’s those fellows coming back. Out with that light, Paul. +We’ll hide in here and surprise them. Quick! Down behind some of these +boxes!” + +Paul extinguished the lantern, and he and his companions sought places +of concealment. They could now plainly hear footsteps approaching, while +they also distinguished the murmur of excited voices. + +Meanwhile, another part of the strange mystery was being enacted with +the girls as principal characters. They had entered farther into the +secret passage, beyond the queer swinging door which had closed after +them. + +“We’re caught!” cried Belle. “Oh, Cora!” + +“Perhaps not,” said Jack’s sister. “If that door opened once for us it +will do it again. But don’t go back. Come on. We must see what is ahead +of us. The boys will laugh if they hear we turned back when we had such +a good opportunity.” + +“Well, they shan’t laugh at _me_!” declared Hazel. “I’m with you, Cora.” + +“And you may be sure we’re not going to be left alone,” cried Bess. +“Come on, Belle!” + +The latter hesitated a moment, looked back at the closed door, and then +went forward. Their lamps made the place fairly light, and they could +see that the passage was planked here as it had been nearer the +bungalow. + +They had gone on perhaps fifty paces more and were wondering when the +queer tunnel would come to an end, when Cora, who was walking in advance +with Hazel, put her hand on her companion’s arm, and cried: + +“Do you hear it?” + +“Hear what?” + +“That strange, rumbling, trembling noise. Don’t you _feel_ it?” + +“Yes! Yes!” cried Belle. “Oh, what is it?” + +There was no doubt of the noise. It seemed to fill the whole passage +with a dull, rumbling roar, and the ground vibrated and trembled. + +“Come on!” cried Cora, resolutely. “It’s just ahead of us. We will solve +the mystery now!” + +Willing or unwilling, Belle, Bess and Hazel followed their leader. With +their electric lights showing the way the girls pressed forward. +Suddenly the passage turned, and, making that turn, the girls came upon +a strange sight. + +Before them was an open door, which gave entrance to a large cave with +rocky sides and roof. Vaulted and large the cave was, and from long +wires fastened somewhere in the roof hung a number of incandescent +lights. In the cave the girls saw several queer machines, and Cora, at +least, recognized more than one of them as printing presses. A gasoline +engine was throbbing away in one corner, and it was this, Cora decided, +which made the rumbling, the throbbing and trembling vibrations. + +Hardly realizing what they were doing, the girls walked forward, and, +passing through the open door, entered the cave which widened out at the +end of the secret passage. + +“What—what does it all mean?” asked Bess. + +Low as her voice was it seemed to awaken strange echoes in the vaulted +cave. And at the sound of it something stirred in one corner. From a +pile of boxes something arose—a something that resolved itself into an +old man with white hair and a long, white beard. He peered from beneath +his bushy white eyebrows, with piercing eyes at the startled girls, and +from his throat came a guttural cry. + +“Ah, ha! Police spies—four of ’em!” he snarled. “I thought we’d be found +out!” + +With surprising quickness in one seemingly so aged the man slipped +behind the girls. They turned, fearing an attack, but they need have had +no alarm on that score. With a quick motion the old man closed and +locked the door through which they had come. + +“Now you’re here—you’ll stay!” he rasped out. “On guard here, Bombee! +Hist! Watch ’em!” + +And, as he called, a raw-boned, half-witted boy shuffled forward, and +squatted, with a horrible grin, in front of the terrified girl +prisoners. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX—TO THE RESCUE + + +Jack and his two chums, waiting in the dark of the cave, wondered who it +was approaching. They had guessed it would prove to be the two men who +had gone down the road shortly before in Cora’s car, but this was only a +guess. And whether these two were the same men who had first taken the +machine was, of course, only a conjecture. + +“What’ll we do, Jack?” whispered Paul, from behind a barrel where he was +crouching. “Jump out on ’em?” + +“No,” was the answer. “Not at first. Let’s see what their game is and +then we’ll have better evidence against them. Just lie low and wait.” + +“Here they come!” cautioned Walter. + +The sound of the footsteps and of the voices was nearer now, and +presently the boys saw the glimmering reflection of light on the rocky +and dirt sides of the cave. + +“We’ve got to work lively!” said a man’s voice. “Those campers are +beginning to suspect there’s something wrong. We’ll have to clear out, +bag and baggage, presses, engine and everything.” + +“That’s right,” added another. “Lucky we have the car. We can take most +of the stuff in that if we have time, and set it up somewhere else. This +graft is too good to give up.” + +“Where’ll we take it?” a third voice asked, and the boys, who could not +see the speakers, wondered how many of them there were. + +“Oh, we can stow it away at——” began the man who had spoken first when +there came an interruption from his companion. + +“No names!” he cautioned. + +“Who’s to hear?” + +“You can’t tell. Since those boys opened up the floor of the bungalow, +there’s no telling what might have happened. Besides, I don’t want old +Jason to know where we are going. I’m going to get rid of him; he’s more +trouble than help.” + +“Especially with that horrible boy of his,” some one said. “Ugh! I can’t +bear the creature!” + +“Still he’s been useful. He did the tricks all right. But it was a +mistake to go to the bungalow. That’s caused all the trouble. We should +have stuck to this end of the cave.” + +“We had to have an emergency exit,” declared one of the men, “and the +bungalow was the best.” + +“Yes, until these campers came. Now that jig is up.” + +“Yes, the whole business is up, I’m afraid. Well, let’s see what we can +get out now before we’re found.” + +Jack and his chums could hear the men moving about boxes and barrels. +They seemed to be taking them outside. What was in the packages the boys +could only guess. And Jack was wondering what he and his companions +could do if the men in the cave should suddenly discover the presence of +the intruders. + +Jack peered out from behind his barrel and had a glimpse of a man moving +about in the light of a lantern the criminals had brought into the cave +with them. But the man’s legs alone were visible and Jack could form +very little idea from them of how the man looked. + +“Isn’t this enough for one load?” asked one of the men. “We don’t want a +breakdown.” + +“Oh, that machine will carry more,” declared another. “We did a fine +stroke when we picked that up. I wonder if those girls have an idea +where their car went to?” + +“They’ll have one soon,” thought Jack, gritting his teeth. “The nerve of +you!” + +“Let’s go back and get that little numbering press,” suggested a man. +“It’s too valuable to leave, and it won’t take up much room. Come on, +and pick up what we can. The fewer trips we make, the better it will be +for us. Come on.” + +The light flickered and the footsteps of the men died away. + +“I say Jack!” called Walter, after a moment’s pause. + +“Yes, what is it?” + +“What’s the matter with our going outside and getting Cora’s auto now. +It’s got a lot of their stuff in it that will be fine for evidence +against them. It’s our best chance—just slip out now and get Cora’s +car.” + +“That’s right,” agreed Paul. “If we let them get away with it again we +may never see it.” + +“All right,” agreed Jack. “You two go out and capture the car. Do +whatever you think best about it. I’ll stay here and follow the men when +they come out. If they have some of their machinery that will be +additional evidence against them. Go ahead.” + +Paul and Walter hurried out, leaving Jack alone in the dark cave. They +left him the lantern, saying they could find their way out by means of +matches. Jack felt a little apprehensive as he was left alone, knowing +that at least three men, who might prove desperate criminals, were in +the cave with him. And if they discovered him, and knew that he was one +of those working against them—well, Jack did not altogether like to +speculate on what might follow. + +Those seeking to solve the mystery were now divided into three parties. +There was Jack, alone in the cave, waiting for the return of the three +men. Walter and Paul were on their way outside to get the automobile. +While Cora and her chums were prisoners of the old man and his imbecile +son. + +Walter and Paul reached the outer end of the cave without incident, and +just without the wooden shack found Cora’s car standing unguarded and +well-laden with packages and some small bits of machinery. + +“Caught with the goods!” chuckled Paul. “This game is coming right into +our hands now. What shall we do?” + +“Drive the car as near to the bungalow as we can,” decided Walter. “The +girls will be anxious about us, anyhow. We can leave the car with Mr. +Floyd and then come back to Jack.” + +A quick examination showed that Cora’s car, though it had been sadly +misused, was in shape for running. It responded at once to the +self-starter and Walter and Paul were soon chugging down the road, +taking off the spoils of the ticket counterfeiters. + +“Camp Surprise ahoy!” called Walter as he ran the car as near as he +could to the bungalow. “Girls, where are you? We’ve got great news! +We’ve solved the mystery!” + +There was no answer to the hail, and Paul looked at his chum rather +apprehensively as they alighted. + +“They don’t seem to be here,” he said. + +“They must be,” Walter argued. “There’s Mrs. Floyd. We’ll ask her.” + +“Why, aren’t the girls in the bungalow?” asked the chaperon, +wonderingly. “I have been away a little while, and just got back. They +were here when I left.” + +A quick search through the bungalow failed, of course, to disclose the +presence of Cora and her chums. The entrance to the secret passage was +still open, but Walter, running down the steps, reported that the girls +were not there, and that the blocking door was closed. + +“But we’ll soon have it open,” he said. “We have permission from Mr. +Haight to tear down the obstruction.” + +“Where is Mr. Kimball?” asked Mr. Floyd, who had been summoned by his +wife from a bungalow not far away, where he was making some repairs. + +“He’s up in the cave, keeping watch on the counterfeiters,” said Paul. +“It’s a great story!” + +Thereupon he and Walter gave a short account of the movements of +themselves and Jack up to the present. + +“But where are the girls?” asked Paul. “We must find them.” + +“Perhaps they went up to the cave Cora found,” suggested Walter. “Let’s +go there and look.” + +“First we’d better see if Jack doesn’t need help,” Paul said. “I guess +the girls know enough to keep out of danger, and it’s daylight yet. +We’ll go to Jack.” + +“I’ll take charge here,” said Mr. Floyd. “I’ve got a man working with me +at the other bungalow, and he and I will stand guard over the auto. When +you come back, if the girls haven’t returned, we’ll go after them.” + +This plan was deemed the best to follow, and Paul and Walter hastened +back on foot to the cave where they had left Jack. + +Cora and her friends, made prisoners in the cave by the old man and his +horrible, grinning, half-witted helper, felt faint and sick as they +realized what might be the outcome. For a moment none of them spoke. The +old man laughed, showing his blackened teeth—a strange contrast to his +white beard—and then he chuckled: + +“Police spies; eh? Come to catch the old man! But he was too smart for +ye; wasn’t he? He caught you; didn’t he?” + +“What do you mean by locking us in?” demanded Cora. “Open that door at +once and let us go!” + +“And call away that—that horrid idiot!” half-sobbed Belle. “If he +catches hold of me——” + +“Oh, Bombee won’t hurt you; will you, Bombee?” said the old man, patting +the half-witted youth on the head. “That is, he won’t if you do as I +say, and don’t try to run. Bombee’s like a dog. He’s my pet, so he is. +Hi, Bombee! Do a trick for the ladies!” + +The idiot gave a shrill cry, bounded up on a box and stood on his head, +his legs kicking in the air. + +“See!” chuckled the old man. “Bombee minds me. If I was to tell him to +bite you he would, but I won’t tell him.” + +“You let us go!” demanded Cora, her thoughts in a whirl with the strange +ideas that came to her mind. + +“I didn’t ask you to come here,” snapped the old man. “And them as comes +uninvited must stay until they’re let go. Ye can’t go out and bring in +the police.” + +“But if—if we promise not to tell the police?” faltered Bess. + +“I wouldn’t trust you,” snarled the old man. + +“Then there must be something here about which you are afraid,” said +Cora, boldly. “Why do you fear the police?” + +The man gave her a sharp glance. + +“Never you mind that,” he said. “When the others come I’ll know what to +do with you. I’ll make you——” + +He paused and seemed to be listening. At the same time the idiot gave a +whimpering cry. + +“Some one’s coming!” snarled the old man. “The police, maybe. You’ve +sent ’em. But they won’t find you. Quick, Bombee—the secret room—open +the door!” + +The half-witted creature bounded forward, and caught up a club. Bess +screamed, fearing the fellow was going to attack them. But the idiot +merely put the stick in a hole in the wall, and pressed on the lever +with all his might. A heavy plank door swung out, revealing a black +room. + +“Into that with you!” cried the old man. + +“No!” screamed Cora. + +“In there with you or I’ll——” + +He looked so terrible, and made such a threatening gesture, and the +half-witted youth seemed so ready to do his master’s bidding that the +girls shrank back from the claw-like hands of the old man, and fairly +ran into the secret room opened by the helper. Once inside they heard +the door close after them. + +“Oh!” gasped Belle. “This is terrible, Cora! What shall we do?” + +“Keep quiet a minute. Let me think. Oh, oh!” + +Hazel flashed on her light. + +“Thank heaven for that!” moaned Belle. “We can at least see.” + +The girls looked quickly about them. The light showed them that they +were in some sort of office. There were desks and chairs in it, and on +the desk were a number of papers, while innumerable tickets were +scattered about. The girls attached no significance to them at first. +There was an incandescent lamp swinging above the desk, and Cora turned +the black key. At once there was light, showing that the gasoline +engine, the rumble of which could still be heard, operated a small +dynamo. + +“Oh, what shall we do?” gasped Bess. + +“Listen!” whispered Cora. + +From the cave outside came the murmur of excited and angry voices. There +followed sounds of great activity, as if boxes and barrels were being +moved about. Once or twice came a snarl from the idiot, and the +commanding voice of the old man. The other voices the girls could not +recognize. + +“I’m going to call for help,” said Cora. “That may be the boys come to +rescue us. Come on, girls! We’ll all shriek!” + +This they did, uniting their shrill voices in an appeal for help. Cora +caught up a paper-weight from the desk and hammered on the door of their +prison. But neither their calls nor the pounding brought an answer. The +noise in the outer cave continued. The men seemed to be quarreling among +themselves now. + +Then came silence. The girls called again but with no result. They +listened. Not a sound came from beyond the door. + +“What has happened?” asked Bess. + +“I can’t even guess,” Cora said. “But don’t worry. We’ll get out of here +some time. Meanwhile, let’s see if we can by any means open the door.” + +Events were now happening in several different places—events connected +with the boys and the counterfeiters. + +Jack was waiting in his hiding place, wondering what would next take +place, and he was getting rather tired of his cramped position, when he +heard footsteps coming back. + +“Here’s where I do a sleuthing act and follow them,” he decided. But he +was hardly prepared for what followed. The footsteps broke into a run, +and there were excited voices calling one to another. There was the +crash of falling boxes, and above everything came a strange unearthly +yell, like that of some animal in pain. + +“What in the world——” began Jack. + +There was a rush of several bodies past his hiding place. Jack looked up +over the head of the barrel in time to see four men, one carrying a +lantern, dash along the cave, and behind them came another with +abnormally long arms. + +Pausing a moment to allow the fleeing ones to get a little ahead, Jack +followed. His brain was excitedly thinking. + +“There’ll be a grand ruction in a minute,” Jack chuckled to himself. +“Things will happen with a vengeance.” + +He heard cries of rage from the shack at the mouth of the cave. +Advancing into it, but keeping himself concealed, Jack peered out. He +noted that the automobile was gone, and from the absence of Paul and +Walter he argued that they had driven away in it. + +The talk of the men confirmed this. + +“They’ve dished us!” exclaimed one, angrily. + +“The car’s gone!” faltered another. “We were too slow!” + +“What are we going to do?” asked a third. + +“Cut and run for it!” some one answered. “The game is up. Scatter, and +we’ll meet again, later. Lively’s the word!” + +Jack looked out to see the two men he and his chums had observed before, +with a third one, start for the wooded slope of the mountain. Then he +saw the old man and the half-witted helper. + +“Wait—wait for me!” pleaded the aged one. “I can’t run fast, I’m all +crippled with rheumatism! Wait!” + +“We can’t wait. Look out for yourself,” one man flung back unfeelingly +over his shoulder. “It’s every one for himself.” + +“Ah! desert me, would you!” cried the old man, shaking his fist at the +fleeing ones. “But I’ll get even with you. Old Jason will get even! I’ll +let the girls out of the cave, and tell them the whole story! I’ll let +the girls out of the secret room in the cave!” + +Jack had been in two minds whether to advance and speak to the old man, +or follow the fleeing ones, but as he heard these words he knew +something else now called for his attention. + +“The girls in the cave!” he murmured. “It must be Cora and the others he +means. They must have gone into the cave while we were in town. I’ve got +to rescue them. Let the men go! I must help the girls.” + +Catching up his lantern, Jack dashed back into the dark cavern. + +“I’m coming, girls! I’m coming!” he cried. “To the rescue!” + + + + +CHAPTER XXX—ALL’S WELL + + +Walter and Paul, hurrying to aid Jack, whom they had left in the cave, +came in sight of the shack just as the old man and his helper were +turning back into it. The two boys did not glimpse the three fleeing men +who had by this time disappeared among the trees. + +“Look—look at that!” gasped Paul, rubbing his eyes. “Am I dreaming, +Wally, or is that an ape or a human being?” + +“It’s real enough—some sort of a crazy chap, I should say. But what’s he +doing?” + +“Calling down the vengeance of heaven, I guess,” observed Paul, for they +saw the old man shaking his fist in the air. + +“Hurry up and we’ll speak to him,” urged Walter. “Somehow I think he’s +part of the mystery.” + +They reached the old man just as he was turning back into the shack. He +did not seem greatly surprised to see them. + +“Will that—er—fellow hurt us?” asked Walter. + +“Not unless I tell him to. Are you the police?” + +“No, but we can get them if you wish,” said Walter. “We are after the +ticket counterfeiters,” he added shrewdly. “We have recovered the stolen +auto, and a lot of the stuff is in our possession. Now if you——” + +“Yes, I’ll give up. I’m too old to run away. They deserted me, and I’ll +tell all I know. I’m getting tired of it anyhow. Being a criminal +doesn’t pay. I’ll give up. Come on back and I’ll let out the girls. I’m +sorry I locked them in, but I thought there was a chance to escape. I +didn’t hurt them.” + +“Girls! What girls?” gasped Walter. + +“Well, I guess likely they’re of your party—from the bungalow,” said the +old man, from whom all the spirit of rage and fighting seemed to have +gone. “They’re in the secret room of the cave. Come on, Bombee, we’ll +let them out.” + +Wondering what it all meant, Walter and Paul followed the old man back +into the cave. He seemed to know his way in the dark, though Walter had +brought an extra flashlight from the bungalow, and now switched this on. + +A little later the two boys, with the old man and the half-witted +helper, entered the main cave where they found Jack running about half +wild with excitement. He was shouting, and muffled cries—the voices of +the girls—came in answer. + +“Jack! You here!” cried Walter. + +“Yes, and the girls are here too, but I can’t locate them, though I can +hear them. They’re locked in some secret room. We must find it.” + +“I’ll let them out,” said the old man. “I locked them in. Hi, Bombee, +open the door.” + +Once more the powerful helper took up the wooden club, or lever. He +inserted it in the opening and the plank door, which could not, at first +glance, be told from part of the cave sheathing, swung open. Then, +tearful and disheveled from their efforts to escape, out rushed the +girls. + +“Oh Jack!” + +“Oh Paul!” + +“Oh Walter!” + +Thus they gasped, the two girls seeking refuge in their brothers’ arms, +while Belle and Bess clung to one another. + +“Oh, that horrible man!” gasped Belle. + +“Bombee won’t hurt you,” said the old man, humbly. “And I ask your +pardon. I had to do what I thought best, but it is all over now. I give +up!” + +“Let’s get out of this terrible place,” begged Cora. + +“Come on, then,” returned Jack. “Why, it’s a regular underground +printing shop,” he added as he looked around. “Here’s where they made +the counterfeit tickets.” + +“Yes, this is the place,” confessed the old man. “You have found our +secret.” + +Walter and Paul started to go out of the cave the way they had come in. + +“There is a shorter way,” said the old man. “It leads to your bungalow.” + +“But that door is shut,” said Cora. “It shut after us.” + +“Bombee can open it,” was his reply. “He knows the secret as well as I. +Come. It opens easily.” + +He led the way back along the passage through which Cora and her chums +had lately come, first unlocking the door which he had closed after +them. When they came to the cement obstruction, the helper pressed on a +certain place, and it swung to one side. A little later the entire party +was in the bungalow, to the great surprise of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd. The +caretakers looked in astonishment at the old man and his assistant. + +“Well, now let’s have some explanations,” suggested Walter. + +“Did you get the auto?” asked Jack. + +“Yes, and a whole lot of tickets and other stuff,” Paul said. + +“My auto?” asked Cora. + +“Yes, we have it back for you,” answered Walter. “And before we lose any +more time we had better get the police after those three men.” + +“I’ll go into town,” offered Mr. Floyd. “And about him?” he nodded to +the man the counterfeiters had called Jason. + +“Oh, I’ll give myself up,” the old man said. “Old Jason is tired of the +game. Lock me up whenever you wish,” he seemed very tired and weary. “I +won’t run away. I’ll stay with Bombee.” + +A little later the authorities took charge of matters, entering the cave +and taking possession of a very complete though small printing plant, +and numberless bogus tickets. Constables were sent to look for the three +men. The old man was arrested and taken to jail, and Bombee, his son, +who would not be separated from him, went with him. But before Jason was +taken away, he told enough to make the mystery clear. + +He was an expert printer, it seemed, and had fallen in with a band of +men who planned to flood the country with bogus railroad and theatrical +tickets. They had set up their plant in the cave, the existence of which +they had learned by accident and kept secret. + +There were three entrances to the cave. One was in the side of the hill, +where the men had put up a shack in order to conceal the opening. The +second was the one discovered by accident by Cora. This was not used, +being too small. And the third was through the bungalow and the passage. + +This passage, the secret sliding door in the floor, and the cement door +that blocked the passage (it developed later) had been constructed by +the actor who formerly owned the bungalow. Just what his object was no +one knew, but his unbalanced mind probably built a romance about the +great dark hole. The cave was then used for nothing, but it admirably +suited the purposes of the ticket men who fitted it up as they wished. + +To it they brought their machinery and began issuing tickets, Jason, +aided by the half-witted Bombee, doing the printing, while the others +distributed the product. It was the rumble and clank of the gasoline +engine and presses that made the queer trembling sounds heard by the +girls and boys. The rocky cave acted as a sort of telephone, or sound +box, and sometimes the noises would be louder than others. The fact that +the engine stood on a strata of rock upon which the bungalow was +constructed accounted for the trembling and vibration of the building. + +“We did the printing when you folks were away from the bungalow at most +times,” said old Jason. “We found out when you were gone by means of the +secret passage. But sometimes we had to work on a rush order when you +were on hand.” + +“Then is when we heard the noise,” said Jack. + +“But who upset the furniture, and took our things?” asked Cora. + +“Oh, that was Bombee,” said the old man. “I could not always watch him, +and he would slip away, open the secret door of the passage and get up +into the bungalow through the floor. He is very mischievous, but gentle. +He likes to upset chairs and tables. He used to do that trick, among +others, in a theatre where he used to show as a human ape. He didn’t +look unlike an ape, you see.” + +“He took your ribbons and things, too. They are in the cave. I thought +they came from your bungalow, but I did not dare return them. Once he +brought in a flashlight.” + +“That was the time we saw the queer, dancing beams upstairs and down,” +said Hazel. + +Before our friends had occupied the bungalow, Bombee had been up to his +tricks. He had upset the furniture, giving rise to the strange stories +about Camp Surprise, and he it was who had taken the silver, having a +love of bright things. He would slip out of the cave, open the passage +door (having seen Jason operate the mechanism), get into the bungalow by +means of the opening in the floor, upset the furniture and then run out +through the passage again, closing the doors after him, so there was +nothing to show how any intruder had gotten in and out. + +It was learned that the time the boys and girls saw the two men at the +tumbled-down old house, that the counterfeiters had gone there to meet +some persons to whom they gave bogus tickets to dispose of. The men +probably realized that our friends were on their trail and fled. The +taking of Cora’s car had been done on the spur of the moment, the need +of some means of getting quickly about the country to dispose of the +tickets being pressing. + +The crash heard in the night, which caused the floor to be taken up, was +caused by one of the men dropping a box of tickets. He was storing it in +the passage near the secret door. Occasionally, when the bungalow was +not occupied, the men used it, and it was in this way that the big, +half-witted youth learned to find his way there. + +“Well, I guess that ends the surprises of this camp,” said Cora, as the +officers took Jason away. “Now we can enjoy our stay here.” + +And the surprises were indeed over. The secret door in the floor was +closed, and fastened, the mechanism having been broken. After the +printing apparatus had been taken out our boys and girls, and many +others inspected the cave. It was a large and curious place, and the +criminals had made it their living and hiding place for some time. + +Though a diligent effort was made to capture the three men, they were +not apprehended, and in view of his confession Jason was given only a +light sentence. + +Cora’s recovered car was put in good order and used some, though the +mountain roads were not very good for automobile riding. + +“And now for some glorious times!” cried Bess one day, about a week +after the mystery had been cleared up. “Boys, we’ll give you——” + +“A big chicken dinner!” interrupted Jack. “That’s what we want.” + +“Well, you deserve it,” said Cora, “for the clever way you laid your +plans.” + +“You girls were a bit clever too, getting into the cave by the secret +door while we were off in town telephoning,” said Walter. “We give you +the credit for that.” + +“Everything came out all right all around,” remarked Hazel. “But, oh! we +were scared stiff for a while.” + +“I should say so!” ejaculated Belle. “That horrible old man and his +awful son!” + +“Well, all’s well that ends well,” said Bess. “And I have a whole box of +chocolates to go with the chicken dinner.” + +“Marvelous—a whole box!” echoed Cora. “How did she ever manage it, +girls?” + +The chicken dinner was voted a great success. By this time the summer +season was in full swing, and many cottages and bungalows in Mountain +View were occupied. Cora and her friends entered with zest into the +jolly life, and they were the recipients of much attention, for the +story of Camp Surprise had been told in many papers. + +“But it’s nicer not to hear queer noises and see strange lights,” said +Cora. “And it’s a relief to come in and find the furniture the way you +left it.” And the others agreed with her. + +“Will we ever have another time like this?” asked Belle. + +“Perhaps. Who knows?” returned Cora. And leaving that question to be +settled later we will say good-bye to the Motor Girls. + + + THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Motor Girls at Camp Surprise, by +Margaret Penrose + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR GIRLS AT CAMP SURPRISE *** + +***** This file should be named 36426-0.txt or 36426-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/4/2/36426/ + +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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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/36426-0.zip b/36426-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7da0c42 --- /dev/null +++ b/36426-0.zip diff --git a/36426-h.zip b/36426-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8acf562 --- /dev/null +++ b/36426-h.zip diff --git a/36426-h/36426-h.htm b/36426-h/36426-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c358b03 --- /dev/null +++ b/36426-h/36426-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11708 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" > +<head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> + <meta content="The Motor Girls at Camp Surprise" name="DC.Title"/> + <meta content="Margaret Penrose" name="DC.Creator"/> + <meta content="en" name="DC.Language"/> + <meta content="1917" name="DC.Created"/> + <meta name="generator" content="ppgen (1.13) generated Jun 13, 2011 09:58 PM" /> + <title>The Motor Girls at Camp Surprise</title> + <style type="text/css"> + body {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%;} + p {margin-top:1ex; margin-bottom:0; text-align:justify;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size:x-small; text-align:right; text-indent:0; + position:absolute; right:2%; padding:1px 3px; font-style:normal; + font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration:none; + background-color:inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color:silver;} + h1 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal;} + h2 {text-align:left; font-weight:normal;} + h1 {font-size:1.4em; margin-top:4em; margin-bottom:2em;} + h2 {font-size:1.2em; margin-top:4em; margin-bottom:2em;} + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none; border-top:thin dashed silver; clear:both;} + .sc {font-variant: small-caps;} + .center {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; text-align:center;} + .larger {font-size:larger;} + .smaller {font-size:smaller;} + table.c {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + div.center p {margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;} + div.center>:first-child {margin: .5em auto 0 auto;text-align:center;} + </style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Motor Girls at Camp Surprise, 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 at Camp Surprise + The Cave in the Mountains + +Author: Margaret Penrose + +Release Date: June 14, 2011 [EBook #36426] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR GIRLS AT CAMP SURPRISE *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:1.4em;'>THE MOTOR GIRLS</span></p> +<p><span style='font-size:1.4em;'>AT CAMP SURPRISE</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>Or</p> +<p> </p> +<p>The Cave in the Mountains</p> +<p> </p> +<p>BY</p> +<p> </p> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;'>Margaret Penrose</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>The</span></p> +<p>GOLDSMITH</p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>Publishing Co.</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>CLEVELAND OHIO</p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>MADE IN THE U.S.A.</span></p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;'>CONTENTS</span></p> +</div> +<table class='c' summary='table of contents'> +<tr><td style='font-size:smaller'>CHAPTER</td><td></td><td style='font-size:smaller'>PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>I.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>An Unpleasant Awakening</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chI'>1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>II.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Lost Trail</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chII'>10</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>III.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Two Strange Men</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chIII'>18</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>IV.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Curious Story</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chIV'>26</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>V.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Counterfeit Tickets</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chV'>34</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>VI.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Off to Camp</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chVI'>42</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>VII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Jack’s Bath</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chVII'>50</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>VIII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Storm</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chVIII'>58</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>IX.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Tied Up</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chIX'>67</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>X.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Night Ride</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chX'>74</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XI.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>In Camp Surprise</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXI'>83</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Disappointment</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXII'>90</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XIII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>That Noise</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXIII'>98</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XIV.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Was It Thunder?</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXIV'>108</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XV.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Narrow Escape</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXV'>115</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XVI.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Lost</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXVI'>122</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XVII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Two Men</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXVII'>131</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XVIII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Real Surprises</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXVIII'>138</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XIX.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Where’s My Light?</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXIX'>147</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XX.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>More Happenings</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXX'>158</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XXI.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Dancing Light</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXXI'>163</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XXII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Mountain Cave</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXXII'>170</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XXIII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Trembling Noise</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXXIII'>178</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XXIV.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Secret Passage</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXXIV'>184</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XXV.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Patched Tire</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXXV'>191</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XXVI.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Dropped Bundle</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXXVI'>200</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XXVII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Girls’ Discovery</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXXVII'>207</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XXVIII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Prisoners</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXXVIII'>214</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XXIX.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>To the Rescue</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXXIX'>222</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XXX.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>All’s Well</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXXX'>235</a></td></tr> +</table> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<h1><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_1'></a>1</span>The Motor Girls at Camp Surprise</h1> +<h2><a name='chI' id='chI'></a>CHAPTER I—AN UNPLEASANT AWAKENING</h2> +<p> +“Look where you are steering, Cora Kimball! +You nearly ran over a chicken that time.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, and avoiding the chicken on that side, you +nearly hit a child on this side. Such a dear little +boy—or was it a girl? I never can tell when +they’re so young.” +</p> +<p> +“Two misses are as good as two miles,” misquoted +the bronzed girl at the wheel of the automobile, +as she straightened the car on the long, +shaded road, where the trees met in a green archway +overhead, and where the golden shadows flitted +in the dust like so many little chickens running +to cover, away from the fat-tired wheels. +</p> +<p> +“Why are you in such a hurry, Cora?” asked +Bess Robinson, as she tucked back a straying lock +of brown hair. “It’s too perfect a day to do anything +in a hurry—even run a car.” +</p> +<p> +“Bess doesn’t believe in doing <em>anything</em> in a hurry,” +lazily droned her sister Belle, from the rear +seat. “That’s why she’s so fat.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_2'></a>2</span> +</p> +<p> +“Don’t dare use that objectionable word!” +stormed Bess, turning about so suddenly that she +sent Cora’s elbow against the plunger of the horn, +thereby producing a sudden blast. +</p> +<p> +“Oh!” exclaimed Bess. “Did we run into something +again?” +</p> +<p> +“Again?” demanded Cora. “Come, I like that—not! +We haven’t run into <em>anything</em> yet.” +</p> +<p> +“That chicken,” murmured Belle, even more +lazily. “Yes?” +</p> +<p> +“Was a good fifty feet out of danger!” declared +Cora indignantly. +</p> +<p> +“And what of the child?” +</p> +<p> +“That never <em>was</em> in danger. I didn’t see him—her +or it—until we had passed. But the child—gender +unknown—was playing in the dust beside +the road. Queer how mothers can let them.” +</p> +<p> +“Probably the mother didn’t know a thing about +it,” said Bess, who had discovered that she was +the sole cause of the needless alarm in regard to +the horn’s blast. “One can’t be always on the +lookout.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t start a discussion,” begged Cora, as a +backward glance showed some signs of Belle’s +stirring up sufficiently to refute her sister’s +remarks. “It’s too hot.” +</p> +<p> +“It is when you slow down,” observed Bess. +“But the breeze is perfectly fascinating when you +keep the car moving, Cora.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_3'></a>3</span> +</p> +<p> +“Well, I don’t intend to slow down right away. +Have you girls any particular desire to go to any +particular place?” +</p> +<p> +“Spare us all nerve-racking <em>particulars</em> on a day +like this,” entreated Belle, sliding down into a +more comfortable position in the big, cushioned +seat she occupied all alone. “It is so warm! Summer +is coming with a vengeance.” +</p> +<p> +“And it makes me wish we had set the date of +our departure for Camp Surprise a week or so +earlier,” remarked Cora. “I wonder if we could +arrange to go any sooner.” +</p> +<p> +“I could,” declared Bess. “I haven’t a thing +to do.” +</p> +<p> +“Except reduce,” put in her sister tantalizingly. +</p> +<p> +“Belle Robinson! If you don’t stop those mean, +insinuating remarks, I’ll—I’ll——” +</p> +<p> +“You won’t give me any more of those chocolates +you sneaked into your bag as we were coming +out,” finished Belle. “I saw you, and you +know what Dr. Blake told you would happen if +you didn’t stop eating sweets. You’ll get so——” +</p> +<p> +“These aren’t sweet!” interrupted Bess. +“They’re the bitter kind, and they’re delicious, too. +They have them so fresh at Gordon’s.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s a wonder she wouldn’t give us a chance to +decide for ourselves, instead of introducing expert +testimony on her own account,” laughed Cora. +“Come, Bess, out with them!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_4'></a>4</span> +</p> +<p> +“Certainly,” agreed the plump girl, with easy +grace. “I intended to share them all along, but it +was so warm——” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t say warm again!” drawled her sister. +“Your nose is as shiny now as a tin teakettle.” +</p> +<p> +“Belle Robinson! It is not!” +</p> +<p> +Instantly Bess had her little mirror and vanity +box in use, and a quick dab on her rather up-turned +nose did away with the condition complained of, +or at least alleged, by her sister. +</p> +<p> +“There, does that satisfy you?” she asked, turning +about for inspection, as Cora swung the big car +around a turn in the road. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I’m easily satisfied,” Belle murmured. +“What a perfectly gorgeous view!” she cried, as +she looked down from a height toward a village +that lay nestled in a green valley, girt around by a +winding, silvery river, glimpses of which could be +had now and then between the trees that lined the +shores. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, it is a good view,” agreed Cora, stopping +the car. “Cheerful Chelton looks even more amiable +and love-like than usual to-day. It’s cooler up +here, too. Now pass over those chocolates, Bess.” +</p> +<p> +“And watch her get more and more—well, I’ll +say plump—before your eyes, like that fat boy +Scott tells about,” laughed Belle. +</p> +<p> +“It wasn’t Scott’s fat boy. He was in Dickens,” +corrected Cora. “Nicholas Nickleby, I think.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5'></a>5</span> +</p> +<p> +“Pickwick Papers!” voiced Bess. “There! I +know something even if I am—plump. But, girls, +I have lost five pounds in the last month.” +</p> +<p> +“Not so’s you’d notice it,” murmured Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Cease! Cease and have done!” admonished +Cora. “How does that new one go—two slow +and one quick to the side and then——” +</p> +<p> +“Not slow at all!” interrupted Bess. “You’ve +got to follow through or you’ll slice the ball +and——” +</p> +<p> +“What in the world are you talking about?” +demanded Cora, her eyes opening wide. “Slice +the ball? What’s that in? The fox trot?” +</p> +<p> +“I was speaking of golf,” murmured Bess. +</p> +<p> +“She’s taken it up to—reduce,” whispered Belle. +</p> +<p> +“I thought you meant that new three-step we +tried the other night,” came from Cora. +</p> +<p> +“It’s too warm even to talk about dancing,” +declared Belle. “Really we must think of getting +away sooner. Do you think we could get that bungalow +at Camp Surprise earlier than we had +planned to take it, Cora?” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know. Mother made all the arrangements. +But I can find out. Do you really think +you’d like to go sooner?” +</p> +<p> +“I certainly do,” murmured plump Bess, who +seemed to feel the sudden summer heat more than +did Cora, or the more svelt Belle. “Oh, by the +way, Cora! why do they call it Camp Surprise?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_6'></a>6</span> +</p> +<p> +“I meant to ask that, too,” added Belle. “It’s +such an odd name.” +</p> +<p> +“And there’s an odd story connected with it,” +said Cora. “I’ll have to ask mother about it. +She merely mentioned it, and something else came +up so I forgot to get the particulars. I’ll find out +when we go back. But if you girls are really in +earnest about starting our summer vacation a little +earlier this year——” +</p> +<p> +“I most certainly am in earnest,” Bess said. +</p> +<p> +“And I,” added her sister. +</p> +<p> +“Then I’ll see what we can do,” went on the girl +at the wheel. “Oh dear! I wish I hadn’t eaten +those chocolates!” she exclaimed, making a wry +face. “I ought to have known better. Candy always +makes me thirsty, and I didn’t bring the +vacuum bottle.” +</p> +<p> +Belle sat up, carefully removed, with the tip of +her tongue, some brown chocolate stains from the +tips of her pink, well-manicured fingers and, looking +up and down the road, announced: +</p> +<p> +“That dear little tea room—Ye Olde Spinning +Wheel—is only about a mile farther on. Suppose +we go there? I’m dying for a cup of tea with +lemon in it.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, so am I!” added Bess. “They say lemon +is thinning.” +</p> +<p> +“Then you’d better have lemonade with a leaf +or two of tea in it,” said Belle. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7'></a>7</span> +</p> +<p> +“You—you——” spluttered Bess, drawing back +her hand in which nestled a chocolate. And then +her desire to throw it was overcome by her appetite +for the confection. +</p> +<p> +“Ye Olde Spinning Wheel,” repeated Cora. +“That sounds most enticing. We’ll go there, if +only to keep you two from bickering. What’s +gotten in you sisters to-day, I never saw you so on +each other’s nerves.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s the weather,” returned Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Let us hope so. Well, if you’ve admired the +view enough we’ll go on.” +</p> +<p> +They had come to a pause at the crest of a +shaded hill, and down below them lay the village +in which the three girls lived. Cheerful Chelton it +had been designated, and cheerful it was. +</p> +<p> +Cora, who had not stopped the engine, slipped +the clutch in after shifting the gear and the car +moved down the slope, gradually cutting off the +view of the town. +</p> +<p> +“What about the boys?” asked Bess, apropos +of nothing in particular. +</p> +<p> +“What boys?” demanded Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Ours, of course,” and Bess looked surprised +that any others should have been thought of. “I +mean your brother Jack, Walter Pennington and +Paul Hastings. Didn’t you say Paul was thinking +of going to camp with our boys, if they took the +little bungalow near ours at Camp Surprise?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8'></a>8</span> +</p> +<p> +“Yes, Paul is coming,” Cora said. +</p> +<p> +“Well, can the boys get away earlier if we do? +It won’t be any fun going there alone, particularly +if there’s a mystery about the place.” +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t say there was any mystery about the +place,” corrected Cora. “Though there may be. +Besides, we’re to have a chaperon, you know. Or +at least the caretaker and his wife live in Camp +Surprise, and I presume she will be a chaperon.” +</p> +<p> +“But it won’t be half the fun if the boys don’t +come along,” declared Belle. “They are so jolly, +and—er—well, you know what I mean,” she +finished a bit lamely. +</p> +<p> +“No need to explain at all,” said Cora cheerfully. +“It’s perfectly all right. If I go, that means +mother can close the house so much earlier. Jack +won’t stay there alone, I know, so he’s likely to +tag along.” +</p> +<p> +“And if Jack goes Walter will. I guess we can +count of making an earlier start on our vacation +than we contemplated,” said Bess. “It will be +lovely.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” Cora assented. +</p> +<p> +“There’s the tea room,” added Belle a little later +as the car came out on a long, level stretch of +road. “It’s a perfect dear of a place; isn’t it?” +</p> +<p> +“A regular gazelle,” agreed Cora mockingly. +</p> +<p> +She swung her machine into the parking place +provided, and a few minutes afterward the three +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9'></a>9</span> +girls were sitting at one of the wicker tables, in +wicker chairs, near a window which opened on a +vine-shaded porch, while electric fans hummed and +droned breezily and refreshingly behind them and +in front of them stood rose-tinted plates heaped +high with pale yellow cream, nestled alongside of +which were delicately browned macaroons. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, what a symphony of color!” murmured +Cora, as the white-capped, colored waitress set the +refreshments from off her mahogany-cretonne tray. +</p> +<p> +“If it tastes half as good as it looks,” murmured +Bess, “I’m going to have another plate, if I have +to roll twice my usual number of times before I go +to bed to-night.” +</p> +<p> +“It is good,” said Belle. “It’s delicious!” +</p> +<p> +“I could just sit here and—dream,” announced +Belle, as she closed her “effective” eyes, as Jack +Kimball had designated them. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, it is very soothing and restful,” agreed +her sister, who had been rendered sleepy by the +combination of heat, a refreshing meal and the +droning of the electric fans. +</p> +<p> +“I feel sleepy myself,” Cora confessed, closing +her eyes. +</p> +<p> +She opened them a moment later though, for a +cry from Belle brought her and Bess to a most +unpleasant awakening. +</p> +<p> +“Your car, Cora!” cried the slim Robinson twin. +“Some one is taking your auto!” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10'></a>10</span><a name='chII' id='chII'></a>CHAPTER II—THE LOST TRAIL</h2> +<p> +“My car! Some one taking my car!” repeated +Cora Kimball. “Who is it, Belle?” and she hurried +to the window from which the tall, willowy +Robinson twin was gazing toward the spot where +the auto had been left. +</p> +<p> +“Two young men. I saw them get in, and—there +they go! Out into the road! We must stop +them!” +</p> +<p> +Belle turned to make her exit, but her dress +caught on a chair, and as Cora and Bess were +behind her, they, too, were delayed. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, hurry!” begged Cora. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t tear my dress,” retorted Belle. +</p> +<p> +With a pull she loosed it from a splinter of the +wicker chair, and then made for the doorway, followed +by the other girls. +</p> +<p> +And while they are thus on their way to intercept +those who had taken Cora’s car I will devote +a few minutes to acquainting my new readers with +the characters and incidents that go to make the +previous volumes of this series. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11'></a>11</span> +</p> +<p> +“The Motor Girls,” was the title of the initial +book. In that we find Cora Kimball, the daughter +of a wealthy widow, with her brother Jack, living +in “Cheerful Chelton,” as it has been called, a village +on the Chelton river, in New England, not far +from the New York boundary. Cora and Jack +each had an automobile, but most of the adventures +took place in or about Cora’s car, in which +she and her two most intimate chums, the Robinson +twins—Bess and Belle—went for many a ride. +</p> +<p> +The Robinson girls were the daughters of Mr. +and Mrs. Perry Robinson, the former a rich railroad +man, and I think I have already sufficiently +indicated to you their characters. Bess was plump, +and Belle tall and willowy, inclined to indolence +which she imagined was graceful. Cora Kimball +was a leader, and where she went the Robinson +twins generally followed. +</p> +<p> +Jack Kimball, a student at Exmouth college, was +almost as much a chum of Cora’s as were her girl +friends, and the girls regarded Jack and his chums, +Walter Pennington and Paul Hastings, as their especial +retainers and vassals as the case demanded. +Paul’s sister Hazel, a sweet girl—if you know +what I mean—had been quite friendly with Cora +and her chums, until her removal to another city. +Hazel was expected for a visit to Cora soon, and, +as has been mentioned, Paul contemplated going +camping with the boys. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12'></a>12</span> +</p> +<p> +Soon after Cora secured her car the Robinson +twins induced their father to purchase one. The +Motor Girls, as they had come to be known, went +on a tour, in the course of which many things happened. +They had more adventures at Lookout +Beach, and also when they went through New England. +</p> +<p> +In succession Cora and her friends paid a visit +to Cedar Lake, down on the coast, and next they +spent a summer on Crystal Bay. They had there +a most delightful time, but perhaps not more so +than that told of in the book immediately preceding +this one. +</p> +<p> +That volume is named “The Motor Girls on +Waters Blue.” I forgot to mention that the girls, +after having served their apprenticeship, as it +were, in automobiles, had acquired a fine, large motor +boat. In this they had many good times, +though it was not this boat that figured largely on +the blue waters. When Mr. Robinson had been +called to Porto Rico on business he had taken his +daughters and Cora with him. +</p> +<p> +How the steamer on which Mr. Robinson sailed +to another island was endangered, how the <em>Tartar</em> +was chartered by Cora and her chums to look for +the shipwrecked ones, and how Inez Ralcanto, the +beautiful Spanish girl, and her father, a political +refugee, were aided—all this is set down in the +book preceding this present volume. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13'></a>13</span> +</p> +<p> +It was not until after many hardships and not a +little anxiety that matters were finally straightened +out, and our friends came back to Cheerful Chelton, +which had never seemed so homelike or so desirable, +Cora said, as after the exciting episodes in +what was practically a foreign land. +</p> +<p> +A fall and winter of gaiety had brought spring +and early summer, in which delightful time of the +year we now find our girl friends once more. +</p> +<p> +“It is gone! My car is gone!” exclaimed Cora, +as they ran out of the tea room. +</p> +<p> +“Of course it is!” declared Belle. “Didn’t I see +them take it!” +</p> +<p> +“Two young men, you say?” asked her sister. +</p> +<p> +“Yes. I didn’t see their faces, but I knew they +were young by the way they moved about—so +lively!” +</p> +<p> +“Say!” cried Cora, imbued by a sudden idea. +“Could they have been Jack and Walter?” +</p> +<p> +“Your brother?” asked Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Yes. I heard him say he was coming over in +this direction in his car. He and Walter might +have driven up, and, seeing my car and guessing +that we were inside, may have gone off in it just +for a joke.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s <em>possible</em>,” assented Belle. “Anything is +possible for Jack and Wally. But if they came +here they must have left their car near by. Turn +about is fair play—let’s annex theirs.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14'></a>14</span> +</p> +<p> +“Let’s find it first,” said Cora. +</p> +<p> +They hurried out to the road. A quick look up +and down showed no automobile in sight—not +even Cora’s. +</p> +<p> +“They must have speeded up,” murmured Belle. +“Oh! why weren’t we quicker?” +</p> +<p> +“It doesn’t amount to anything if those young +men were really Jack and Walter,” Cora said. +“But we can’t be sure of that; can we, Belle?” +</p> +<p> +“No, I can’t. I only had a glimpse of their +backs, and all backs look alike to me.” +</p> +<p> +“It can’t have been Jack,” declared Bess, “or +his car would be somewhere in sight. He wouldn’t +know we were in the tea room until he came up +close, and then there wouldn’t have been time to +run his car back.” +</p> +<p> +“You can’t tell what they would do,” said Cora. +“Come on, we’ll walk as far as the turn in the +road, and see what’s down there.” +</p> +<p> +“Hadn’t you better report your loss to the proprietor +of the tea room?” suggested Belle. “He +might send a man out to look for the machine.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t want to make too much fuss if it was +Jack and Walter,” Cora objected. “Let’s take a +look ourselves first.” +</p> +<p> +The girls hurried down the road, all their drowsiness +gone now. They were rather alarmed in +spite of the cool way in which Cora took it. +</p> +<p> +“It’s dreadfully warm walking,” complained +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15'></a>15</span> +Bess. “I shall have to have more cream after this +is over.” +</p> +<p> +“You can go back and wait for us,” suggested +Cora, “if you’re too——” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t dare say I’m too stout to keep on the +trail!” cried Bess. “I’ll never give up!” +</p> +<p> +They were almost at the turn when the honking +of an automobile horn warned them of the approach +of a car. +</p> +<p> +“There they come back!” cried Belle, in relieved +tones. +</p> +<p> +But a moment later, as a machine swung into +view around the curve, the girls saw that it was +not Cora’s. +</p> +<p> +“But it’s Jack and Walter!” cried the former’s +sister. “Wait! Stop!” she begged. “Jack—Wally—we’re +in trouble! Did you take our car?” +</p> +<p> +“Take your car?” repeated Jack, bringing his +machine to a stop with a screeching of brakes. +“What’s the joke?” +</p> +<p> +“It isn’t a joke at all!” declared Belle. “I saw +two young men making off with Cora’s car. At +first we thought it might be you and Wally.” +</p> +<p> +“Not guilty!” affirmed the latter, holding up a +protesting hand. +</p> +<p> +“Where did all this happen?” Jack wanted to +know. +</p> +<p> +“At the Spinning Wheel tea room. We stopped +there,” his sister informed him. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16'></a>16</span> +</p> +<p> +“Which way did they go?” asked Walter Pennington. +</p> +<p> +“Down this way,” Belle said, explaining what +she had seen, and how they had come along the +road thinking to meet the perpetrators of the joke. +</p> +<p> +“Come on, Wally!” cried Jack. “We’ll get after +those fellows. It may have been a joke, and, +again, it may not. No use taking any chances. +There have been several cars stolen around here +lately. Maybe there’s a regular organized gang. +Go on back to your tea and cakes, girls. We’ll +round up the villains. Ha! Ha!” and he struck a +theatrical attitude. +</p> +<p> +“We’ll wait at the tea room for you,” Cora +said. “You can trace my car in the dust, Jack, +by the tire-marks. There’s a big patch, where it +was vulcanized. It’s on the right forward wheel, +and it makes a mark like a big Z. Look for it.” +</p> +<p> +“I will, Sis. But there isn’t much chance. Too +many cars pass along this road to let the dust-marks +of any particular one stay in sight long. +But we’ll do the best we can.” +</p> +<p> +Jack backed and turned his car around, and was +soon off down the road in a clatter of exhausts, +while the three girls went back to Ye Olde Spinning +Wheel. +</p> +<p> +“Who do you suppose they could be—those two +fellows?” asked Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Haven’t the least idea,” her sister assured her. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17'></a>17</span> +</p> +<p> +“It couldn’t have been Paul Hastings, could it?” +</p> +<p> +“Of course not!” declared Cora. “Paul isn’t +given to playing such jokes. Besides, he’s in the +auto business you know, and he doesn’t believe in +taking chances with the cars of others. It may be +a joke, as Jack says, and some of our numerous +friends may have tried to scare us, or it may +be——” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t say your lovely car is really <em>stolen</em>!” interrupted +Bess, impulsively. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I’d have to say it if it were,” declared +the practical Cora. “And the sooner we find out +the better, in order to get the police after the +thieves.” +</p> +<p> +Wearily they trudged back to the tea room, +which they had left so suddenly. +</p> +<p> +“Let’s have some more ice cream while we’re +waiting,” suggested Bess. +</p> +<p> +They had nearly finished their second plates +when the honking of a horn warned them of the +approach of some one. Eagerly they looked out +to see Jack and Walter returning. +</p> +<p> +“We lost the trail!” Jack called. “I saw the +tire marks, Cora, for a little way, then they disappeared. +We’ll have to notify the police. Your +car’s stolen all right.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Jack!” +</p> +<p> +“Might as well realize it first as last, Sis! +Where’s a telephone?” he asked the waitress. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18'></a>18</span><a name='chIII' id='chIII'></a>CHAPTER III—TWO STRANGE MEN</h2> +<p> +“What are you going to do, Jack?” asked +Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Notify the Chelton police, and also the authorities +here. They will send out a general alarm +better than we can. Now who saw these chaps, +and how did they look?” +</p> +<p> +“Belle saw them.” +</p> +<p> +“Then, Belle, I’ll have to call on your detective +abilities. Describe these villainous characters.” +</p> +<p> +“I wouldn’t call them particularly villainous +looking,” said the tall girl. “In fact we thought +for a time it was you two, and——” +</p> +<p> +“I see,” interrupted Walter. “Belle, I thank +you for your good opinion.” +</p> +<p> +“Come on, get down to business!” exclaimed +Jack Kimball. “I want to know how these fellows +looked so I can tell the police. Were they young +or old?” +</p> +<p> +“Two young men,” answered Belle. “They +were about your age, Jack.” +</p> +<p> +“But, unfortunately, they did not have his angelic +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19'></a>19</span> +disposition,” mocked Walter. “Bouquets are +coming your way fast, Jack.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll dispense with them. Come on now, Belle. +Anything else except that they were young?” +</p> +<p> +Belle thought for a moment. She had had such +a momentary glimpse of the two that, really, it +was hard to describe them adequately for the purposes +of police detection. +</p> +<p> +“Why not describe the car?” asked Cora. “No +matter who is in my machine they haven’t a right +to it, and they should be arrested on sight.” +</p> +<p> +“Good idea!” agreed Jack. “I can describe the +car right enough.” +</p> +<p> +“And give the license numbers,” said Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Of course. Good girl. Let me have them, +Cora.” +</p> +<p> +They were the only ones in the tea room at this +time, and the excitement was only communicated +to the help. The waitress showed Jack where the +telephone booth was, and while Cora, Walter and +the girls explained to the girl cashier at the desk +what had happened, Jack got the Chelton police +over the telephone and asked them to send out an +alarm, and also to be on the lookout for the +thieves. +</p> +<p> +The tea room was in Pepack, the township next +to Chelton, and Jack also called up the town hall +and notified the authorities there, who promised +to do what they could. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20'></a>20</span> +</p> +<p> +“But they may have taken any of half a dozen +roads leading out of here,” Walter said. “They +must have hurried away.” +</p> +<p> +“And you didn’t have a glimpse of them?” +asked Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Not a trace,” answered Jack. “We managed +to pick up the trail by means of that patch on the +tire. Saw it in the dust several times. Then it +was lost in the shuffle, as you might say, so we +thought it better to come back. I wonder if the +people here noticed anything of two strange men +hanging about.” +</p> +<p> +“We’ll ask the cashier,” suggested Cora. +</p> +<p> +She knew, slightly, the girl who sat at the cash +register, for Ye Olde Spinning Wheel was a popular +resort for automobile parties. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, Miss Kimball,” the girl said, “there were +two young men in here this morning, though +whether they were the ones who took your car I +can’t say.” +</p> +<p> +“How did they look?” asked Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I don’t know that I can tell you. They +were both of medium height, and were smooth +shaven—I mean they had no beards or moustaches, +though both of them would have been better for a +visit to the barber’s.” +</p> +<p> +“What did they do or say?” asked Walter. +</p> +<p> +“They came in and each had a plate of cream,” +went on the girl. “I didn’t exactly like their looks, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21'></a>21</span> +for, though we try to run a place that will suit +every one, we are a bit particular too. But they +didn’t make any fuss, and even tipped the waitress.” +</p> +<p> +“Then they must be ‘regular fellows,’” said +Walter, jokingly. +</p> +<p> +“‘Scuse me,” broke in the voice of the waitress—the +same one who had waited on the girls—“but +de dime tip dey gibbed me wasn’t any good.” +</p> +<p> +“Why not?” asked Jack. +</p> +<p> +“It was plugged. Look!” and she exhibited it. +</p> +<p> +“So it is!” exclaimed Cora’s brother. “They +weren’t so regular after all.” +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t see it till after dey’d gone,” the negress +went on. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps you can describe them for me,” Jack +suggested. +</p> +<p> +It developed that the waitress could give a better +word-picture of the two young men than could +the cashier, whose attention, naturally, was taken +up with her duties at the desk. +</p> +<p> +Jack noted down the none too good distinguishing +marks as described by the waitress, and went +to telephone them to the police as an additional +help in capturing those who had gone with Cora’s +car. +</p> +<p> +There was nothing more that could be done just +then, and Jack was about to suggest that, by means +of a little crowding, he could take his sister and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22'></a>22</span> +her chums back to Chelton in his car when the +young woman who had charge of the tea room +entered, it being her hour to go on duty. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter?” she asked, as she observed +the group of excited young people about +the cashier’s desk. +</p> +<p> +“Two strange young men went off with Miss +Kimball’s auto,” was the cashier’s answer, and the +circumstances were related. +</p> +<p> +“Two young men!” exclaimed the manager. +“Why I remember those two who had cream in +here this morning. They spoke to me as they came +out on the porch, and I bought tickets of them.” +</p> +<p> +“Tickets!” exclaimed Jack. “Tickets?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes. They seemed all right—I mean respectful +and all that. They said they had unexpectedly +run out of funds and wanted to know if I wouldn’t +buy some railroad tickets they had to New York. +I said I hadn’t any use for them, and couldn’t get +off to go to New York anyhow, as this was our +busy season.” +</p> +<p> +“So you didn’t buy them?” asked Cora. “But +I thought you said——” +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t buy the railroad tickets,” said the +young lady manager. “But I did purchase two +tickets for the opera performance that is to be +given at Chelton on Friday night. I’d been wanting +to go, and I was going to telephone for tickets +when these young men said they had two good +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23'></a>23</span> +ones they’d let me have for less than the regular +price.” +</p> +<p> +“And you took them?” asked Walter. +</p> +<p> +“Yes. It seemed a bargain, and I am desirous +to see the play.” +</p> +<p> +“Do you mind letting me see the tickets?” asked +Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Certainly you may see them,” was the answer, +and from her pocketbook, which she had left in +charge of the cashier, the manager took out two +slips of blue pasteboard. +</p> +<p> +“Hum! They seem regular all right,” +remarked Jack. “Date and seat numbers all proper. +I know where those seats are, too, right in the +middle of the first row balcony. I always sit there +myself when I go.” +</p> +<p> +“They said they were good seats,” declared the +girl, “and I saved a dollar. They wanted the +money they said, for they had spent their last for +some ice cream. They seemed to be all right.” +</p> +<p> +“Maybe they were,” agreed Jack. “Of course +it’s perfectly proper for persons who can’t use +railroad or theatre tickets they have purchased, to sell +them again. And these tickets seem to be the +same as those you would get at the box office. And +there’s no crime in being without cash. But it is a +crime to take an automobile.” +</p> +<p> +“The only question is whether the same two fellows +are involved,” suggested Walter. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24'></a>24</span> +</p> +<p> +“That’s it,” agreed Jack. “I wish you girls +had had a better look at those who went off in the +machine.” +</p> +<p> +“It all happened so suddenly,” Belle explained. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, such things generally do,” remarked Cora. +“Well, there’s nothing else to do, is there?” +</p> +<p> +“I guess not,” said Jack, who had telephoned +in the additional description of the young men who +had sold the tickets, adding the information that +there was only a suspicion that they were the same +two who were responsible for the taking of the car. +</p> +<p> +“If they had only kept the theatre tickets, instead +of selling them,” said Walter, “we’d have +a good chance of arresting them.” +</p> +<p> +“How?” Belle demanded. +</p> +<p> +“By watching those two seats. As soon as the +fellows came in to take their places we could have +an officer arrest them.” +</p> +<p> +“Please don’t try it on me,” begged the young +lady who had purchased the coupons. “I don’t +want a scene,” and she regarded Walter smilingly. +</p> +<p> +“Of course not,” agreed Cora. “Oh, dear! My +nice car, that I was counting on taking to Camp +Surprise with me.” +</p> +<p> +“We’ll get it back before then!” declared Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Oh! but we’re going earlier than we planned +originally,” said Belle. +</p> +<p> +“And she wants you boys to come, too!” cried +Bess. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25'></a>25</span> +</p> +<p> +“No more than you do!” snapped Belle, her +fair face flushing. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the idea?” asked Walter. +</p> +<p> +“It’s getting so unbearably warm,” said Cora, +and then she explained that they might go earlier +than originally planned to the bungalow camp in +the mountains. +</p> +<p> +“Well, we might manage it,” Jack said. “We’ll +talk it over, Wally. Have to see Paul, though I +guess he’d fit in anywhere Bess went.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh! is that so?” cried the plump girl, blushing +in her turn. +</p> +<p> +The tea room people promised to be on the +lookout for the strange young men, and to notify +Jack or the police if they came around again. +</p> +<p> +“But if they were the ones who took the car +they won’t come back,” Walter declared. +</p> +<p> +By crowding, all the young people managed to +get in Jack’s car. On the way back to Chelton a +sharp lookout was kept for the missing machine, +but no trace of it was seen, and Cora was much +depressed when she reached home. +</p> +<p> +“Never mind,” whispered Jack, “you may use +mine, Sis, until yours shows up. Don’t worry, +we’ll get it yet.” +</p> +<p> +“I hope so,” murmured Cora. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26'></a>26</span><a name='chIV' id='chIV'></a>CHAPTER IV—A CURIOUS STORY</h2> +<p> +Such measures as one might expect to have +taken in a place like Chelton and the surrounding +towns were taken by the authorities in an endeavor +to recover Cora’s stolen automobile. For stolen +it certainly was, and not taken in a joke. That +fact was patent when several days passed and no +trace of it was found and no word received as to +where it might have been taken or abandoned by +the two strange young men. +</p> +<p> +“They might merely have taken it to get some +place, seeing that they had no money,” observed +Belle, when the three girls were talking the matter +over one day at Cora’s house. +</p> +<p> +“They had railroad tickets, though,” said Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, but to New York, and perhaps they didn’t +want to go there.” +</p> +<p> +“I should think New York would be just the +place where they would want to go if they had no +money,” came from Cora. “There are so many +chances to make money there.” +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps they didn’t dare go,” suggested Belle. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27'></a>27</span> +</p> +<p> +“What do you mean?” came in a duet from the +others. +</p> +<p> +“They might have done something—perhaps +have taken another auto—and they knew the police +would be after them,” explained Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Quite dramatic,” observed Cora. “But whoever +they are or whatever their motive, I wish +they’d send back my car. I want it.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t blame you a bit,” came from Bess. +“Come on, we’ll go out on another searching tour.” +</p> +<p> +“All right,” agreed Cora, and they were soon +on the road again in the car of the Robinson +twins. The girls had not left it all to the authorities +to find the missing automobile. They had +made diligent inquiries themselves on all roads +leading out of Chelton and in the vicinity of the +tea room. Nor had the boys been idle. Paul +Hastings arrived in town on business connected +with the automobile concern by which he was employed, +and he, Jack and Walter, made it their +business to scurry around in Jack’s car, looking +for clews. +</p> +<p> +But the slender ones they found proved unavailing. +Automobiles are all too common to attract +attention unless there is something unusual about +them. And Cora’s car, while it was a fine one, +was not unusual enough to call for special notice. +</p> +<p> +The number on the license plates had been given +to the police and constables, but it would have +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28'></a>28</span> +been a comparatively easy matter for the thieves +to change the number or rub oil on and let dust +accumulate until it would have been all but indecipherable. +Then, too, persons seldom notice the +number on a car unless there has been some accident. +</p> +<p> +“It just seems to have disappeared,” declared +Cora at the close of the day, when a long tour and +many inquiries had resulted in nothing. “I just +wish I had hold of those two fellows!” +</p> +<p> +“It <em>is</em> provoking,” agreed Belle. “Let’s stop at +the tea room and see if they’ve heard anything +more there.” +</p> +<p> +The girl at the cash register, the young lady +manager, and the colored maid who had waited on +them before greeted the three pretty chums smilingly +as they again entered the pleasant tea room +of Ye Olde Spinning Wheel. +</p> +<p> +“Were your tickets for the play all right?” +asked Cora as the manager stepped over to inquire +if everything was to their liking. +</p> +<p> +“I haven’t used them yet. They are for this +week Friday. Oh! I’m sure they’re all right. Some +of my friends bought tickets from the same fellows +for the same night and they are next mine.” +</p> +<p> +“Those chaps must have planned for a regular +theatre party,” observed Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Have you had any trace of your car yet?” the +cashier asked, as Cora went up to pay the check. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29'></a>29</span> +</p> +<p> +“No, I’m sorry to say, I haven’t.” +</p> +<p> +“If you don’t get it soon, Cora,” said Belle, +“you’d better plan to use ours to go to Camp Surprise.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, we’re going in the motor boat,” Cora said. +“I didn’t tell you, but mother learned that the +roads around the camp were so rough that it would +certainly spoil a car to take it to camp, so I +wouldn’t take mine, anyhow.” +</p> +<p> +“Camp Surprise,” repeated the pretty cashier. +“That sounds interesting.” +</p> +<p> +“I hope we don’t find it too much so,” returned +Belle. +</p> +<p> +The plans for going to live at the bungalow with +the odd name, which was situated in the mountains +some miles west of Chelton, had been talked over +at length, and an earlier trip than the one originally +decided on had been voted for. +</p> +<p> +“Going in the motor boat! How nice!” cried +Bess, as they went out of the tea room. “Then it +doesn’t matter about your auto, Cora—I mean, of +course—oh! I don’t mean that!” she cried, blushing. +“Of course you want it back——” +</p> +<p> +“Well, I should say I do!” exclaimed Jack’s +sister with mock indignation. +</p> +<p> +“I mean we won’t have to wait until you get +your car back before going to Camp Surprise,” +Bess went on. +</p> +<p> +“No,” agreed Cora. “That won’t delay us.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30'></a>30</span> +</p> +<p> +“And now don’t you think you ought to tell us +why the camp where we are going to spend most +of the summer has such an odd name?” asked +Belle. +</p> +<p> +“I’ve been meaning to this long while,” assented +Cora, “but so many things have happened that I +didn’t get to it. Come on, let’s sit out here on the +porch, where it’s so nice, cool and shady, and I’ll +tell you all I know.” +</p> +<p> +“You couldn’t, Cora, dear—not in the limited +time at our disposal,” said Belle, languidly sinking +into an easy wicker chair. “You know too much.” +</p> +<p> +“Thank you. I believe this was my treat, so now +we’re even. But I meant all I know about Camp +Surprise.” +</p> +<p> +“First, how did it get its name?” asked Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Because of the surprising things that happen +there.” +</p> +<p> +“Happen—happen?” queried Belle. “Do you +mean they still happen?” +</p> +<p> +“Well, so mother said,” observed Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Bur-r-r!” shivered Bess, with a hasty glance +over her shoulder. “I’m not so sure I want to go +there.” +</p> +<p> +“Nonsense!” cried Cora. “If there’s a ghost +we’ll lay it—whatever that means.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Cora! Ghosts!” +</p> +<p> +“Oh! I don’t mean that, exactly. It isn’t so +bad as that. The worst things that have happened +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31'></a>31</span> +are that things in the bungalow seem to be upset +and misplaced without reason.” +</p> +<p> +“Upset? Misplaced?” murmured Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Without reason?” added her sister. +</p> +<p> +“Oh! perhaps I am making a mountain out of a +molehill,” confessed Cora. “This is how the matter +stands. Up in the mountains are a number of +camps, cottages, bungalows—what you like—which +belong to a development company. The +bungalows and camps are rented, furnished, to +whoever wants them. Camp Surprise, where we +shall have a good-sized bungalow to live in, is one +of the best of these resorts. It is about five miles +in from the Towanda river, which is what the +Chelton is called up state, and it was going up the +river that I planned to use the motor boat.” +</p> +<p> +“How do we get over the five miles?” asked +Bess. +</p> +<p> +“By buckboards over a mountain road. That’s +why we won’t need the autos. Of course we could +use a car, but as long as mine is still among the +missing we won’t make any such plans. Camp +Surprise is right on the edge of a stream which is +quiet enough in dry weather, but a torrent when +there’s a heavy rain. And there’s a little lake and +a waterfall near the bungalow.” +</p> +<p> +“That sounds lovely,” remarked Belle. +</p> +<p> +“It is lovely,” asserted Cora. “I’ve seen pictures +of it. And while our bungalow is on one side +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32'></a>32</span> +of the mountain torrent there is another one, not +far off, on the other side, where the boys are going +to stay.” +</p> +<p> +“How nice,” commented Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Is that other bungalow within sight or calling +distance of ours?” asked Belle. +</p> +<p> +“One or the other, yes,” assented Cora. “But +why so anxious?” +</p> +<p> +“Because when those ghosts, or whatever they +are, get to moving things about I want a man, or at +least a good-sized boy around,” was the answer. +</p> +<p> +“Nonsense!” exclaimed Cora. “It isn’t so bad +as that.” +</p> +<p> +“Say it again,” begged Bess. “You told about +unseen hands moving chairs and tables.” +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t mean it exactly that way,” and Cora +smiled. “You see there is a man and his wife who +have rooms in the bungalow, Mr. and Mrs. +Floyd. They look after the place, and they’ll be +our chaperons. I did think mother might be able +to go with us, but she won’t. But mother knows +Mrs. Floyd, and says she’s very nice.” +</p> +<p> +“I hope the ghosts will be nice,” said Belle. +</p> +<p> +Cora laughed. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, you funny girl! Why will you persist in +calling them ghosts?” +</p> +<p> +“Well, aren’t they? Moving chairs about?” +</p> +<p> +“Is that what happened—or happens?” asked +Bess. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33'></a>33</span> +</p> +<p> +“So I understand,” returned Cora. “Mr. and +Mrs. Floyd don’t use the main bungalow, keeping +to their own rooms. But they wrote mother that, +of late, there have been some queer goings on. +They said they would go out, leaving the rooms in +perfect order, only to find them all upset on their +return. Chairs would be misplaced, tables that +had been in the middle of the room would be +shoved back against the wall. Dishes would be +taken out of the closets, and——” +</p> +<p> +“Tramps!” interrupted Belle. +</p> +<p> +“What?” cried Cora, rather startled by the suddenness +of the ejaculation. +</p> +<p> +“I mean tramps got in and did it.” +</p> +<p> +“No, I don’t think so,” and Cora spoke slowly. +“For, though the dishes were taken from the pantry, +there was no food missing. Tramps would +take food.” +</p> +<p> +“Is this all that happened?” Bess demanded. +</p> +<p> +“Well, once something was taken,” Cora said. +“A party had the bungalow, and when they left +at the end of their stay, they forgot to take some +of their silver with them. Then came one of the +upsetting periods, and the furniture was misplaced +and the silver taken.” +</p> +<p> +Belle and Bess looked at their chum, then the +former said slowly: +</p> +<p> +“I—I don’t believe we want to go to Camp +Surprise, Cora.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34'></a>34</span><a name='chV' id='chV'></a>CHAPTER V—COUNTERFEIT TICKETS</h2> +<p> +Cora laughed melodiously. Belle and Bess +looked at her with just a shade of indignation in +their eyes. +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t think you’d be such—such, well, I +won’t say cowards,” Cora voiced, when the gale +of merriment had passed. “But I think, Belle, +that you would rise above the occasion, even if +Bess——” +</p> +<p> +“Now what is there she can do that I can’t?” +demanded the plump twin truculently. “I guess if +it’s a question of bravery, I’m as willing as she is +to go to Camp Surprise.” +</p> +<p> +“I thought you’d be,” Cora observed. +</p> +<p> +“But is it a question of bravery?” asked Belle. +</p> +<p> +“What else?” her sister demanded. +</p> +<p> +“Well, from the way in which Cora told it, I +should think it would need some members of the +Society for Psychic Research to get to the bottom +of all those queer manifestations. Cora Kimball!” +Belle suddenly exclaimed, sitting up in her chair. +“You haven’t been hoaxing us; have you? This +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35'></a>35</span> +isn’t a joke; is it? I mean all those things really +did happen; didn’t they?” +</p> +<p> +“My! what a lot of questions to set off at +once,” objected Cora. “But I can answer them all +by saying that I have given the story to you just as +it came to me. As far as I know, it’s no joke, and +the way the furniture behaved, or rather, was +made to act, is strictly true.” +</p> +<p> +“And you are still going to Camp Surprise?” +asked Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Certainly. Why not?” +</p> +<p> +“Well—er—that is—— Oh! of course I know +there’s no such thing as a ghost,” said Belle. “But, +at the same time, even if those things happened by +human agencies—as naturally they did—it might +make it very unpleasant for us up there.” +</p> +<p> +“Nonsense!” cried Cora. “It will make it all +the more interesting. Think of the fun we can +have, organizing ghost-detecting parties, sitting up +until all hours of the night, daring the boys to sit +with us. And then, after all, finding out it is only +the tricks of some alleged fun-loving person, or +perhaps boys of the neighborhood.” +</p> +<p> +“Do you really think so, Cora?” Belle asked. +</p> +<p> +“Why, yes.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know,” murmured Bess, thoughtfully. +</p> +<p> +“Come! Where has all the bravery of the Motor +Girls vanished to?” demanded Cora with a silvery +laugh. “We didn’t act thus timidly when we +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36'></a>36</span> +solved the secret of the red oar on Crystal Bay. +And perhaps——” +</p> +<p> +“Cora’s right!” interrupted Belle. +</p> +<p> +“She generally is,” contributed Bess. +</p> +<p> +“There’s a secret here, and we will solve it!” +her sister went on. “I didn’t look at it that way +before, but I see it now. We mustn’t be driven +away, or kept from going just because of these +rumors. We’ll go to Camp Surprise and surprise +those who are making such a fuss there. I wonder +some one hasn’t done it long ago.” +</p> +<p> +“Just what I was about to remark,” came from +Cora. “I’m glad to see that your natural courage +has come back. I thought it would. We +haven’t been together on various quests for nothing. +Now we’ll prove ourselves true Motor Girls, +and get at the bottom of these surprising happenings. +You won’t back out?” +</p> +<p> +“Never!” affirmed Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Cross my heart!” laughed her sister, with the +old, familiar, childish gesture of emphasizing a +statement. +</p> +<p> +“Then it’s all settled. Now let’s go home. +Jack and Walter said they were going over to +Meadport to-day to see if any word had been received +there of my missing auto. They may have +returned with some news.” +</p> +<p> +“Why was Meadport regarded so favorably?” +asked Bess. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37'></a>37</span> +</p> +<p> +“Well, a constable there sent word to our police +that there had been a number of petty robberies +committed in the neighborhood. A number of +thefts would take place in one night, and so far +apart that the only probable theory was that the +thieves used an auto. Jack thought my dear car +might be used for such base purposes, so he and +Wally went over there to-day.” +</p> +<p> +“Let us hope they have good news,” said Belle, +as with her sister and Cora she entered the Robinson +automobile and headed back for Cheerful +Chelton. +</p> +<p> +“Nothing doing,” announced Jack, as his sister +and her chums came in sight of the Kimball home, +and saw him with Walter, sitting on the broad, +shady piazza. “Absolutely nothing transpiring, as +the poet saith.” +</p> +<p> +“College hasn’t improved your slang any,” observed +Bess. +</p> +<p> +“No, I guess I’ll have to take a P. G. course to +accomplish that. I am a bit rusty. Wally, suppose +you give them a sample.” +</p> +<p> +“Spare us,” murmured Cora. “Was there really +no news, Jack?” +</p> +<p> +“Not an atom, or even a molecule. Which is +smaller, Wally? I forget.” +</p> +<p> +“Same here. Anyhow they hadn’t caught those +Meadport thieves, so whether they have your auto +or not, Cora, my dear, remains yet to be proved.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38'></a>38</span> +</p> +<p> +The young people talked on, the conversation +reverting naturally to Camp Surprise. +</p> +<p> +“What do you think it all means, Jack?” asked +Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Kids playing tricks,” declared Jack tersely. +“So it didn’t scare you girls out from going?” +</p> +<p> +“Of course not!” declared Bess indignantly. A +look passed from her to Cora, from Cora to Belle—and +that was all. +</p> +<p> +“That’s right!” chimed in Walter. “Don’t let +a little thing like that scare you away. We’ll get +at the bottom of this mystery.” +</p> +<p> +“When do you plan to go?” asked Cora of her +brother. +</p> +<p> +“As soon as Wally can get his new suit that he’s +ordered from that nobby tailor.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t you believe him,” cried Walter, thumping +his chum on the back. “I’m as ready as he is. +He’s waiting for one of those sport shirts——” +</p> +<p> +“Go on! I wouldn’t wear one!” +</p> +<p> +“Well, make up your minds, and we’ll all go together,” +urged Cora. “We can go up in the motor +boat as far as possible, and take buckboards the +rest of the way. We’d like to have you boys on +hand when we begin the investigation of Camp +Surprise.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, ho! Afraid?” laughed Walter. “I +thought there was a mouse in the woodpile somewhere, +Jack, my boy!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39'></a>39</span> +</p> +<p> +“Nothing of the sort!” came from Cora. “Besides, +you’re thinking of the mouse and the lion. +It is an African gentleman of color who makes +the woodpile his habitation.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s right,” admitted Walter. “I never was +very good at dates anyhow.” +</p> +<p> +“Fig paste is more to your liking. Have a chocolate,” +urged Bess. +</p> +<p> +“We want you along to bear testimony when we +have routed out the mischief-makers,” said Cora, +after the laughter had subsided. “Your bungalow +is near ours, and we can call to you to come and +hold the disturbers when we capture them.” +</p> +<p> +“Is that what you’re going to do?” asked Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Certainly,” returned Belle, as if the girls had +never hesitated. +</p> +<p> +“Well, it would be a pity to disappoint you,” +Walter declared. “We’ll go when they do, Jack. +But—whisper—they’ll be more than a week yet. I +know girls.” +</p> +<p> +“You only <em>think</em> you do,” mocked Cora. “We’ll +be ready before you are.” +</p> +<p> +Then they began to talk seriously and plan for +their summer outing. It was not the first time they +had been away together, the boys and girls often +going to the same resort and occupying adjacent +bungalows or cottages. In this way they divided +such work as there was, and multiplied the possible +good times. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40'></a>40</span> +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Kimball was to go to the Thousand Islands +with her sister, which left Jack and Cora +free to do as they pleased. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson +would, as usual, occupy their seashore cottage, +but Bess and Belle would not join them +there until later in the season, going first to Camp +Surprise with Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Well, now it’s all settled,” declared Cora, after +a season of talk. “We’ll go to Camp Surprise +two weeks from to-day. I’ll tell mother, and have +her write to Mrs. Floyd to have everything in readiness.” +</p> +<p> +“Even the ghosts?” demanded Walter. +</p> +<p> +“Even the ghosts,” agreed Cora, accepting the +implied challenge. +</p> +<p> +“Good!” cried Jack. +</p> +<p> +A few days after this the three girls, all of whom +belonged to a church home mission society, went +to take some medicine and food to an old woman +who was one that the society looked after. This +dependent lived some distance out of Cheerful +Chelton, and the Robinson twins brought their car +in which to carry the baskets of food. +</p> +<p> +They had done their little errand of mercy and +on the way back Cora proposed that they stop at +Ye Olde Spinning Wheel for some tea or ice cream, +as the girls preferred. +</p> +<p> +They had the place practically to themselves, as +it was not the hour when most motorists stopped +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41'></a>41</span> +for refreshments. Cora and her chums spoke to +the manager, and noticed that she seemed a bit +downcast. +</p> +<p> +“What is the matter?” asked Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, it’s something that happened last night. +You know I told you I had two tickets for the +opera. My friend gave me the money to get them, +and I bought them off the two young fellows who +were here one day last week.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, it was the time my auto was taken,” Cora +said. +</p> +<p> +“Of course! I ought to have remembered. +Well, I bought two tickets for the opera from +those men at a reduced price.” +</p> +<p> +“And couldn’t your friend go with you?” asked +Belle sympathetically. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, yes. He came for me all right. But when +we went to go in they wouldn’t let us.” +</p> +<p> +“Who wouldn’t let you, those two young men?” +asked Cora eagerly. +</p> +<p> +“No, I only wish it had been the young men. +I’d have had ’em arrested. But the doorkeeper +would not let me and my friend in on those tickets.” +</p> +<p> +“Why not?” asked Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Because he said they were counterfeit. And +after my friend had given me his good money for +them. I was that angry I could have cried! Counterfeit +tickets! What do you know about that?” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42'></a>42</span><a name='chVI' id='chVI'></a>CHAPTER VI—OFF TO CAMP</h2> +<p> +“Really, were they bogus tickets?” asked Cora +after a pause. +</p> +<p> +“And wouldn’t they let you in?” Bess cried. +</p> +<p> +“How could they tell they were counterfeits?” +was Belle’s question. +</p> +<p> +“’Cause some one else had our seats, or the +seats our tickets called for,” said Miss Magin, the +manager of the tea room. “This is how it was. I +got all ready to go—it was my day off, you know, +and I had a new dress. Had my nails manicured +and went to a hair dresser, for I wanted to look +nice. My friend is some swell dresser himself, and +you know how it is. You want to be a credit when +a person goes to the trouble to take you out.” +</p> +<p> +“I know,” Cora murmured. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I did look nice, if I do say it myself,” +went on Miss Magin, “and I was quite pleased +when I handed my friend back a dollar. +</p> +<p> +“‘What’s this for?’ he asked me. +</p> +<p> +“‘What I saved on the tickets,’ I told him, and +I mentioned how I’d bought two from the fellows +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43'></a>43</span> +who were here trying to sell some railroad transportation +as well. My friend was quite pleased, +of course, for he has to work hard for his money. +’This’ll do to help get a lunch after the show,’ he +said, and I was glad. +</p> +<p> +“Well, we got to the opera house all right, but +they wouldn’t let us in. That is, they wouldn’t +give us the seats our coupons called for. We did +get in, but when we went to the seats there was a +couple already in them. +</p> +<p> +“My friend thought the usher had made a mistake, +and there was a mix-up for a while. Then +the usher got the other couple’s coupons and they +were the same number as ours. They called the +manager, and he said our tickets were counterfeit. +</p> +<p> +“First my friend wouldn’t believe it, but the +manager showed by the other tickets taken in that +ours were different. The print was the same, and +so was the color of the pasteboard, but it was stiffer +than the regular tickets. There was no way out +of it. We had been cheated, and so had some +other people who had bought tickets from those +fellows. There was quite a disturbance.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s too bad!” exclaimed Cora. “Then you +didn’t see the opera after all?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, sure I did!” exclaimed Miss Magin. “My +friend wouldn’t see me disappointed. He bought +other tickets, though they weren’t as good as the +ones I had—or thought I had.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44'></a>44</span> +</p> +<p> +“And they really were counterfeit?” repeated +Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, but cleverly done. It was only the quality +of the paper, or pasteboard, that showed,” went +on the tea room manager. “If we had gotten +there first we might have had our seats without any +trouble, though of course when the folks came in +that had the real tickets it would have been found +out, I s’pose.” +</p> +<p> +“And you say others also bought the bogus tickets?” +Cora asked. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, quite a few. Got them from the same fellows, +too, who told the same story about being +hard up for cash, and wanting to sell the tickets +they’d purchased.” +</p> +<p> +“Were they the same young men?” asked Belle. +</p> +<p> +“The descriptions were the same as the two +who were here, and who must have taken your +auto, Miss Kimball. When I found out our tickets +were worthless I told the manager about your car, +though of course he had heard of it from reading +the paper. Oh! I just wish I could have them arrested!” +</p> +<p> +“So do I,” agreed Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Could they find out where the tickets were +printed?” asked Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Not just by looking at them,” answered Miss +Magin. “The bogus ones looked for all the world +like the real ones, even to the company’s name +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45'></a>45</span> +that was printed on them. But the opera house +manager kept those my friend and I turned in and +said he’d make an investigation. Say! I felt pretty +cheap when it turned out I’d bought bogus tickets +with my friend’s money.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh! you couldn’t help it,” Cora said, her +chums murmuring their agreement. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I meant all right,” Miss Magin went on, +“but I cost my friend more than if I hadn’t a’ been +so soft-hearted wanting to help out those fellows +who told a hard-luck story.” +</p> +<p> +“They’ll be caught some day,” declared Bess. +“Printing bogus theatrical tickets isn’t easily done. +Care has to be used, and sooner or later those fellows +will be arrested.” +</p> +<p> +“The sooner the better,” said Cora. “I want +my car back.” +</p> +<p> +The girls and the manager talked for some little +time longer about the happenings of the night before. +Presently a man alighted from a taxicab, or +rather, one of the town’s few jitney cars, and entered +the tea room. He looked rather sharply at +our friends—at least so Cora thought—and, taking +a seat at a table not far away, ordered a cup +of coffee and a sandwich. +</p> +<p> +He spoke casually to the waitress, and as Miss +Magin, as was her custom, walked up to see if the +service was satisfactory, he spoke also to her pleasantly, +and she replied. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46'></a>46</span> +</p> +<p> +“Was it one of the young ladies here who recently +purchased some bogus theatre tickets?” the +man asked, after some casual remarks. +</p> +<p> +“I hope you haven’t any more to sell!” retorted +the manager, a bit sharply. +</p> +<p> +“No. I am a detective sent out by the agency +which prints theatre tickets for many shows. This +isn’t the first time we have had trouble, and I want, +if possible, to get on the track of the persons responsible. +Do you mind telling me all you can of +this?” +</p> +<p> +Of course Miss Magin was only too glad to do +so, and, incidentally, she mentioned the loss of +Cora’s automobile. Naturally that brought our +friends into the conversation, and the detective, +who introduced himself as Mr. Boswell, went over +to the girls’ table. He spoke of having been for +some time unsuccessfully on the trail of the bogus +ticket sellers. +</p> +<p> +“Taking automobiles is a new line for their activities, +though,” said Mr. Boswell. “This may +make it easier to catch them.” +</p> +<p> +“Of course,” suggested Cora, “we are not altogether +certain that the same persons who sold Miss +Magin the tickets took my auto.” +</p> +<p> +“Very likely they were,” declared the detective. +“They probably realized that they had done all the +illegitimate business possible in this neighborhood, +and they wanted to get as far away as they could +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47'></a>47</span> +before the fact about the tickets became known. +An auto offered the simplest means.” +</p> +<p> +“I should have locked the ignition switch,” said +Cora. “I usually do when I get out. But we +thought we would stay only a little while, so I +didn’t do it this time.” +</p> +<p> +“Too bad,” said Mr. Boswell. “If I get on the +track of your car, Miss Kimball, I’ll let you know.” +</p> +<p> +He made a memorandum of the description of +the two men as furnished by Miss Magin, and took +his departure, promising to let Cora hear from him +in case anything developed. +</p> +<p> +“More of the mystery,” remarked Bess, as she +and the others were on their way back in the automobile. +“What with this and what may happen +at Camp Surprise, I can see we are in for a busy +summer.” +</p> +<p> +And busy enough the girls were during the next +week. There were trunks to pack, messages to +send to the caretakers at the camp, dresses to have +finished in time, and many odds and ends to be +looked after before leaving for so long a time. +</p> +<p> +“There’s a nice dancing pavilion not far away,” +Cora told her chums. “And of course there’ll be +one or two formal affairs at a neighboring hotel.” +</p> +<p> +Hazel Hastings had come on to be Cora’s guest +and was staying at the Kimball house. She was +the same sweet girl as before, though a little older, +and not quite so timid as she had been. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48'></a>48</span> +</p> +<p> +Paul was the same jolly chap, quite engrossed in +his automobile business, but not so much so that he +could not enjoy the little outing in prospect. +</p> +<p> +“I’ve sent a description of your car, with the +number of it, the number of the engine and other +identifying marks, to all the second hand dealers,” +he told Cora. “If it’s offered for sale to any one +in the dealers’ association I’ll hear of it and there’s +a chance that we’ll get it back for you. +</p> +<p> +“Of course there are some ‘outlaw dealers’ who +do not belong to the association, and who might +take a chance on buying a stolen car,” said the +young automobile agent. “But we can’t help that. +I think we’ll get your machine sooner or later.” +</p> +<p> +Cora was grateful for Paul’s efforts, but she had +about given up hope. The police had secured no +clews, and, though they professed to be active, +there really was little for them to do. +</p> +<p> +The motor boat had been overhauled and put +in shape for the trip up the Chelton river. Though +the craft offered accommodations for sleeping on +board they did not plan to use the berths on this +occasion. They were to make an early start and +reach Riverhead, the end of navigation on the +Chelton, early in the afternoon. From Riverhead +they would go to Camp Surprise in wagons of the +buckboard type, made with wooden slats for +springs, very comfortable to ride in over rough +roads. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49'></a>49</span> +</p> +<p> +The boys were to go with the girls, Jack and +his sister acting as chaperons for the others until +camp was reached, when Mr. and Mrs. Floyd +would perform this office. +</p> +<p> +Light baggage would be taken with them on the +boat, the trunks being sent on ahead. +</p> +<p> +“And we’ll take lunch along, of course,” Bess +said. +</p> +<p> +“Of course,” echoed her sister. “We don’t +want to go hungry any more than do you.” +</p> +<p> +The day of departure came at last. Bess and +Belle were early at Cora’s house, and found her, +Jack, Paul and Hazel busy making the final preparations. +</p> +<p> +The valises and bundles were carried down to +the motor boat, good-byes were said over and over +again, various cautions were given by Mrs. Kimball +and Mrs. Robinson, and then Cora, standing +at the wheel of the craft, steered out into the +middle of the pretty stream. +</p> +<p> +“Off for Camp Surprise!” she cried gaily. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50'></a>50</span><a name='chVII' id='chVII'></a>CHAPTER VII—JACK’S BATH</h2> +<p> +Out into the sunlit Chelton river swung the +smart motor boat with Cora at the wheel. The +sun glinted on the water, it reflected from the polished +brass rail and the white forward deck of the +craft, it sparkled from the brass letters of the name—<em>Corbelbes</em>, +and danced in javelins of light on +the little waves. +</p> +<p> +The <em>Corbelbes</em> was the latest name of the motor +boat which had been variously christened at times. +The craft was owned jointly by Cora, Belle and +Bess, and in accordance with their agreement they +had in turn the privilege of naming it, such name +to be used during a whole season. +</p> +<p> +In turn the girls had adopted various more or +less classical nomenclature. Each one’s time having +expired, it came to Cora again, and she confessed +that she did not know what to select. +</p> +<p> +“Let me name the boat for you,” suggested +Jack. “I’ve thought of a swell name.” +</p> +<p> +“Something ridiculous, I’m sure of that,” ventured +Cora. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51'></a>51</span> +</p> +<p> +“No, something really classy. How’s this,” and +Jack quickly printed on a piece of paper the name +now glinting on either bow of the craft. +</p> +<p> +“<em>Corbelbes</em>,” repeated his sister. “That isn’t +half bad. What is it, Spanish or Latin?” +</p> +<p> +“It’s French for curling iron and face powder,” +laughed Jack. +</p> +<p> +“You mean thing!” +</p> +<p> +“No, it isn’t, Sis. Don’t you see, it’s the first +part of the names of all three of you.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, so it is.” Cora was smiling now. +</p> +<p> +“What better name could you have for a boat?” +Jack demanded. “It’s something distinctive and +individual.” +</p> +<p> +Cora and her chums agreed with him, and the +motor boat became the <em>Corbelbes</em>, and as such had +remained. +</p> +<p> +“Does she steer all right, Cora, with the new +tiller ropes on?” asked Jack, as he lolled lazily on +one of the cushioned lockers, which, at night, could +be turned into comfortable bunks. +</p> +<p> +“A bit stiff,” responded his sister. +</p> +<p> +“Well, the ropes will stretch, after they’ve been +used a bit, so it’s just as well to have them tight +now. You get quicker action when you turn the +wheel, though the river will not be crowded after +we get up a way.” +</p> +<p> +Bess, Belle and Hazel busied themselves setting +to rights their various possessions in the little +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52'></a>52</span> +cabin, and then they sat out in the wicker chairs in +the after part of the craft, where Jack and Walter +were. Paul seemed to find entertainment up in the +bow with Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Where are the eats?” demanded Walter, when +they had been under way for perhaps a half hour. +“Didn’t I see you smuggling something on board, +Bess?” +</p> +<p> +“Eats? Now?” cried Jack. “And if you saw +Bess have anything it was a box of chocolates.” +</p> +<p> +“It was not, Jack Kimball!” retorted the pretty, +plump twin. “I’ve given up chocolates.” +</p> +<p> +“For how long?” he teased. +</p> +<p> +“For ever. I’m eating lime drops and lemon +drops now. Have some?” +</p> +<p> +“I knew I saw you have something,” declared +Walter. “Why, they’re chocolates after all!” he +went on, as he helped himself to what Bess offered. +</p> +<p> +“I know they are, but the chocolate coating is +very thin,” she said. “They’re sour inside.” +</p> +<p> +“Sort of Christian Science treatment,” remarked +Jack. “Bess couldn’t altogether give up her +chocolate, so she takes it in homeopathic doses. +Whew! they <em>are</em> sour!” he cried, as he bit into one +of the candies, making a wry face. +</p> +<p> +“Fruit acids make one thin, I read,” Bess stated, +“so I had these made to order.” +</p> +<p> +“Bess Robinson, you never did!” voiced her sister +in surprised accents. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53'></a>53</span> +</p> +<p> +“Why shouldn’t I? They didn’t cost any more +than the others. All the candy shop did was to dip +their regular lime and lemon drops into chocolate +for me.” +</p> +<p> +“Well!” exclaimed Belle. “Did you hear that, +Cora?” +</p> +<p> +There was no reply from the girl at the wheel. +She and Paul were busy talking. +</p> +<p> +“Let her alone,” urged Bess. “She knows about +my candy. I told her.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, don’t disturb ’em,” agreed Walter. “But +I want something more substantial than candy. +Didn’t you bring anything else, Bess?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, we have a nice lunch, but I’m not going +to have you spoil your appetite by eating now,” declared +Belle. +</p> +<p> +“You don’t know how hard it is to spoil his +appetite,” laughed Jack. “I’ve tried several times +to find out just where the vanishing point is, but +I haven’t succeeded. I’ve begun to believe that his +appetite is like the poor—always with us—or +him.” +</p> +<p> +“Base traitor!” retorted Walter, reaching out +to punch Jack, but finding him too far away he did +not exert himself. +</p> +<p> +The Chelton river was a busy place in the +neighborhood of the town where our friends lived. +On the way up the <em>Corbelbes</em> passed a number of +craft, some of them slow-moving coal or grain +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54'></a>54</span> +barges, others passenger steamers, and not a few +pleasure craft. Those in charge of the latter recognized +the <em>Corbelbes</em> and saluted her with the +regulation three whistles, which Cora returned. +</p> +<p> +“We couldn’t have had a better day,” remarked +Paul, as he sat beside Cora. +</p> +<p> +“No, it’s perfect. If the weather only behaves +when we get to camp we’ll be in all sorts of ways +obliged to it.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I guess it will,” was the comment. “Look +out for that fellow, Cora. He doesn’t seem to +know which way he wants to go.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ve been noticing him,” and Cora looked at a +man in a rowboat who was yawing from side to +side as though unfamiliar with the proper method +of navigation. +</p> +<p> +Cora blew the whistle sharply as the man seemed +about to cross her bows, and this further confused +him so that he was really in danger of being run +down. +</p> +<p> +“Look out!” cried Paul again, instinctively, +though he knew Cora knew how to manage the +boat. +</p> +<p> +And she proved that she did by quickly reversing +the propeller, while a series of sharp blasts +informed any craft coming astern to look out for +themselves. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter with you?” demanded Paul, +as the <em>Corbelbes</em> passed the man in the rowboat. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55'></a>55</span> +“You ought to take lessons before you come out on +the river.” +</p> +<p> +The man looked frightened but did not answer, +pulling awkwardly away. +</p> +<p> +“What are you trying to do, Cora?” demanded +Jack. “Have an accident before we’re fairly +started? Better let me steer.” +</p> +<p> +“I will not, indeed! It wasn’t my fault!” +</p> +<p> +“I should say not!” cried Paul. “That fellow +was a dub!” +</p> +<p> +That was the only near approach to a collision, +though the river was unusually crowded that morning. +In a little while, however, the water traffic +thinned out, and Cora did not have to devote so +much attention to the wheel. +</p> +<p> +“Say, isn’t it time for lunch now?” demanded +Walter, insinuatingly. +</p> +<p> +“It’s only eleven,” announced Belle, with a look +at her wrist watch. +</p> +<p> +“That’s his regular feeding time—at least he’ll +say so,” put in Jack, before his chum had a chance +to answer. +</p> +<p> +“I had an early breakfast,” put in Walter in extenuation. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, well, give the child something,” laughed +Bess, “and let us have peace!” +</p> +<p> +Sandwiches, cake and other things were brought +out, set on a table which unfolded from the side +of the boat, and the merry chatter was soon interspersed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56'></a>56</span> +with periods of silence to allow a chance +to eat. +</p> +<p> +“We’ll get there in good season,” Cora was +saying, when the engine gave a sudden combined +cough, wheeze and sneeze, and stopped. +</p> +<p> +“No gasoline!” cried Walter. +</p> +<p> +“Indeed not!” answered Cora. “Both tanks +are full.” +</p> +<p> +“Ground wire broken,” suggested Paul. +</p> +<p> +A hasty look at the conductors proved this +theory to be wrong. +</p> +<p> +“Then it’s the carburetor,” Jack affirmed. “The +worst possible place for trouble. I’ll look after it, +Sis. I’ve had the dingus apart, and if anybody +knows about its insides I do. Throw that anchor +overboard, Wally, and I’ll tinker with the troublemaker.” +</p> +<p> +A small anchor splashed into the river, while +Jack, putting on an old jumper and overalls, kept +for such emergencies, took off the carburetor and +proceeded to examine it, from cork float to butterfly +valve. +</p> +<p> +“Must be poor gasoline they’re serving us +lately,” he said. “It’s awfully dirty. Look!” and +he held up his grimy hands. +</p> +<p> +“Have you found the trouble?” Cora asked. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, it was the air intake valve. Little speck +of carbon in it prevented the proper mixture. I’ll +have it fixed in a jiffy.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57'></a>57</span> +</p> +<p> +Jack proved the truth of his assertion by replacing +the carburetor, and, a little later, by starting +the engine without any trouble. +</p> +<p> +“Hurrah!” cried Paul. “That’s what it is to +have a good mechanician aboard.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s a wonder you wouldn’t qualify yourself,” +said Jack grimly. “Look at me! I’ll have to take +a bath!” and he held up his hands, grimier than +ever. +</p> +<p> +“There’s some of that mechanic’s soap—with +pumice stone in it—in one of the lockers,” volunteered +Cora. “Use that, Jack.” +</p> +<p> +The anchor was hauled in and the <em>Corbelbes</em> +started up the river once more. Jack knelt down +on one side of the stern deck, and, reaching down +into the river, wet his hands, rubbing on them some +pasty soap, guaranteed to remove grime of all +kinds and leave most of the original skin. +</p> +<p> +“Where’s the camera?” asked Bess. +</p> +<p> +“What for?” demanded her sister. +</p> +<p> +“I want a view of Jack at his bath. Doesn’t he +look cute?” +</p> +<p> +“Wait until I pose for you,” Jack suggested, +making a lather of the soap. “I’m a dandy when +it comes to poses. Just watch me.” +</p> +<p> +He stood up on the after deck, but his foot +slipped on a bit of the lather that dropped from his +hands, and, a moment later, Jack plunged overboard. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58'></a>58</span><a name='chVIII' id='chVIII'></a>CHAPTER VIII—THE STORM</h2> +<p> +“Oh, Jack!” cried Cora, as she had a hasty +glimpse of her brother making a rather ungraceful +dive over the side of the <em>Corbelbes</em>. “Oh!” +</p> +<p> +Her words were echoed by Bess and Belle, and +while they started up, overturning the chairs on +which they had been sitting, Cora, alive to the +emergency, quickly threw in the reverse clutch, and +a smother of foam arose under the stern of the +boat as it lost way. +</p> +<p> +Nor had Walter and Paul been idle. The former +seized a canvas covered cork life ring, and, +waiting a moment to catch a glimpse of the bobbing +head of his chum, threw the ring to him, with +a cry of: +</p> +<p> +“There you are, Jack!” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll go after him in the boat!” called Hazel’s +brother, for a small dingey was riding astern of the +larger boat, and Paul now hauled this toward the +side. +</p> +<p> +There was no need for any one else to go overboard, +for Jack, as his boy and girl chums well +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59'></a>59</span> +knew, could swim excellently, and he had fallen in +with only overalls and jumper on, which made raiment +almost as light as a bathing suit. True, he +had on his shoes, but in several tests at summer +camp Jack had swum across a lake with all his +heavy clothes on. +</p> +<p> +Still Paul was not sure but what his chum might +have struck his head going overboard, and in this +case it would be advisable to have the little boat +ready. +</p> +<p> +“There he is—he’s all right,” cried Walter, as +he saw Jack striking out for the motor boat, ignoring +the life ring. +</p> +<p> +“Get it, Jack! Get it!” cried Cora, indicating +the white, floating object. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t need it!” Jack sung out, cheerfully +enough. “What do you think I am, an invalid?” +</p> +<p> +However, he was glad enough to crawl into the +smaller boat, which Paul sent over toward him, +for Jack found his shoes heavy, and the side of the +<em>Corbelbes</em> was high out of water, making it difficult +for one to reach the gunwale. +</p> +<p> +“All right?” asked Cora, as Jack sat dripping +on the stern seat. +</p> +<p> +“Sure I’m all right. I was going in for a swim +anyhow, and this saved me the trouble.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, come on board and we’ll start again,” +Cora said. “Pick up the ring, Paul. I don’t want +to lose it!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60'></a>60</span> +</p> +<p> +“Aye, aye, my captainess!” and he saluted with +an oar. +</p> +<p> +“How did it happen, Jack?” asked Walter, +when his chum, dripping, was safe on board again. +</p> +<p> +“Somebody pushed me! I think it was Hazel,” +and he winked at the others while he gazed as severely +as possible (which was not greatly) at the +blushing girl. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Mr. Kimball! I—I did not!” cried +Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“My goodness, how very formal! <em>Mr.</em> Kimball!” +mocked Bess. “Since when, Hazel?” +</p> +<p> +“Since he accused me that way.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh! I’ll withdraw the accusation if you’ll only +call me Jack! I love to hear you say that, Hazel! +Call me Jack.” +</p> +<p> +“Silly!” muttered Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Mushy, I call it,” declared Bess. “Downright +mushy!” +</p> +<p> +“You’re jealous,” added Walter. +</p> +<p> +“Say Jack!” commanded the dripping owner of +the name, “or I’ll come over and sit by you, Hazel, +and I’m almost sure that blue dress of yours +spots.” +</p> +<p> +“It does! Oh, don’t let him come near me!” +begged Hazel, trying to retreat into the cabin. +</p> +<p> +“Say Jack then!” commanded the relentless one, +dripping at every step as he pursued her. +</p> +<p> +“Oh—Jack!” she complied. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61'></a>61</span> +</p> +<p> +“Your brains seem to have gone overboard, and +not to have come back with you,” said Cora to her +brother. “Quit your fooling. You’re getting the +cushions all wet.” +</p> +<p> +Jack subsided after blowing a kiss to his sister, +and sprinkling her with water from his dripping +hair. Then the boat was put back on her course, +the dingey was made fast, the life ring put in place, +and there was peace and quietness once more, +broken only by Jack’s grunts and exclamations as +he struggled to get off his wet shoes. +</p> +<p> +“Cora,” called Jack, from the curtained cabin, +where he was changing into dry garments, “I didn’t +put an extra pair of shoes in your valise; did I?” +</p> +<p> +“I rather guess not,” was the quick answer. +</p> +<p> +“Then I haven’t any,” wailed Jack. “I’ll have +to borrow a pair of you girls’ slippers. The biggest +I can get—don’t all speak at once.” +</p> +<p> +There were some subdued giggles. +</p> +<p> +“Did I hear Cora say hers would be too big +for me?” asked Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, do get sensible!” commanded his sister. +“There’s a pair of worsted bedroom slippers of +mine you can take until your shoes get dry. You +can’t stretch them any too much. Put your shoes +near the muffler. They’ll dry there.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, and get all out of shape,” objected Jack. +“I’ll put them on the forward flag staff and let +the gentle breezes dry them. ’Tis Nature’s way.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62'></a>62</span> +</p> +<p> +“You’ll do nothing of the sort!” groaned Cora. +“What would people say on seeing a pair of shoes +at the top of the staff? Please put them near the +muffler and they’ll dry all right.” +</p> +<p> +This Jack did, the iron cylinder that received the +burned gases from the engine being quite hot, so +that the wet garments and shoes bid fair to dry +speedily. Jack, meanwhile, donned a pair of his +sister’s slippers—a pink one and a blue one, Cora +not having been able to find mates. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know what’s in him to-day,” Cora confided +to Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“He’s awfully jolly, I think,” said Paul’s sister. +</p> +<p> +“Jolly? You wouldn’t think so if you had to +live with him as long as I have had to.” +</p> +<p> +“Is he always this way?” +</p> +<p> +“No, thank goodness; it goes by streaks, like +the lean and fat in a piece of bacon.” +</p> +<p> +“The idea of comparing Jack to a piece of +bacon!” commented Bess, who overheard. +</p> +<p> +“Well, he is that way,” insisted Cora. +</p> +<p> +“I hope my shoes get dry by the time we reach +Riverhead,” Jack confided to Paul and Walter. +“I have another pair in my trunk, but that may +not be there when we get to camp. And I do hate +wet shoes to dance in.” +</p> +<p> +“Who said we were going to dance?” asked +Walter. +</p> +<p> +“I did,” replied Jack. “There’s a hotel not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63'></a>63</span> +far from the camp, I hear, and the season ought to +be partly in swing now. Well, if you fellows +don’t want to go I can borrow your shoes.” +</p> +<p> +“Who said we didn’t want to go?” Paul cried. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, well, don’t bite me!” pleaded Jack, in falsetto +accents. +</p> +<p> +The little excitement caused by Jack’s involuntary +bath gradually subsided. He made a final +and fairly successful effort to rid his hands of the +grime caused by cleaning the carburetor, and then, +attired in dry garments, and with one pink and one +blue slippered foot resting “nonchalantly” (as he +called it) on the rail, he watched the receding, +wooded shores of the Chelton. +</p> +<p> +From somewhere in the distance a factory whistle +blew. +</p> +<p> +“One o’clock!” cried Jack. “Is dinner ready? +I say, Cora, I have a wonderful appetite!” +</p> +<p> +“Never knew you when you didn’t have,” she +replied. +</p> +<p> +“Why, we just had lunch—just before Jack fell +overboard!” ejaculated Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“That won’t make a bit of difference to him—or +them,” said Belle, with a resigned air. “We’ll +have to serve another meal I suppose.” +</p> +<p> +“A regular one this time, if you please,” begged +Walter. “Those olives, anchovies and the caviar +sandwiches only made me a bit keen.” +</p> +<p> +The girls were nothing loath to put out the food +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64'></a>64</span> +again, for, truth to tell, the river air had given +them, as well as the boys, an appetite. They had +brought plenty with them, for though they had requested +Mr. Floyd to have supper ready when +they reached the bungalow (the first meal in camp +the boys were to share with the girls), still Cora +had feared they would arrive late, and had made +arrangements accordingly. +</p> +<p> +They had as much fun over the regular lunch +as they had had over the “temporary” one, as +Walter and the boys designated the first meal, and +the afternoon waned pleasantly. +</p> +<p> +“I hope we shall get to Riverhead before the +storm,” observed Cora, as she came back to take +her place at the wheel again, a post she had abandoned +while she helped the girls put away the +dishes and what was left of the food. +</p> +<p> +“What storm?” asked Paul. +</p> +<p> +Cora indicated a bank of sullen-looking clouds +in the west. They were sufficiently ominous to +cause Cora to speed up the motor a bit, and to request +her brothers and his chums to see to the side +curtains. +</p> +<p> +“We ought to get in long before that breaks,” +Jack declared. +</p> +<p> +But he did not count on the speedy approach of +the storm, nor on the fact that the boat ran into a +shallow section of the river, where there grew long +grass which got entangled in the propeller. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65'></a>65</span> +</p> +<p> +Though the <em>Corbelbes</em> managed to force her +way through this patch of “seaweed” as Jack called +it, when she emerged into free water again the +motor could hardly turn the screw. It was necessary +to reverse the engine, to unwind the grass, and +even then some had to be pulled away with the boat +hook—no easy task. +</p> +<p> +And then, when they were once more under full +speed, the storm came down with a rush and a +roar, with blinding sheets of rain, with a wind +that caught the boat broadside, where the rubber +curtains made a wide sail area, and heeled her over +at no small angle. +</p> +<p> +With the rain came thunder and lightning, sufficiently +fierce and loud for a time to terrify at +least Belle, who was the most nervous of the girls. +</p> +<p> +“I can hardly see to steer,” said Cora, peering +out of the rain-drenched windows of the cabin. +</p> +<p> +“Want me to take the wheel?” asked Jack. +</p> +<p> +“No, thank you, I think not. We ought to be +almost there now. But I don’t know about going +over the mountain trail in this storm.” +</p> +<p> +“Maybe it will stop,” suggested Belle. +</p> +<p> +“It doesn’t act so,” commented Walter. +</p> +<p> +The thunder had almost ceased, and the lightning +was not so startling, but the rain came down +harder than ever. +</p> +<p> +“I declare I can’t see either bank of the river,” +Cora said. “I hope I shan’t run into anything.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66'></a>66</span> +</p> +<p> +They kept on for perhaps an hour longer, the +rain never ceasing. But they were good and dry +in the snug motor boat. +</p> +<p> +“I think we’d better put ashore and find out +where we are,” suggested Jack, after a bit. “We +may have run past Riverhead, Cora.” +</p> +<p> +“Run past it! How could we, Jack? The river’s +almost too shallow for a rowboat past Riverhead. +We’d be aground.” +</p> +<p> +“Not necessarily. They’ve lately dredged a +channel about a mile beyond, to let boats bring ice +down from the houses up above. You may be +in the channel,” Walter said. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t believe—” began Cora, when suddenly +the boat ran against an obstruction. The occupants +were almost thrown off their feet. A grinding, +scraping sound was heard and Cora threw +out the gears. +</p> +<p> +“Why—why!” she cried, as she looked out into +the dark mist of the storm. “We’ve run ashore!” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67'></a>67</span><a name='chIX' id='chIX'></a>CHAPTER IX—TIED UP</h2> +<p> +Silence followed Cora’s startling announcement—that +is comparative silence, for the rain, +hissing into the river, and pelting on the deck and +cabin roof, made quite a noise. +</p> +<p> +“What’s that you say?” demanded Walter, arising +from a stern locker where he had been talking +more or less nonsense to Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“Run ashore?” echoed Jack. +</p> +<p> +“At least I suppose it’s the shore,” said Cora, +who had stopped the engine, the controls being +near the wheel. “There aren’t any islands in this +part of the river; are there?” +</p> +<p> +“Not one,” said Jack. “It is the shore,” he +confirmed after a look through the cabin window. +</p> +<p> +“Any damage done, Sis?” +</p> +<p> +“Not to the shore, at any rate. We didn’t +hit very hard. I saw something looming up +through the mist and slowed down.” +</p> +<p> +“We must be up to Riverhead all right,” remarked +Bess. “Though I haven’t noticed anything +like a town.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68'></a>68</span> +</p> +<p> +“You couldn’t notice much of anything in this +rain,” Cora said. “We’re not aground, at all +events,” for they could feel the boat moving down +stream under the influence of the current. +</p> +<p> +“Switch on the searchlight and see if we can +discover where we are,” suggested Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Good idea,” commented Captain Cora. A +push of a button and the small but powerful searchlight, +mounted amidships on the cabin roof, +gleamed out. It was operated by a storage battery, +which, in turn, was charged by a small dynamo +connected to the engine fly wheel. And by +means of a worm gear, operated by a wheel near +the steering apparatus, the light could be deflected +in any direction. +</p> +<p> +Cora trained it on the bank. Looking through +the rain-covered windows of the cabin the girls, +and their boy guests, saw a water-soaked bank, +covered with bushes and rushes. It was dusk now. +</p> +<p> +“That doesn’t look like Riverhead,” commented +Jack. +</p> +<p> +“More like river-end,” said Paul. “Where in +the world are we?” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t ask me!” exclaimed Cora, a trifle nervously. +“I’m sure I did the best I could in the +mist.” +</p> +<p> +“Of course you did, Sis,” said her brother soothingly. +“It isn’t any one’s fault. We’re all right. +The boat doesn’t seem to be damaged by trying to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69'></a>69</span> +poke her pretty nose into the bank, and if we can’t +go on to Camp Surprise in the darkness and rain +we can go to some hotel and stay. There’s one in +Riverhead.” +</p> +<p> +Just then, into the radiance of the searchlight +stepped a man clad in yellow oilskins, rubber boots +and with a sou’wester on his head. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll ask him,” said Jack. “He’ll tell us where +we are.” +</p> +<p> +The individual—evidently a fisherman, as indicated +by his unjointed pole and a basket—stopped +in some surprise as he saw the big motor boat so +close to shore, with lights gleaming and the powerful +beams of the one on the cabin roof setting him +out in bold relief in its glare. +</p> +<p> +“How far to Riverhead, if you please?” called +Jack, sliding back one of the cabin windows. +</p> +<p> +“Riverhead?” cried the man, and surprise was +plain in his voice. “Why, Riverhead’s over on the +Chelton side, about ten miles from here.” +</p> +<p> +“On the Chelton side!” repeated Jack. “Isn’t +this the Chelton?” +</p> +<p> +“No. This is Batter Creek,” the man explained. +“The Chelton river branches off to the +right, six miles down. You must have taken the +left turn where Batter Creek runs into it. First +you know you’ll be up in the swamp.” +</p> +<p> +“Good-<em>night</em>!” cried Jack, with a tragic gesture. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70'></a>70</span> +</p> +<p> +“On Batter Creek!” echoed Walter. +</p> +<p> +“Ten miles from Riverhead!” was Cora’s gasping +remark. +</p> +<p> +“No wonder the poor boat ran ashore,” commented +Bess. “She’d rather do that than get lost +in a swamp.” +</p> +<p> +“So this is Batter Creek,” went on Jack. “I +see how it happened. You steered over to the left +at the junction, Cora, instead of following the +right shore—I mean the right hand shore.” +</p> +<p> +“I suppose I must have,” Cora admitted. “But +I couldn’t see in all that storm.” +</p> +<p> +“Of course not,” said Hazel, slipping her arm +around Cora’s waist. “It wasn’t your fault.” +</p> +<p> +“Certainly not,” added Walter and Paul in a +duet. +</p> +<p> +“Jack, please shut the window,” begged Belle. +“That is, if you have finished talking to that man. +The damp wind will——” +</p> +<p> +“Take all the frizz out of your hair—I know!” +Jack cut in. “All right. Much obliged to you, +sir,” he continued. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t mention it,” replied the man of the yellow +oilskins. “Quite a drizzle; isn’t it?” +</p> +<p> +“Regular Scotch mist!” chuckled Walter, in exaggerated +Highland accents. +</p> +<p> +“I suppose we can get to Riverhead by turning +around, following the left shore here until we +come to the place where Batter Creek runs into +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71'></a>71</span> +the Chelton, and then go up the river?” suggested +Jack, as he slowly slid the window shut. +</p> +<p> +“That’s right,” returned the fisherman. “But +don’t go up this creek any further, or you’ll run +aground in a swamp.” +</p> +<p> +“Thanks,” called Jack. “Oh, I say, are you +going or coming?” +</p> +<p> +“What do you mean?” +</p> +<p> +“I mean have you been fishing, or are you just +going?” +</p> +<p> +“Just going. They always bite pretty well for +me in a rain.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh. I thought maybe if you had any we’d +buy ’em.” +</p> +<p> +“Sorry, but I haven’t anything but shiners for +bait. I’m going down to the deep water.” +</p> +<p> +“What in the world did you want to buy fish +for, Jack?” asked his sister as he closed the window, +and the yellow figure splashed away. +</p> +<p> +“To eat,” was his answer. “We’ve got to have +supper; haven’t we?” +</p> +<p> +“But can’t we go on to Riverhead, and then to +the bungalow?” asked Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Hardly,” declared Jack. “It isn’t so late, of +course. But this rain is going to keep up, if I’m +any judge, and though we might manage to reach +Riverhead, we certainly couldn’t undertake a ride +over the mountain trail in an open buckboard in +this downpour.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72'></a>72</span> +</p> +<p> +“But what are we going to do?” cried Hazel, +opening her eyes wide. She seemed in much distress. +</p> +<p> +“Do? Why, stay right here, my dear,” said +Jack. “That is, if you will allow that poetic license—because +‘dear’ rhymes with ‘here.’” +</p> +<p> +“Oh,” murmured Hazel, blushing. “Stay +here?” +</p> +<p> +“We have remained on board over night,” Cora +remarked. “But we’ll be a bit crowded,” and she +glanced appraisingly at Jack and his chums. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t worry about us, Sis,” he hastened to assure +her. “We can bunk anywhere, or sit up. I +don’t feel sleepy anyhow.” +</p> +<p> +“But we’ve got to eat,” said Walter. “Too bad +that chap didn’t have any fish. We could have +fried them on the gasoline stove.” The <em>Corbelbes</em> +was fitted up with a little galley, the girls often +having stayed on board for days at a time. +</p> +<p> +“Maybe we can catch some ourselves,” suggested +Paul. +</p> +<p> +“No outfit or bait,” remarked Jack. +</p> +<p> +“A bent pin and a piece of string?” suggested +Paul, but not with any degree of enthusiasm. +</p> +<p> +“Well, we’ve got to do something,” Cora declared. +She had again set the engine in motion, +but it was running only fast enough to overcome +the sluggish current in the creek. +</p> +<p> +“Stay here,” urged Jack. “We know where +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73'></a>73</span> +we are now, but if we go down stream in the darkness +we may fetch up at a place we don’t know.” +</p> +<p> +“You mean tie up here?” asked his sister. +</p> +<p> +“Sure. Cast the anchor, set the riding lights, +make everything snug below and aloft, my captainess, +and turn in. Set an anchor watch, heave +the lead, and ’ware the lee shore and breakers +ahead! Yo ho! My hearties! The stormy winds +do blow, do blow, do blow!” and Jack began howling +an old sea-song at the top of his voice. +</p> +<p> +“Jack, be quiet!” insisted Cora. “You’ll arouse +the neighborhood.” +</p> +<p> +“There aren’t any neighbors here,” he laughed. +“The only one there was has gone fishing, and he +doesn’t mind! Yo, he ho!” +</p> +<p> +“I guess to tie up is the best thing to do,” said +Paul, and there was something in his manner that +caused Cora to say: +</p> +<p> +“All right, Jack. Drop the anchor, and we’ll +stay here for the night.” +</p> +<p> +“And then see about something to eat,” suggested +Walter. +</p> +<p> +Jack made a dash outside, shoved over the anchor, +took a turn of the cable about a deck cleat +and came back into the cabin. The <em>Corbelbes</em> was +tied up for the night. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74'></a>74</span><a name='chX' id='chX'></a>CHAPTER X—A NIGHT RIDE</h2> +<p> +“Well, now that we’re here——” +</p> +<p> +“Because we’re here,” Walter interrupted Cora, +in the words of the foolish song. “Excuse me,” +he added, as he caught her look, “I didn’t mean +anything special.” +</p> +<p> +“Now that we’re here,” Cora resumed, “hadn’t +we better——” +</p> +<p> +“See to the eats,” broke in Paul. “No offense, +loidy!” he hastened to add, imitating a tramp, +“but wees would loik a bit of a bite——” +</p> +<p> +“Speaking of bites,” laughed Jack, “some fish +wouldn’t go half bad.” +</p> +<p> +“Will you be quiet!” commanded Cora. “I +want to say something!” +</p> +<p> +“Say on!” urged Jack. “Now that we are here, +as snug as a rug in a bug——” +</p> +<p> +Cora reached for something, she was not just +sure what, and Jack, knowing that his sister had a +straighter aim than have most girls, cried: +</p> +<p> +“Don’t shoot, Davy Crockett, I’ll come down.” +</p> +<p> +“You’d better,” Cora said, laughing in spite of +herself. “Now that we are here——” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75'></a>75</span> +</p> +<p> +“She said that before,” whispered Jack, but his +sister took no notice, going on with: +</p> +<p> +“We must see about something to eat. We have +enough for supper, but breakfast will be another +matter. I’d like to get some bacon and eggs. +That, with coffee, will make a good morning +meal.” +</p> +<p> +“And what, if I may be so bold as to ask,” came +from Bess, “is to be the menu for this evening.” +</p> +<p> +“We’ll have a look,” suggested Cora. Attached +to the small galley, in which was a gasoline stove, +was a sort of cupboard. An inspection of this did +not reveal as much as Cora had hoped for. +</p> +<p> +“There isn’t a great deal left; is there?” she +said. +</p> +<p> +“I should say not!” cried Jack, peering over +his sister’s shoulder. “Fellows, we’ve got to rustle +for the grub! Don’t all speak at once. Listen +to that!” and he signaled for silence, which, when +it came, enabled them all to hear the swish and +patter of the raindrops on the roof. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll go,” offered Walter. “I’m hungrier than +any of you, I guess, and I have a pair of rubbers +in my valise.” +</p> +<p> +“Regular fireman you are,” commented Jack. +“Why didn’t you bring rubber boots?” +</p> +<p> +“And I see Cora has an umbrella,” Walter went +on, ignoring Jack’s sarcasm. “I’ll go out in the +rain, and——” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76'></a>76</span> +</p> +<p> +“Give a correct imitation of a duck doing its +Christmas shopping!” gibed Jack. “Wally, you’re +all right!” +</p> +<p> +“If you had some of his public spirit we’d all +be better off,” said Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, don’t um be mad at um’s ‘ittle bruver!” +mocked Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, quit it!” begged his sister. +</p> +<p> +“Where can you get anything to eat around +here?” asked Paul. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know, but I can forage for it. The +presence of that fisherman clearly proves that this +is an inhabited land, and where there are inhabitants +there must be food. I may find a country +store, or, if I can’t find that, I’ll find a house, describe +our plight in such moving words as I am +able to command, and buy what they’ll sell.” +</p> +<p> +“I’d like a cup of tea,” murmured Belle. “My +nerves——” +</p> +<p> +“Are nothing to what they’ll be when the ghosts +of Camp Surprise begin to make the stairs stand +on their head,” broke in Jack. +</p> +<p> +“We have tea,” Cora said. “I’ll put the kettle +on at once. It seems a pity to have you go out in +this storm, though, Walter.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t mind a bit. I’m glad to do it.” +</p> +<p> +“He’ll say anything as long as there are ladies +present,” declared Jack. “But wait until you’re +gone. He’ll say you drove him to it.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77'></a>77</span> +</p> +<p> +Walter paid no attention to his tormenting +chum, but began talking to Cora as to what best +he had better try to get in the way of food, provided +he could find a store or a house where some +might be obtained. +</p> +<p> +And then, having donned his rubbers, and taking +Cora’s umbrella, Walter set off on his quest. +It was still raining hard, but the thunder and lightning +had ceased some time since. +</p> +<p> +While he was gone the others began their preparations +for spending the night on board. The +girls would occupy the main cabin, where there +were four berths. The after part of the boat +had been enclosed in heavy curtains when the rain +set in, and here the boys could sleep on the locker +cushions spread on the floor. They had done it +on one or two other occasions. +</p> +<p> +There were a few blankets, besides those for the +bunks, but the boys said they would not need many +coverings, as the night was warm. +</p> +<p> +Cora put the kettle on the gasoline stove, and +as soon as it boiled, tea was made. There was +condensed milk in the larder, and sugar for those +who wished it, though Bess bewailed the lack of +lemon, for she wanted to “reduce” she said, and +some one had told her lemon juice in tea was helpful. +</p> +<p> +Cora was setting out what remained of the sandwiches +and cake, and Jack was eyeing, rather dubiously, the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78'></a>78</span> +apology for a meal, when they heard +a hail: +</p> +<p> +“<em>Corbelbes</em> ahoy!” +</p> +<p> +“That’s Walter!” declared Paul. +</p> +<p> +“And may he come well-laden!” ejaculated Jack. +</p> +<p> +“You poor boy!” exclaimed Cora, sympathetically, +as Walter came dripping into the after cabin. +“Are you soaked?” +</p> +<p> +“Not quite so bad as that,” he answered, laying +down some brown-paper-wrapped bundles. +</p> +<p> +“Never mind how <em>he</em> is, what about the eats?” +asked Jack. +</p> +<p> +“You are heartless,” said Hazel, and then she +wished she had not spoken, for Jack flashed a look +at her, and whispered: +</p> +<p> +“Can you blame me for being heart-<em>less</em> where +<em>you</em> are?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, oh!” she murmured. +</p> +<p> +“Found a store about half a mile down the—well, +I wouldn’t call it a road,” and Walter looked +at his mud-splashed feet. “Say, rather, down the +swamp. Found a store there, and I got a few +things.” +</p> +<p> +“I should say you did!” exclaimed Bess, who, +with Belle, had opened the packages. “This will +be fine,” for Walter had purchased jellies, jams, +some tinned meat, bacon, eggs and enough canned +food, together with some rather doubtful oranges, +to make a substantial meal. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79'></a>79</span> +</p> +<p> +“That looks good to me!” declared Jack, while +Walter divested himself of his rubbers, and put +the umbrella where it would not flood the cabin. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, and even olives!” gasped Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“Olives for Olivia,” crooned Walter. “Say, +Jack, s’pose those overalls you went bathing in +would be dry enough for me?” +</p> +<p> +“Sure! Try ’em on. You’ll look sweet in ’em.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t care whether I look sweet as long as I +feel dry,” retorted Walter. +</p> +<p> +And while the girls prepared the supper, he +changed to the garments Jack had used, they having +dried sufficiently. +</p> +<p> +With the hot tea, and with what Walter had +foraged for, a really good meal was made. The +young people were hungry, and their appetites +made up for any lack in the nicety of the food. +</p> +<p> +“It was a regular country store,” Walter explained, +“but they had some good things.” +</p> +<p> +“And now we have ’em,” murmured Jack, tipping +back on his stool contentedly. +</p> +<p> +It was still early, for the storm had brought +darkness ahead of time, and, unwilling to retire +so soon with no very good prospects of sleeping, +the boys and girls sat up and talked. +</p> +<p> +“I wonder what Mr. and Mrs. Floyd will think, +when we fail to arrive on time,” remarked Cora. +“I hope they don’t send telegrams home, telling +the folks we have turned up missing.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80'></a>80</span> +</p> +<p> +“I don’t believe they will,” argued Jack. +“They’ll know the storm delayed us. And in the +morning we can send telegrams ourselves, notifying +our folks that we’re all right, any reports to +the contrary notwithstanding.” +</p> +<p> +The girls passed a fairly comfortable, and the +boys a rather uncomfortable night, but it could not, +as Jack said, last forever, and a bright morning +sun made them all forget the discomforts. +</p> +<p> +Hot coffee, bacon and eggs, that were fresher, +Cora said, than the high-priced ones at home, made +them all look at the day’s prospect with genial spirits. +</p> +<p> +“And now we’ll make another attempt to get to +Camp Surprise,” said Cora, as the anchor was +hauled up and the engine set in motion. +</p> +<p> +“I’m surprised that we didn’t get there before,” +Jack said. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, what a miserable pun!” groaned Walter. +</p> +<p> +Good time was made to the junction where Batter +Creek flowed into the Chelton river. It was +not much of a junction and the creek was so unimportant +a stream that Cora and her friends had +never thought of going up it. +</p> +<p> +“But this time we did it in spite of ourselves,” +said Bess. +</p> +<p> +“It was only because of the mist and darkness +that I made the wrong turn,” declared Cora. +</p> +<p> +They stopped long enough to send reassuring +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81'></a>81</span> +telegrams home, and also one to Mr. and Mrs. +Floyd, explaining the delay. +</p> +<p> +Again they were on their way up the Chelton +river, and for a time all seemed to go well. But +four miles from their destination, engine trouble +developed, and when the cause of it was discovered, +it proved to be a break that needed the attention +of a machinist. +</p> +<p> +“We could leave the boat here and go on,” +Cora said, “but we have made arrangements to +have it taken care of at Riverhead, and the man I +have engaged won’t know what to think if we don’t +come.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, let’s wait here until it’s fixed,” suggested +Belle. “We want to arrive in style. It won’t take +long, and to go on we’d have either to hire another +boat or go by wagon.” +</p> +<p> +“All right,” Cora agreed. +</p> +<p> +The repairs took longer than they anticipated, +and it was not until late afternoon that they were +able to go on. This time they arrived safely at +Riverhead, shortly before dusk, which was the +time they should have been there the previous +evening. +</p> +<p> +The man who was to dock the <em>Corbelbes</em> was +on hand and took charge of the craft. He also directed +the party to the big waiting buckboard, in +charge of a driver, that had been sent by Mr. +Floyd to meet the girls and boys. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82'></a>82</span> +</p> +<p> +“You’re a little late,” said the man. “Not that +I mind, but we’ll have to make a night drive of +it.” +</p> +<p> +“We don’t care,” Cora said, “as long as the +roads are safe.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, they’re safe enough.” +</p> +<p> +“What about supper?” asked Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Mrs. Floyd said she’d have it ready for you,” +the driver stated. +</p> +<p> +“I’ve got some sandwiches and a box of candy,” +observed Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Then we won’t starve,” said Jack. +</p> +<p> +“May blessing be upon thy head!” intoned Walter. +</p> +<p> +The driver looked at them in a queer sort of +way, as though he did not know altogether how +to take them, and he was heard to murmur something +about “queer city folks.” +</p> +<p> +The valises and other belongings they had +brought along on the motor boat were put in the +big wagon, the driver climbed to his seat, and, with +the shadows of night falling, they set off up the +mountain for Camp Surprise. +</p> +<p> +“Some buckboard this!” remarked Jack, as he +surveyed the vehicle. +</p> +<p> +“It sure is,” responded Walter. “The largest +buckboard I ever saw.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83'></a>83</span><a name='chXI' id='chXI'></a>CHAPTER XI—IN CAMP SURPRISE</h2> +<p> +“Isn’t it dark!” voiced Belle, nestling against +her sister. +</p> +<p> +“Well, we don’t have many electric lights up +here,” chuckled the driver of the buckboard. +</p> +<p> +“How do you see the road?” asked Cora, the +wagon lurching along over the rocky way, though +riding much easier than an ordinary vehicle would +have done, for buckboards are made for just this +purpose. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t try to see it,” the driver said. “I let +the horses pick their way. They’re like cats, I +reckon—can see in the dark.” +</p> +<p> +“What sort of place is this Camp Surprise?” +asked Jack, giving Walter, next to whom he sat, +a nudge as a signal to play second to his game of +questioning. “We’ll get some inside information +about this business,” Jack said in an aside to his +chum. +</p> +<p> +“Camp Surprise?” repeated the driver. “Well, +it’s a mighty nice place, as far as scenery goes—for +them as likes scenery,” he hastened to add. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84'></a>84</span> +“I don’t care much for it myself. There’s a waterfall, +and a little lake, though I don’t reckon you +could get your boat up to it,” and he chuckled. +“Yes, folks what come up here always like this +neighborhood, and Camp Surprise is one of the +best outfits around here. You boys are going to +take the small bungalow, I hear.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” assented Jack. “If we get there alive!” +he said quickly, for the wagon gave such a lurch +that Jack, who was on his feet to assume a more +comfortable position, nearly slid out. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, this isn’t anything,” the driver said. “That +stone must ‘a’ been put there since I come down +this afternoon,” and he chuckled again. “We’ll +get there alive all right.” +</p> +<p> +“But what I meant was,” went on Jack; “what +sort of place is our camp? It has a queer name, +you see, and they say—at least we’ve heard—that +queer things go on there. What are they?” +</p> +<p> +The driver was silent a moment, and then he +answered: +</p> +<p> +“Well, I don’t take much stock in them stories +myself. I never see anything out of the way happen.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, don’t spoil all the romance that way!” +begged Cora. “Aren’t there any ghosts?” +</p> +<p> +“Ghosts! Huh!” the man fairly snorted. “I +never see any.” +</p> +<p> +“But about things being taken?” ventured Bess. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85'></a>85</span> +</p> +<p> +“And the furniture being moved?” asked Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Humph!” and the driver seemed out of patience. +“Things will be taken from almost any +camp or bungalow if you don’t watch ’em. Thieves +up here aren’t any more virtuous than in the city.” +</p> +<p> +“And didn’t you hear anything about chairs and +tables being moved about?” asked Cora. +</p> +<p> +The driver fidgeted in his seat. +</p> +<p> +“G’lang there!” he called to his horses. +</p> +<p> +“Didn’t you?” persisted Jack’s sister. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, yes, there was some such story,” the driver +finally admitted, slowly. “But I reckon it was just +boys skylarking. That was all. Boys will go into +any place they can get in you know, and I reckon +when they found the bungalow of Camp Surprise +without any one in it they just naturally went in +and cut up.” +</p> +<p> +“If they try anything like that when we’re +around, there’ll be trouble!” threatened Jack. +</p> +<p> +Cora sighed. +</p> +<p> +“All the poetry seems to be going out of it,” +she said. “I hoped we would have at least one +visitation from the spirits.” +</p> +<p> +“You may yet,” Walter whispered in her ear. +“In my private opinion this driver person is concealing +something from us.” +</p> +<p> +“Do you think so?” asked Cora, hopefully. +</p> +<p> +“Yes. He’s afraid we won’t stay if he tells all +the horrible details of the story.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86'></a>86</span> +</p> +<p> +“What object would it be to him to have us +stay?” +</p> +<p> +“Why, he may get a percentage on our board. +Or perhaps he has the only mountain-cruising buckboard +in these parts, and he doesn’t want to lose +trade. Have done with thy queries, Friend Jack,” +he went on. “We’ll scare up a ghost or two for +the young ladies ourselves, if this sordid and heartless +driver person refuses.” +</p> +<p> +Jack left off with his questions about Camp Surprise, +and the conversation became general. The +driver, who volunteered the information that his +name was Jim Dobson, said there was good fishing +in the pool of water at the foot of the cataract. +</p> +<p> +“All you have to do is to throw in your baited +hook,” he told the boys, “and haul out as many +fish as you want for breakfast, dinner or supper.” +</p> +<p> +“That sounds good!” commented Jack. “I’m +glad I brought my pole.” +</p> +<p> +“Same here,” echoed Paul, who, when he had +time, was an ardent fisherman. +</p> +<p> +Up and up, and on and on they went over the +rough mountain trail, for they had to ascend to a +height of about fifteen hundred feet to reach the +reservation owned by a company which had divided +it into camps and bungalows. +</p> +<p> +“My, but it is dark!” said Cora, after a period +of silence. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87'></a>87</span> +</p> +<p> +A lantern was slung under the buckboard, and +cast gleams of light on the ground, but the darkness +seemed only blacker by contrast. The horses, +however, did not seem to find any difficulties in +making their way. They never stumbled, though +the boys and girls tried in vain to distinguish anything +like a road ahead of them. The wagon +was going along in a lane of trees, which in most +places met in an arch overhead, thus cutting off +what little light might have come from the stars. +</p> +<p> +Occasionally there would be a break in this leafy +arch, and then glimpses could be had of the star-studded +sky above. It was a beautifully clear evening, +and warm enough to be comfortable. +</p> +<p> +Now and then Jim Dobson spoke without being +asked a question, but he was not unduly talkative. +He seemed to enjoy the chatter of the young folks, +chuckling now and then at some of their remarks. +</p> +<p> +As for Cora and the others they talked about +everything imaginable, as you may well imagine, +from the latest dance steps to what they would do +now that they were really starting their summer +vacation. +</p> +<p> +“Is there any golf up here?” asked Bess, who +had taken up the sport to “reduce.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, not enough to hurt,” the driver said. +“Once in a while I hear of a case, but it ain’t nothing +like as bad as hay fever, and there’s none of +that here.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88'></a>88</span> +</p> +<p> +“Mercy!” whispered Bess to Cora. “I guess +he thinks golf is a disease!” +</p> +<p> +“Well, don’t say anything. He’s real nice.” +</p> +<p> +“I won’t. But I guess I’d better ask only plain +questions after this.” +</p> +<p> +“I guess so,” Cora agreed. +</p> +<p> +“Come on there, boys, not that way!” the driver +suddenly called, as he pulled his team to the right. +“They want to take the road home,” he explained. +“There’s a turn here.” +</p> +<p> +“How you know it I can’t tell,” said Jack. “It’s +all as dark as a pocket.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I’m used to it and so are the horses. We’re +on a private road now, leading to Camp Surprise. +Be there in half an hour.” +</p> +<p> +“Are you sure this is the right road?” asked +Cora. “We don’t want to be lost again,” and she +mentioned their going up the creek instead of the +river. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, sure, this is the right road,” the driver assured +them. +</p> +<p> +There was silence for a little while, and suddenly +Belle grasped Cora’s arm, and whispered: +</p> +<p> +“What’s that?” +</p> +<p> +“Where?” inquired Cora, for Belle’s voice was +startling. +</p> +<p> +“Over to the left—in the woods. Don’t you see +something white?” +</p> +<p> +Cora looked where Belle directed. At the moment the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89'></a>89</span> +others were deep in a discussion about +something of comparative unimportance. +</p> +<p> +“There!” whispered Belle, tensely, and she gripped +Cora’s arm hard. +</p> +<p> +“Yes—yes. I see it!” +</p> +<p> +“It—it looks like a—a ghost!” +</p> +<p> +They both saw something white that seemed to +float, rather than move among the trees, and Cora +was about to call it to the attention of the others +when it disappeared. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t say anything about it,” she quickly whispered +to Belle. “Of course it wasn’t a ghost. It +may have been a wisp of fog, or some one going +through the woods. Then there’s that—oh, what +do they call that light which comes from rotting +wood?” +</p> +<p> +“You mean <em>ignis fatuus</em>?” asked Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Yes; that’s it. Will-o’-the-wisp some folks term +it. It comes from phosphorus. It may have been +that.” +</p> +<p> +They went on a little farther, and suddenly a +light shone through the woods, while a dull rumble +and roar, increasing in intensity, came to the +ears of all. +</p> +<p> +“What’s that?” asked Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Camp Surprise,” announced the driver. +“That’s the waterfall you hear. Here we be!” +he called in louder tones, as an approaching lantern +flashed through the dark forest. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90'></a>90</span><a name='chXII' id='chXII'></a>CHAPTER XII—DISAPPOINTMENT</h2> +<p> +“Well, well! Glad to see you!” called a small, +grizzled, but cheerful-faced man, as he came out +to the buckboard. “Got here all right did you?” +</p> +<p> +“This is Mr. Floyd,” explained the driver. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, we’re here,” said Cora. “Sorry to be so +late, but we had engine trouble and——” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t make no manner of difference at all. +We’re used to seeing people come early and late. +I’ll help set your things inside. Here comes Mrs. +Floyd.” +</p> +<p> +“Is that them?” asked a woman’s voice. “The +Kimball party?” +</p> +<p> +“They’re here,” her husband answered while +the boys helped the girls down from the wagon, +and the driver and Mr. Floyd looked after the +baggage. +</p> +<p> +“Glad to see you all!” went on Mrs. Floyd, who +was the same genial sort of personage as her husband. +“I was afraid you’d give us another disappointment, +and not get here.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, we’re here,” affirmed Cora, “and we’re +sorry to give you so much trouble by being late.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91'></a>91</span> +</p> +<p> +“No trouble at all!” the chaperon assured them. +“Come right in. Supper is all ready and——” +</p> +<p> +“Whoop!” +</p> +<p> +“Supper is my middle name!” +</p> +<p> +“Lead us to it!” +</p> +<p> +Thus in turn cried Jack, Walter and Paul. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Floyd looked a bit startled as she stood +revealed in the light of a lamp, the illumination +streaming out of the door of a big bungalow. +</p> +<p> +“It’s only the boys,” explained Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Only!” accented Bess with a resigned expression. +</p> +<p> +“Jack!” chided Cora. “Why don’t you behave? +Hazel, say something to your brother, you +and I have more responsibility than the twins.” +</p> +<p> +Hazel did not know what to say, and the girls +could not help laughing, in spite of themselves at +the antics of Jack and his two chums. +</p> +<p> +“Welcome to Camp Surprise,” said Mrs. Floyd +as the girls followed her into the house, or rather, +bungalow, for it was of that style of architecture, +and was but a story and a half high. The boys +followed the girls, Mr. Floyd and the driver +bringing up the rear with the valises. +</p> +<p> +“Do we eat with the family, or at second table?” +Jack demanded. +</p> +<p> +“You shan’t eat with us if you don’t behave,” +his sister threatened him. “Do quiet down, boys. +Mrs. Floyd may not like——” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92'></a>92</span> +</p> +<p> +“Oh, don’t worry about <em>me</em>, Miss Kimball,” +the chaperon hastened to say. “I’ve raised a family, +and I know what <em>boys</em> are.” +</p> +<p> +“If she doesn’t she’ll find out before those three +leave,” observed Belle. +</p> +<p> +The buckboard rattled off in the darkness and +the young people were thus thrown on their own +responsibilities as far as getting away from the +place was concerned, for it was near no railroad. +</p> +<p> +“Isn’t he afraid to go home alone?” asked +Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Who?” inquired Mr. Floyd. +</p> +<p> +“That driver; Mr. Dobson I think he said his +name was.” +</p> +<p> +“Afraid? Him? I guess not!” exclaimed the +caretaker. “What’s there to be afraid of?” +</p> +<p> +“The dark woods,” said Belle. “Cora and I +thought——” +</p> +<p> +“Belle, dear, don’t you think we’d better see +to our baggage?” interrupted Cora with a sharp +glance at her chum. She raised her eyebrows +meaningly. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, yes, I suppose we had. Of course he, being +a big man, wouldn’t have anything to be afraid +of,” she concluded, nodding in the direction of Mr. +Dobson. +</p> +<p> +“But there’s nothing here to be afraid of,” insisted +Mr. Floyd. “Leastways, nothing you can +put your hand on, though——” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93'></a>93</span> +</p> +<p> +“Harry,” said Mrs. Floyd, and it seemed as +though there was a caution in her voice, “I think +I’ll have to ask you to bring in some more wood. +I want a hot fire to finish supper.” +</p> +<p> +“All right,” he answered, and went out. +</p> +<p> +“Now if you young ladies want to freshen up +you’ll have time before I get the meal on the +table,” went on the chaperon. “The boys can go +with my husband and they’ll be shown where they +are to stay. Their bungalow is just across on the +other side of the mountain stream. I don’t know +just what arrangements you made about the meals +for the young men, Miss Kimball——” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, they’re to shift for themselves,” said +Jack’s sister. “They are so uncertain, going and +coming, that no earthly mortal could tell when to +feed them. They were to have supper with us to-night, +and perhaps breakfast in the morning, my +mother said. But after that they’ll look after +things themselves. They’d rather, anyhow.” +</p> +<p> +“Sure,” assented Jack, while the others nodded +assent. “We can’t be positive when we’ll be on +hand.” +</p> +<p> +The boys followed Mr. Floyd, while Cora and +her chums looked about the bungalow before going +to their rooms, where their trunks had been carried, +having arrived safely the day before. +</p> +<p> +The main floor of the bungalow consisted of one +big living room, with three smaller rooms opening +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94'></a>94</span> +off from it. These could be used as sitting rooms +or bed rooms, folding bunks making beds at night. +The living room, as also an alcove dining room, +was simply but tastefully furnished, with rustic +furniture. At one end was a big stone fireplace, +though it was so warm now that no blaze was +needed. +</p> +<p> +A broad stairway gave access to the upper story +and here the bedrooms were. Though the rooms +there were not high-ceilinged they had such large +windows that plenty of air was assured. There +were two bath rooms, a spring up in the hills filling +a tank on the roof so that a supply of running +water was to be had. +</p> +<p> +The bedrooms each contained a white iron bed +and just enough furniture to make a simple life +agreeable. There was a touch of daintiness, mingled +with utility, and the girls were delighted with +their apartments. +</p> +<p> +Soap and water, with a mere suggestion of talcum +powder, wonderfully refreshed the four, and +they were ready for the appetizing meal, odors of +which were wafted up from the kitchen. +</p> +<p> +This was in a separate part of the bungalow, and +the quarters of the caretaker and his wife were in +a building connecting with the bungalow by a covered +passageway. +</p> +<p> +“There come the boys back!” exclaimed Hazel, +giving a hasty glance in a mirror, as she floated +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95'></a>95</span> +out of Cora’s room, having come in to borrow +some hairpins. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, you can hear them before you see them,” +agreed Jack’s sister. “I hope Mrs. Floyd has +enough for them to eat.” +</p> +<p> +“And for us, too. I’m hungry, Cora. But she +looked like a good cook.” +</p> +<p> +“Mother said she was. Well, are you ready +to go down?” she called to Bess and Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Whenever you are,” answered the plump twin. +</p> +<p> +They found the boys waiting for them in the +dining room, which opened off the living room at +the rear, and a supper which met the most exacting +requirements of Jack and his chums was soon +on the table. +</p> +<p> +“How do you like your quarters?” asked Cora +of her brother. +</p> +<p> +“Couldn’t be better. Not that we’ll be in them +much, though. We’ll be over here or out-of-doors +most of the time.” +</p> +<p> +“You can’t live here,” Cora warned him. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, you’ll be glad enough to have us when the +ghost begins to walk,” prophesied Walter. +</p> +<p> +“Has anything really strange happened here, +Mrs. Floyd?” asked Cora, determined to get at +the bottom of the matter. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I suppose you must have heard the stories +about Camp Surprise,” answered the chaperon. +“It would be strange if you had not. And I must +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96'></a>96</span> +admit that there have been little happenings here +that I can’t explain.” +</p> +<p> +“Such as——,” hinted Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, disturbances in the bungalow when we +weren’t here. Misplaced furniture, and once some +silver was taken. But that might be the work +of tramps. I don’t set much store by that. However, +don’t let it worry you. I don’t believe anything +will happen while you’re here.” +</p> +<p> +“I hope it does,” Jack said. “We’re going to +lay the ghost.” +</p> +<p> +Talk went on during the meal and toward the +close Jack said: +</p> +<p> +“This sure is a fine place! You ought to see +the waterfall.” +</p> +<p> +“Is it nice?” asked Cora. They could hear the +roar of it as they sat at table. +</p> +<p> +“It’s great! I’m going to take some pictures of +it,” said Walter. “And the way to our bungalow +is over a bridge just made for lovers to stand on +and look down into the water.” +</p> +<p> +“As long as they don’t <em>fall</em> down into the water +they’ll be all right,” commented Paul. “But it +sure is nice. Our shack is just across the stream.” +</p> +<p> +“We’ll be all ready to respond to the first alarm, +girls,” promised Walter, as the boys left the main +bungalow later in the evening to repair to their +own. “If the tables begin dancing, or the chairs +do a jig, call us.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97'></a>97</span> +</p> +<p> +“It’s a little far to shout,” said Cora. “We’ll +have to put up some sort of telephone from one +bungalow to the other.” +</p> +<p> +It must be admitted that the girls were a little +nervous when they went to bed that night. Tales +of queer happenings, not easily explicable, are apt +to get on the nerves of the best of us. But the +young people were tired from their journey and +lack of restful sleep the night before, so they had +hopes of a good rest. +</p> +<p> +Cora was awakened by a shout under her window. +</p> +<p> +“I say! Sis! Cora! Stick out your head!” cried +Jack. +</p> +<p> +Slipping on a robe Cora went to the casement. +</p> +<p> +“Go on away, Jack!” she ordered. “Let the +girls sleep.” +</p> +<p> +“Sleep? Why, it’s nine o’clock,” he said. “Say, +did the ghost walk?” +</p> +<p> +Cora yawned. +</p> +<p> +“Not even a creep,” she said. “I didn’t hear a +sound.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, if that isn’t poor luck!” exclaimed Jack +in disappointed tones. “There we go and stay +awake half the night, expecting a summons to capture +a spirit, and nothing happens. Camp Surprise! +Where’s the surprise come in, I wonder.” +</p> +<p> +But there was plenty of time, as Jack soon +learned. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98'></a>98</span><a name='chXIII' id='chXIII'></a>CHAPTER XIII—THAT NOISE</h2> +<p> +One after another the girls drifted lazily downstairs +to the dainty breakfast Mrs. Floyd had prepared +for them. +</p> +<p> +“I just couldn’t bear to get up,” confessed Bess, +“though I knew it was a perfectly glorious day +outside.” +</p> +<p> +“It is wonderful,” declared Cora. +</p> +<p> +“How do you know? Have you been out?” +asked Hazel, with a questioning look at Cora’s +negligee. +</p> +<p> +“Peeped from the window—Jack called to me,” +explained his sister. +</p> +<p> +“I was <em>so</em> tired,” said Belle. “I thought I never +would get enough sleep. I wouldn’t have gotten +up if a ghost had called me.” +</p> +<p> +“Jack was a bit disappointed that we didn’t call +on them for help,” remarked Cora, and she detailed +her brother’s morning salutation. +</p> +<p> +“I think it’s all perfect nonsense,” declared +Belle. “Of course I don’t mean you, Cora,” she +said, “for you only told us what you heard. But +I don’t believe a thing will happen.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99'></a>99</span> +</p> +<p> +“I hope nothing unpleasant does,” remarked +Bess, tucking back a rebellious lock of her pretty +hair, and glancing at her pink nails which she kept, +as Jack taunted her, “in a state of faultless repair.” +</p> +<p> +“Did you sleep well?” asked Mrs. Floyd, coming +in with more coffee. +</p> +<p> +“Fine,” answered Cora. “And please don’t +think we are going to impose on you in this way +every morning. We came up to help with the +work, and we’re going to do it. But this morning——” +</p> +<p> +“I know, my dear. You girls don’t exactly need +any beauty sleep,” and she beamed at the four +pretty faces that smiled back at her, “but you must +have been tired after your trip. I don’t in the +least mind.” +</p> +<p> +“You’ll find us quite energetic after this,” predicted +Belle. “That is all but my sister, and you +see she is——” +</p> +<p> +“Belle Robinson! If you talk about me that +way I’ll—I’ll—— Oh! why do you all poke fun at +me?” and Bess seemed quite distressed. +</p> +<p> +“I won’t any more,” promised Belle. “She is +trying to ‘reduce’” she added to Mrs. Floyd, “so +let her do all the work she wants to. We shan’t +stop her.” +</p> +<p> +“What’s the program to-day?” asked Hazel, as +the girls finished their coffee. “It is perfectly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100'></a>100</span> +glorious outside. From my window I can see part +of the fall. It’s beautiful. I could sit and look +at it forever.” +</p> +<p> +“And not want anybody to share the view?” +asked Cora, pinching her blushing cheek. +</p> +<p> +“The witness refuses to answer,” mocked Belle. +“But we mustn’t dawdle here all day. Let’s go and +get dressed, and by then——” +</p> +<p> +There came a knock at the door. +</p> +<p> +“May we come in?” asked Walter. +</p> +<p> +“We—want—our—breakfast!” bawled Jack +and Paul. +</p> +<p> +“Mercy no! Don’t let them in!” cried Bess, +beating a precipitate retreat. +</p> +<p> +“We—are—coming!” chanted Walter. +</p> +<p> +“Stay out a minute,” ordered Cora. “Don’t be +afraid, the door’s locked,” she added to her companions. +“We’ve just finished,” she went on in +louder tones. “Hurry with your breakfasts, and +then prepare to give us a good time.” +</p> +<p> +“Your majesty’s wishes shall be obeyed,” declared +Paul, and as the girls went upstairs to put +on more conventional garments, the boys hurried +in, bubbling over with good spirits, greeting Mrs. +Floyd effusively, and preparing to devour everything +in sight, which not very remarkable feat +(for them) they nearly accomplished. +</p> +<p> +“Did that waterfall bother you?” asked Jack, +of his chums. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101'></a>101</span> +</p> +<p> +“Kept me awake a little,” admitted Walter. +“Sounded a bit like the surf at first, and I +dreamed I was down at Crystal Bay again.” +</p> +<p> +“We sure had a swell time down there,” said +Jack. +</p> +<p> +“I like the mountains better,” confessed Paul. +“This place suits me.” +</p> +<p> +“It will be all right,” Jack said. “Now then, +let’s see what’s doing.” +</p> +<p> +“Fishing for mine,” declared Walter. “That +pool below the fall looks good to me.” +</p> +<p> +The others also voted to try their luck as disciples +of Izaak Walton, and presently, with rods +and lines, having dug some worms where Mr. +Floyd showed them a place, they were patiently +waiting on the bank of the stream that flowed away +from the waterfall. +</p> +<p> +Camp Surprise was situated amid one of the +wildest and most desolate parts of the mountains +west of Chelton. It was remarkable, in a way, +that such a lonesome place could be found so close +to such a number of large and thriving towns and +villages. But it was this wildness and isolation +that gave it the peculiar charm, and which had +led the land company to establish a number of +camps and bungalows in the vicinity. +</p> +<p> +So rugged and diversified was the scenery, that, +with the exception of the two bungalows occupied +respectively by the boys and girls, no other two +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102'></a>102</span> +buildings were in sight of each other. Though +not far removed from one another the dwelling +places were off by themselves, giving a seclusion +so often demanded by those who go to summer +resorts. +</p> +<p> +At present, as the season had hardly opened, +there were no other visitors at Camp Surprise, +though many were expected later in July and August. +Camp Surprise was not the real name of the +place, which was called by the development company, +Mountain View. But Camp Surprise had +been applied because of the queer happenings, as +has been intimated, though so far our friends had +seen no occasion for such appellation. +</p> +<p> +The waterfall and the stream which flowed from +it divided practically in half the area of land owned +by the Mountain View Company. Having its origin +some miles back in the mountains, the stream +was augmented by brooks, creeks and other +streams until, on reaching Camp Surprise, it had +become almost a river. +</p> +<p> +Flowing along peacefully, through green meadows, +or down the slope of some rocky hill, the +river came suddenly to a great cleft in the hills, +and down this it plunged in a most beautiful fall, +from a height of about fifty feet, and perhaps a +hundred feet in breadth. +</p> +<p> +At the foot of the fall was a deep pool, worn in +the limestone rocks by the erosion of the falling +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103'></a>103</span> +water, and there the white foam boiled and bubbled +in a miniature whirlpool and rapids until the +stream slipped farther on down the side of the +mountain, in a series of little cascades, in which +were, so it was said, many fishes. +</p> +<p> +The boys had selected as their spot a quiet one, +where a sort of eddy, or back-water, made a quiet +pool that looked, as Jack said, “like a regular +bachelor apartment for fish.” +</p> +<p> +“Keep still! Don’t move!” called Belle, as she +and her chums, now with all their “war paint on,” +as Walter hinted, approached the three young +men. +</p> +<p> +“What is it—the ghost or the furniture mover?” +asked Walter. +</p> +<p> +“I just want to get a picture,” Belle explained, +snapping her camera. “You look so respectable +to what you do ordinarily.” +</p> +<p> +“Just for that you shan’t hold my hand!” declared +Paul. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t come any nearer,” warned Walter. “I +think I have a bite. Yes! He’s on!” he cried +as the tip of his pole bent, and a moment later he +hauled out a flashing beauty. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I want to catch one!” cried Cora, who +was as ardent a lover of outdoor sports as any of +her boy friends. +</p> +<p> +“You may take my pole,” offered Paul, as Walter +unhooked his fish. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104'></a>104</span> +</p> +<p> +“Oh, no, I don’t want to deprive you,” Cora +objected. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll sit near and watch you—have all the fun +and let you do the work,” he retorted. And the +boys and girls were soon together on the bank. +</p> +<p> +Luck was fairly good, and presently enough +fish had been caught for a “good mess,” as Mr. +Floyd observed when he came past. +</p> +<p> +“We’ll cook them for you,” offered Belle. +“Won’t we, girls?” +</p> +<p> +“Do you know how?” asked Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Listen to him!” mocked Bess. +</p> +<p> +As Mr. Floyd and his wife had to go to one of +the more distant bungalows, to see about some repairs, +and as they would be gone most of the day, +Cora and her chums agreed to be the housekeepers +and to let the boys share the lunch with them. +</p> +<p> +“Which isn’t such a concession after all,” Jack +said, “seeing as how we caught the fish.” +</p> +<p> +“I caught one myself,” Cora declared. +</p> +<p> +“With Paul’s pole, so that doesn’t count,” retorted +her brother quickly. +</p> +<p> +They had a jolly time at lunch and spent the +afternoon roaming about the mountainside. The +girls took pictures of the fall, which was really a +beauty-spot, and some of the prints were afterward +enlarged, and they made most charming pictures. +</p> +<p> +“There’s the hotel,” said Paul, as they came +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105'></a>105</span> +out on a ledge of rock, and looked down in a +valley. “That’s where I’m going to have some +tango tea.” +</p> +<p> +“To-night?” asked Jack. “I’m with you if you +go.” +</p> +<p> +“Count me in,” added Walter. “I haven’t had +a good dance, not since——” +</p> +<p> +“The one with me,” cut in Cora, for she and +Walter were good partners. +</p> +<p> +“Right—oh, little one!” he cried. “Shall we +all go down to-night?” +</p> +<p> +The hotel was about a mile from the Mountain +View property, and was quite a well-known hostelry, +though the season was not yet in full swing. +</p> +<p> +“Some other night,” suggested Cora. “We +haven’t really gotten settled yet, and we don’t +know what time Mrs. Floyd will come back. Besides, +do they let any others than guests and their +friends dance?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I guess so,” said Walter. “We’ll find out. +But if you don’t want to go to-night we’ll wait.” +</p> +<p> +This was agreed to, and the rest of the day was +spent on the part of the girls in getting their rooms +in order, putting away their dresses and arranging +for supper, for they were going to do much of +their own work in camp, Mrs. Floyd being more +of a chaperon and general manager than housekeeper +or cook. +</p> +<p> +The boys said they would shift for themselves. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106'></a>106</span> +</p> +<p> +“Aren’t you going to get your suppers?” asked +Cora of her brother, as she saw him and his two +chums going down the road about five o’clock in +the afternoon. +</p> +<p> +“Later,” he answered. “We’re going for the +mail now. It gets in about this time, and Walter +is expecting a letter.” +</p> +<p> +“No more than you are!” was the quick retort. +</p> +<p> +“Bring us all one!” called Bess. “Does the mail +really come up here?” +</p> +<p> +It did, twice a day it developed, coming to the +little village of Mountain View, which was about +a mile from Camp Surprise. +</p> +<p> +“Maybe there’ll be some word about your car, +Cora,” said her brother. +</p> +<p> +“That’s too good to hope for, Jack.” +</p> +<p> +There was a letter for Cora from her mother, +but there was no news of the car. And as there +were epistles also for Bess, Belle and Hazel, the +boys took great credit to themselves for having +fulfilled the commands of the girls. +</p> +<p> +“And we think we ought to be rewarded, too,” +said Walter. +</p> +<p> +“What form ought the reward to take?” Cora +asked. +</p> +<p> +“The form of supper,” was the quick answer. +“We don’t feel like pitching in and opening a tin +of corned beef just now. Feed us to-night, and +we’ll rustle the grub for ourselves after this.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107'></a>107</span> +</p> +<p> +“Well, in view of the fact that you’ve been so +nice to us, we will. Shan’t we, girls?” asked +Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Yes!” came in an unhesitating chorus; and +once more the boys ate bounteously with no effort +on their part. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Floyd and her husband returned about +eight o’clock, to find the young people playing +games in the big living room, and having a jolly +time. +</p> +<p> +They planned an excursion for the next day, to +include a stop at the hotel to ask about dance privileges, +and then, this having been arranged for, +good nights were said. +</p> +<p> +Cora, whose room adjoined that of Belle, was +awakened some time in the night by a touch on her +arm. +</p> +<p> +“Yes! What is it?” she asked, sitting up quickly, +and reaching for the little electric flashlight +she always had under her pillow. “Oh, it’s you,” +and she revealed Belle’s face. “What’s the matter—are +you ill?” +</p> +<p> +“No, but listen! Did you hear that—that +noise?” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108'></a>108</span><a name='chXIV' id='chXIV'></a>CHAPTER XIV—WAS IT THUNDER?</h2> +<p> +The silence of Cora’s room, into which Belle +had tiptoed, was broken only by the accentuated +breathing of the two girls. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t hear anything,” began Cora. “Are +you sure——” +</p> +<p> +“Listen!” interrupted her chum. “Did you +hear it then?” +</p> +<p> +For a moment Cora was not aware of anything, +and then there seemed gradually to come to her a +dull, scraping sound. Perhaps it would be more +correct to call it a vibration. If you have ever +tried to raise a window which fits loosely in the +frame sidewise, as compared to the other direction, +and have felt it go up in a series of vibrations, +you will understand what is meant. The +whole room seemed to tremble like the shaking of +the window. +</p> +<p> +The whole bungalow, too, seemed to be vibrating +and delicately trembling from some cause—a +deep, low and hardly audible sound that was, in +effect, more sensation than noise. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109'></a>109</span> +</p> +<p> +“It’s the waterfall,” said Cora. “Don’t be a +goose, Belle!” +</p> +<p> +“I’m not. It’s a noise. Can’t you hear it above +the sound of the water?” +</p> +<p> +Cora listened more intently. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, I can,” she reluctantly confessed. “It’s +like the rumbling of a wagon going past the +house.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” agreed Belle in a whisper. “But it isn’t +a wagon. There isn’t any out at this hour, and +the noise is in this bungalow, not outside.” +</p> +<p> +Cora agreed to that, also. She snapped on the +switch of her little portable light, so that it would +glow without the necessity of holding her finger +on the push-button, and then she slipped on her +robe, and put her feet in slippers. Belle was similarly +attired. +</p> +<p> +“What are you going to do?” asked Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Find that noise,” whispered Cora. “But don’t +let’s wake up the others. It may be—nothing, +and they’d only laugh.” +</p> +<p> +“It can’t be nothing,” insisted Belle. “There +it sounds louder than ever.” +</p> +<p> +Together they went silently to the door of +Cora’s room. But either their movements or the +queer noise had awakened Bess in the adjoining +apartment. +</p> +<p> +“Is that you, Cora?” she called. +</p> +<p> +“Yes. It’s nothing. I’m going to get a drink, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110'></a>110</span> +Bess. I am,” she added in a whisper to Belle, to +justify herself. +</p> +<p> +“Bring me one,” begged Bess, sleepily. +</p> +<p> +It was evident that the noise which had alarmed—or +if not alarmed, had awakened—Belle, had +not disturbed her sister. For as Belle and Cora +went toward the door they could both hear and +feel the vibration more plainly now. +</p> +<p> +“What can it be?” asked Belle. “Some one trying +to get in?” +</p> +<p> +“Nonsense!” chided Cora. +</p> +<p> +“But it sounds like raising a sticking window. +Are you going to call Mr. Floyd?” +</p> +<p> +“I wish he weren’t so far off,” said Cora, pausing +undeterminedly in the middle of the room. +“He might just as well be in another building as +where he is. I don’t like going through that connecting +passage. And he and his wife both sleep +soundly. She told me so.” +</p> +<p> +“We ought to have some means of summoning +them—or the boys,” continued Belle. +</p> +<p> +“We can always scream,” Cora remarked. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, and startle every one. I almost screamed +when I heard the noise, and then I thought I’d +come in to you.” +</p> +<p> +“I’m glad you did. Can you hear it now?” +</p> +<p> +They were out in the hall, and could see the light +that was kept aglow in the bath room. Cora +switched off her electric. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111'></a>111</span> +</p> +<p> +“I don’t hear it,” affirmed Belle. “The noise +has stopped.” +</p> +<p> +It had, that was certain. The silence of the +night outside was broken only by the distant roar +of the waterfall, a sound with which by this time +the girls had become so familiar that they did not +notice it unless they listened especially for it, as the +receiver of a wireless message must be tuned to +catch the wave impulses of a certain length. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t hear it,” said Cora, breathing softly, +as Belle was doing. +</p> +<p> +There was no more noise. +</p> +<p> +“Could it have been distant thunder?” asked +Cora, when a minute passed in silence—and a long +minute it seemed to the waiting ones. +</p> +<p> +Belle stepped to the window and looked out and +up at the sky. +</p> +<p> +“The stars are shining,” she said. “If there is +a storm it is a distant one, and one that far off +wouldn’t sound so near. I don’t believe it was +thunder.” +</p> +<p> +Whatever it was, the sound was not repeated. +Together Cora and Belle got a drink in the bath +room, and brought one to Bess. Cora called +softly to her, but the plump twin had gone to sleep +again, without waiting for the water. Cora set it +in a chair by the bed and came out of the room +as softly as she had gone in. +</p> +<p> +“No use letting her know about it,” she remarked to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112'></a>112</span> +Belle. “And we won’t tell anything in +the morning, until we hear what the others have +to say.” +</p> +<p> +“All right,” agreed Belle. “I’ll lie with you a +while.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” assented Cora. She understood Belle’s +feelings. +</p> +<p> +The two girls talked in whispers, straining their +ears for a repetition of the strange noise, but none +came, and finally Belle, who was fighting off sleep, +announced that she was going to her own room. +</p> +<p> +Cora and Belle looked significantly at one another +across the breakfast table, and Bess remarked: +</p> +<p> +“Did you hear me knock it over?” +</p> +<p> +“Knock what over?” asked Cora, wonderingly. +</p> +<p> +“The glass of water in the chair by my bed. +I didn’t know it was there, and just before daylight +I awoke, and as I put my arm out of bed I knocked +the glass to the floor. I thought sure you must +have heard it.” +</p> +<p> +“No,” Cora replied. “Did you break it?” +</p> +<p> +Bess shook her head. +</p> +<p> +“It fell on the rug, but the water splashed in +my ties. I’ll have to wear my high shoes until the +others dry. Why didn’t you tell me the water +was there?” +</p> +<p> +“You were asleep when I brought it in,” Cora +said, “and I felt it was a pity to disturb you.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113'></a>113</span> +</p> +<p> +“What were you prowling around for?” asked +Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, just for fun,” Cora said, with another +warning look at Belle. +</p> +<p> +“They didn’t hear anything,” the latter said +to Cora when they were alone a little later. +</p> +<p> +“No, and Mrs. Floyd or her husband didn’t +either, for they didn’t say anything.” +</p> +<p> +“Unless they heard it and don’t want to tell +us.” +</p> +<p> +“Why shouldn’t they tell us?” Cora asked. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, they might think we’d go away if the queer +things begin happening.” +</p> +<p> +“It wasn’t so very queer—just a noise,” declared +Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Was it just a noise?” asked Belle, suspiciously. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know—was it—or—wasn’t it?” Cora +questioned. +</p> +<p> +“I guess we’ll have to let it go that way,” Belle +decided. “Here come the boys. Shall we tell +them?” +</p> +<p> +“No—that is, not directly. I’ll see if I can’t +find out in an indirect way.” +</p> +<p> +“All right, I’ll leave it to you.” +</p> +<p> +After some general talk when the boys had +come in, Cora brought the subject around to the +waterfall. +</p> +<p> +“Have you boys gotten used to the noise of it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114'></a>114</span> +yet?” she asked. “You’re nearer to it than we +are. Does it keep you awake now?” +</p> +<p> +“Can’t anything keep me awake,” yawned Jack. +“I don’t get half enough sleep as it is.” +</p> +<p> +“You certainly slept soundly last night,” said +Walter. +</p> +<p> +“How do you know? Did you stay awake to +find out?” +</p> +<p> +“No, but I heard it thundering, and I called +to you that you’d better put your window down, +for your room faces the west and most storms +come from there this time of the year. You didn’t +answer so I concluded you must have been sleeping.” +</p> +<p> +“I was,” declared Jack. “Thunder, eh? I +didn’t hear it.” +</p> +<p> +“It was only a rumble,” Walter said. “I didn’t +stay awake longer myself than to hear that.” +</p> +<p> +“They heard it, too,” said Belle, when she and +Cora had walked off by themselves. +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” agreed her chum. “But was it thunder?” +</p> +<p> +“We’re right back where we started,” laughed +Belle, “arguing in a circle. Let’s forget it.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115'></a>115</span><a name='chXV' id='chXV'></a>CHAPTER XV—A NARROW ESCAPE</h2> +<p> +But though Cora and Belle agreed to drop the +matter of the unexplained noise, they could not dismiss +it from their minds. Several times that day +Cora would notice Belle in a brown study, and on +taxing her with it would be met with the statement: +</p> +<p> +“I can’t think what caused it.” +</p> +<p> +“That noise you mean?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes. Wasn’t it queer?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, not so very. At home we wouldn’t give +it a second thought.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” agreed Belle, “but there are so many +ways of explaining noises in town, and so few +ways up here. I wonder if that is the beginning +of the surprises, Cora?” +</p> +<p> +“If it is they aren’t so unpleasant. Noise never +hurt any one.” +</p> +<p> +So they said nothing to the others about the little +disturbance in the night, and the only remark +the others made, having any reference to it, was +that of Walter’s about thunder. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116'></a>116</span> +</p> +<p> +“It must have been thunder,” Cora said, “for +if the noise had been in our bungalow the boys +couldn’t have heard it in theirs.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t see how they could,” Belle agreed. +</p> +<p> +“But, all the same, I’m going to have some way +of calling to Jack and the others without screaming +our lungs out,” declared Cora. “It’s only right +to be able to summon them if we want them. One +of us might become ill, and they’d have to go for +the doctor. I’d rather call Jack than Mr. Floyd.” +</p> +<p> +Cora spoke to her brother that afternoon. +</p> +<p> +“We should have some sort of speaking tube,” +he assented. “I might rig up one of the string +telephones we used to make with tin baking powder +boxes that served both as transmitter and receiver.” +</p> +<p> +“Can you do it?” asked Cora. +</p> +<p> +“I guess so.” +</p> +<p> +“I know something better than that,” Paul put +in. “There’s a toy telephone that comes now, +made of string, but the baking powder boxes are +replaced by wooden cylinders with parchment +tightly stretched over one end. You can hear +quite well with them.” +</p> +<p> +“Where can we get it?” asked Cora. +</p> +<p> +“I have one,” Paul said. “I bought it just before +we left to come up here, intending to give it +to a kid cousin of mine, but I forgot to mail it. +You can use that if you like.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117'></a>117</span> +</p> +<p> +“Just the thing!” exclaimed Jack. “The dear +girls can’t get along without us after all; can +they?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, don’t flatter yourself that we’re as fond +of you as all that,” laughed Belle. “But we do +like to have you within call—especially up here.” +</p> +<p> +“Why, have you seen any suspicious characters +lurking around?” asked Walter. +</p> +<p> +“Nary a lurk,” responded Cora. “We’re just +getting ready for emergencies.” +</p> +<p> +The toy telephone was strung that day from +the girls’ bungalow to that of the boys’, and it +worked quite well. As simple as it was, and it +scarcely could have been more simple, talk could +be plainly heard over it. The string took up the +vibrations imparted to the parchment by the voice, +and transmitted them across space to the other +end of the line. Of course the string had to be +tight, and it must not touch anything in its course, +or the vibrations would have been interfered with. +But space was what they had most of in Camp +Surprise. +</p> +<p> +“To my mind the camp isn’t living up to its +name,” declared Paul, after the telephone had +been put up and tested, the boys sending any number +of foolish messages over the string. “No, sir! +There hasn’t been a surprise worth talking about,” +went on Paul. “Why doesn’t something happen?” +</p> +<p> +“Give it time,” suggested Jack. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118'></a>118</span> +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps that noise was the start,” said Cora +to Belle when they were alone. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps.” +</p> +<p> +The trip down to the hotel had given the young +folks the information that there were dances twice +a week, the Saturday night “hop” being quite an +event. They were cordially invited to attend, and +the first Saturday night in camp they took advantage +of the chance. +</p> +<p> +The crowd was not large, but, as Walter said, +it was “nice and comfortable,” and the girls and +boys thoroughly enjoyed the dance. The hotel +proprietor introduced them to some other young +folks and, as was voted by Jack and his chums +afterward, “a large and glorious time was had by +all.” +</p> +<p> +“What a splendid moon!” cried Belle, as she +walked along with Jack on the way home. “It’s a +shame to go to bed.” +</p> +<p> +“Let’s don’t!” proposed Paul. “Let’s go down +where we left the motor boat and have a ride.” +</p> +<p> +“Let’s don’t!” cried Cora. “Walk over that +rough mountain road at this hour of the night? +I guess not!” +</p> +<p> +“But look at the moon!” begged Paul. “The +glorious moon!” +</p> +<p> +“You’ve been looking at it too long already,” +was Cora’s retort. “I guess you’re looney.” +</p> +<p> +And so, laughing and joking, they walked on. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119'></a>119</span> +</p> +<p> +“This is how it goes!” said Belle suddenly, +seemingly apropos of nothing at all, and, at the +same time she began to step backward and forward +in a peculiar manner in the road. +</p> +<p> +“What in the world——” began Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“That new Cortez step the girl in pink was +doing with that nice man dancer,” Belle explained. +“I’ve been puzzling over it. I hoped he would +ask me to dance, but he didn’t.” +</p> +<p> +“Say, I like that!” cried Walter. “Didn’t I +ask you?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, but you can’t do that step. I remember +now how it went. I was watching that couple. +It’s a rocking step forward, then one back, step +back with the left, draw the right and go forward +again with the left, see!” +</p> +<p> +She executed it there in the road, her shadow, +cast by the moon, bobbing curiously back and +forth. +</p> +<p> +“It is pretty,” agreed Cora. “How does it +go?” +</p> +<p> +Belle and she took a dancing position and Cora +had soon acquired the new Cortez step. +</p> +<p> +“Now you’ve got me doing it!” cried Jack. +“Come on, Hazel, I’ll show you.” +</p> +<p> +“He doesn’t even know himself,” derided Cora. +</p> +<p> +“You watch!” challenged Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Why, he can do it,” said Belle, as she looked +at Jack and Hazel. For Hazel was a natural +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120'></a>120</span> +dancer and, it developed, she, too, had been watching +the girl in the pink dress. +</p> +<p> +“Well, here we are,” said Bess, as they reached +their bungalow. “I’m tired.” +</p> +<p> +“Is that all you’re going to say, after we took +you to the dance?” demanded Walter. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t we get asked in to have some cake and +chocolate?” questioned Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Shall we?” queried Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Please do!” urged Paul. +</p> +<p> +And they did. +</p> +<p> +The plans for the next day included a long walk +up the mountain to a place where it was said a +wonderful view could be had. They were to take +their lunch and stay all day, for they could not +get back to the bungalow by noon. +</p> +<p> +“All aboard!” cried Jack, as he and his two +chums called for the girls, crossing the rustic +bridge at the foot of the fall. “All aboard!” +</p> +<p> +They started off merrily together, talking and +laughing. Walter had been down to get the early +morning mail, and there was a letter from Cora’s +mother, which said, among other things, that the +police had some clews to the men who took the +automobile. +</p> +<p> +“Good!” cried Jack, when Cora read out this. +“What’s the rest of it?” +</p> +<p> +“Well, it seems that some more bogus tickets +have been disposed of in places around Chelton, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121'></a>121</span> +and the men who sold them are described as the +same two who sold the coupons in the tea room. +The police seem to think there is a good chance +of getting them.” +</p> +<p> +“They didn’t see them have your car; did they, +Cora?” asked Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“No such luck, I suppose. But mother doesn’t +mention that.” +</p> +<p> +The view was voted all that had been said of +it, and after admiring it for some time, preparations +were made to eat lunch. +</p> +<p> +“Let’s sit down here,” proposed Cora, pointing +to a grassy spot in the shade of a big sycamore +tree. “Boys, spread the cloth and unpack the baskets. +Oh, what a curious root!” she cried, stooping +over toward something near a stone. +</p> +<p> +“Look out!” suddenly cried Paul, pulling Cora +back so sharply that she nearly toppled over. The +next moment Paul caught up a stone and threw +it with all his force at the spotted root. There +was an angry hiss. +</p> +<p> +“Narrow escape for you, Cora,” said Paul, a +trifle pale. “That was a copperhead snake!” and +he pointed to the writhing, dying reptile. His +stone had struck it fairly. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122'></a>122</span><a name='chXVI' id='chXVI'></a>CHAPTER XVI—LOST</h2> +<p> +Cora Kimball was not an unusually nervous +girl, nor was she given to hysterical demonstrations, +but, somehow or other, she felt sick and faint +as she looked at the wiggling snake in its death +agony. Her eyes saw black, and she swayed so +that Paul stepped forward and slipped an arm +around her waist. +</p> +<p> +“I thought you were going to faint,” he said +in explanation. +</p> +<p> +“I—I was,” faltered Cora. “But I’ve gotten +over the notion. Thank—thank you, Paul. +Could I have a drink of water?” +</p> +<p> +Jack brought her some from a spring not far +away. +</p> +<p> +“Brace up, Sis,” he said with rough, brotherly +kindness. “You’re all right. That snake wouldn’t +have killed you anyhow. I’ve been bitten by ’em, +and it isn’t much worse than a mosquito.” +</p> +<p> +“You have?” cried Paul, in such a queer tone +that all save Cora realized that Jack was bluffing +for the sake of minimizing the effect on Cora. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123'></a>123</span> +</p> +<p> +Jack made this plain to Paul by winking +quickly, and motioning to him to confirm what he +had said. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, yes, that’s right,” Paul went on. “I’d +forgotten that the copperheads aren’t poisonous +this time of year. You wouldn’t have been much +damaged, Cora, if you had been nipped by this +fellow,” and with a swift motion of his foot he +kicked the still writhing reptile to one side. +</p> +<p> +“Really?” she asked. +</p> +<p> +“Really.” +</p> +<p> +She looked relieved. The faint spell passed +and Cora smiled. The color was coming back +to her cheeks. +</p> +<p> +“I’m sorry I acted so,” she said, “but I have +a terrible fear of snakes, even harmless ones. I +thought this one was a curiously mottled root, and +I was going to pick it up. Suppose I had? Oh!” +</p> +<p> +She shuddered and looked at Paul. +</p> +<p> +“A miss is as good as a bird in the hand,” he +misquoted. “Come on now, let’s eat.” +</p> +<p> +“Say, old man,” said Jack to Paul, when they +were alone a little later, “that snake was a bad +chap, wasn’t he?” +</p> +<p> +Paul nodded in confirmation. +</p> +<p> +“I thought so,” Jack went on. “Just as well, +though, not to let her know, she’s so deadly afraid. +There’d have been trouble if she had been bitten?” +he questioned. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124'></a>124</span> +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” said Paul, simply. “Of course they’re +not sure death, but they’re dangerous enough.” +</p> +<p> +“I thought so. Shake!” +</p> +<p> +After the temporary scare of the snake had +passed, the picnic party made merry, laughing and +talking as they enjoyed the lunch the girls had put +up. It was a perfect day, rather warm, but cool +enough in the shade, and the mountain air was invigorating. +There followed a delightfully lazy +time, lying on the grass under the trees when +every one had eaten enough. +</p> +<p> +Then they packed up the rest of the food and +walked on, intending to make a circle and return +to Camp Surprise late in the afternoon. Now +and then they would come to some open space, +where the sloping mountain dropped away suddenly, +revealing below a vista which made them +pause in admiration. +</p> +<p> +Once they reached a point where they could +look down on Mountain View, and, though they +could not distinguish their own bungalows, they +could see about where they were situated. +</p> +<p> +Cora stood gazing down, in rather a thoughtful +mood. Walter was by her side, and noted her +abstraction. He held up the proverbial penny. +</p> +<p> +Cora shook her head. +</p> +<p> +“No. I won’t tell,” she said with a smile. +</p> +<p> +Walter guessed that she was thinking of the +snake, but he refrained from saying so. And +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125'></a>125</span> +then Cora, fearing he might put a wrong construction +on her words added: +</p> +<p> +“I was just wondering when they were going +to continue.” +</p> +<p> +“What was going to continue?” he inquired. +</p> +<p> +“The surprises in our camp. You know——” +</p> +<p> +“Continue!” he interrupted. “I didn’t know +we had had any. I had begun to think it was all +a hoax.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, no,” cried Cora, impulsively. “There +was a——” +</p> +<p> +She caught herself just in time, for she recalled +that she and Belle had agreed not to mention +the queer noise. +</p> +<p> +“Was it a ghost?” asked Walter. +</p> +<p> +“It wasn’t anything,” Cora hastened to say. +“Look, see that curl of smoke. Isn’t it just like +a great big ostrich plume? What a hat it would +require to carry it! A giant’s hat.” +</p> +<p> +“Lady giant you mean,” said Walter. “But +look here, Cora, you are keeping something from +me.” +</p> +<p> +“Not at all.” +</p> +<p> +Her manner was light, but Walter was a good +guesser. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, you are!” he insisted. “Something did +happen, Cora. Go on, tell a fellow.” +</p> +<p> +“Nothing really happened, Walter.” +</p> +<p> +“Then you heard something.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126'></a>126</span> +</p> +<p> +“How did you know?” she asked with a start. +</p> +<p> +“I thought I’d catch you. Come now. Own +up. You didn’t have that toy telephone strung to +our bungalow just on general principles. Did you +hear something, Cora?” +</p> +<p> +She looked around to make sure none of the +others were listening. Then she told Walter of +the queer noise, enjoining him to secrecy, however. +</p> +<p> +“So that’s what it was,” he said. “I thought it +was thunder myself, but if you heard it in your +bungalow it couldn’t have been.” +</p> +<p> +“And it was in our bungalow,” Cora said. +“Seemingly away down in the cellar, or sub-cellar, +if they have such a thing.” +</p> +<p> +“Not as deep as that, I guess, Cora. But it was +a queer rumbly noise, though how I could hear it, +when it was under your bungalow I can’t imagine.” +</p> +<p> +“Unless it came from the waterfall.” +</p> +<p> +“How could it come from the waterfall?” Walter +asked. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know,” said Cora. “But there might +be some sort of hollow rock—blowing stones I +believe they are called—and when air is forced +into the hollow, by the action of the water, it might +give a roaring sound, and vibrate the earth.” +</p> +<p> +Walter considered a moment. +</p> +<p> +“It’s worth looking into,” he said. “I won’t +say anything, but the first chance I get I’ll have a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127'></a>127</span> +peep at the fall. I think I can get behind the +water curtain.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Walter! don’t take any risks.” +</p> +<p> +“I won’t, Cora. But come on. The others will +wonder what we find to talk about and look at +here. Not that I wouldn’t want to stay talking a +great deal longer, but, well——” +</p> +<p> +“I understand,” and she smiled. +</p> +<p> +“We’re going berrying,” cried Bess, as Walter +and Cora came up to join the others. “That is, +unless you two want to stand there on the edge of +‘Lovers’ Leap’ and think sad thoughts.” +</p> +<p> +“Is that place called Lovers’ Leap?” asked +Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Well, it might be if any lovers ever jumped +off there. Do you want to go berrying?” +</p> +<p> +“Surely,” said Cora, and Walter nodded assent. +</p> +<p> +The berry hunt was not very successful, though +a few early ones were found. However, it served +as an incentive to call the young folks farther +afield and up the mountainside, and they found +new beauties of nature at every step. +</p> +<p> +“This is the nicest place I was ever in,” declared +Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“I like it, too, almost as well as any place we +ever picked out for our vacation,” said Belle. +“My hair doesn’t get so slimpsy as at the beach.” +</p> +<p> +“We’re getting beautifully tanned, instead of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128'></a>128</span> +the lobster-red I always turn at the shore,” said +plump Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Say, hadn’t we better begin to think of turning +back?” asked Cora, after a while, when the +few berries that had been gathered had been eaten, +though Jack begged that they be saved for a pie. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, it’s getting late,” said Paul, looking at +his watch. “And we have a few miles to go.” +</p> +<p> +“I should say they were a few!” chimed in Walter. +“Seven at the least back to Camp Surprise.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t say that!” begged Bess. “You’ll have +to carry me.” +</p> +<p> +“All right. We’ll make a litter of poles and +drape you over it in the most artistic fashion,” said +Paul. “Do you prefer to be carried head or feet +first?” +</p> +<p> +“Feet, of course. Riding backwards always +makes me car-ill.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s down hill, that’s one consolation,” came +from Jack. “Well, come on. All ready! Hike!” +and he marched off, swinging a long stick he had +picked up to use Alpine-stock fashion. +</p> +<p> +There was a patch of woodland to go through, +a fairly good path traversing it. The party of +young people went along, talking and laughing, +occasionally breaking into song as one or another +started a familiar melody. +</p> +<p> +“Say, Jack,” remarked Cora at length, “aren’t +these woods pretty long?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129'></a>129</span> +</p> +<p> +“What do you mean?” +</p> +<p> +“I mean oughtn’t we to be out of them by this +time? Are you sure you’re going the right way?” +</p> +<p> +“Well, I never was here before,” said Jack, +“but I set our course by compass,” and he indicated +the little instrument on his watch chain. +</p> +<p> +“We started to walk due west,” he said, “up +the mountain. Now we are going east, as you +can see, because the setting sun is at our backs. +So we are going toward camp.” +</p> +<p> +“But we swung off to the right as we came up +the mountain,” Cora went on. +</p> +<p> +“Exactly, a sort of northwest course,” agreed +Jack. “And now we are heading southeast, which +is exactly the reverse. Look for yourself, Sis.” +</p> +<p> +He held out the compass, the tiny needle vibrating +as the instrument rested in his hand. Cora +was enough of a navigator to see that Jack was +right. +</p> +<p> +“Well, the only thing to do is to keep on,” she +said. “But I should think, by this time, we’d be +somewhere near the camp.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, not yet!” declared Jack. “We’ve got +miles and miles yet to go!” +</p> +<p> +“You horrid creature!” cried Bess. “Oh, my +feet!” +</p> +<p> +“This is the best exercise for reducing you +could have,” laughed Paul. “Come on, I’ll race +you.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130'></a>130</span> +</p> +<p> +“Run? Never!” wailed the plump one. “I +can only hobble.” +</p> +<p> +They tramped on. The afternoon shadows +were lengthening now, and Cora’s face wore a +somewhat anxious look. They entered another +patch of woodland, and as they emerged into a +clearing Cora cried: +</p> +<p> +“Look at the sun!” +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter with it?” Belle demanded. +“I think that is a perfectly good sun.” +</p> +<p> +“But it’s in front of us,” said Cora. “It’s in +front of us!” +</p> +<p> +For a moment the others did not realize what +she meant. They stared at the big red ball which +was sinking to rest amid a bank of gorgeously +colored clouds. Then Jack exclaimed: +</p> +<p> +“By Jove! you’re right, Sis. The sun should be +back of us. We were going east, but we’ve got +turned around, and are going west.” +</p> +<p> +“Unless the sun has changed,” put in Paul, with +a laugh, “and is coming up in the morning. We +may have been walking all night and didn’t know +it.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s no joke,” said Cora, seriously, as the others +laughed. “Jack, we’re lost!” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131'></a>131</span><a name='chXVII' id='chXVII'></a>CHAPTER XVII—TWO MEN</h2> +<p> +Naturally enough Cora’s words were echoed +aloud by some of the party. +</p> +<p> +“Lost!” cried Belle. “How do you know?” +</p> +<p> +“We’re going in the wrong direction,” Cora +said. “Don’t you know when persons get lost in +the woods they always go around in a circle? +Nearly always they turn to the right, as we have +done. I forget the explanation, but it has something +to do with the right side of the body being +stronger than the left. And that’s what we’ve +done. We’ve wandered around in a circle, so of +course we’re lost.” +</p> +<p> +“That doesn’t follow at all,” declared Walter. +</p> +<p> +“Why not?” challenged Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Because the path may have been shifting. +We’ve only followed the trail through the woods. +We haven’t gone off it.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s so,” chimed in Paul. “We’re still on +the path, and it must lead somewhere.” +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps it’s a cow-path,” suggested Bess. “It’s +narrow enough for one.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132'></a>132</span> +</p> +<p> +“Well, even a cow-path leads somewhere,” +said Hazel. “We’ll end up at a stable.” +</p> +<p> +“Or a dairy,” added Jack. “Some bread and +milk won’t go bad if we miss our supper.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, we won’t miss it,” declared Walter. +“We’re bound to end up somewhere, and even if +we come out a mile or more from our camp. And +if we see a house, we can hire a farmer to drive +us over, if we’re too tired to walk.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, we could do that,” Cora assented. “But +what plan is best to follow now? Shall we keep +on the way we are going, on this path, even though +it leads west and our camp is to the east? Or +shall we go back until we find a path extending +in an easterly direction?” +</p> +<p> +“Whew!” whistled Jack. “That sounds like a +question in my old school geography. What’s the +answer, Cora?” +</p> +<p> +“I wish I knew,” said his sister. “Let’s take a +vote on it.” +</p> +<p> +They discussed the matter a little while, and the +general opinion was that it was better to go on +than to retreat. +</p> +<p> +“We didn’t see any houses in all the distance +we came,” said Walter, “and it is getting so late +now we may have to appeal to a farmer to drive +us back. I say go ahead, even if the direction +seems to be wrong. We may reach a house this +way.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133'></a>133</span> +</p> +<p> +“I guess you’re right,” admitted Cora, “though +it seems illogical to go deliberately away from, +instead of toward, our camp.” +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps it isn’t called Camp Surprise for nothing,” +suggested Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“What do you mean?” asked her brother. +</p> +<p> +“I mean it may surprise us by appearing when +and where we least expect it.” +</p> +<p> +“You always were a hopeful child,” laughed +Paul. His sister blushed. “You believed in Santa +Claus long after I had detected our respected parents +sneaking down the back stairs with the presents,” +he continued. “Hope on, foolish one.” +</p> +<p> +“She may be right at that,” said Jack, championing +Hazel’s cause. “If the sun insists on appearing +where we think it oughtn’t to be the camp +may take a notion to do the same thing. Come +on! Forward!” +</p> +<p> +A little anxious, they kept on, rather tired, but +not greatly discouraged. Youthful hearts are not +made for discouragement, fortunately. +</p> +<p> +“Anything left to eat?” asked Jack after a bit, +when the path seemed to be shifting somewhat toward +the east. +</p> +<p> +“A little,” announced Walter, who was carrying +the basket. “But you can’t have any.” +</p> +<p> +“Why not?” demanded Jack, indignantly. “I +have as good a right as you. Who delegated you +to carry the rations?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134'></a>134</span> +</p> +<p> +“Nobody else seemed to want to. Now I’m +in charge of the commissary department, and I’m +going to put you, and myself included, on short +rations. We may have to stay out all——” +</p> +<p> +“Ahem!” interrupted Paul, giving Walter a +nudge. “Do you see anything like a house through +the trees? Cut out that talk about having to stay +out all night, if that’s what you were going to say,” +he added in a quick whisper. +</p> +<p> +“It was,” Walter admitted. “But I’ll cease.” +</p> +<p> +“You’d better. We don’t want the girls to get +nervous.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t see any house,” Jack reported, having +looked in the direction indicated by Paul. +</p> +<p> +“I thought I saw smoke, and where there’s +smoke there’s generally a house or a camp,” Paul +said. “However, I may have been mistaken.” +</p> +<p> +It was evident that he had been, but a little +later, as they once more emerged from the woods, +Cora gave a joyful cry and called out: +</p> +<p> +“There it is!” +</p> +<p> +“What, our camp?” asked Belle. +</p> +<p> +“No, a house! See it?” +</p> +<p> +They looked to where her finger pointed. Undoubtedly, +it was a farmhouse, located on the farther +edge of the clearing in which they had halted. +There was a vacant space about it, and several +barn-like structures. But there was a curious lack +of life around the place. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135'></a>135</span> +</p> +<p> +“I don’t believe any one lives there,” said Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t be a pessimist,” urged his sister. “Let’s +go and find out.” +</p> +<p> +They hurried toward the house, but the nearer +they approached it the more it seemed that it was +not a farmhouse in the ordinary sense of the +word. Though in the midst of cleared fields that +must at one time have been part of a farm, there +were no growing crops. The fields were overgrown +with weeds, there were no horses or cattle +to be seen, and no challenging dog rushed out to +bark at the boys and girls. +</p> +<p> +“Still some old man or woman may live there +who can put us on the right road,” Cora suggested. +“We won’t give up yet.” +</p> +<p> +Confirmation of Jack’s idea that the house was +uninhabited was given as they went up the +weed-entangled front path. And the sight of +broken windows, a door sagging open on fractured +hinges gave further aspects of abandonment. +</p> +<p> +“Anybody home?” called Walter, knocking on +the door, which swayed as though it wanted to +part company from the only hinge that held it +up. “Who’s in here? Hello inside!” +</p> +<p> +An echo was his only answer, though as they had +approached the place Paul had said he heard a +noise inside. +</p> +<p> +“Nobody home,” said Jack. “But this is at least +encouraging. We are getting ‘warm’ as they say +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136'></a>136</span> +in hunt the thimble. Let’s go around back. Maybe +they don’t use the front door.” +</p> +<p> +He started around a side path, followed by +Cora, Bess and Belle. The others straggled along +in the extreme rear. As the four in the lead turned +around an ell of the house, Cora uttered a cry and +pointed to two men who were running out of the +barn, not far off. +</p> +<p> +“Look, Jack!” she cried. +</p> +<p> +Jack stood still, quite taken by surprise, and +then Belle added: +</p> +<p> +“Why, Cora! I declare! One of those men +looks like one of the two who ran off with your +car!” +</p> +<p> +“Are you sure about that, Belle?” demanded +Cora’s brother. “I don’t want to make a mistake.” +</p> +<p> +“I only saw their backs, of course,” explained +Belle, quite excited. “But that one on the left +looks like the one who took the wheel and steered +Cora’s auto away from the tea room. The coat is +just the same.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, it’s pretty slim evidence on which to +chase after two strange men,” said Jack, “but here +goes. Come on, boys!” he called to Walter and +Paul. “Tally-ho!” +</p> +<p> +“What’s the excitement?” asked Walter, as he +and Paul came running around the corner of the +house. “Dog after you, Jack?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137'></a>137</span> +</p> +<p> +“No, but we want to get after those two fellows. +See ’em?” +</p> +<p> +He pointed to the fleeing men. +</p> +<p> +“Who are they?” Paul queried. +</p> +<p> +“Belle thinks they’re the ones who took Cora’s +auto. It’s a rather slim identification, but we’ll +take a chance.” +</p> +<p> +“Yell at ’em,” suggested Paul. +</p> +<p> +“Good idea,” commented Jack. “I say there—you +two! Hold on a minute, we want to talk +to you!” he cried. +</p> +<p> +The two men, running away, never heeded nor +looked around. They ran on toward the woods, +the boys following, while the girls stood in a group +near the deserted house. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138'></a>138</span><a name='chXVIII' id='chXVIII'></a>CHAPTER XVIII—REAL SURPRISES</h2> +<p> +“They aren’t going to stop,” observed Paul, +as he ran along beside Jack, watching the fleeing +men. +</p> +<p> +“No, and that makes me suspicious. Why +should those men run away just because we hailed +them? They don’t know us—that is, they haven’t +any reason to suppose we represent the girl whose +auto was taken. They have never seen us.” +</p> +<p> +“And they didn’t have a chance to get a good +look at Cora and the other girls, even supposing +they are the thieves who took the auto. According +to what Belle says, the men didn’t once look +around as they got into the car and drove off. +</p> +<p> +“Though they must have been hanging around +the Spinning Wheel for some time to have disposed +of the tickets,” said Walter. “They might +have seen the three girls, and again recognized +them as they came along now.” +</p> +<p> +“Possibly, but not probably,” declared Jack. +“They are either tramps, who have been sleeping +in the barn and think we own this place and have +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139'></a>139</span> +come to drive them out, or they are the auto +thieves, and naturally would run.” +</p> +<p> +“I’m inclined to the tramp theory,” declared +Paul. “They don’t look like knights of the roads, +though.” +</p> +<p> +“I guess we won’t have much further sight of +them,” commented Jack. “They’re almost at +the woods, and going strong.” +</p> +<p> +The men, indeed, were distancing the boys, +running fast with never a backward glance. +</p> +<p> +“Give ’em another hail!” cried Paul. “All together. +Tell ’em we only want to ask the way +from them. Now yell!” +</p> +<p> +The three lads united their voices in a loud +shout, but it had no effect, and, a moment later, +the two fleeing men plunged in among the trees. +</p> +<p> +“Shall we follow?” asked Paul, bringing his +run down to a walk. +</p> +<p> +“Hardly worth while,” commented Jack. +“We’d never find them in the woods.” +</p> +<p> +“Besides, we don’t want to leave the +girls alone,” added Paul. +</p> +<p> +“They are evidently determined not to be left +alone,” commented Jack with a smile. “There +they come after us.” +</p> +<p> +Cora and her chums were advancing across the +weed-grown field that lay between the house and +the woods, and over which the unsuccessful chase +had taken place. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140'></a>140</span> +</p> +<p> +“Come on, we’ll give it up,” Walter said, as +he started back to meet the girls. +</p> +<p> +“We didn’t like to stay there all alone,” confessed +Cora. +</p> +<p> +“So we observe,” remarked Jack. +</p> +<p> +“You didn’t get them?” questioned Cora. +</p> +<p> +“They wouldn’t even hesitate,” laughed Walter. +“Now for an inspection of the barn and +house.” +</p> +<p> +“Are you going in?” asked Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“Why not? We may find some valuable evidence +that will put us on the track of Cora’s auto. +We may even find some hermit living in the house +who can put us on the right road. Let’s try the +barn first, though, as it was from there the men +came.” +</p> +<p> +The girls would not go in, but Walter and Jack +did, leaving Paul to stay with his sister and her +friends. +</p> +<p> +“Just keep your eyes open, Paul,” suggested +Jack. “Those fellows may come back while Wally +and I are inside.” +</p> +<p> +“Trust me,” observed Hazel’s brother. +</p> +<p> +But Jack and Walter found little to repay them +for their inspection of the barn. It was a dilapidated +building, almost tumbling down in fact, +and contained nothing save some wisps of hay +and straw. In one corner, though, was a pile of +old feed bags, arranged as a rude bed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141'></a>141</span> +</p> +<p> +“Tramps been sleeping here,” observed Walter. +“Maybe those two men.” +</p> +<p> +“Maybe,” agreed Jack. +</p> +<p> +But that was all they could gather, and they +came out. +</p> +<p> +“Now for the house,” suggested Walter. +</p> +<p> +“There’s some sort of lane over there, leading +to the cow shed,” said Cora. “Suppose you look +in that building.” +</p> +<p> +“Might as well,” agreed Jack. And it was in +approaching the smaller farm building through +the grass-grown lane that they made a discovery. +</p> +<p> +“There’s been an auto in here!” cried Paul, +as he saw some depressions in the ground. “An +auto has been driven in here and out again. I +can see two sets of wheel marks plainly.” +</p> +<p> +“Did one tire have a vulcanized patch on?” +Cora asked eagerly. “Mine had.” +</p> +<p> +“The marks aren’t plain enough to decide that,” +said Paul. “If there were dust or dirt here I +could tell, but grass and weeds don’t take a good +enough impression. The auto was put in the shed, +evidently.” +</p> +<p> +That proved to be a good guess, for the marks +of the big-tired wheels went up to the shed, which +was roomy enough for a car. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, one’s been in here!” cried Jack, as he +swung open the door. “See the tire marks on +the boards.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142'></a>142</span> +</p> +<p> +“Was it mine?” asked Cora, eagerly. But +again the impression left was too faint to show +the vulcanized patch. +</p> +<p> +“Maybe some autoists, caught out in a storm, +put in here,” suggested Walter. “We mustn’t +build up too hopeful a theory on a slender basis +of fact.” +</p> +<p> +Traces of the automobile wheels were lost a +short distance down the lane, and none appeared +in the road which ran in front of the house—near +which the highway did not seem to be much +traveled. +</p> +<p> +“And now for the house itself,” said Jack. +“Come on, boys!” +</p> +<p> +“And girls, too!” exclaimed Cora. “We’re not +going to be left outside.” +</p> +<p> +They entered the old farmhouse, calling aloud +to ascertain if in some distant room there might +not be an occupant. But their voices were answered +only by echoes, with which their footsteps +mingled. +</p> +<p> +The house was typical of many another deserted +farm residence, of which there are many throughout +New England. +</p> +<p> +Windows were void of glass, doors hung uncertainly +on one hinge, moldy wall-paper drooped +down from the ceiling like unlovely Spanish moss, +and in many of the rooms the dampness and rain +had loosened the plaster which had fallen. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143'></a>143</span> +</p> +<p> +There were some old boxes, a broken chair or +two, and a moldy horsehair settee that, in bygone +days, must have graced the closed-up parlor, +opened only for marriages or deaths. Or, +perchance, on its glossy and slippery surface, lovers +had sat long ago. +</p> +<p> +“Ugh!” exclaimed Cora, with a little shudder. +“Come on out. It gives me the creeps in here.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, I guess there’s nothing to gain by staying,” +Jack remarked. “Nobody home, and there’s +no use wasting time.” +</p> +<p> +“I wish we were home,” said Belle. +</p> +<p> +“And I. At least, back in camp,” added her +sister. +</p> +<p> +As they went from the house they saw out in +the road a man driving a horse attached to a farm +wagon. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, there’s something human at last!” cried +Cora. “Wait, please, we want to ask you something!” +she called impulsively. +</p> +<p> +But the man had already stopped of his own +accord, and a look of surprise came over his face +as he saw the party of young folks come out of +the abandoned house. +</p> +<p> +“Can you tell us the way to Mountain View?” +asked Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, I’m going that way myself,” the man answered. +“At least within a mile of it. Want +to ride?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144'></a>144</span> +</p> +<p> +“Oh, do we!” exclaimed Bess with such a sigh +of relief that the others laughed. +</p> +<p> +“Pile in,” invited the farmer. “You aren’t +thinking of buying the old Mellish place; are you?” +</p> +<p> +“Is that what this is called?” asked Walter. +</p> +<p> +“Yes. Zeb Mellish used to own it, but he went +crazy and hung himself and nobody’s lived here +since; ’ceptin’ maybe tramps.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, we saw two run away from the barn as +we came up,” stated Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Humph!” commented the farmer. “I’ll have +to speak to the constable about ’em. Too many +of us have been losin’ chickens lately. I suspected +it was tramps. Which way’d they go?” +</p> +<p> +The boys told; also narrating the details of their +little picnic and of their becoming lost. +</p> +<p> +“Well, that ain’t surprisin’, considerin’ how th’ +cow paths in the woods twist to and fro,” commented +the farmer, who gave his name as Anthony +Wale. “So you’re from one of the bungalows +in the Mountain View property; eh?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, Camp Surprise,” said Cora. +</p> +<p> +The man seemed to start, and looked sharply +at Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Camp Surprise; eh!” he exclaimed. +</p> +<p> +“Know anything about it?” asked Walter. “We +have been expecting to be surprised, but haven’t +been, so far.” +</p> +<p> +“I know they tell queer stories about it,” said +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145'></a>145</span> +Mr. Ware, “but that’s all I do know. Maybe +the surprise party hasn’t started yet.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, if it’s bound to happen, I wish it would +get over and done with,” said Cora. “It’s awfully +good of you to give us a lift this way.” +</p> +<p> +“Glad to do it,” said Mr. Ware. “There’s +room on the seat with me for two of you gals—at +least the thinnest ones—not meanin’ anything +against you,” and he looked at Bess, half smiling. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I’m used to it now,” she declared. “You +can’t hurt my feelings. I’ll be glad to sit on one +of the boxes.” +</p> +<p> +The wagon contained several crates, and these +were utilized as seats, Hazel and Belle, as the +“thinnest gals,” sitting on the seat with Mr. Ware. +</p> +<p> +He drove them to within a half mile of their +own camp and they were soon at the bungalow, +just as Mr. and Mrs. Floyd were getting anxious +about their charges, and were talking of going +in search of them. +</p> +<p> +“What happened to you?” Mrs. Floyd inquired. +</p> +<p> +“Lost,” explained Jack, sententiously. +</p> +<p> +The adventures of the day were gone over again +at a joint supper, the boys being invited in by the +girls. +</p> +<p> +“You aren’t doing any housekeeping at all,” +Cora complained to Jack, afterward. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the use when you girls are such good +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146'></a>146</span> +cooks?” he asked with a laugh. “We’re thinking +of hiring a chef, anyhow, and then we’ll reciprocate +and give you a good feed.” +</p> +<p> +A trip down the mountain stream to where it +widened into a lake was the plan for the next day, +and an early start was made, Mrs. Floyd and her +husband stating that they had to go to town to +do some shopping, and would not be back before +night. They started before the young folks left, +and the girls locked their bungalow as they came +out. +</p> +<p> +Nothing of moment occurred on the trip to the +little lake, if the fact that Jack fell in up to his +knees, while trying to get some pond lilies for +Hazel be excepted. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I wonder if anything happened while +we were away?” asked Cora of Walter, as they +neared their camp on the return trip. +</p> +<p> +“Why do you suggest that?” he queried. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I don’t just know. I have a funny sort +of feeling ‘in my bones,’ as mother used to say.” +</p> +<p> +Cora had the key and opened the door. The +boys were coming in, as they usually did, and stood +waiting for the girls to enter. +</p> +<p> +As Jack’s sister threw back the door she gave +one look in the living room, and exclaimed: +</p> +<p> +“It’s here!” +</p> +<p> +“What?” asked Walter, quickly. +</p> +<p> +“The surprise! Look!” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147'></a>147</span><a name='chXIX' id='chXIX'></a>CHAPTER XIX—WHERE’S MY LIGHT?</h2> +<p> +Crowding up behind Cora, the others peered +over her shoulders. The setting sun, streaming +in through the windows, revealed a strange sight +in the big living room. Several chairs were overturned, +a large couch that had been against the +wall was out in the middle of the floor, a table +that had been piled with magazines and books +was turned on its side, and turned upside down on +the overturned table was perched a chair, as +though children had been playing some simple +game, like stagecoach or steamboat, with the table +and chair to represent make-believe articles of +locomotion. +</p> +<p> +For a moment surprise and wonder held them +all dumb, then Jack burst out with: +</p> +<p> +“Say! who did this monkey-business, anyhow?” +</p> +<p> +“Monkey-business?” repeated Cora. +</p> +<p> +“It’s the surprise!” exclaimed Belle, and her +voice was not quite steady. “We’ve been expecting +this. The ghosts have paid one of their visits. +Oh dear!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148'></a>148</span> +</p> +<p> +“Don’t be silly!” exclaimed Bess, who, perhaps +because her nerves were better protected, did +not give way to emotion so readily as did her thinner +sister. “Isn’t this just what we’ve been looking +for—and hoping for?” +</p> +<p> +“Hoping for?” asked Paul. “Well, I must say +it’s a queer sort of hope!” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I don’t mean that, exactly,” Bess went +on. “But we knew something like this was bound +to happen, and this is the first manifestation.” +</p> +<p> +“No, not exactly the first,” Cora said. +</p> +<p> +“What do you mean?” asked Bess. “Isn’t this +the first time anything has been upset in our bungalow?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, but it isn’t the first manifestation,” Cora +went on. “Shall we tell, Belle?” she asked. +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” nodded the slim Robinson girl. +</p> +<p> +“Though how you can connect the queer noise +with what has taken place here I don’t see,” put +in Walter who had been looking curiously about +the upset room, which none of them had ventured +yet to enter. +</p> +<p> +“What! Does he know about it, too?” asked +Belle. +</p> +<p> +Cora nodded. “He heard it, and thought at +first it was thunder.” +</p> +<p> +“Say, what’s this all about?” demanded Jack. +“Are you hiding part of the secret from us, Sis?” +</p> +<p> +“Well, in a way—yes.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149'></a>149</span> +</p> +<p> +“That isn’t fair. If there’s a secret here we +ought to share it. And if you girls are going to +keep things to yourselves we fellows will pack +up and leave, and——” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t dare desert us!” cried Belle. “I won’t +stay here a minute after the boys go; will you, +Cora?” +</p> +<p> +“Well, I like to have them here, of course,” +answered Jack’s sister. “But if we talk that way +about them they’ll get an exaggerated idea of +their importance, and there’ll be no way of enforcing +discipline. So if they want to go let them, and +we’ll solve this mystery ourselves.” +</p> +<p> +“I think we’re making a mountain out of a molehill,” +declared Walter. “I don’t see any great +mystery here. A few chairs and a table are upset. +It’s the most natural thing in the world.” +</p> +<p> +“Natural? How do you make that out?” +asked Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Why, Mrs. Floyd has been sweeping and dusting +in here, and she has moved the chairs about. +They always do it at our house. And say! some +days it’s as much as your life is worth to try to +navigate through the misplaced furniture. You +need a harbor pilot and a searchlight, to say nothing +of a chart and an automobile road map. That’s +all that’s happened here. Mrs. Floyd has been +doing a little house-cleaning.” +</p> +<p> +“So that’s your explanation of it; is it?” asked +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150'></a>150</span> +Cora. “Then how do you account for the fact +that Mrs. Floyd and her husband have been away +all day?” +</p> +<p> +She pointed toward the road and the others saw +the two caretakers in Mr. Floyd’s light wagon +approaching the bungalow. They were returning +from their day’s shopping trip, as was evident by +the number of bundles in the vehicle. +</p> +<p> +“I think you’ll find that Mrs. Floyd hasn’t done +any house-cleaning to-day,” said Cora. “You +can’t account for the surprise that way.” +</p> +<p> +Cora was right, in so far as Mrs. Floyd was +concerned. The chaperon and her husband had +been away all day. +</p> +<p> +“What is it? What has happened? Is anything +the matter?” asked Mrs. Floyd, as she saw +the young people on the porch of the bungalow, +looking in at the open door. “Is any one hurt?” +</p> +<p> +“No, it’s just the surprise,” said Cora. “Is +that what has happened before, Mrs. Floyd?” +</p> +<p> +The caretaker looked inside, and caught her +breath sharply. +</p> +<p> +“Yes—yes,” she answered slowly. “This has +happened before, but never as bad as this. I mean +it never before was quite so upset. I—I can’t account +for it.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s them pesky tramps!” said Mr. Floyd. +“I’ll notify the constable again; that’s what I’ll +do!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151'></a>151</span> +</p> +<p> +“Do you think it was tramps?” asked Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Who else could it be?” the caretaker demanded, +and neither Jack nor the others could +answer, though Walter asked: +</p> +<p> +“Well, if it were tramps, wouldn’t they steal +something if they had the chance they’ve had to-day? +Let’s take a look and see if anything is +missing.” +</p> +<p> +Then they went in, a bit gingerly at first, for +there is a queer, uncanny sort of feeling in coming +back to find the furniture upset in a strange +fashion. They all felt it, even joking Jack. +</p> +<p> +But, aside from the misplaced tables, chairs and +couch, nothing wrong was found. Nothing was +missing, as far as could be ascertained, and no +food had been taken from the pantry, though more +than once, Mrs. Floyd said, on former occasions +when the “surprise” had been manifested, the larder +showed signs of an unknown visitor. +</p> +<p> +“Now before we set things to rights,” suggested +Jack, “suppose we see if there are any clews. +Let’s go at this thing right. Look at each piece +of furniture and see if it has——” +</p> +<p> +“Any finger marks on? Is that what you mean, +Jack?” asked Paul. +</p> +<p> +“No, I’m not drawing it quite as fine as that. +I mean look around on the floor for bits of mud, +for any signs of foot prints—anything, in fact, +that would give us a line on who did this.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152'></a>152</span> +</p> +<p> +“It seems to have been done deliberately, anyhow,” +observed Walter. “The chairs and other +things weren’t misplaced in a hurry. They took +their time. Why any one but a child would want +to pile that chair on the table is remarkable.” +</p> +<p> +“That very thing may indicate that it was just +some skylarking boys,” commented Jack. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Floyd shook his head. +</p> +<p> +“There aren’t any boys around here,” he said. +“Of course lads might come out from the village, +and break in to do this mischief, but it isn’t likely. +This is private land, and on several previous occasions +trespassers have been arrested, so the boys +don’t generally come here. Besides, they wouldn’t +have had a key to come in with.” +</p> +<p> +“Did they use a key to enter?” asked Paul. +</p> +<p> +“The door was locked when we got back,” replied +Cora, as if that settled it. +</p> +<p> +“And the window fastenings are still on,” reported +Jack, who made a quick inspection. +</p> +<p> +“Here’s a bit of mud near this one chair, as if +it had dropped from some one’s shoe,” Walter +said. “So the surprisers must have come in from +outside.” +</p> +<p> +“Where else would they come from?” Jack demanded. +“Did you think they were concealed in +the bungalow?” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know what to think,” Walter answered +slowly. “It’s a queer mystery.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153'></a>153</span> +</p> +<p> +“I hope it won’t cause you folks to leave,” said +Mrs. Floyd a bit anxiously. “We’d like you to +stay on.” +</p> +<p> +“And we will!” cried Cora. “We knew that +a surprise awaited us when we came here, and we +haven’t been disappointed. And, now that it has +come, we’re not going to turn cowards and run +away. We’ll get to the bottom of this mystery.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s right!” cried Jack. “Who’s afraid? +You aren’t; are you, Hazel?” +</p> +<p> +“Not—not if——” +</p> +<p> +“Not if <em>I</em> stay! There, I knew it!” and Jack +puffed out his chest. “See what it is to have confidence +in a man. Now if the rest of you will act +as I do, we’ll soon——” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I didn’t say that at all!” cried the blushing +Hazel. “I meant I would stay if the <em>rest</em> did.” +</p> +<p> +“Squelched!” murmured Jack in dejected tones. +“Never mind, I’ll lay this ghost yet. Now let’s +get things to rights, and then we’ll stay to supper +with you girls.” +</p> +<p> +“Hadn’t you better wait until you’re invited?” +asked Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, do let them stay!” begged Belle. “I—I’m +a bit nervous over this.” +</p> +<p> +“Another manly protector needed,” murmured +Paul. +</p> +<p> +“Let us stay and we’ll help find the ghost,” suggested +Walter, and the girls were glad enough to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154'></a>154</span> +agree, for, truth to tell, they were a bit upset, and +even Cora looked over her shoulder nervously as +she ascended the stairs. +</p> +<p> +“Well, they didn’t come up and disturb your +bedrooms this time,” said Mrs. Floyd, as she went +to the upper story with the girls. +</p> +<p> +“Do you mean to say they actually have upset +the things in the <em>bedrooms</em>?” asked Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Sometimes,” replied the caretaker. “Though +that hasn’t happened of late.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, dear!” sighed the slim girl. “I did hope +we would be safe from them up here.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, they never come—that is, things never +happen—when any one is in the house,” Mrs. +Floyd hastened to add. “It’s always when the +place is left to itself.” +</p> +<p> +“Then the—er—well, call it ghost, for want +of a better name,” said Jack—“then the ghost +must keep watch to know when we go out.” +</p> +<p> +“I’m sure I don’t know,” said Mrs. Floyd. +“It’s very annoying, and I do hope you will find +out what does it and stop it.” +</p> +<p> +“We will,” Jack declared. “I’m sure, after +all, we’ll find out that it is due to perfectly natural +causes.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s what I believe,” said Walter. “I wonder +if it could be an earthquake?” +</p> +<p> +“Earthquake?” echoed the others. +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” Walter went on. “You know that queer +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155'></a>155</span> +noise which Cora, Belle and I seem to have heard +to the exclusion of you others? Well, that was a +sort of rumbling of the earth. It might have been +a slight shock, a reaction from a distant quake. +Such things have been known to happen. And if +there was one there might well be another. If +the bungalow shook hard enough the chairs might +have been upset as we found them.” +</p> +<p> +Jack shook his head. +</p> +<p> +“Your theory won’t hold water,” he said. “If +there was a hard enough shock to knock over +chairs and tables, the dishes in the closets would +have been broken.” +</p> +<p> +“I think so, too,” declared Paul. “The earthquake +won’t account for it, Walter.” +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps not. But I can’t think what else it +could be.” +</p> +<p> +“A human agency, you may be sure of that,” +declared Cora. “I don’t believe in the supernatural. +This was done by human hands and, sooner +or later, we’ll discover by whom. Humans are +fallible and will make a mistake. We must watch +for that mistake.” +</p> +<p> +They righted the furniture and talking of the +matter seemed to make it lose some of its mysteriousness. +The boys stayed to supper and until +late in the evening. Jack offered to remain all +night, and sleep on the couch downstairs, but +Cora would not hear of it. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156'></a>156</span> +</p> +<p> +“We’ll be all right,” she declared. “We can +call you on the telephone if we want you. Besides, +Mr. Floyd is going to leave open the door +leading to his quarters, and he can hear if we call. +We’ll be all right.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, ring us up if you find the chairs doing +a fox trot or hesitation waltz in the middle of the +night,” suggested Walter. +</p> +<p> +The girls went upstairs together, casting quick, +nervous glances over their shoulders as they ascended. +They locked their hall doors as soon as +they were inside. But as the four chambers communicated, +it was as if they were in one large +apartment. +</p> +<p> +“Oh dear!” exclaimed Cora, as she was taking +down her hair. “I’ve forgotten it.” +</p> +<p> +“What?” asked Bess, who was taking off her +shoes. +</p> +<p> +“My flashlight,” Cora answered. “I left it on +the table in the living room. I meant to bring it +up, for I like to see what time it is if I awaken in +the night.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll go down with you if you want to get it,” +offered Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“No, thank you. I’ll do without it. I dare say +I shan’t need it.” +</p> +<p> +“Let’s burn a light all night,” proposed Belle. +</p> +<p> +And no one called her silly. So the lamp was +left aglow, turned down a little. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157'></a>157</span> +</p> +<p> +Contrary, at least to some expectations, the +night passed peacefully. There was no disturbance, +and the girls awoke refreshed and with only +a little feeling of uneasiness as to what might happen +in the future. +</p> +<p> +But when Cora went downstairs, and began +looking among the things on the table in the living +room, another manifestation of the queer happenings +was in evidence. +</p> +<p> +“Where’s my light?” she demanded. “I left +my flashlight here last night, and now it’s gone. +Did any one take it?” +</p> +<p> +No one had, the boys and girls denying all +knowledge. Nor had Mr. or Mrs. Floyd removed +it, and Cora was positive she had left it +on the table. She recalled her remarks about it +the night previous. +</p> +<p> +“Well, it’s gone,” she said. “Another one of +the mysteries.” +</p> +<p> +“You seem to be singled out,” observed Walter. +“First it’s your auto, and now your light.” +</p> +<p> +“Do you think the two cases have any connection?” +asked Cora. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158'></a>158</span><a name='chXX' id='chXX'></a>CHAPTER XX—MORE HAPPENINGS</h2> +<p> +Walter considered the matter rather judicially +before answering. Then he gave as his decision: +</p> +<p> +“No, I can’t say that I do. It is, perhaps, only a +coincidence that your automobile and your flashlight +should have been taken. I dare say that had +it been a light belonging to any one else it would +have disappeared just the same.” +</p> +<p> +“You mean that they—the mysterious They—would +have taken the light, no matter to whom it +belonged?” asked Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Exactly! It was a case of wanting a light and +taking it.” +</p> +<p> +“But how did they get in to take it?” asked Paul. +“There’s no sign of anything having been broken; +is there—no doors or windows?” +</p> +<p> +“We didn’t look,” Cora said. +</p> +<p> +“Then that’s what we’d better do,” Jack suggested. +</p> +<p> +But an examination did not show that any means +had been used to force a passage from without. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159'></a>159</span> +The windows were provided with screens which +fastened from within in such a way that force +would have to be exerted to slip them. And this +had not been done. Nor had the door been tampered +with. +</p> +<p> +“There’s only one way to account for it,” said +Walter, “and that is on the theory that the Surprisers, +Ghosts, They—whatever you choose to +call them—used skeleton keys. And they must +be professional burglars, or they would have made +noise enough to have aroused you girls. You +didn’t hear anything; did you?” +</p> +<p> +Not one had heard a sound. +</p> +<p> +“But if they were professional thieves wouldn’t +they have taken something else besides a flashlight?” +asked Jack. “There’s plenty of other +things they might have picked up.” +</p> +<p> +This was true enough, for the girls had left +many of their more or less valuable belongings +downstairs. But none of them had been taken. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps they just needed Cora’s light to help +them in some of their other surprise visits,” suggested +Bess. “Isn’t it most delightfully mystifying?” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know that I find it especially so,” retorted +Belle, with a quick glance over her shoulder. +“It’s getting on my nerves.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, you can quit and go away when you want +to,” suggested her sister. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160'></a>160</span> +</p> +<p> +“Never!” cried Cora. “We’re not going to desert +in the face of danger; are we, Belle?” +</p> +<p> +The slim twin hesitated a moment, and then answered, +but not very decidedly: +</p> +<p> +“No.” +</p> +<p> +“I knew you wouldn’t,” said Jack’s sister. “We +Motor Girls aren’t cowards.” +</p> +<p> +“We give you credit for that,” declared Walter. +</p> +<p> +In spite of the brave front of Cora and her +chums, the happenings at Camp Surprise were +getting on their nerves. The boys, true to their +promise, began to plan to do their own cooking; +but in view of the fact that the oftener they were +in the girls’ bungalow the better Cora and her +chums liked it, it was decided to have the boys +take all their meals with the girls. Jack, Walter +and Paul would merely sleep in the smaller building, +where they were in close call by means of the +telephone. +</p> +<p> +For the next two days nothing happened. No +more articles were missed, and the furniture remained +where it was put. Then came two or +three days when our friends were off on long picnics, +remaining all day, leaving Mr. and Mrs. +Floyd in charge. Nor on these occasions did anything +happen. The bungalow was as peaceful +when they returned as when they left. +</p> +<p> +“I guess it’s all over,” said Cora, when nearly a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161'></a>161</span> +week had passed, and there had been no more +manifestations. “It was a flashlight they were +looking for all the while, and, now that they have +it, they are satisfied.” +</p> +<p> +“It might be,” admitted Belle. “I hope it is.” +</p> +<p> +There were happy days in the mountains. Sometimes +the young folks would wander far afield or +through the woods, taking their lunches and staying +all day. Again they would go berrying or fishing. +And they did not get lost again, for the boys +became familiar with the lay of the land. Cora, +too, as well as Belle and Bess, got her bearings, +and knew how to find the back paths. +</p> +<p> +Fishing formed a pastime that all enjoyed, for +the streams and ponds in Mountain View were +private property, and had not been depleted of +their finny inhabitants. So fish formed many a +dainty dish for the table. +</p> +<p> +It was one day when Mr. Floyd had gone in +to town, and Mrs. Floyd had departed to one +of the more distant bungalows to get it in readiness +for occupancy, that Cora and her friends again +went on a little trip to the small lake which once +before they had visited. +</p> +<p> +“And make sure everything is well locked,” +Belle advised, as they started away, boys and girls +together. +</p> +<p> +Windows and doors were seen to, though no +one had more than a faint suspicion that any unbidden +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162'></a>162</span> +visitors would call. They got back rather +early in the afternoon, for a thunder shower was +threatening, and as Jack opened the door and +looked in the living room, he called out: +</p> +<p> +“All serene. They haven’t been here this +time.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s good,” said Belle. “I guess we’ve +broken the hoodoo.” +</p> +<p> +But when Cora and Hazel went upstairs there +came simultaneous cries of surprise from them. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Cora!” cried Hazel. “Look at my room!” +</p> +<p> +“And look at mine!” Cora added. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter?” asked Jack from below. +</p> +<p> +“Everything!” answered his sister. “They’ve +been up here, Jack!” +</p> +<p> +“Who?” +</p> +<p> +“The Surprise, of course. Our rooms are all +upset.” +</p> +<p> +“Is anything taken?” asked Jack, who, with the +others, came up to look at the strange evidences +left by the mysterious visitors. +</p> +<p> +“We can’t tell yet,” said Cora. “Oh dear! what +does it all mean?” +</p> +<p> +No one answered for a moment, but Belle and +Bess looked half-fearfully about, as though even +then they might be standing in the presence of some +unseen creature. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163'></a>163</span><a name='chXXI' id='chXXI'></a>CHAPTER XXI—A DANCING LIGHT</h2> +<p> +“This is getting to be the limit of patience!” +exclaimed Jack a bit wrathfully, as he looked at +the disordered rooms. “Why can’t we do something?” +</p> +<p> +“We could, if we knew what to do,” said Walter. +“But you can’t fight nothing with something.” +</p> +<p> +“It is very intangible,” said Cora. “Oh, all +my pretty things scattered about!” +</p> +<p> +“Look and see if anything is taken,” suggested +Paul. “If we can find out what is missing—I +mean the character of the things—we can get a +better line on who might have taken them. So far, +the flashlight indicates regular burglars.” +</p> +<p> +For a time the girls were so put out, and so +nervous over what had happened, that they could +not ascertain what, if anything, was missing. +</p> +<p> +Then Cora began to reckon up her belongings, +and found that a number of articles had been +taken. Hazel found the same misfortune had +visited her. +</p> +<p> +“There are lots of my things gone,” said Cora. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164'></a>164</span> +</p> +<p> +“What?” asked Walter, producing pencil and +paper. “Let’s get at this systematically.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, well, there are lots of things you—you +wouldn’t understand about,” said Cora, blushing +slightly. +</p> +<p> +“That’s true enough,” Walter admitted with a +smile. “You are not on the witness stand, so you +needn’t mention face powder, nose rings——” +</p> +<p> +“Well, I like that!” cried Cora. “As if we used +face powder!” +</p> +<p> +“Just for that he will have to eat at the second +table,” pronounced Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“Come on!” challenged Jack, laughing. “Get +down to business. What sort of things are missing, +Cora?” +</p> +<p> +“Girls’ things, of course,” said his sister. “We +didn’t have much else up here.” +</p> +<p> +And that, it developed, was what was missing. +Trinkets, some toilet articles, including a silver-mounted +set belonging to Cora which Jack had +given her the previous Christmas, were gone. +Hazel lost a silver-backed mirror and a box full +of bright ribbons. +</p> +<p> +“Well, this beats me!” said Walter with a puzzled +air, as he looked at the list he had made. +“They took some things they may possibly dispose +of at a pawnshop, but why grown men burglars +should want hair ribbons, or neck ribbons, or whatever +ribbons they are, gets me.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165'></a>165</span> +</p> +<p> +“What makes you think they were men?” asked +Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Who else would it be?” +</p> +<p> +“Well, we first had a theory that the upsetting +might have been done by boys,” said Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, that theory would fit, under certain circumstances,” +agreed Walter. “So would the taking +of the flashlight. Almost any boy would have +been glad to get that. But what boy would take +a lot of pretty ribbons, even though he were +enough of a criminal to know that he might be +able to dispose of the silver-mounted toilet articles? +It doesn’t jibe.” +</p> +<p> +In the main, they were forced to agree with +Walter. +</p> +<p> +“Well, the fact remains that we have had another +visit from the unknowns,” concluded Walter, +“and what are we going to do about it?” +</p> +<p> +For a moment no one knew what to say. And +then, as brains were busy with the mystery, several +schemes were offered. +</p> +<p> +“Put some animal traps about and catch the intruders,” +said Jack. +</p> +<p> +“One of us stay and watch, while the others go +away,” was Paul’s contribution. +</p> +<p> +“Sprinkle talcum powder on the floor, and then +we can track them by the marks,” offered Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“Not such a bad idea,” declared Jack, as the +others laughed. “It has been known to work.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166'></a>166</span> +</p> +<p> +“Call in the police,” came from Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Pooh!” scoffed Cora. “If they couldn’t get +back my automobile they can’t find mysterious +thieves who enter through locked doors or windows, +and vanish into thin air with their ill-gotten +gains.” +</p> +<p> +“Let—let’s go home!” faltered Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Nonsense!” cried Cora. “We’ll stick it out. +It is just getting interesting.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s all right,” announced Belle, “but suppose—suppose +they come in the night, when we’re +asleep, and take one of us?” +</p> +<p> +“Let them begin on Bess,” suggested Jack, with +a laugh. “No offense, of course, fair one,” and he +bowed, “but you know you could give a good account +of yourself if some one did try to walk off +with you.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t dare suggest such a thing!” cried the +plump twin. “I’d never go to sleep if I thought +they’d come at night.” +</p> +<p> +“They do seem to confine their visits to daytime, +and to the periods when we are away,” said Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Which makes it look, more than ever, as if +they watched the bungalow and knew just when +to take advantage of our absence,” commented +Paul. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, don’t say that!” begged Belle. “Just +think—they—they may be watching now!” +</p> +<p> +“Well, if they are let’s go and see if we can +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167'></a>167</span> +rout them out,” suggested Jack. “There aren’t +many places of concealment about the bungalow.” +</p> +<p> +While the other girls helped Cora and Hazel +put to rights the upset rooms, the boys made a +thorough search outside. There did not seem to +be any place where the mysterious persons might +conceal themselves in order to spy on the bungalow. +There were trees all about, but the underbrush +had been cut away, and there was small +chance for concealment. The boys also started to +make an inspection about their own bungalow, +but this was cut short by a shower that came up. +</p> +<p> +“Well, so far, we are just about where we +started,” said Jack, as he and his two chums were +eating supper with the girls that night. “We +haven’t found out anything.” +</p> +<p> +“But we will!” declared Cora. “I’m not going +to be beaten this way. We’ll organize a campaign.” +</p> +<p> +They talked to this end, making a tentative +plan that the next time they went off on a trip, +some member of the party would be left behind +in concealment in the bungalow, to see, if possible, +who the visitor or visitors were. +</p> +<p> +“And if that doesn’t work we’ll try something +else,” said Walter. +</p> +<p> +It was evident, though, that after the first few +trials the new plan was not going to work. Though +the boys took turns in remaining in concealment +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168'></a>168</span> +while the others went away, not a sound or sign +of disturbance was noted. No furniture was misplaced, +and nothing was taken. +</p> +<p> +“We’ve got to have a new scheme,” said Cora. +“Let’s talk to Mr. and Mrs. Floyd about it. Maybe +they can suggest something.” +</p> +<p> +But the caretaker and his wife had nothing to +offer. They were as much worried and disturbed +by the queer happenings as were the girls and boys. +And though they were generous and kindly souls, +they were not quick thinkers, and had little imagination. +</p> +<p> +“It’s just spirits,” said Mrs. Floyd. “Spirits +come and go.” +</p> +<p> +“There aren’t any such things,” declared Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Maybe it’s lightning,” suggested Mr. Floyd. +“We have pretty heavy thunderstorms up here.” +</p> +<p> +“Lightning can’t move furniture, nor carry off +looking glasses and hair ribbons,” Cora went +on. +</p> +<p> +“Well, once lightning struck Jim Dobson’s +cabin,” the caretaker said, “and knocked all his +pots and pans off the stove, and burned a hole +right through his clock.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s within the bounds of possibility,” admitted +Jack. +</p> +<p> +“It’s boys!” decided Walter. “You’ll find that +some youngsters are up to these tricks, and they’re +cute enough to cover up their tracks.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169'></a>169</span> +</p> +<p> +“That’s it,” said Paul. “They’re too cute. +They don’t leave any tracks. How they get in +and out again, without leaving a clew or a mark +is more than I can see.” For an examination of +the place after the losses suffered by Cora and +Hazel had disclosed no apparent means of egress +or ingress. +</p> +<p> +One evening when the girls had gone over to the +boys’ bungalow to sit and talk, Cora, who had +gone to the end of the porch, whence a view could +be had of the other building, uttered an exclamation. +</p> +<p> +“There’s a light in our bungalow!” she called. +“Did we leave one burning?” +</p> +<p> +“No,” answered Belle. “I put it out, as I was +afraid of fire.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, one’s there now. See how it dances +about!” +</p> +<p> +Indeed, a light could be observed, dancing up +and down, flashing first from one window and then +from another. +</p> +<p> +“It’s Mr. or Mrs. Floyd,” said Jack. +</p> +<p> +“They’ve gone to the village,” Paul said. “I +saw them go.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s the mysterious visitors!” cried Walter. +“They’re using Cora’s flashlight! Come on, boys, +this time we have them!” +</p> +<p> +He ran toward the bungalow, followed by the +others. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170'></a>170</span><a name='chXXII' id='chXXII'></a>CHAPTER XXII—A MOUNTAIN CAVE</h2> +<p> +Advancing rapidly toward the girls’ bungalow, +where so many strange happenings had occurred, +and where even now the strange light was flashing, +first at one window, then at another, Cora +and her chums—boys and girls—speculated on +what could be the cause. +</p> +<p> +“Let the boys go first,” cautioned Belle. “We +don’t know what it might be.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s right! Wish the danger on to us!” +commented Jack. “But we’re not afraid.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s only those mischievous boys,” declared +Paul. “We’ll catch ’em in the very act now.” +</p> +<p> +“But how did the little rascals get in without +our seeing them?” asked Walter. +</p> +<p> +“We weren’t watching the bungalow very +closely,” said Paul. “They could easily have +slipped in from the back, around on the forest +side. They watched their chance.” +</p> +<p> +“But what’s their game?” asked Jack, as they +crossed the rustic bridge on the run, their footsteps +echoing dully on the boards. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171'></a>171</span> +</p> +<p> +“Go easy!” cautioned Walter. “Don’t make +so much noise, or we’ll scare them away before +we have a chance to catch them.” +</p> +<p> +“They can’t hear us above the noise of the +waterfall,” declared Jack. “But what’s their +game? That’s what I want to know. Why are +they flashing that light about so?” +</p> +<p> +“There must be two or three of them with +lights,” said Cora. “For first I noticed it up in +the window of my room, and a second later, certainly +in less time than any human boy could make +the trip downstairs, the light showed from a window +in the living room.” +</p> +<p> +“Probably there are three or four of the little +rascals,” said Walter. “Come on now, we’re almost +there.” +</p> +<p> +“Wait here, girls,” suggested Cora. “Let the +boys go ahead, though after they catch these mischief-makers +I’ll feel like giving them a good shaking +myself.” +</p> +<p> +Walter, Paul and Jack advanced toward the +bungalow. They went softly up on the porch, +looking sharply for a sign of the light. +</p> +<p> +“Seems to have gone out,” commented Jack in +a whisper. +</p> +<p> +“Yes. They must have heard us and switched +it off.” +</p> +<p> +“Probably they’ve skipped out, too, worse +luck!” came from Paul. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172'></a>172</span> +</p> +<p> +Indeed, as they listened, they could hear no +sound from the bungalow, at the door of which +they now stood. All was silent and dark within. +</p> +<p> +“Got a match?” Walter asked. +</p> +<p> +“Take my flashlight,” returned Jack. “It’s +stronger than Cora’s.” +</p> +<p> +The brilliant white beam of light from the electric +flash which Jack handed to Walter illuminated +the interior of the living room. And at the sight +which met the gaze of the boys, they could not +restrain murmurs of astonishment. +</p> +<p> +“Well, would you look at that!” +</p> +<p> +“Same thing over again!” +</p> +<p> +“And right under our noses too! They never +made a sound!” +</p> +<p> +“What is it?” called Cora, from where she +and her chums stood waiting. “Did you catch +them?” +</p> +<p> +“Haven’t yet,” answered Walter, playing the +light about the room. “But the furniture is all +upset, just as it was the other day, only more +so. Come on up, girls. I guess there’s no danger. +The boys have probably skipped out, though +we may get them yet. Jack, you go around to the +side door. Paul, you cover the back. I’ll take a +run through the bungalow and stir them up.” +</p> +<p> +Pausing to light a lamp in the living room, Walter +ran up the stairs to the apartments of the girls, +while Jack and Paul formed a guard outside the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173'></a>173</span> +bungalow. The girls still remained a little distance +away, awaiting developments. +</p> +<p> +But there were none—at least inside the bungalow. +Walter came down stairs to report that +no one was up there. +</p> +<p> +“But are things upset in our rooms?” asked +Bess. +</p> +<p> +“And is anything taken?” Hazel questioned. +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t stop to look,” confessed Walter. “I +was just trying to drive out intruders.” +</p> +<p> +“None came out the door I was watching,” declared +Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Nor where I was,” said Paul. +</p> +<p> +“How in the world did they get away +so quickly?” asked Walter. +</p> +<p> +No one could answer him and they all turned +their attention to the living room. +</p> +<p> +As Walter had said, it was more upset than on +the other occasion. Every chair in the big apartment +had been overturned, and in some cases two +were jammed together, the legs interwoven. On +a table two chairs had been piled, while the couch +was turned completely upside down, and a stool +perched on top of it, a sofa cushion surmounting +that. +</p> +<p> +Other sofa cushions were tossed about the room, +as though the intruders had been having a pillow +fight, and in fact the whole room had that appearance. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174'></a>174</span> +</p> +<p> +“But nothing seems to have been taken,” said +Cora, after a look around, when the furniture +had been put to rights. +</p> +<p> +“Better not be too sure,” cautioned Walter. +“Wait until you take a look upstairs. I only +glanced around.” +</p> +<p> +“How in the world could they do all this without +making a noise?” asked Paul. “It seems to +have been done in a hurry, and boys are rather +clumsy—I know I was. They ought, by rights, +to have stumbled all over themselves, doing this +by the light of only a pocket flash. And yet we +heard no racket as we ran up. It was all quiet.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s one queer part of it,” admitted Walter. +“It almost makes one believe in——” +</p> +<p> +“Ghosts! Go on and say it,” challenged Cora. +“You can’t scare us.” +</p> +<p> +“Any more than we are frightened now,” said +Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Are you frightened?” asked Jack. +</p> +<p> +“A little,” she confessed. “Wouldn’t you be—if +you were I?” +</p> +<p> +“I might be,” he admitted. “But we’ll get at +the bottom of this for you, and catch those youngsters.” +</p> +<p> +“If we only could be sure they were boys,” +Belle murmured. +</p> +<p> +“Who else could it be?” asked Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Ask us something easier,” suggested Paul. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175'></a>175</span> +“Go ahead upstairs, girls, and see if anything is +missing.” +</p> +<p> +This advice was acted upon, and when the place +was aglow with lights Cora and her chums took +“an account of stock,” as Jack said. +</p> +<p> +“Well, any of your ‘war paint’ missing?” he +demanded of his sister when she came down. +</p> +<p> +“Only a few little trinkets,” she said, “ribbons +and things like that. If it were not impossible, I +should say girls had a hand in this.” +</p> +<p> +“It isn’t impossible,” declared Walter. “Girls +can do almost anything nowadays. But it isn’t +likely. Some boys are just as fond of bright things +as are girls, and probably these youngsters hope to +make neckties of your ribbons.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, what are we going to do about it?” +asked Jack, when they had sat discussing the curious +happening for some time. +</p> +<p> +“What <em>can</em> we do?” Walter demanded. +</p> +<p> +“I know one thing <em>I</em> am going to do,” declared, +Belle, “and that is I’m going home in the morning.” +</p> +<p> +“No!” cried Cora. +</p> +<p> +“I am if this mystery isn’t cleared up. It’s +getting on my nerves horribly,” and she gave a +quick glance over her shoulder as a slight noise +sounded. +</p> +<p> +“I did that,” confessed Hazel, who had dropped +a book. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176'></a>176</span> +</p> +<p> +“Don’t do it again, my dear,” begged Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Now look here!” cried Cora, “this won’t do. +We’re going to stick it out. We agreed on that, +you know. We’re going to find out what this mystery +is.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s what I say!” came from Bess. +</p> +<p> +“I’m willing to stay,” declared Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“Well, since I seem to be in the minority I’ll +have to give in,” sighed Belle. “I’ll stay if you +all do, but I really think some one ought to be in +this bungalow with us—one of the boys or——” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll stay here,” came from Jack, Walter, and +Paul in a trio. +</p> +<p> +But when Mr. and Mrs. Floyd returned from +town, and heard of the strange happenings, they +offered to sleep in a small room opening off the +living apartment. +</p> +<p> +The night, however, passed without incident, +though none of the girls slept well. Morning +seemed to quiet the frayed nerves, and the happenings +of the night before did not seem so mysterious +in the glare of the golden sun. +</p> +<p> +The season for berries was at its height now, +and as many varieties grew on the mountainside +the young campers organized another expedition +one day, about a week after the disturbance in +which the light figured. Mrs. Floyd promised +to bake the pies if the boys and girls gathered the +berries. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177'></a>177</span> +</p> +<p> +They planned for an all day stay, taking their +lunch, and early in the afternoon all berry baskets +were filled. Then, as there were some ominous-looking +clouds in the west, they decided to +start for the bungalows. +</p> +<p> +They were about half a mile from Camp Surprise, +on a new short cut which Mr. Floyd had +mentioned, when Cora, who was hurrying along +in the lead, slipped on a slight declivity and, to +save herself from falling, grasped a bush. +</p> +<p> +The bush, however, offered little hold, for it +came away in her hand, and Cora slid on, until +she brought up on a level place. She looked back, +to join the others in the laugh at her slight mishap, +when her eyes noted the place from which the +bush had pulled away. +</p> +<p> +“Why look! Look here!” she called to the others. +“Here’s a regular cave!” +</p> +<p> +“A cave?” echoed Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Yes. There’s a big hole which I’d never have +seen only the bush became uprooted. Come here!” +</p> +<p> +“Come on!” cried Jack. “Let’s see where this +leads to. It may have something to do with the +mystery.” +</p> +<p> +“What mystery?” asked Bess. +</p> +<p> +“What mystery? The mystery of Camp Surprise! +Maybe the boys hide in this cave. Come +on!” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178'></a>178</span><a name='chXXIII' id='chXXIII'></a>CHAPTER XXIII—THE TREMBLING NOISE</h2> +<p> +Jack, Walter, and Paul tore away more of the +bushes screening the mouth of the natural cave. +As they removed the leafy branches the black hole +was seen to be of large size, fully high enough to +permit even a tall man to enter without stooping, +and wide enough to enable three to walk abreast. +</p> +<p> +“This is some cave!” exclaimed Jack. “I wonder +Mr. Floyd never told us about it.” +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps he didn’t know,” suggested Cora. “I +wouldn’t have seen it, and I was within a few feet +of it, if I hadn’t slipped and pulled away the +bush.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, we’ll soon see if it amounts to anything,” +declared Paul, setting down the pail of berries +he was carrying. +</p> +<p> +“Are you girls coming in with us?” asked Walter, +looking at Cora and her chums who had not +advanced. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know. Shall we?” asked Hazel, looking +at her brother. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t want to stay here,” said Cora. “Besides, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179'></a>179</span> +something might happen to the boys. But +how are you going to explore the cave in the dark? +And it is as dark as a bottle of ink in there. Have +any of you your flashlights?” +</p> +<p> +“We can make a torch of wood,” said Jack, +when it developed that none of them had one of +the pocket electric lights. +</p> +<p> +But just as Jack and the others were about to +enter the cave the mutterings of thunder which +had been increasing, culminated in such a clap that +the girls, involuntarily placed their hands over +their ears. +</p> +<p> +“Come on! Run for the bungalow!” cried +Cora. “Else we’ll be caught in a terrible storm! +It’s starting to rain now.” +</p> +<p> +Some hot drops hissed down, the prelude to an +almost tropical fury of the elements it seemed. +</p> +<p> +“We can go into the cave,” suggested Paul. +</p> +<p> +“No!” cried his sister. “You shan’t go in there +with this storm coming up. The cave will keep. +Come on, let’s run!” +</p> +<p> +She darted off down the side of the mountain, +the other girls following. The boys hesitated a +moment, and then, not wishing to desert the girls, +even though the latter ran first, they followed. +</p> +<p> +“We can come back to the cave to-morrow,” +said Walter. “It won’t run away. And to explore +it well we ought to have the electric lights. +Come on.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180'></a>180</span> +</p> +<p> +Paul and Jack followed him, and they all +reached the girls’ bungalow just as the deluge of +rain came down. +</p> +<p> +For an hour or more the storm raged, blinding +lightning and deafening thunder succeeding one +another. But the bungalow was snug and safe, +though once, when a tree was struck not far away, +the girls screamed in terror. +</p> +<p> +That crash, however, seemed to be the culmination +of the outburst, for from then on the rain began +to slacken, and the thunder died away in muttered +rumblings and the lightning became paler +and paler until it was only a faint, shimmering +light. +</p> +<p> +Then the dark sky cleared and the sun came +out, shining through the storm-riven clouds and +warming the ground and trees which were dripping +from the vigorous bath. +</p> +<p> +“We got home just in time,” commented Cora, +as they looked out on the ceasing storm. “A little +longer on the mountain and we would have +been drenched.” +</p> +<p> +“That cave was a find,” commented Jack. “I +want to see what’s in it.” +</p> +<p> +“Probably nothing more than a hole in the side +of the mountain,” commented Bess. +</p> +<p> +“I wouldn’t be too sure of that,” voiced Walter. +“I wonder if Mr. Floyd knows anything about +it?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181'></a>181</span> +</p> +<p> +It developed that the caretaker did not, though +he said there were several small mountain caves +in that section, and this was probably one of them +that he had not chanced upon. +</p> +<p> +“Do you think smugglers or pirates might have +used it?” asked Hazel, with a smile. +</p> +<p> +“Hardly pirates,” commented Jack. “Too far +from the water. But smugglers might have done +so. We’re not so far from the Canadian line.” +</p> +<p> +“All bosh!” declared Paul. “It’s probably a +garage dating from the stone age when the early +inhabitants used the dinosaur as a jitney!” +</p> +<p> +They all laughed at his conceit and talked further +of the cave and what they might find in it +when they explored it the next day. +</p> +<p> +Whether it was the severe thunderstorm, or +whether it was the culmination of the happenings +of the past few weeks was not made clear, but it +was certain that the girls, even Cora, were more +nervous than they had been at any time yet. +</p> +<p> +“I—I wish we didn’t have to stay here to-night,” +said Belle when supper was over, and +they sat out on the porch, gazing into the fast-gathering +darkness. +</p> +<p> +“Why?” asked Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Because I—I’m afraid. Come now, aren’t +you?” she challenged. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I can’t say I like all the mysterious happenings,” +Cora admitted. “And now that we +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182'></a>182</span> +know there is a cave near us—more than one perhaps—and +that we don’t know who—or what—may +be in them, why, I can’t say it is the most +pleasant vacation we have experienced.” +</p> +<p> +“This bungalow gives me the creeps!” complained +Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“Why not take ours?” suggested Walter. “It’s +large enough for you to sleep in, and we’ll take +this one. Come on, what do you say?” +</p> +<p> +“No, not to-night anyhow,” decided Cora. +“We’ll keep to our agreement and stay here. Mrs. +Floyd will be here with us.” +</p> +<p> +“And not Mr. Floyd?” asked Belle. +</p> +<p> +“No, not until later. He has to go to some +town meeting I believe, and will come in around +midnight. But nothing has happened in the last +few days—not even a noise.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ve heard noises,” confessed Belle. +</p> +<p> +“What sort?” Jack inquired. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, sort of rumbling, trembling noises, and +they seemed to be away down under the ground. +I heard one yesterday, when I came back to get +my veil after the others had gone out. It scared +me,” Belle added. +</p> +<p> +“I think the waterfall causes those rumbling +noises,” said Walter. “We’ll have to investigate +that to-morrow.” +</p> +<p> +The boys went to their own bungalow, and Mrs. +Floyd came in to occupy the small temporary bedroom. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183'></a>183</span> +Her husband would be in later, she explained, +confirming Cora’s information in that respect. +The thunderstorm had cooled the rather +oppressive air and there was a refreshing breeze +blowing as the girls went up to their bedrooms. +</p> +<p> +Just who awakened first, it would be hard to +say. Probably it was Belle, as she was the lightest +sleeper. Cora heard her calling, and at the same +time she was aware of another disturbance. +</p> +<p> +“Do you hear it?” asked Belle from her room. +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” Cora answered. At the same time she +could hear Bess and Hazel getting up. +</p> +<p> +The whole bungalow seemed filled with a roaring, +trembling noise, and there was a slight vibration +of the building. +</p> +<p> +“What is it? Oh, what is it?” cried Belle, in +hysterical tones. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know,” answered Cora. “But I’m going +to find out.” +</p> +<p> +“How?” +</p> +<p> +“By calling the boys. Mrs. Floyd, are you +awake?” Cora demanded, going to the head of +the stairs. +</p> +<p> +“Yes. That noise awoke me.” +</p> +<p> +“Is Mr. Floyd home?” +</p> +<p> +“Not yet.” +</p> +<p> +“Then I’m going to telephone for the boys!” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184'></a>184</span><a name='chXXIV' id='chXXIV'></a>CHAPTER XXIV—THE SECRET PASSAGE</h2> +<p> +Hastily donning robes and slippers, the girls +gathered about Cora as she rang the electric bell +which had been arranged to summon the boys in +the other bungalow to the toy telephone. Meanwhile, +Mrs. Floyd had arisen and dressed to let +in the boys. The rumbling, trembling noise had +stopped. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, why don’t they answer?” cried Cora, impatiently +pushing the electric bell button again +and again. +</p> +<p> +Then, through the toy receiver came a faint +voice. +</p> +<p> +“Hello! Hello, there! Is that you, girls? +What is the matter?” +</p> +<p> +“This you, Jack?” Cora asked. +</p> +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> +<p> +“Come over as fast as you can! Hurry!” +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter?” he asked. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t stop to question! Hurry over!” Cora +begged. “It’s that terrible noise again. Can’t +you hear it?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185'></a>185</span> +</p> +<p> +“No,” answered Jack. “But we’ll be right over. +Come on, fellows!” Cora heard him call to Walter +and Paul, as he left the telephone. “The +girls are scared.” +</p> +<p> +“I guess he’d be too, if he heard that noise,” +Cora said. “Did you all hear it?” and she appealed +to her chums. +</p> +<p> +“I did,” affirmed Hazel. “It sounded like distant +thunder.” +</p> +<p> +“Could it have been?” asked Mrs. Floyd, who +had joined the girls. +</p> +<p> +“The stars are shining,” reported Belle, looking +from a window, shading her eyes with her +hands from the light in the room. They had +partly dressed and gone down to the living room. +There they listened and waited both for a recurrence +of the noise and for the approach of the +boys. +</p> +<p> +The latter made their presence known first, +fairly running along the graveled way that led +from their bungalow, over the rustic bridge, to +the girls’ abiding place. +</p> +<p> +“What’s all the racket about?” demanded Jack, +as he and his two chums entered, rather breathless +from their run and their hurry in dressing, the +hurry showing itself in the absence of collars and +ties. +</p> +<p> +“It’s that noise,” said Cora, her voice trembling +slightly. “We heard it again, Jack.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186'></a>186</span> +</p> +<p> +“Was it so scary?” demanded Paul, looking at +his sister. +</p> +<p> +“It certainly was—too scary for words!” answered +Belle. “I’m not going to pass another +night in Camp Surprise!” +</p> +<p> +“It <em>has</em> been a surprise with a vengeance,” declared +Bess. “Boys, can’t you do something?” +she appealed. +</p> +<p> +“What’s to be done?” asked Jack. “We’ll +have to wait until we hear the noise again, and +then we can tell from which direction it comes. +Suppose, while we’re waiting, you girls just tell +us what you heard.” +</p> +<p> +They had all heard something different, it developed. +At least, they all had a different impression +of the noise. +</p> +<p> +Cora described it as a “trembling roar.” +</p> +<p> +Bess said it was a rumble, as though a heavy +wagon had passed in front of the bungalow. +</p> +<p> +Belle said it reminded her of a deep, heavy +sound, such as she had once heard in a blast furnace. +</p> +<p> +It was reserved for Hazel to describe accurately +the noise, though none of them knew her +description was correct until afterward. +</p> +<p> +“It was like a factory or machine shop next +door,” said Paul’s sister. “It seemed to shake +the bungalow as though heavy machinery were +working.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187'></a>187</span> +</p> +<p> +“It must be the waterfall,” decided Jack. “Only +a large body of water, tumbling down into some +chasm, could make a noise like that. There’s no +machinery around here. Besides, the waterfall is +bigger than ever now, on account of the rain. It +must be that.” +</p> +<p> +“It wasn’t!” declared Cora, though when +pressed for reasons to bolster up her denial she +could give none. “It wasn’t that sort of noise at +all,” she affirmed. “It was more like——” +</p> +<p> +“What’s that?” asked Belle so suddenly that +the other girls jumped nervously. +</p> +<p> +It was the sound of a footstep on the porch, a +firm, unhesitating footstep. +</p> +<p> +“I expect that’s my husband,” said Mrs. Floyd. +</p> +<p> +It was Mr. Floyd, and he was, greatly surprised +to see the “whole family up,” as he expressed +it. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter?” he asked, looking around +on the circle of rather startled faces, ending with +his wife’s. “Did you sit up to see how late I got +in? Strictly business, young ladies and gentlemen,” +he went on, smiling at them. “The committee +had considerable to transact, and I had to +stay.” +</p> +<p> +“This is a sort of surprise party,” Cora told +him. “Camp Surprise is living up to its name,” +and she went on to tell about the noise, the others +adding bits here and there. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188'></a>188</span> +</p> +<p> +“Pshaw now! That’s queer!” commented Mr. +Floyd. “I have heard them rumblings myself, +but I laid ’em to the waterfall. It’s a curious cataract +at times.” +</p> +<p> +“This noise,” began Cora, “isn’t like anything +I ever——” +</p> +<p> +She paused midway in the sentence, and a +strange look grew and spread over her face, as it +did over the faces of the others. +</p> +<p> +“There it is now,” whispered Bess. “That—that +noise!” +</p> +<p> +They all heard it, a dull, rumbling roar that +made the bungalow tremble as when a heavy wind +blows and vibrates the timbers of a house. +</p> +<p> +“So that’s what it is!” exclaimed Jack. “This +is my first experience.” +</p> +<p> +“I heard it once, though distantly,” said Walter. +</p> +<p> +“Listen!” cautioned Cora. +</p> +<p> +The noise seemed to increase. +</p> +<p> +“Say, that is curious!” commented Mr. Floyd. +“I never noticed that before. Where does it come +from?” +</p> +<p> +Hardly had he spoken than the rumbling ceased, +and there came a sharp crash, as though wood +had broken somewhere. +</p> +<p> +“The chimney’s fallen!” cried Mrs. Floyd. +</p> +<p> +“Nonsense, Eliza,” said her husband. “The +crash would be up on the roof if the chimney toppled +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189'></a>189</span> +over. Besides, there’s no wind, and the noise +didn’t come from above, it came from—down +there!” +</p> +<p> +He pointed to the floor of the living room, which +was of bare boards, with rugs here and there. +</p> +<p> +“That’s right!” cried Jack. “The crash was +below us. It’s under this bungalow somewhere. +Up with the floor boards! We’ll get at the bottom +of this!” +</p> +<p> +There was no doubt on that score. Every one +in the room was sure the noise had come from +under the floor. +</p> +<p> +“But how could it?” asked Walter. “There’s +no cellar to the bungalow; is there?” +</p> +<p> +“None that I ever heard of,” said Mr. Floyd. +“I didn’t live here when the bungalow was built, +but I’ve always understood it had no cellar.” +</p> +<p> +“It hasn’t,” Cora affirmed. “At least none that +you can find. There are no cellar stairs and the +place seems to rest on piles.” +</p> +<p> +“But the noise came from down there,” and +Jack pointed to the floor. “The only way to find +out is to take up the boards. May we, Mr. +Floyd?” +</p> +<p> +“Why, yes, I reckon so. We’ve got to get at +the bottom of this. It’s better to spoil the floor +than to lose the renting of the bungalow by ghosts +scaring tenants away. Take up the boards. I’ll +get an axe and a crowbar.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190'></a>190</span> +</p> +<p> +And so, in the middle of the night, for it was +close to twelve o’clock, the strange work of looking +under the floor of the bungalow for the source +of the queer noise was begun. +</p> +<p> +“Where shall we start?” asked Jack, when Mr. +Floyd had brought the implements. +</p> +<p> +The caretaker considered a moment. +</p> +<p> +“If there is some sort of cellar, or space under +this bungalow, it must be near the center of the +floor, I’m thinking. We’ll begin there. Don’t +be afraid of spoiling the floor. I’ll take the responsibility.” +</p> +<p> +Jack swung the axe vigorously, and, being aided +by Walter, soon had removed two or three of +the narrow boards. As they were prying on another, +a queer thing happened. +</p> +<p> +A solid section of the floor from the middle of +the room suddenly sank down, and then rolled +back, exactly as a sliding door rolls, only this door +was horizontal instead of vertical. Back it rolled, +leaving what was practically a trap in the floor, +and as the light shone down this a flight of steps +was revealed leading into darkness. +</p> +<p> +“Great bumblebees!” gasped Jack. “See what +we’ve done! Uncovered a secret passage! Now +for the solution of the mystery!” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191'></a>191</span><a name='chXXV' id='chXXV'></a>CHAPTER XXV—THE PATCHED TIRE</h2> +<p> +Crowding around Jack they all gazed down +into the opening. For a moment no one spoke. +Then Cora softly murmured: +</p> +<p> +“A secret passage.” +</p> +<p> +“What else is it?” demanded her brother. “No +one knew it was here. You didn’t; did you?” he +asked Mr. Floyd. +</p> +<p> +“Never had the least notion of it. How it +got here is a mystery to me.” +</p> +<p> +“It must have been built in the bungalow, or +put in after it was built,” said Bess. “What does +it mean? What’s it all about?” +</p> +<p> +“That’s what we’re going to find out,” declared +Walter. +</p> +<p> +“You don’t mean to say you’re going down—there!” +and Belle, with a dramatic gesture, +pointed to the dark opening. +</p> +<p> +“Why shouldn’t we go down there?” asked +Paul. “It’s nothing but a cellar.” +</p> +<p> +“Cellar!” ejaculated Jack. “We’ll find this +more than a cellar I’m thinking!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192'></a>192</span> +</p> +<p> +“Well, the steps are just like cellar stairs,” said +Paul. +</p> +<p> +“Except they’re of stone,” added Walter, “and +that passage isn’t going to prove as prosaic as a +cellar, I’m thinking.” +</p> +<p> +“How did you come to open it, Jack?” asked +Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“That’s what I can’t tell you,” was the answer. +“It seemed to open of itself when the axe, +or something, hit on the hidden spring. It’s a +secret door to a secret passage, and the land knows +what we may find at the end.” +</p> +<p> +“Why, it’s just like in a book or a play!” gasped +Belle. +</p> +<p> +“More like a play,” said Cora. “They have +sliding doors like this on the stage where the +spirits appear and disappear.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s it!” cried Jack, as if an idea had suddenly +come to him. +</p> +<p> +“What’s what?” Walter demanded. +</p> +<p> +“This is where the spirits came from—the spirits +that have been having fun with the furniture,” +Jack went on. “Don’t you see? They came up +through this secret door, did what they pleased, +and went down again, closing the door after them +by means of some secret mechanism.” +</p> +<p> +“You’re not so far wrong at that,” remarked +Paul, examining the queer sliding door in the floor +with a mechanic’s eye. “This is a pretty piece of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193'></a>193</span> +work. You seem to have smashed the operating +part of it with your axe, Jack, or at least the part +of it that opened the door from this side. It +slides back and forth though,” and Paul rolled the +section of the flooring to and fro. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t close it!” cried Walter. “You might +shut it so we couldn’t get it open again. We want +to explore that passage.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s what!” came from Jack. “This is +where the furniture-movers came from all right.” +</p> +<p> +“Though why they should want to upset chairs +is more than I can account for,” commented Walter. +</p> +<p> +“We’ll find out when we go down there,” suggested +Paul. “Wait until I take a look at this +apparatus. We don’t want it closing over our +heads after we get down there.” +</p> +<p> +The sliding door, or rather the section of flooring, +was comparatively simple in arrangement. It +was made so that it could be dropped down two +inches, and then it could be rolled under the floor +on small steel wheels, which ran on projecting +strips of wood. +</p> +<p> +As Paul had said, Jack, by a blow of his axe, +had destroyed the spring that controlled the mechanism, +but this very chance blow of the implement +had revealed the secret. Probably there was one +certain board which, when pressed on, or shifted, +operated the sliding door. And so cleverly was it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194'></a>194</span> +fitted into the floor, and so tight was the joining, +that the presence of it would never have been seen. +Only by chance had they happened upon it. +</p> +<p> +“Well, who’s going down?” asked Jack, as they +stood looking into the opening. “We’ll need lights, +though.” +</p> +<p> +“I have my flash,” said Walter. Paul, it developed, +had his also. Both were powerful pocket +electric torches, with dry storage batteries. +</p> +<p> +“We’ll all go,” suggested Paul. +</p> +<p> +“No you won’t!” cried his sister. “We’re not +going to be left here alone, with that queer noise +likely to happen at any time.” +</p> +<p> +“I guess there won’t be any more noise, now +that we have discovered this,” said Jack, significantly. +“This is where it came from all right.” +</p> +<p> +“But what caused it?” asked Bess. +</p> +<p> +“That’s what we’ve got to find out,” said Walter. +“Come on, boys. Into the secret passage!” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll stay with you girls,” said Mr. Floyd. “Let +the boys investigate all they like. But this sure +does beat me! To think this bungalow had this +concealed under the floor all the while, and I never +knew it.” +</p> +<p> +“No wonder this was named Camp Surprise,” +said Cora. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t believe even them folks that give it +that name suspected anything like this,” Mrs. +Floyd remarked. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195'></a>195</span> +</p> +<p> +“We’ll take all the surprise out of it before +we’re through,” Jack said, as he started down the +stone steps. Walter and Paul followed, their +flashes switched on. The stone steps proved to +be made of cement well moulded, and there were +ten of them, which led to a flat place under the +bungalow, the floor of which was now three feet +above the boys’ heads. They found themselves +standing in a rectangular space, with heavy planks +on the sides. +</p> +<p> +“Is it just a cellar?” called Mr. Floyd from up +above, where he stood at the edge of the opening, +with the girls and his wife. +</p> +<p> +“There’s a long narrow passage leading off +somewhere,” Jack called back. “We’ll investigate. +It doesn’t seem to be just a cellar though.” +</p> +<p> +“Be careful,” warned Cora, as the boys passed +out of sight of those who were watching. +</p> +<p> +Jack, Walter and Paul found themselves in +what was practically a planked passageway, about +four feet wide and eight feet in height. There +was a musty, damp smell to it, and when they had +walked on a few feet over the hard-packed dirt +floor, Jack said: +</p> +<p> +“This goes beyond the bungalow.” +</p> +<p> +“What do you mean?” asked Walter. +</p> +<p> +“I mean that we have passed beyond the limits +of the bungalow. This passage extends back +under the ground, perhaps into the mountain.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196'></a>196</span> +</p> +<p> +“Maybe right into that cave we found to-day,” +suggested Paul. +</p> +<p> +“It might be,” agreed Walter. “There’s something +queer about this—something big, too. Keep +on, and we’ll find where this passage leads to. It’s +been built some time, that’s evident.” +</p> +<p> +This was shown by the fact that the planking +on the sides and overhead was old, and rotted in +some places. And the ground underfoot was +packed so hard that it gave no evidences of footprints +or other marks. +</p> +<p> +Wondering what lay before them, the boys +pressed eagerly forward. And then, after a sudden +turn, the passage came to an abrupt end. They +found themselves up against a stone wall, a veritable, +and not figurative one. +</p> +<p> +“Well, what do you know about this!” exclaimed +Jack in chagrin. +</p> +<p> +“This is the end,” said Paul. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps not,” asserted Walter. “This passage +must lead somewhere. Nobody would go to +all this work making it, only to block it off in this +fashion. And it’s blocked off solidly enough, too,” +he added as he banged his fist against the stone. +Like the steps it seemed to be of cement. +</p> +<p> +“Isn’t there any way of opening that?” asked +Jack. +</p> +<p> +“There doesn’t seem to be,” Paul said, examining +it closely. “Looks to be pretty solid.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197'></a>197</span> +</p> +<p> +“Can’t be,” declared Jack. “Else how could +those spirits or boys get through and up into the +bungalow to play tricks with the furniture?” +</p> +<p> +“If they were spirits a stone wall wouldn’t stop +them,” Paul said. “But we can’t do anything +more to-night.” +</p> +<p> +“Can we at any time?” asked Walter. +</p> +<p> +“Sure!” cried Jack. “We’ll get crowbars to-morrow +and tear down this cement wall. Then +we’ll find what’s at the other end of the passage. +Now come on back and tell the girls.” +</p> +<p> +They found their friends eagerly waiting, +though there was some disappointment when the +boys reported finding nothing. +</p> +<p> +“Not a thing in that passage except the solid +wall at the end,” Jack said. “But we’ll tear that +down to-morrow and see what’s beyond.” +</p> +<p> +“Now hold on a minute,” said Mr. Floyd. “Of +course I’m as anxious as you folks are to get at +the bottom of this. But I don’t own this property, +and before I let you go to work tearing down +stone walls and so on, I’ll have to get permission +from the owners.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, that’s right,” assented Jack. “Who are +they?” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Floyd gave the name, and added the information +that they, or rather the one man who +owned this particular bungalow, could be reached +by the long-distance telephone. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198'></a>198</span> +</p> +<p> +“Then we’ll call him up in the morning,” decided +Jack. “I don’t know how far the passage +extends, or whether it’s all under the property +that goes with this bungalow, but we’ll get permission +before we go ahead.” +</p> +<p> +This was agreed to, and when the girls learned +that there was nothing to be alarmed at they went +down into the passage also, as did Mr. and Mrs. +Floyd. +</p> +<p> +“Well, there’s nothing more we can do,” said +Cora. “Let’s get what little sleep there is left, and +then prepare for work in the morning.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s almost morning now,” said Belle, pointing +to the windows through which they could see a +faint glow in the east, presaging the rising sun. +</p> +<p> +They were all too highly excited to sleep much, +and they were up early. Boards were laid over +the opening in the floor, it being feared if the sliding +section was closed there might be trouble in +opening it again. +</p> +<p> +The strange happenings of the night formed the +only topic at breakfast, and then the boys set off +for town to get in communication on the telephone +with the bungalow owner. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t see why he would object,” said Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Unless he made that passage for his own use, +and doesn’t want any one to meddle with it,” Paul +remarked. +</p> +<p> +“What could he use it for?” asked Walter. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199'></a>199</span> +</p> +<p> +“Well, that may be part of the mystery. Let’s +take a short cut to the village,” and he indicated +a path that led toward the cave in the mountainside. +</p> +<p> +They emerged into a country road, thick with +dust, and were trudging along this, talking on all +the aspects of the queer discovery, when Jack suddenly +stopped and stared intently at something in +the dirt of the highway. +</p> +<p> +“What is it?” asked Walter. “A snake?” +</p> +<p> +“No, marks of an automobile tire,” Jack answered. +</p> +<p> +“Nothing very remarkable in that,” laughed +Paul. +</p> +<p> +“There is in this one,” Jack declared excitedly. +“See the big Z mark where the tire has been +patched—vulcanized. Boys, that’s the same mark +as was on the tire of Cora’s car! I believe her +machine has been along here this morning!” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200'></a>200</span><a name='chXXVI' id='chXXVI'></a>CHAPTER XXVI—THE DROPPED BUNDLE</h2> +<p> +Walter and Paul stood beside Jack, looking at +the queer mark of the automobile tire in the dust. +</p> +<p> +“It is just as Cora described it,” said Walter. +</p> +<p> +“I remember, too,” added Paul. “She spoke +about it at the time, saying the man at the garage +had made a poor job when he vulcanized on that +patch. He didn’t know his business, that’s a fact. +But still there might be other cars with that same +sort of tire, Jack.” +</p> +<p> +“Of course, but this is worth taking a chance +on. What do you fellows say?” +</p> +<p> +“Tell us first what you want to do,” suggested +Walter. +</p> +<p> +“Follow this tire mark until we either see the +car, or lose trace of it.” +</p> +<p> +“What about telephoning to Mr. Haight about +permission to rip down that cement wall?” +</p> +<p> +“We can do that, too,” answered Jack to Paul. +“This auto seems to be headed for town, and +that’s where we’re going. If we see the men who +have stolen Cora’s car, we’ll get it back for her.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201'></a>201</span> +</p> +<p> +“If the men let you,” added Walter, significantly. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, we’ll get help if we have to,” said Jack. +“Come on.” +</p> +<p> +For some distance it was comparatively easy to +follow the automobile track by means of the prominent +impression left by the patch on the tire. +</p> +<p> +“But if you can tell whether it’s going to town +or coming from there, it is more than I can,” asserted +Paul, “and I know something about autos.” +</p> +<p> +“Of course, I’m not sure of that part of it,” +Jack admitted. “But we have to go to town anyhow, +and it won’t be any harm to go by this road, +on the chance of seeing Cora’s car; will it?” +</p> +<p> +“No,” agreed Walter. “Perhaps we can kill +two birds with one stone that way, as well as any +other.” +</p> +<p> +But the hopes of the boys were doomed to disappointment, +at least in respect to getting further +trace of Cora’s car, provided the tire marks were +made by hers. At least it was a temporary setback. +For after about half a mile there came a +patch of hard oily road, in which the impression +of the big Z was lost. And when next a dusty +stretch was encountered, there were so many marks +of automobile tires that it was impossible to distinguish +any particular one. +</p> +<p> +“Baffled!” exclaimed Walter, semi-dramatically, +after a back-aching inspection of the road. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202'></a>202</span> +</p> +<p> +“Only for a time,” added Jack, cheerfully. +“After we telephone we’ll take the trail of the +marks, going in the other direction. That will +be back toward the cave, and I wouldn’t be surprised +if there were some connection between the +cave, the passage under the bungalow and the +men in Cora’s car.” +</p> +<p> +“Some cute little detective you’re getting to be,” +laughed Paul. “Well, it may be that you’re right. +Go on.” +</p> +<p> +A little later the boys reached the village, and, +after executing some commissions for the girls, +including the purchase for Bess of a box of chocolates, +they found a long distance telephone in a +drug store where there was a booth to insure privacy. +</p> +<p> +It was decided that Walter should explain matters +over the wire to Mr. Haight, the owner of +the bungalow, and ask permission of him to batter +down the stone wall that brought the secret +passage to such an abrupt end. +</p> +<p> +“And while you’re about it, Wally,” suggested +Jack, “ask him what the whole mysterious business +means, what makes those noises, and why +spirits, or humans, should have the nerve to sneak +into the girls’ rooms and upset the furniture.” +</p> +<p> +“I’d need a night letter to get all that information,” +Walter retorted. “You forget this is long +distance telephone rates I’ll have to pay.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203'></a>203</span> +</p> +<p> +“We’ll whack up on it,” suggested Paul. “Go +ahead, Walter, get all the information you can.” +</p> +<p> +Walter’s stay in the telephone booth was a +lengthy one. His chums only caught disconnected +murmurs of his talk, but they had glimpses of his +face through the glass door and there was sufficient +astonishment and satisfaction depicted to +whet their curiosity to the utmost. +</p> +<p> +“Whew!” Walter exclaimed as he came out. +“It was some hot in there!” +</p> +<p> +“Never mind about that!” exclaimed Jack. +“Can we tear down that wall?” +</p> +<p> +“Sure!” gasped Walter. “Mr. Haight was as +surprised as we were to hear about it. He’s coming +up to have a look.” +</p> +<p> +“Do we have to wait until then?” asked Jack, +in disappointed tones. +</p> +<p> +“Not at all. He said to go right ahead.” +</p> +<p> +“And doesn’t he know anything about the queer +goings on, or who upsets the furniture?” came +from Paul. +</p> +<p> +“Not in the least. It’s all news to him, though +he says Mr. Floyd did write a letter telling about +some strange happenings. Mr. Haight didn’t pay +much attention—said he couldn’t make head or +tail of the letter. He intended to look into the +matter when he had a chance, but now he authorizes +us to do it for him.” +</p> +<p> +“And couldn’t he give even a hint as to why the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204'></a>204</span> +sliding door was made in the floor, and who cut +the passage?” asked Jack. +</p> +<p> +“No, though he said something which may +prove to be a clew. He said he bought the bungalow +from a man who used to be a well-known +actor. This actor gave up the stage, and it was +rumored that he was slightly demented before he +died. Now it occurs to me that this theatrical +chap may have had this sliding door made to gratify +his whim for sudden and unexplained comings +and goings. Perhaps to frighten his servants. +Any sort of theory might explain it. That’s only +a guess, but it’s as good as any.” +</p> +<p> +“It sounds reasonable,” admitted Jack. “At +least the actor may have had the secret door built, +but the passage, which leads to goodness knows +where, looks more like the work of smugglers or a +band of outlaws.” +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps it may turn out to be that before +we’ve finished,” said Walter. “Anyhow, we have +permission to go ahead, and the sooner we get at +it, and have that wall down, the sooner we’ll know +where we’re at.” +</p> +<p> +They hastened out of town, eager to begin work +on the wall, and were soon on the same highway +where they had seen the automobile marks. +</p> +<p> +“And this time we’ll follow them in the other +direction,” said Jack. “We might as well spend +a little time on this end of the game now as later, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205'></a>205</span> +and it may be that this will fit in with the rest of +the mystery.” +</p> +<p> +“Good idea,” commented Walter. +</p> +<p> +As the boys retraced their steps they took note +of the fact that the mark of the big Z in the dust +became plainer. +</p> +<p> +“We were wrong before,” decided Jack. “We +were going in the direction from which the auto +had come. Now we’re following it.” +</p> +<p> +“To its lair, I hope,” said Paul. “I’m anxious +to get back to the bungalow and have a go at that +wall.” +</p> +<p> +“Same here,” commented Walter. +</p> +<p> +The boys were walking along, their eyes on the +ground so as not to lose sight of the marks, when +Jack, raising his head, uttered a cry that attracted +the attention of his companions. +</p> +<p> +“Look!” he cried, pointing down the road. +“There’s Cora’s car now, and two men are in it!” +</p> +<p> +There was no doubt about it. Cora’s car was +of a peculiar purple tint with maroon trimmings. +It had been made especially for her, and that it +was her machine was evident at a glance, especially +to Paul who was in the automobile business. +</p> +<p> +“Come on!” cried Jack. “We’ve got ’em!” +</p> +<p> +But had they? The automobile had turned out +of a field, against a side hill of which was built a +wooden building, like a farmer’s spring-house. +The men seemed to have been using it as a garage, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206'></a>206</span> +and Cora’s automobile, occupied by two strangers, +was rapidly speeding down the road. +</p> +<p> +At Jack’s cry one of the men looked around, and +then the machine was speeded up, raising a cloud +of dust. +</p> +<p> +“No chance of catching them!” cried Paul. +“We’ve got to get another machine somewhere.” +</p> +<p> +“We can’t!” exclaimed Jack. “We’ll have to +follow until we see where they go. We mustn’t +lose sight of ’em now.” +</p> +<p> +It seemed a hopeless chase, and it was, practically. +Jack distanced his companions, who called +to him to come back so they could examine the +building in the lot. +</p> +<p> +“Maybe we’ll find a clew there,” cried Walter. +</p> +<p> +And finally even Jack gave up. Human legs, +even those of an ambitious youth, are no match +for an automobile. But as Jack slackened his +pace he saw something which caused him to run +forward again. For a bundle had been dropped +from Cora’s car, and the men did not stop to pick +it up. +</p> +<p> +“Maybe that will prove the best clew yet,” +thought Jack, as he hastened forward to pick it +up. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207'></a>207</span><a name='chXXVII' id='chXXVII'></a>CHAPTER XXVII—THE GIRLS’ DISCOVERY</h2> +<p> +“Why don’t they come back?” +</p> +<p> +“What keeps them so long?” +</p> +<p> +“I declare this waiting is worse than——” +</p> +<p> +“Doing nothing,” Cora finished for Bess. +“Probably the boys can’t find the kind of chocolates +you ordered, pretty little plump maid, and +they’re afraid to come back without them.” +</p> +<p> +“Silly,” protested Bess. +</p> +<p> +“But they are a long time,” said Hazel, she and +Belle having uttered the two rather impatient sentences +at the opening of this chapter. +</p> +<p> +The girls were in the bungalow, eating, not +exactly bread and honey, but ice cream and cake, +which Mrs. Floyd had made. And they were +talking of the absence of Jack and his chums, who +had gone to town to telephone to Mr. Haight. +</p> +<p> +It was now lunch time and the girls, after waiting +in vain for the boys, had eaten, and were enjoying +their dessert. Or rather, they were trying +to enjoy it under the rather unappetizing influence +of impatient worry. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208'></a>208</span> +</p> +<p> +“If they don’t come back pretty soon I’m going +down there myself and see if we can discover anything,” +Cora declared. +</p> +<p> +“Down where?” asked Belle. +</p> +<p> +“In the passage, of course. I want to see if we +can find where that queer noise came from.” +</p> +<p> +“And who upset the furniture,” added Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Well, we’re on the track of it,” said Hazel. +“We are pretty certain, now, that whoever did it +came up through that sliding door, and went down +the same way. That accounts for our never seeing +any one enter or leave the bungalow after the +manifestations, and that’s why, after the boys ran +over so promptly the time we saw the dancing +light, they couldn’t find any one. Whoever it was +just slipped down through the secret passage, +pulled the section of flooring back into place, and +there was no trace.” +</p> +<p> +“But where did they go after they got down in +the passage?” asked Belle. “They couldn’t stay +there all the while, and there’s no sign of any one +there now, unless they’re invisible. They couldn’t +get past the blocking cement wall.” +</p> +<p> +“There’s something beyond that wall, and we’re +going to find it!” declared Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps when the boys come back they won’t +have permission to tear it down,” suggested Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Then we’ll begin our investigations from the +other end,” Cora said. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209'></a>209</span> +</p> +<p> +“What other end?” Hazel questioned. +</p> +<p> +“The cave! I think this passage connects with +the cave. That would explain a hiding place for +whoever has been playing these tricks on us, and +making that strange noise.” +</p> +<p> +“You mean the cave you accidentally discovered +yesterday?” asked Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” Cora answered. “I’m sure that has +something to do with the mystery. So if Mr. +Haight won’t let us open the wall, we may be able +to see what is on the other side by going to the +cave, and finding the passage that connects with +the one which comes out into our bungalow.” +</p> +<p> +“In that event the stone wall must be movable,” +suggested Hazel. +</p> +<p> +Cora jumped up so suddenly that she disturbed +Bess who was leaning against her. +</p> +<p> +“That’s it! That’s it!” Cora cried. “I wonder +we didn’t think of it before. That surely is +it!” +</p> +<p> +“What is?” eagerly demanded Belle. “You are +talking in riddles.” +</p> +<p> +“This whole affair is a riddle, girls!” exclaimed +Cora. “But what Hazel said gave me an idea. +That cement wall seems solid, but it can’t be. If +it were no one could pass. So it must be made to +look solid to deceive those not in the secret. Probably +it is a balanced stone like the ones you read +of in stories of the cave dwellers. Some of them +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210'></a>210</span> +closed the entrances to their caves by heavy rocks, +set on pivots, turning when you pressed on a certain +mechanism. There are counterweights, just +as in a window, which makes the heaviest rock +move easily. I’m sure that’s what is in the passage—a +balanced rock doorway. And there won’t +be any need of tearing the wall down at all!” +</p> +<p> +“It sounds like a detective story,” commented +Bess. +</p> +<p> +“It may turn out to be one before we’re +through,” Cora said. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, dear! Why don’t those boys hurry back?” +cried Belle for perhaps the tenth time. “Let’s go +out and look down the road to see if they are coming.” +</p> +<p> +The girls went out, too anxious and too eager +to sit still, but they had no sight of Jack and his +chums. +</p> +<p> +“I’m not going to wait any longer!” exclaimed +Cora at length. “If I’m right, there will be no +need of tearing down the wall. That is, if I can +find the mechanism that turns the rocky door. +And if I’m wrong, there won’t be any harm in doing +it.” +</p> +<p> +“Doing what?” asked Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Going down into the passage to see what we +can discover. Will you come?” +</p> +<p> +“I will!” exclaimed Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“Then we will, too, Belle,” said Bess, quickly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211'></a>211</span> +“They shan’t call us cowards, even if we are +twins.” +</p> +<p> +“Come on,” cried Cora gaily. “We must do +something or fly to pieces with nerves. Anything +is better than sitting still, waiting.” +</p> +<p> +Back to the bungalow the girls hastened. The +hole in the floor was still open, the sliding door +having been braced back so it could not be closed +by any accident. +</p> +<p> +“We don’t want to go down there and not be +able to get up again,” Cora remarked. +</p> +<p> +“Shall we tell Mrs. Floyd we’re going to see +what we can find?” suggested Belle. +</p> +<p> +“No,” decided Cora, after a moment’s thought. +“She might not want us to until we have Mr. +Haight’s permission. We’ll just do this on our +own responsibility. We won’t damage the wall +any.” +</p> +<p> +Down the cement steps went the four girls, +into the dark passage. The boys had left behind +their flashlights and these were carried by +Cora and Hazel. The small, but powerful lamps +gave a good light. +</p> +<p> +“Ugh! It’s rather creepy in here,” complained +Belle, looking back over her shoulder. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t be silly!” said Cora, sharply. “Just +think of it! We may solve the mystery all by +ourselves.” +</p> +<p> +“Let us hope so,” murmured Bess. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212'></a>212</span> +</p> +<p> +They came to the cement wall that barred further +progress along the passage. +</p> +<p> +“First to see if it’s solid rock,” Cora suggested. +</p> +<p> +“How?” asked Belle. +</p> +<p> +“By tapping. I brought along a hammer.” +With this implement Cora gave several blows +against the obstruction. An unmistakable hollow +sound resulted. +</p> +<p> +“I believe it’s only a wooden door, covered over +with cement stucco,” Cora said. “Now to find +the secret catch.” +</p> +<p> +With their flash lamps the girls went over every +inch of the surface of the door. At first it all +looked alike, dull, gray, smooth cement. Then +Cora’s light lingered a moment on a certain place. +</p> +<p> +“Girls, watch!” she said suddenly. +</p> +<p> +With her thumb she pressed on the spot where +it seemed the cement was worn smoother than +elsewhere. And then, to the surprise of even Cora +herself, the cement door swung slowly back, revealing +a dark passage beyond. +</p> +<p> +“We’ve discovered it!” cried Cora. “No need +to tear the door down. Just as I suspected, it’s +on hinges. Come on, girls!” +</p> +<p> +Hardly realizing what they were doing, the +others followed, their torches illuminating the +plank sides of the underground tunnel. +</p> +<p> +“Are you sure this is all right, Cora?” asked +Belle, as she stepped beyond the open door. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213'></a>213</span> +</p> +<p> +“I’m not sure anything is right about all this +mystery,” was the answer, “but this is a chance we +mustn’t miss. Come on.” +</p> +<p> +“But where are we going?” Belle queried. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t tell, but I think to the cave,” Cora answered. +“Don’t be afraid. There’s no danger.” +</p> +<p> +Hardly had she spoken than a noise sounded behind +them. +</p> +<p> +“Oh! what’s that?” cried Belle, rushing forward. +</p> +<p> +“It sounded like a door closing,” said Hazel. +</p> +<p> +She flashed her light back on the way they had +come, and as she did so she cried: +</p> +<p> +“It was the door. It has swung shut, girls! +We’re trapped!” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214'></a>214</span><a name='chXXVIII' id='chXXVIII'></a>CHAPTER XXVIII—PRISONERS</h2> +<p> +Walter and Paul stood close beside Jack Kimball, +as he turned over the package which had +dropped from the automobile—Cora’s automobile, +to be exact. +</p> +<p> +“What is it?” asked Walter. +</p> +<p> +“Just what I’m going to find out,” answered +Jack. “Feels like a package of money, if I’m any +judge.” +</p> +<p> +“Whew!” whistled Paul. “Counterfeiters, do +you think?” +</p> +<p> +“I’m not so rash as to do any thinking after the +queer things that have been happening,” retorted +Jack. “I’m going to make sure before I do any +guessing. Here goes!” +</p> +<p> +He cut the string of the packet. It was well +wrapped in stout brown paper, and when Jack, +sitting down on a wayside stone and resting the +bundle on his knees, had folded back the covering, +there was revealed to the boys bundles of tickets +tied in little packets. +</p> +<p> +“What in the world is this?” asked Paul, picking +up one of the little packages. “Tickets?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215'></a>215</span> +</p> +<p> +“Railroad and theatrical,” added Walter, as +he examined some more closely. “Say, this is a +queer find!” +</p> +<p> +Jack whistled shrilly and then cried out: +</p> +<p> +“It fits in! It all fits in!” +</p> +<p> +“What does he mean?” asked Paul. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know,” Walter answered. “Tell us, +Jack. Can you see through the puzzle?” +</p> +<p> +“Part of it. Don’t you see? These tickets—some +railroad and the others for theatres and +opera houses—they’re counterfeit—bogus—no +good! They’re just like those that girl in the +Spinning Wheel tea room bought. Don’t you +remember, she purchased two of a couple of young +fellows. It was thought at the time they might +have been the ones who went off with Cora’s +auto. Now we reverse the process. We find +the bundle of tickets that dropped out of Cora’s +car, and we see two men running away in it. +They’re the same ones, or in the same gang, I +haven’t a doubt. It’s up to us to get after them.” +</p> +<p> +“You seem to have struck it,” commented Walter. +“Do you mean these men have gone into the +business of counterfeiting tickets on as big a scale +as this?” +</p> +<p> +“I’m thinking that,” Jack answered. “You see +it wouldn’t pay to print a few tickets. They’d +have to make a whole lot of them, and in the case +of theatrical coupons, sell them quickly, for the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216'></a>216</span> +fraud would soon be discovered. Railroad tickets +might take a little longer to prove invalid, for they +would have to go to the head offices, and there +the railroad men could tell by the consecutive numbers +that there was duplication somewhere. And +the tickets would have to be pretty well distributed—only +a few in each city.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s what they wanted of Cora’s auto,” +suggested Paul. “They wanted to cover a big +area.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” Jack went on. “And they probably have +accomplices in many places. Once the tickets were +printed, they had to distribute them over a wide +territory. Boys, I think we’ve discovered a daring +band of ticket-counterfeiters.” +</p> +<p> +“But where do they do their work—their printing?” +asked Walter. +</p> +<p> +“Why not in the cave?” asked Jack. “It would +be the most natural place around here.” +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter with looking in that shack +where the auto came from?” asked Paul, nodding +back toward the field against a hill in which the +shed was built. +</p> +<p> +“I was going to suggest that,” Jack went on. +“Perhaps that is another entrance to the same cave +Cora found. Come on, we’ll have a look, anyhow. +We’ve got this for evidence, in any case,” +and he held up the bundle of tickets. +</p> +<p> +“Are you sure they are bogus?” asked Paul. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217'></a>217</span> +</p> +<p> +“Well, not positive, of course,” Jack said. “But +you’d hardly find so many kinds of railroad and +theatrical tickets, the latter for a number of different +cities, all in one bundle unless something +were wrong. I put these fellows down as counterfeiters +of tickets, and you’ll see I’m right.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, we’ll take a chance,” decided Walter. +“Now what are we going to do about getting +Cora’s car back?” +</p> +<p> +“We can’t do much right away,” said Jack. +“But those fellows will come back, I’m sure. Let’s +explore a bit in that shack, and then we’ll go and +rip out that door in the secret passage.” +</p> +<p> +The doors of the shack which stood against the +hill in the big field were fastened with a cheap +padlock, and Jack, after a moment of hesitation, +smashed it with a stone. +</p> +<p> +“Come on in, boys!” he called, swinging back +the doors. +</p> +<p> +“It’s as dark as pitch,” complained Walter. +“Did any of you bring your flash lamps?” +</p> +<p> +“Left ’em at the bungalow,” Paul answered. “I +have some matches though.” +</p> +<p> +By the glimmer of one he struck, the boys saw +that the shack was a sort of vestibule to a cave, +for a big hole extended under the side of the hill. +</p> +<p> +“Jack was right!” Walter exclaimed. “This is +a cavern, and it looks to be a good-sized one. I +wish we had a light.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218'></a>218</span> +</p> +<p> +“Here’s a lantern,” said Paul, who had lighted +another match. “We’ll explore a bit.” +</p> +<p> +By the greater light of the lantern, which was +found near the doors, the boys saw that the cave +was indeed a large one, extending well back under +the hill. They went in cautiously at first, not knowing +what they might find, or what hidden pitfalls +might lie in their path. +</p> +<p> +“Look!” exclaimed Jack, pointing to several +boxes lying about. “They must have been doing, +or else are getting ready to do, lots of business. +Those boxes contain paper and cardboard by the +looks and marks on them. And now——” +</p> +<p> +“Hark!” exclaimed Paul in a whisper. They +all listened. From somewhere far back in the cave +came a dull, rumbling, vibrating noise, and the +ground faintly trembled. +</p> +<p> +“There it is again!” said Walter—“that strange +noise. Now we’ll find out what it is. Come on.” +</p> +<p> +He started forward, the others following, Paul +in the rear with the lantern, for it had a reflector +on and gave better light when carried behind the +boys. +</p> +<p> +“Wait a minute!” cautioned Jack. “I don’t +seem to hear that noise now. It’s stopped.” +</p> +<p> +“So it has,” concurred Paul. +</p> +<p> +They listened intently, then Jack said: +</p> +<p> +“I hear another sound, though. It’s behind us, +toward the mouth of the cave. Boys, it’s those +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219'></a>219</span> +fellows coming back. Out with that light, Paul. +We’ll hide in here and surprise them. Quick! +Down behind some of these boxes!” +</p> +<p> +Paul extinguished the lantern, and he and his +companions sought places of concealment. They +could now plainly hear footsteps approaching, +while they also distinguished the murmur of excited +voices. +</p> +<p> +Meanwhile, another part of the strange mystery +was being enacted with the girls as principal characters. +They had entered farther into the secret +passage, beyond the queer swinging door which +had closed after them. +</p> +<p> +“We’re caught!” cried Belle. “Oh, Cora!” +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps not,” said Jack’s sister. “If that +door opened once for us it will do it again. But +don’t go back. Come on. We must see what is +ahead of us. The boys will laugh if they hear we +turned back when we had such a good opportunity.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, they shan’t laugh at <em>me</em>!” declared Hazel. +“I’m with you, Cora.” +</p> +<p> +“And you may be sure we’re not going to be +left alone,” cried Bess. “Come on, Belle!” +</p> +<p> +The latter hesitated a moment, looked back at +the closed door, and then went forward. Their +lamps made the place fairly light, and they could +see that the passage was planked here as it had +been nearer the bungalow. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220'></a>220</span> +</p> +<p> +They had gone on perhaps fifty paces more +and were wondering when the queer tunnel would +come to an end, when Cora, who was walking in +advance with Hazel, put her hand on her companion’s +arm, and cried: +</p> +<p> +“Do you hear it?” +</p> +<p> +“Hear what?” +</p> +<p> +“That strange, rumbling, trembling noise. +Don’t you <em>feel</em> it?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes! Yes!” cried Belle. “Oh, what is it?” +</p> +<p> +There was no doubt of the noise. It seemed to +fill the whole passage with a dull, rumbling roar, +and the ground vibrated and trembled. +</p> +<p> +“Come on!” cried Cora, resolutely. “It’s just +ahead of us. We will solve the mystery now!” +</p> +<p> +Willing or unwilling, Belle, Bess and Hazel followed +their leader. With their electric lights +showing the way the girls pressed forward. Suddenly +the passage turned, and, making that turn, +the girls came upon a strange sight. +</p> +<p> +Before them was an open door, which gave entrance +to a large cave with rocky sides and roof. +Vaulted and large the cave was, and from long +wires fastened somewhere in the roof hung a number +of incandescent lights. In the cave the girls +saw several queer machines, and Cora, at least, +recognized more than one of them as printing +presses. A gasoline engine was throbbing away +in one corner, and it was this, Cora decided, which +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221'></a>221</span> +made the rumbling, the throbbing and trembling +vibrations. +</p> +<p> +Hardly realizing what they were doing, the girls +walked forward, and, passing through the open +door, entered the cave which widened out at the +end of the secret passage. +</p> +<p> +“What—what does it all mean?” asked Bess. +</p> +<p> +Low as her voice was it seemed to awaken +strange echoes in the vaulted cave. And at the +sound of it something stirred in one corner. From +a pile of boxes something arose—a something that +resolved itself into an old man with white hair and +a long, white beard. He peered from beneath his +bushy white eyebrows, with piercing eyes at the +startled girls, and from his throat came a guttural +cry. +</p> +<p> +“Ah, ha! Police spies—four of ’em!” he +snarled. “I thought we’d be found out!” +</p> +<p> +With surprising quickness in one seemingly so +aged the man slipped behind the girls. They +turned, fearing an attack, but they need have had +no alarm on that score. With a quick motion the +old man closed and locked the door through which +they had come. +</p> +<p> +“Now you’re here—you’ll stay!” he rasped out. +“On guard here, Bombee! Hist! Watch ’em!” +</p> +<p> +And, as he called, a raw-boned, half-witted boy +shuffled forward, and squatted, with a horrible +grin, in front of the terrified girl prisoners. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222'></a>222</span><a name='chXXIX' id='chXXIX'></a>CHAPTER XXIX—TO THE RESCUE</h2> +<p> +Jack and his two chums, waiting in the dark +of the cave, wondered who it was approaching. +They had guessed it would prove to be the two +men who had gone down the road shortly before +in Cora’s car, but this was only a guess. And +whether these two were the same men who had +first taken the machine was, of course, only a conjecture. +</p> +<p> +“What’ll we do, Jack?” whispered Paul, from +behind a barrel where he was crouching. “Jump +out on ’em?” +</p> +<p> +“No,” was the answer. “Not at first. Let’s +see what their game is and then we’ll have better +evidence against them. Just lie low and wait.” +</p> +<p> +“Here they come!” cautioned Walter. +</p> +<p> +The sound of the footsteps and of the voices +was nearer now, and presently the boys saw the +glimmering reflection of light on the rocky and dirt +sides of the cave. +</p> +<p> +“We’ve got to work lively!” said a man’s voice. +“Those campers are beginning to suspect there’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223'></a>223</span> +something wrong. We’ll have to clear out, bag +and baggage, presses, engine and everything.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s right,” added another. “Lucky we +have the car. We can take most of the stuff +in that if we have time, and set it up somewhere +else. This graft is too good to give up.” +</p> +<p> +“Where’ll we take it?” a third voice asked, and +the boys, who could not see the speakers, wondered +how many of them there were. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, we can stow it away at——” began the +man who had spoken first when there came an interruption +from his companion. +</p> +<p> +“No names!” he cautioned. +</p> +<p> +“Who’s to hear?” +</p> +<p> +“You can’t tell. Since those boys opened up +the floor of the bungalow, there’s no telling what +might have happened. Besides, I don’t want old +Jason to know where we are going. I’m going to +get rid of him; he’s more trouble than help.” +</p> +<p> +“Especially with that horrible boy of his,” some +one said. “Ugh! I can’t bear the creature!” +</p> +<p> +“Still he’s been useful. He did the tricks all +right. But it was a mistake to go to the bungalow. +That’s caused all the trouble. We should +have stuck to this end of the cave.” +</p> +<p> +“We had to have an emergency exit,” declared +one of the men, “and the bungalow was the best.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, until these campers came. Now that jig +is up.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224'></a>224</span> +</p> +<p> +“Yes, the whole business is up, I’m afraid. +Well, let’s see what we can get out now before +we’re found.” +</p> +<p> +Jack and his chums could hear the men moving +about boxes and barrels. They seemed to be taking +them outside. What was in the packages the +boys could only guess. And Jack was wondering +what he and his companions could do if the men +in the cave should suddenly discover the presence +of the intruders. +</p> +<p> +Jack peered out from behind his barrel and had +a glimpse of a man moving about in the light of +a lantern the criminals had brought into the cave +with them. But the man’s legs alone were visible +and Jack could form very little idea from them +of how the man looked. +</p> +<p> +“Isn’t this enough for one load?” asked one +of the men. “We don’t want a breakdown.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, that machine will carry more,” declared +another. “We did a fine stroke when we picked +that up. I wonder if those girls have an idea +where their car went to?” +</p> +<p> +“They’ll have one soon,” thought Jack, gritting +his teeth. “The nerve of you!” +</p> +<p> +“Let’s go back and get that little numbering +press,” suggested a man. “It’s too valuable to +leave, and it won’t take up much room. Come on, +and pick up what we can. The fewer trips we +make, the better it will be for us. Come on.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225'></a>225</span> +</p> +<p> +The light flickered and the footsteps of the men +died away. +</p> +<p> +“I say Jack!” called Walter, after a moment’s +pause. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, what is it?” +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter with our going outside and +getting Cora’s auto now. It’s got a lot of their +stuff in it that will be fine for evidence against +them. It’s our best chance—just slip out now and +get Cora’s car.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s right,” agreed Paul. “If we let them +get away with it again we may never see it.” +</p> +<p> +“All right,” agreed Jack. “You two go out +and capture the car. Do whatever you think best +about it. I’ll stay here and follow the men when +they come out. If they have some of their machinery +that will be additional evidence against +them. Go ahead.” +</p> +<p> +Paul and Walter hurried out, leaving Jack +alone in the dark cave. They left him the lantern, +saying they could find their way out by means of +matches. Jack felt a little apprehensive as he was +left alone, knowing that at least three men, who +might prove desperate criminals, were in the cave +with him. And if they discovered him, and knew +that he was one of those working against them—well, +Jack did not altogether like to speculate on +what might follow. +</p> +<p> +Those seeking to solve the mystery were now +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226'></a>226</span> +divided into three parties. There was Jack, alone +in the cave, waiting for the return of the three +men. Walter and Paul were on their way outside +to get the automobile. While Cora and her +chums were prisoners of the old man and his imbecile +son. +</p> +<p> +Walter and Paul reached the outer end of the +cave without incident, and just without the wooden +shack found Cora’s car standing unguarded and +well-laden with packages and some small bits of +machinery. +</p> +<p> +“Caught with the goods!” chuckled Paul. +“This game is coming right into our hands now. +What shall we do?” +</p> +<p> +“Drive the car as near to the bungalow as we +can,” decided Walter. “The girls will be anxious +about us, anyhow. We can leave the car with Mr. +Floyd and then come back to Jack.” +</p> +<p> +A quick examination showed that Cora’s car, +though it had been sadly misused, was in shape +for running. It responded at once to the self-starter +and Walter and Paul were soon chugging +down the road, taking off the spoils of the ticket +counterfeiters. +</p> +<p> +“Camp Surprise ahoy!” called Walter as he +ran the car as near as he could to the bungalow. +“Girls, where are you? We’ve got great news! +We’ve solved the mystery!” +</p> +<p> +There was no answer to the hail, and Paul +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227'></a>227</span> +looked at his chum rather apprehensively as they +alighted. +</p> +<p> +“They don’t seem to be here,” he said. +</p> +<p> +“They must be,” Walter argued. “There’s +Mrs. Floyd. We’ll ask her.” +</p> +<p> +“Why, aren’t the girls in the bungalow?” asked +the chaperon, wonderingly. “I have been away a +little while, and just got back. They were here +when I left.” +</p> +<p> +A quick search through the bungalow failed, of +course, to disclose the presence of Cora and her +chums. The entrance to the secret passage was +still open, but Walter, running down the steps, reported +that the girls were not there, and that the +blocking door was closed. +</p> +<p> +“But we’ll soon have it open,” he said. “We +have permission from Mr. Haight to tear down +the obstruction.” +</p> +<p> +“Where is Mr. Kimball?” asked Mr. Floyd, +who had been summoned by his wife from a bungalow +not far away, where he was making some repairs. +</p> +<p> +“He’s up in the cave, keeping watch on the counterfeiters,” +said Paul. “It’s a great story!” +</p> +<p> +Thereupon he and Walter gave a short account +of the movements of themselves and Jack up to +the present. +</p> +<p> +“But where are the girls?” asked Paul. “We +must find them.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228'></a>228</span> +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps they went up to the cave Cora found,” +suggested Walter. “Let’s go there and look.” +</p> +<p> +“First we’d better see if Jack doesn’t need +help,” Paul said. “I guess the girls know enough +to keep out of danger, and it’s daylight yet. We’ll +go to Jack.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll take charge here,” said Mr. Floyd. “I’ve +got a man working with me at the other bungalow, +and he and I will stand guard over the auto. +When you come back, if the girls haven’t returned, +we’ll go after them.” +</p> +<p> +This plan was deemed the best to follow, and +Paul and Walter hastened back on foot to the cave +where they had left Jack. +</p> +<p> +Cora and her friends, made prisoners in the +cave by the old man and his horrible, grinning, +half-witted helper, felt faint and sick as they realized +what might be the outcome. For a moment +none of them spoke. The old man laughed, showing +his blackened teeth—a strange contrast to his +white beard—and then he chuckled: +</p> +<p> +“Police spies; eh? Come to catch the old man! +But he was too smart for ye; wasn’t he? He +caught you; didn’t he?” +</p> +<p> +“What do you mean by locking us in?” demanded +Cora. “Open that door at once and let +us go!” +</p> +<p> +“And call away that—that horrid idiot!” half-sobbed +Belle. “If he catches hold of me——” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229'></a>229</span> +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Bombee won’t hurt you; will you, Bombee?” +said the old man, patting the half-witted +youth on the head. “That is, he won’t if you do as +I say, and don’t try to run. Bombee’s like a dog. +He’s my pet, so he is. Hi, Bombee! Do a trick +for the ladies!” +</p> +<p> +The idiot gave a shrill cry, bounded up on a +box and stood on his head, his legs kicking in the +air. +</p> +<p> +“See!” chuckled the old man. “Bombee minds +me. If I was to tell him to bite you he would, but +I won’t tell him.” +</p> +<p> +“You let us go!” demanded Cora, her thoughts +in a whirl with the strange ideas that came to her +mind. +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t ask you to come here,” snapped the +old man. “And them as comes uninvited must +stay until they’re let go. Ye can’t go out and bring +in the police.” +</p> +<p> +“But if—if we promise not to tell the police?” +faltered Bess. +</p> +<p> +“I wouldn’t trust you,” snarled the old man. +</p> +<p> +“Then there must be something here about +which you are afraid,” said Cora, boldly. “Why +do you fear the police?” +</p> +<p> +The man gave her a sharp glance. +</p> +<p> +“Never you mind that,” he said. “When the +others come I’ll know what to do with you. I’ll +make you——” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230'></a>230</span> +</p> +<p> +He paused and seemed to be listening. At the +same time the idiot gave a whimpering cry. +</p> +<p> +“Some one’s coming!” snarled the old man. +“The police, maybe. You’ve sent ’em. But they +won’t find you. Quick, Bombee—the secret room—open +the door!” +</p> +<p> +The half-witted creature bounded forward, and +caught up a club. Bess screamed, fearing the +fellow was going to attack them. But the idiot +merely put the stick in a hole in the wall, and +pressed on the lever with all his might. A heavy +plank door swung out, revealing a black room. +</p> +<p> +“Into that with you!” cried the old man. +</p> +<p> +“No!” screamed Cora. +</p> +<p> +“In there with you or I’ll——” +</p> +<p> +He looked so terrible, and made such a threatening +gesture, and the half-witted youth seemed +so ready to do his master’s bidding that the girls +shrank back from the claw-like hands of the old +man, and fairly ran into the secret room opened +by the helper. Once inside they heard the door +close after them. +</p> +<p> +“Oh!” gasped Belle. “This is terrible, Cora! +What shall we do?” +</p> +<p> +“Keep quiet a minute. Let me think. Oh, oh!” +</p> +<p> +Hazel flashed on her light. +</p> +<p> +“Thank heaven for that!” moaned Belle. “We +can at least see.” +</p> +<p> +The girls looked quickly about them. The light +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231'></a>231</span> +showed them that they were in some sort of office. +There were desks and chairs in it, and on the +desk were a number of papers, while innumerable +tickets were scattered about. The girls attached +no significance to them at first. There was an incandescent +lamp swinging above the desk, and +Cora turned the black key. At once there was +light, showing that the gasoline engine, the rumble +of which could still be heard, operated a small +dynamo. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, what shall we do?” gasped Bess. +</p> +<p> +“Listen!” whispered Cora. +</p> +<p> +From the cave outside came the murmur of excited +and angry voices. There followed sounds +of great activity, as if boxes and barrels were being +moved about. Once or twice came a snarl +from the idiot, and the commanding voice of the +old man. The other voices the girls could not +recognize. +</p> +<p> +“I’m going to call for help,” said Cora. “That +may be the boys come to rescue us. Come on, girls! +We’ll all shriek!” +</p> +<p> +This they did, uniting their shrill voices in an +appeal for help. Cora caught up a paper-weight +from the desk and hammered on the door of their +prison. But neither their calls nor the pounding +brought an answer. The noise in the outer cave +continued. The men seemed to be quarreling +among themselves now. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232'></a>232</span> +</p> +<p> +Then came silence. The girls called again but +with no result. They listened. Not a sound came +from beyond the door. +</p> +<p> +“What has happened?” asked Bess. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t even guess,” Cora said. “But don’t +worry. We’ll get out of here some time. Meanwhile, +let’s see if we can by any means open the +door.” +</p> +<p> +Events were now happening in several different +places—events connected with the boys and the +counterfeiters. +</p> +<p> +Jack was waiting in his hiding place, wondering +what would next take place, and he was getting +rather tired of his cramped position, when he +heard footsteps coming back. +</p> +<p> +“Here’s where I do a sleuthing act and follow +them,” he decided. But he was hardly prepared +for what followed. The footsteps broke into a +run, and there were excited voices calling one to +another. There was the crash of falling boxes, +and above everything came a strange unearthly +yell, like that of some animal in pain. +</p> +<p> +“What in the world——” began Jack. +</p> +<p> +There was a rush of several bodies past his hiding +place. Jack looked up over the head of the +barrel in time to see four men, one carrying a +lantern, dash along the cave, and behind them +came another with abnormally long arms. +</p> +<p> +Pausing a moment to allow the fleeing ones +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233'></a>233</span> +to get a little ahead, Jack followed. His brain +was excitedly thinking. +</p> +<p> +“There’ll be a grand ruction in a minute,” Jack +chuckled to himself. “Things will happen with a +vengeance.” +</p> +<p> +He heard cries of rage from the shack at the +mouth of the cave. Advancing into it, but keeping +himself concealed, Jack peered out. He noted +that the automobile was gone, and from the absence +of Paul and Walter he argued that they had +driven away in it. +</p> +<p> +The talk of the men confirmed this. +</p> +<p> +“They’ve dished us!” exclaimed one, angrily. +</p> +<p> +“The car’s gone!” faltered another. “We were +too slow!” +</p> +<p> +“What are we going to do?” asked a third. +</p> +<p> +“Cut and run for it!” some one answered. “The +game is up. Scatter, and we’ll meet again, later. +Lively’s the word!” +</p> +<p> +Jack looked out to see the two men he and his +chums had observed before, with a third one, start +for the wooded slope of the mountain. Then he +saw the old man and the half-witted helper. +</p> +<p> +“Wait—wait for me!” pleaded the aged one. +“I can’t run fast, I’m all crippled with rheumatism! +Wait!” +</p> +<p> +“We can’t wait. Look out for yourself,” one +man flung back unfeelingly over his shoulder. “It’s +every one for himself.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234'></a>234</span> +</p> +<p> +“Ah! desert me, would you!” cried the old man, +shaking his fist at the fleeing ones. “But I’ll get +even with you. Old Jason will get even! I’ll let +the girls out of the cave, and tell them the whole +story! I’ll let the girls out of the secret room in +the cave!” +</p> +<p> +Jack had been in two minds whether to advance +and speak to the old man, or follow the fleeing +ones, but as he heard these words he knew something +else now called for his attention. +</p> +<p> +“The girls in the cave!” he murmured. “It +must be Cora and the others he means. They +must have gone into the cave while we were in +town. I’ve got to rescue them. Let the men go! +I must help the girls.” +</p> +<p> +Catching up his lantern, Jack dashed back into +the dark cavern. +</p> +<p> +“I’m coming, girls! I’m coming!” he cried. +“To the rescue!” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235'></a>235</span><a name='chXXX' id='chXXX'></a>CHAPTER XXX—ALL’S WELL</h2> +<p> +Walter and Paul, hurrying to aid Jack, whom +they had left in the cave, came in sight of the +shack just as the old man and his helper were +turning back into it. The two boys did not glimpse +the three fleeing men who had by this time disappeared +among the trees. +</p> +<p> +“Look—look at that!” gasped Paul, rubbing +his eyes. “Am I dreaming, Wally, or is that an +ape or a human being?” +</p> +<p> +“It’s real enough—some sort of a crazy chap, +I should say. But what’s he doing?” +</p> +<p> +“Calling down the vengeance of heaven, I +guess,” observed Paul, for they saw the old man +shaking his fist in the air. +</p> +<p> +“Hurry up and we’ll speak to him,” urged Walter. +“Somehow I think he’s part of the mystery.” +</p> +<p> +They reached the old man just as he was turning +back into the shack. He did not seem greatly +surprised to see them. +</p> +<p> +“Will that—er—fellow hurt us?” asked Walter. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236'></a>236</span> +</p> +<p> +“Not unless I tell him to. Are you the police?” +</p> +<p> +“No, but we can get them if you wish,” said +Walter. “We are after the ticket counterfeiters,” +he added shrewdly. “We have recovered the +stolen auto, and a lot of the stuff is in our possession. +Now if you——” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, I’ll give up. I’m too old to run away. +They deserted me, and I’ll tell all I know. I’m +getting tired of it anyhow. Being a criminal +doesn’t pay. I’ll give up. Come on back and I’ll +let out the girls. I’m sorry I locked them in, but +I thought there was a chance to escape. I didn’t +hurt them.” +</p> +<p> +“Girls! What girls?” gasped Walter. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I guess likely they’re of your party—from +the bungalow,” said the old man, from whom +all the spirit of rage and fighting seemed to have +gone. “They’re in the secret room of the cave. +Come on, Bombee, we’ll let them out.” +</p> +<p> +Wondering what it all meant, Walter and Paul +followed the old man back into the cave. He +seemed to know his way in the dark, though Walter +had brought an extra flashlight from the bungalow, +and now switched this on. +</p> +<p> +A little later the two boys, with the old man +and the half-witted helper, entered the main cave +where they found Jack running about half wild +with excitement. He was shouting, and muffled +cries—the voices of the girls—came in answer. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237'></a>237</span> +</p> +<p> +“Jack! You here!” cried Walter. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, and the girls are here too, but I can’t locate +them, though I can hear them. They’re +locked in some secret room. We must find it.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll let them out,” said the old man. “I locked +them in. Hi, Bombee, open the door.” +</p> +<p> +Once more the powerful helper took up the +wooden club, or lever. He inserted it in the opening +and the plank door, which could not, at first +glance, be told from part of the cave sheathing, +swung open. Then, tearful and disheveled from +their efforts to escape, out rushed the girls. +</p> +<p> +“Oh Jack!” +</p> +<p> +“Oh Paul!” +</p> +<p> +“Oh Walter!” +</p> +<p> +Thus they gasped, the two girls seeking refuge +in their brothers’ arms, while Belle and Bess clung +to one another. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, that horrible man!” gasped Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Bombee won’t hurt you,” said the old man, +humbly. “And I ask your pardon. I had to do +what I thought best, but it is all over now. I give +up!” +</p> +<p> +“Let’s get out of this terrible place,” begged +Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Come on, then,” returned Jack. “Why, it’s +a regular underground printing shop,” he added +as he looked around. “Here’s where they made +the counterfeit tickets.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238'></a>238</span> +</p> +<p> +“Yes, this is the place,” confessed the old man. +“You have found our secret.” +</p> +<p> +Walter and Paul started to go out of the cave +the way they had come in. +</p> +<p> +“There is a shorter way,” said the old man. +“It leads to your bungalow.” +</p> +<p> +“But that door is shut,” said Cora. “It shut +after us.” +</p> +<p> +“Bombee can open it,” was his reply. “He +knows the secret as well as I. Come. It opens +easily.” +</p> +<p> +He led the way back along the passage through +which Cora and her chums had lately come, first +unlocking the door which he had closed after them. +When they came to the cement obstruction, the +helper pressed on a certain place, and it swung to +one side. A little later the entire party was in the +bungalow, to the great surprise of Mr. and Mrs. +Floyd. The caretakers looked in astonishment +at the old man and his assistant. +</p> +<p> +“Well, now let’s have some explanations,” suggested +Walter. +</p> +<p> +“Did you get the auto?” asked Jack. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, and a whole lot of tickets and other stuff,” +Paul said. +</p> +<p> +“My auto?” asked Cora. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, we have it back for you,” answered Walter. +“And before we lose any more time we had +better get the police after those three men.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239'></a>239</span> +</p> +<p> +“I’ll go into town,” offered Mr. Floyd. “And +about him?” he nodded to the man the counterfeiters +had called Jason. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I’ll give myself up,” the old man said. +“Old Jason is tired of the game. Lock me up +whenever you wish,” he seemed very tired and +weary. “I won’t run away. I’ll stay with Bombee.” +</p> +<p> +A little later the authorities took charge of +matters, entering the cave and taking possession +of a very complete though small printing plant, +and numberless bogus tickets. Constables were +sent to look for the three men. The old man was +arrested and taken to jail, and Bombee, his son, +who would not be separated from him, went with +him. But before Jason was taken away, he told +enough to make the mystery clear. +</p> +<p> +He was an expert printer, it seemed, and had +fallen in with a band of men who planned to flood +the country with bogus railroad and theatrical tickets. +They had set up their plant in the cave, the +existence of which they had learned by accident +and kept secret. +</p> +<p> +There were three entrances to the cave. One +was in the side of the hill, where the men had put +up a shack in order to conceal the opening. The +second was the one discovered by accident by Cora. +This was not used, being too small. And the third +was through the bungalow and the passage. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240'></a>240</span> +</p> +<p> +This passage, the secret sliding door in the floor, +and the cement door that blocked the passage +(it developed later) had been constructed by the +actor who formerly owned the bungalow. Just +what his object was no one knew, but his unbalanced +mind probably built a romance about the +great dark hole. The cave was then used for +nothing, but it admirably suited the purposes of +the ticket men who fitted it up as they wished. +</p> +<p> +To it they brought their machinery and began +issuing tickets, Jason, aided by the half-witted +Bombee, doing the printing, while the others distributed +the product. It was the rumble and clank +of the gasoline engine and presses that made the +queer trembling sounds heard by the girls and +boys. The rocky cave acted as a sort of telephone, +or sound box, and sometimes the noises would be +louder than others. The fact that the engine stood +on a strata of rock upon which the bungalow was +constructed accounted for the trembling and vibration +of the building. +</p> +<p> +“We did the printing when you folks were away +from the bungalow at most times,” said old Jason. +“We found out when you were gone by means of +the secret passage. But sometimes we had to work +on a rush order when you were on hand.” +</p> +<p> +“Then is when we heard the noise,” said Jack. +</p> +<p> +“But who upset the furniture, and took our +things?” asked Cora. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241'></a>241</span> +</p> +<p> +“Oh, that was Bombee,” said the old man. “I +could not always watch him, and he would slip +away, open the secret door of the passage and get +up into the bungalow through the floor. He is +very mischievous, but gentle. He likes to upset +chairs and tables. He used to do that trick, among +others, in a theatre where he used to show as a +human ape. He didn’t look unlike an ape, you +see.” +</p> +<p> +“He took your ribbons and things, too. They +are in the cave. I thought they came from your +bungalow, but I did not dare return them. Once +he brought in a flashlight.” +</p> +<p> +“That was the time we saw the queer, dancing +beams upstairs and down,” said Hazel. +</p> +<p> +Before our friends had occupied the bungalow, +Bombee had been up to his tricks. He had upset +the furniture, giving rise to the strange stories +about Camp Surprise, and he it was who had taken +the silver, having a love of bright things. He +would slip out of the cave, open the passage door +(having seen Jason operate the mechanism), get +into the bungalow by means of the opening in the +floor, upset the furniture and then run out through +the passage again, closing the doors after him, +so there was nothing to show how any intruder +had gotten in and out. +</p> +<p> +It was learned that the time the boys and girls +saw the two men at the tumbled-down old house, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242'></a>242</span> +that the counterfeiters had gone there to meet some +persons to whom they gave bogus tickets to dispose +of. The men probably realized that our +friends were on their trail and fled. The taking +of Cora’s car had been done on the spur of the +moment, the need of some means of getting quickly +about the country to dispose of the tickets being +pressing. +</p> +<p> +The crash heard in the night, which caused the +floor to be taken up, was caused by one of the men +dropping a box of tickets. He was storing it in +the passage near the secret door. Occasionally, +when the bungalow was not occupied, the men used +it, and it was in this way that the big, half-witted +youth learned to find his way there. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I guess that ends the surprises of this +camp,” said Cora, as the officers took Jason away. +“Now we can enjoy our stay here.” +</p> +<p> +And the surprises were indeed over. The secret +door in the floor was closed, and fastened, the +mechanism having been broken. After the printing +apparatus had been taken out our boys and +girls, and many others inspected the cave. It was +a large and curious place, and the criminals had +made it their living and hiding place for some time. +</p> +<p> +Though a diligent effort was made to capture +the three men, they were not apprehended, and in +view of his confession Jason was given only a light +sentence. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243'></a>243</span> +</p> +<p> +Cora’s recovered car was put in good order +and used some, though the mountain roads were +not very good for automobile riding. +</p> +<p> +“And now for some glorious times!” cried Bess +one day, about a week after the mystery had been +cleared up. “Boys, we’ll give you——” +</p> +<p> +“A big chicken dinner!” interrupted Jack. +“That’s what we want.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, you deserve it,” said Cora, “for the +clever way you laid your plans.” +</p> +<p> +“You girls were a bit clever too, getting into +the cave by the secret door while we were off in +town telephoning,” said Walter. “We give you +the credit for that.” +</p> +<p> +“Everything came out all right all around,” remarked +Hazel. “But, oh! we were scared stiff +for a while.” +</p> +<p> +“I should say so!” ejaculated Belle. “That +horrible old man and his awful son!” +</p> +<p> +“Well, all’s well that ends well,” said Bess. +“And I have a whole box of chocolates to go with +the chicken dinner.” +</p> +<p> +“Marvelous—a whole box!” echoed Cora. +“How did she ever manage it, girls?” +</p> +<p> +The chicken dinner was voted a great success. +By this time the summer season was in full swing, +and many cottages and bungalows in Mountain +View were occupied. Cora and her friends entered +with zest into the jolly life, and they were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244'></a>244</span> +the recipients of much attention, for the story of +Camp Surprise had been told in many papers. +</p> +<p> +“But it’s nicer not to hear queer noises and see +strange lights,” said Cora. “And it’s a relief to +come in and find the furniture the way you left +it.” And the others agreed with her. +</p> +<p> +“Will we ever have another time like this?” +asked Belle. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps. Who knows?” returned Cora. And +leaving that question to be settled later we will +say good-bye to the Motor Girls. +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p> </p> +<p>THE END</p> +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Motor Girls at Camp Surprise, by +Margaret Penrose + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR GIRLS AT CAMP SURPRISE *** + +***** This file should be named 36426-h.htm or 36426-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/4/2/36426/ + +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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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 at Camp Surprise + The Cave in the Mountains + +Author: Margaret Penrose + +Release Date: June 14, 2011 [EBook #36426] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR GIRLS AT CAMP SURPRISE *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + THE MOTOR GIRLS + AT CAMP SURPRISE + + Or + + The Cave in the Mountains + + BY + + Margaret Penrose + + The + GOLDSMITH + Publishing Co. + + CLEVELAND OHIO + MADE IN THE U.S.A. + + + + + CONTENTS + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. An Unpleasant Awakening 1 + II. The Lost Trail 10 + III. Two Strange Men 18 + IV. A Curious Story 26 + V. Counterfeit Tickets 34 + VI. Off to Camp 42 + VII. Jack's Bath 50 + VIII. The Storm 58 + IX. Tied Up 67 + X. A Night Ride 74 + XI. In Camp Surprise 83 + XII. Disappointment 90 + XIII. That Noise 98 + XIV. Was It Thunder? 108 + XV. A Narrow Escape 115 + XVI. Lost 122 + XVII. Two Men 131 + XVIII. Real Surprises 138 + XIX. Where's My Light? 147 + XX. More Happenings 158 + XXI. A Dancing Light 163 + XXII. A Mountain Cave 170 + XXIII. The Trembling Noise 178 + XXIV. The Secret Passage 184 + XXV. The Patched Tire 191 + XXVI. The Dropped Bundle 200 + XXVII. The Girls' Discovery 207 + XXVIII. Prisoners 214 + XXIX. To the Rescue 222 + XXX. All's Well 235 + + + + +THE MOTOR GIRLS AT CAMP SURPRISE + + + + +CHAPTER I--AN UNPLEASANT AWAKENING + + +"Look where you are steering, Cora Kimball! You nearly ran over a +chicken that time." + +"Yes, and avoiding the chicken on that side, you nearly hit a child on +this side. Such a dear little boy--or was it a girl? I never can tell +when they're so young." + +"Two misses are as good as two miles," misquoted the bronzed girl at the +wheel of the automobile, as she straightened the car on the long, shaded +road, where the trees met in a green archway overhead, and where the +golden shadows flitted in the dust like so many little chickens running +to cover, away from the fat-tired wheels. + +"Why are you in such a hurry, Cora?" asked Bess Robinson, as she tucked +back a straying lock of brown hair. "It's too perfect a day to do +anything in a hurry--even run a car." + +"Bess doesn't believe in doing _anything_ in a hurry," lazily droned her +sister Belle, from the rear seat. "That's why she's so fat." + +"Don't dare use that objectionable word!" stormed Bess, turning about so +suddenly that she sent Cora's elbow against the plunger of the horn, +thereby producing a sudden blast. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Bess. "Did we run into something again?" + +"Again?" demanded Cora. "Come, I like that--not! We haven't run into +_anything_ yet." + +"That chicken," murmured Belle, even more lazily. "Yes?" + +"Was a good fifty feet out of danger!" declared Cora indignantly. + +"And what of the child?" + +"That never _was_ in danger. I didn't see him--her or it--until we had +passed. But the child--gender unknown--was playing in the dust beside the +road. Queer how mothers can let them." + +"Probably the mother didn't know a thing about it," said Bess, who had +discovered that she was the sole cause of the needless alarm in regard +to the horn's blast. "One can't be always on the lookout." + +"Don't start a discussion," begged Cora, as a backward glance showed +some signs of Belle's stirring up sufficiently to refute her sister's +remarks. "It's too hot." + +"It is when you slow down," observed Bess. "But the breeze is perfectly +fascinating when you keep the car moving, Cora." + +"Well, I don't intend to slow down right away. Have you girls any +particular desire to go to any particular place?" + +"Spare us all nerve-racking _particulars_ on a day like this," entreated +Belle, sliding down into a more comfortable position in the big, +cushioned seat she occupied all alone. "It is so warm! Summer is coming +with a vengeance." + +"And it makes me wish we had set the date of our departure for Camp +Surprise a week or so earlier," remarked Cora. "I wonder if we could +arrange to go any sooner." + +"I could," declared Bess. "I haven't a thing to do." + +"Except reduce," put in her sister tantalizingly. + +"Belle Robinson! If you don't stop those mean, insinuating remarks, +I'll--I'll----" + +"You won't give me any more of those chocolates you sneaked into your +bag as we were coming out," finished Belle. "I saw you, and you know +what Dr. Blake told you would happen if you didn't stop eating sweets. +You'll get so----" + +"These aren't sweet!" interrupted Bess. "They're the bitter kind, and +they're delicious, too. They have them so fresh at Gordon's." + +"It's a wonder she wouldn't give us a chance to decide for ourselves, +instead of introducing expert testimony on her own account," laughed +Cora. "Come, Bess, out with them!" + +"Certainly," agreed the plump girl, with easy grace. "I intended to +share them all along, but it was so warm----" + +"Don't say warm again!" drawled her sister. "Your nose is as shiny now +as a tin teakettle." + +"Belle Robinson! It is not!" + +Instantly Bess had her little mirror and vanity box in use, and a quick +dab on her rather up-turned nose did away with the condition complained +of, or at least alleged, by her sister. + +"There, does that satisfy you?" she asked, turning about for inspection, +as Cora swung the big car around a turn in the road. + +"Oh, I'm easily satisfied," Belle murmured. "What a perfectly gorgeous +view!" she cried, as she looked down from a height toward a village that +lay nestled in a green valley, girt around by a winding, silvery river, +glimpses of which could be had now and then between the trees that lined +the shores. + +"Yes, it is a good view," agreed Cora, stopping the car. "Cheerful +Chelton looks even more amiable and love-like than usual to-day. It's +cooler up here, too. Now pass over those chocolates, Bess." + +"And watch her get more and more--well, I'll say plump--before your eyes, +like that fat boy Scott tells about," laughed Belle. + +"It wasn't Scott's fat boy. He was in Dickens," corrected Cora. +"Nicholas Nickleby, I think." + +"Pickwick Papers!" voiced Bess. "There! I know something even if I +am--plump. But, girls, I have lost five pounds in the last month." + +"Not so's you'd notice it," murmured Belle. + +"Cease! Cease and have done!" admonished Cora. "How does that new one +go--two slow and one quick to the side and then----" + +"Not slow at all!" interrupted Bess. "You've got to follow through or +you'll slice the ball and----" + +"What in the world are you talking about?" demanded Cora, her eyes +opening wide. "Slice the ball? What's that in? The fox trot?" + +"I was speaking of golf," murmured Bess. + +"She's taken it up to--reduce," whispered Belle. + +"I thought you meant that new three-step we tried the other night," came +from Cora. + +"It's too warm even to talk about dancing," declared Belle. "Really we +must think of getting away sooner. Do you think we could get that +bungalow at Camp Surprise earlier than we had planned to take it, Cora?" + +"I don't know. Mother made all the arrangements. But I can find out. Do +you really think you'd like to go sooner?" + +"I certainly do," murmured plump Bess, who seemed to feel the sudden +summer heat more than did Cora, or the more svelt Belle. "Oh, by the +way, Cora! why do they call it Camp Surprise?" + +"I meant to ask that, too," added Belle. "It's such an odd name." + +"And there's an odd story connected with it," said Cora. "I'll have to +ask mother about it. She merely mentioned it, and something else came up +so I forgot to get the particulars. I'll find out when we go back. But +if you girls are really in earnest about starting our summer vacation a +little earlier this year----" + +"I most certainly am in earnest," Bess said. + +"And I," added her sister. + +"Then I'll see what we can do," went on the girl at the wheel. "Oh dear! +I wish I hadn't eaten those chocolates!" she exclaimed, making a wry +face. "I ought to have known better. Candy always makes me thirsty, and +I didn't bring the vacuum bottle." + +Belle sat up, carefully removed, with the tip of her tongue, some brown +chocolate stains from the tips of her pink, well-manicured fingers and, +looking up and down the road, announced: + +"That dear little tea room--Ye Olde Spinning Wheel--is only about a mile +farther on. Suppose we go there? I'm dying for a cup of tea with lemon +in it." + +"Oh, so am I!" added Bess. "They say lemon is thinning." + +"Then you'd better have lemonade with a leaf or two of tea in it," said +Belle. + +"You--you----" spluttered Bess, drawing back her hand in which nestled a +chocolate. And then her desire to throw it was overcome by her appetite +for the confection. + +"Ye Olde Spinning Wheel," repeated Cora. "That sounds most enticing. +We'll go there, if only to keep you two from bickering. What's gotten in +you sisters to-day, I never saw you so on each other's nerves." + +"It's the weather," returned Belle. + +"Let us hope so. Well, if you've admired the view enough we'll go on." + +They had come to a pause at the crest of a shaded hill, and down below +them lay the village in which the three girls lived. Cheerful Chelton it +had been designated, and cheerful it was. + +Cora, who had not stopped the engine, slipped the clutch in after +shifting the gear and the car moved down the slope, gradually cutting +off the view of the town. + +"What about the boys?" asked Bess, apropos of nothing in particular. + +"What boys?" demanded Cora. + +"Ours, of course," and Bess looked surprised that any others should have +been thought of. "I mean your brother Jack, Walter Pennington and Paul +Hastings. Didn't you say Paul was thinking of going to camp with our +boys, if they took the little bungalow near ours at Camp Surprise?" + +"Yes, Paul is coming," Cora said. + +"Well, can the boys get away earlier if we do? It won't be any fun going +there alone, particularly if there's a mystery about the place." + +"I didn't say there was any mystery about the place," corrected Cora. +"Though there may be. Besides, we're to have a chaperon, you know. Or at +least the caretaker and his wife live in Camp Surprise, and I presume +she will be a chaperon." + +"But it won't be half the fun if the boys don't come along," declared +Belle. "They are so jolly, and--er--well, you know what I mean," she +finished a bit lamely. + +"No need to explain at all," said Cora cheerfully. "It's perfectly all +right. If I go, that means mother can close the house so much earlier. +Jack won't stay there alone, I know, so he's likely to tag along." + +"And if Jack goes Walter will. I guess we can count of making an earlier +start on our vacation than we contemplated," said Bess. "It will be +lovely." + +"Yes," Cora assented. + +"There's the tea room," added Belle a little later as the car came out +on a long, level stretch of road. "It's a perfect dear of a place; isn't +it?" + +"A regular gazelle," agreed Cora mockingly. + +She swung her machine into the parking place provided, and a few minutes +afterward the three girls were sitting at one of the wicker tables, in +wicker chairs, near a window which opened on a vine-shaded porch, while +electric fans hummed and droned breezily and refreshingly behind them +and in front of them stood rose-tinted plates heaped high with pale +yellow cream, nestled alongside of which were delicately browned +macaroons. + +"Oh, what a symphony of color!" murmured Cora, as the white-capped, +colored waitress set the refreshments from off her mahogany-cretonne +tray. + +"If it tastes half as good as it looks," murmured Bess, "I'm going to +have another plate, if I have to roll twice my usual number of times +before I go to bed to-night." + +"It is good," said Belle. "It's delicious!" + +"I could just sit here and--dream," announced Belle, as she closed her +"effective" eyes, as Jack Kimball had designated them. + +"Yes, it is very soothing and restful," agreed her sister, who had been +rendered sleepy by the combination of heat, a refreshing meal and the +droning of the electric fans. + +"I feel sleepy myself," Cora confessed, closing her eyes. + +She opened them a moment later though, for a cry from Belle brought her +and Bess to a most unpleasant awakening. + +"Your car, Cora!" cried the slim Robinson twin. "Some one is taking your +auto!" + + + + +CHAPTER II--THE LOST TRAIL + + +"My car! Some one taking my car!" repeated Cora Kimball. "Who is it, +Belle?" and she hurried to the window from which the tall, willowy +Robinson twin was gazing toward the spot where the auto had been left. + +"Two young men. I saw them get in, and--there they go! Out into the road! +We must stop them!" + +Belle turned to make her exit, but her dress caught on a chair, and as +Cora and Bess were behind her, they, too, were delayed. + +"Oh, hurry!" begged Cora. + +"I can't tear my dress," retorted Belle. + +With a pull she loosed it from a splinter of the wicker chair, and then +made for the doorway, followed by the other girls. + +And while they are thus on their way to intercept those who had taken +Cora's car I will devote a few minutes to acquainting my new readers +with the characters and incidents that go to make the previous volumes +of this series. + +"The Motor Girls," was the title of the initial book. In that we find +Cora Kimball, the daughter of a wealthy widow, with her brother Jack, +living in "Cheerful Chelton," as it has been called, a village on the +Chelton river, in New England, not far from the New York boundary. Cora +and Jack each had an automobile, but most of the adventures took place +in or about Cora's car, in which she and her two most intimate chums, +the Robinson twins--Bess and Belle--went for many a ride. + +The Robinson girls were the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Perry Robinson, +the former a rich railroad man, and I think I have already sufficiently +indicated to you their characters. Bess was plump, and Belle tall and +willowy, inclined to indolence which she imagined was graceful. Cora +Kimball was a leader, and where she went the Robinson twins generally +followed. + +Jack Kimball, a student at Exmouth college, was almost as much a chum of +Cora's as were her girl friends, and the girls regarded Jack and his +chums, Walter Pennington and Paul Hastings, as their especial retainers +and vassals as the case demanded. Paul's sister Hazel, a sweet girl--if +you know what I mean--had been quite friendly with Cora and her chums, +until her removal to another city. Hazel was expected for a visit to +Cora soon, and, as has been mentioned, Paul contemplated going camping +with the boys. + +Soon after Cora secured her car the Robinson twins induced their father +to purchase one. The Motor Girls, as they had come to be known, went on +a tour, in the course of which many things happened. They had more +adventures at Lookout Beach, and also when they went through New +England. + +In succession Cora and her friends paid a visit to Cedar Lake, down on +the coast, and next they spent a summer on Crystal Bay. They had there a +most delightful time, but perhaps not more so than that told of in the +book immediately preceding this one. + +That volume is named "The Motor Girls on Waters Blue." I forgot to +mention that the girls, after having served their apprenticeship, as it +were, in automobiles, had acquired a fine, large motor boat. In this +they had many good times, though it was not this boat that figured +largely on the blue waters. When Mr. Robinson had been called to Porto +Rico on business he had taken his daughters and Cora with him. + +How the steamer on which Mr. Robinson sailed to another island was +endangered, how the _Tartar_ was chartered by Cora and her chums to look +for the shipwrecked ones, and how Inez Ralcanto, the beautiful Spanish +girl, and her father, a political refugee, were aided--all this is set +down in the book preceding this present volume. + +It was not until after many hardships and not a little anxiety that +matters were finally straightened out, and our friends came back to +Cheerful Chelton, which had never seemed so homelike or so desirable, +Cora said, as after the exciting episodes in what was practically a +foreign land. + +A fall and winter of gaiety had brought spring and early summer, in +which delightful time of the year we now find our girl friends once +more. + +"It is gone! My car is gone!" exclaimed Cora, as they ran out of the tea +room. + +"Of course it is!" declared Belle. "Didn't I see them take it!" + +"Two young men, you say?" asked her sister. + +"Yes. I didn't see their faces, but I knew they were young by the way +they moved about--so lively!" + +"Say!" cried Cora, imbued by a sudden idea. "Could they have been Jack +and Walter?" + +"Your brother?" asked Bess. + +"Yes. I heard him say he was coming over in this direction in his car. +He and Walter might have driven up, and, seeing my car and guessing that +we were inside, may have gone off in it just for a joke." + +"It's _possible_," assented Belle. "Anything is possible for Jack and +Wally. But if they came here they must have left their car near by. Turn +about is fair play--let's annex theirs." + +"Let's find it first," said Cora. + +They hurried out to the road. A quick look up and down showed no +automobile in sight--not even Cora's. + +"They must have speeded up," murmured Belle. "Oh! why weren't we +quicker?" + +"It doesn't amount to anything if those young men were really Jack and +Walter," Cora said. "But we can't be sure of that; can we, Belle?" + +"No, I can't. I only had a glimpse of their backs, and all backs look +alike to me." + +"It can't have been Jack," declared Bess, "or his car would be somewhere +in sight. He wouldn't know we were in the tea room until he came up +close, and then there wouldn't have been time to run his car back." + +"You can't tell what they would do," said Cora. "Come on, we'll walk as +far as the turn in the road, and see what's down there." + +"Hadn't you better report your loss to the proprietor of the tea room?" +suggested Belle. "He might send a man out to look for the machine." + +"I don't want to make too much fuss if it was Jack and Walter," Cora +objected. "Let's take a look ourselves first." + +The girls hurried down the road, all their drowsiness gone now. They +were rather alarmed in spite of the cool way in which Cora took it. + +"It's dreadfully warm walking," complained Bess. "I shall have to have +more cream after this is over." + +"You can go back and wait for us," suggested Cora, "if you're too----" + +"Don't dare say I'm too stout to keep on the trail!" cried Bess. "I'll +never give up!" + +They were almost at the turn when the honking of an automobile horn +warned them of the approach of a car. + +"There they come back!" cried Belle, in relieved tones. + +But a moment later, as a machine swung into view around the curve, the +girls saw that it was not Cora's. + +"But it's Jack and Walter!" cried the former's sister. "Wait! Stop!" she +begged. "Jack--Wally--we're in trouble! Did you take our car?" + +"Take your car?" repeated Jack, bringing his machine to a stop with a +screeching of brakes. "What's the joke?" + +"It isn't a joke at all!" declared Belle. "I saw two young men making +off with Cora's car. At first we thought it might be you and Wally." + +"Not guilty!" affirmed the latter, holding up a protesting hand. + +"Where did all this happen?" Jack wanted to know. + +"At the Spinning Wheel tea room. We stopped there," his sister informed +him. + +"Which way did they go?" asked Walter Pennington. + +"Down this way," Belle said, explaining what she had seen, and how they +had come along the road thinking to meet the perpetrators of the joke. + +"Come on, Wally!" cried Jack. "We'll get after those fellows. It may +have been a joke, and, again, it may not. No use taking any chances. +There have been several cars stolen around here lately. Maybe there's a +regular organized gang. Go on back to your tea and cakes, girls. We'll +round up the villains. Ha! Ha!" and he struck a theatrical attitude. + +"We'll wait at the tea room for you," Cora said. "You can trace my car +in the dust, Jack, by the tire-marks. There's a big patch, where it was +vulcanized. It's on the right forward wheel, and it makes a mark like a +big Z. Look for it." + +"I will, Sis. But there isn't much chance. Too many cars pass along this +road to let the dust-marks of any particular one stay in sight long. But +we'll do the best we can." + +Jack backed and turned his car around, and was soon off down the road in +a clatter of exhausts, while the three girls went back to Ye Olde +Spinning Wheel. + +"Who do you suppose they could be--those two fellows?" asked Bess. + +"Haven't the least idea," her sister assured her. + +"It couldn't have been Paul Hastings, could it?" + +"Of course not!" declared Cora. "Paul isn't given to playing such jokes. +Besides, he's in the auto business you know, and he doesn't believe in +taking chances with the cars of others. It may be a joke, as Jack says, +and some of our numerous friends may have tried to scare us, or it may +be----" + +"Don't say your lovely car is really _stolen_!" interrupted Bess, +impulsively. + +"Well, I'd have to say it if it were," declared the practical Cora. "And +the sooner we find out the better, in order to get the police after the +thieves." + +Wearily they trudged back to the tea room, which they had left so +suddenly. + +"Let's have some more ice cream while we're waiting," suggested Bess. + +They had nearly finished their second plates when the honking of a horn +warned them of the approach of some one. Eagerly they looked out to see +Jack and Walter returning. + +"We lost the trail!" Jack called. "I saw the tire marks, Cora, for a +little way, then they disappeared. We'll have to notify the police. Your +car's stolen all right." + +"Oh, Jack!" + +"Might as well realize it first as last, Sis! Where's a telephone?" he +asked the waitress. + + + + +CHAPTER III--TWO STRANGE MEN + + +"What are you going to do, Jack?" asked Cora. + +"Notify the Chelton police, and also the authorities here. They will +send out a general alarm better than we can. Now who saw these chaps, +and how did they look?" + +"Belle saw them." + +"Then, Belle, I'll have to call on your detective abilities. Describe +these villainous characters." + +"I wouldn't call them particularly villainous looking," said the tall +girl. "In fact we thought for a time it was you two, and----" + +"I see," interrupted Walter. "Belle, I thank you for your good opinion." + +"Come on, get down to business!" exclaimed Jack Kimball. "I want to know +how these fellows looked so I can tell the police. Were they young or +old?" + +"Two young men," answered Belle. "They were about your age, Jack." + +"But, unfortunately, they did not have his angelic disposition," mocked +Walter. "Bouquets are coming your way fast, Jack." + +"I'll dispense with them. Come on now, Belle. Anything else except that +they were young?" + +Belle thought for a moment. She had had such a momentary glimpse of the +two that, really, it was hard to describe them adequately for the +purposes of police detection. + +"Why not describe the car?" asked Cora. "No matter who is in my machine +they haven't a right to it, and they should be arrested on sight." + +"Good idea!" agreed Jack. "I can describe the car right enough." + +"And give the license numbers," said Bess. + +"Of course. Good girl. Let me have them, Cora." + +They were the only ones in the tea room at this time, and the excitement +was only communicated to the help. The waitress showed Jack where the +telephone booth was, and while Cora, Walter and the girls explained to +the girl cashier at the desk what had happened, Jack got the Chelton +police over the telephone and asked them to send out an alarm, and also +to be on the lookout for the thieves. + +The tea room was in Pepack, the township next to Chelton, and Jack also +called up the town hall and notified the authorities there, who promised +to do what they could. + +"But they may have taken any of half a dozen roads leading out of here," +Walter said. "They must have hurried away." + +"And you didn't have a glimpse of them?" asked Belle. + +"Not a trace," answered Jack. "We managed to pick up the trail by means +of that patch on the tire. Saw it in the dust several times. Then it was +lost in the shuffle, as you might say, so we thought it better to come +back. I wonder if the people here noticed anything of two strange men +hanging about." + +"We'll ask the cashier," suggested Cora. + +She knew, slightly, the girl who sat at the cash register, for Ye Olde +Spinning Wheel was a popular resort for automobile parties. + +"Yes, Miss Kimball," the girl said, "there were two young men in here +this morning, though whether they were the ones who took your car I +can't say." + +"How did they look?" asked Jack. + +"Well, I don't know that I can tell you. They were both of medium +height, and were smooth shaven--I mean they had no beards or moustaches, +though both of them would have been better for a visit to the barber's." + +"What did they do or say?" asked Walter. + +"They came in and each had a plate of cream," went on the girl. "I +didn't exactly like their looks, for, though we try to run a place that +will suit every one, we are a bit particular too. But they didn't make +any fuss, and even tipped the waitress." + +"Then they must be 'regular fellows,'" said Walter, jokingly. + +"'Scuse me," broke in the voice of the waitress--the same one who had +waited on the girls--"but de dime tip dey gibbed me wasn't any good." + +"Why not?" asked Jack. + +"It was plugged. Look!" and she exhibited it. + +"So it is!" exclaimed Cora's brother. "They weren't so regular after +all." + +"I didn't see it till after dey'd gone," the negress went on. + +"Perhaps you can describe them for me," Jack suggested. + +It developed that the waitress could give a better word-picture of the +two young men than could the cashier, whose attention, naturally, was +taken up with her duties at the desk. + +Jack noted down the none too good distinguishing marks as described by +the waitress, and went to telephone them to the police as an additional +help in capturing those who had gone with Cora's car. + +There was nothing more that could be done just then, and Jack was about +to suggest that, by means of a little crowding, he could take his sister +and her chums back to Chelton in his car when the young woman who had +charge of the tea room entered, it being her hour to go on duty. + +"What's the matter?" she asked, as she observed the group of excited +young people about the cashier's desk. + +"Two strange young men went off with Miss Kimball's auto," was the +cashier's answer, and the circumstances were related. + +"Two young men!" exclaimed the manager. "Why I remember those two who +had cream in here this morning. They spoke to me as they came out on the +porch, and I bought tickets of them." + +"Tickets!" exclaimed Jack. "Tickets?" + +"Yes. They seemed all right--I mean respectful and all that. They said +they had unexpectedly run out of funds and wanted to know if I wouldn't +buy some railroad tickets they had to New York. I said I hadn't any use +for them, and couldn't get off to go to New York anyhow, as this was our +busy season." + +"So you didn't buy them?" asked Cora. "But I thought you said----" + +"I didn't buy the railroad tickets," said the young lady manager. "But I +did purchase two tickets for the opera performance that is to be given +at Chelton on Friday night. I'd been wanting to go, and I was going to +telephone for tickets when these young men said they had two good ones +they'd let me have for less than the regular price." + +"And you took them?" asked Walter. + +"Yes. It seemed a bargain, and I am desirous to see the play." + +"Do you mind letting me see the tickets?" asked Jack. + +"Certainly you may see them," was the answer, and from her pocketbook, +which she had left in charge of the cashier, the manager took out two +slips of blue pasteboard. + +"Hum! They seem regular all right," remarked Jack. "Date and seat +numbers all proper. I know where those seats are, too, right in the +middle of the first row balcony. I always sit there myself when I go." + +"They said they were good seats," declared the girl, "and I saved a +dollar. They wanted the money they said, for they had spent their last +for some ice cream. They seemed to be all right." + +"Maybe they were," agreed Jack. "Of course it's perfectly proper for +persons who can't use railroad or theatre tickets they have purchased, +to sell them again. And these tickets seem to be the same as those you +would get at the box office. And there's no crime in being without cash. +But it is a crime to take an automobile." + +"The only question is whether the same two fellows are involved," +suggested Walter. + +"That's it," agreed Jack. "I wish you girls had had a better look at +those who went off in the machine." + +"It all happened so suddenly," Belle explained. + +"Yes, such things generally do," remarked Cora. "Well, there's nothing +else to do, is there?" + +"I guess not," said Jack, who had telephoned in the additional +description of the young men who had sold the tickets, adding the +information that there was only a suspicion that they were the same two +who were responsible for the taking of the car. + +"If they had only kept the theatre tickets, instead of selling them," +said Walter, "we'd have a good chance of arresting them." + +"How?" Belle demanded. + +"By watching those two seats. As soon as the fellows came in to take +their places we could have an officer arrest them." + +"Please don't try it on me," begged the young lady who had purchased the +coupons. "I don't want a scene," and she regarded Walter smilingly. + +"Of course not," agreed Cora. "Oh, dear! My nice car, that I was +counting on taking to Camp Surprise with me." + +"We'll get it back before then!" declared Jack. + +"Oh! but we're going earlier than we planned originally," said Belle. + +"And she wants you boys to come, too!" cried Bess. + +"No more than you do!" snapped Belle, her fair face flushing. + +"What's the idea?" asked Walter. + +"It's getting so unbearably warm," said Cora, and then she explained +that they might go earlier than originally planned to the bungalow camp +in the mountains. + +"Well, we might manage it," Jack said. "We'll talk it over, Wally. Have +to see Paul, though I guess he'd fit in anywhere Bess went." + +"Oh! is that so?" cried the plump girl, blushing in her turn. + +The tea room people promised to be on the lookout for the strange young +men, and to notify Jack or the police if they came around again. + +"But if they were the ones who took the car they won't come back," +Walter declared. + +By crowding, all the young people managed to get in Jack's car. On the +way back to Chelton a sharp lookout was kept for the missing machine, +but no trace of it was seen, and Cora was much depressed when she +reached home. + +"Never mind," whispered Jack, "you may use mine, Sis, until yours shows +up. Don't worry, we'll get it yet." + +"I hope so," murmured Cora. + + + + +CHAPTER IV--A CURIOUS STORY + + +Such measures as one might expect to have taken in a place like Chelton +and the surrounding towns were taken by the authorities in an endeavor +to recover Cora's stolen automobile. For stolen it certainly was, and +not taken in a joke. That fact was patent when several days passed and +no trace of it was found and no word received as to where it might have +been taken or abandoned by the two strange young men. + +"They might merely have taken it to get some place, seeing that they had +no money," observed Belle, when the three girls were talking the matter +over one day at Cora's house. + +"They had railroad tickets, though," said Belle. + +"Yes, but to New York, and perhaps they didn't want to go there." + +"I should think New York would be just the place where they would want +to go if they had no money," came from Cora. "There are so many chances +to make money there." + +"Perhaps they didn't dare go," suggested Belle. + +"What do you mean?" came in a duet from the others. + +"They might have done something--perhaps have taken another auto--and they +knew the police would be after them," explained Belle. + +"Quite dramatic," observed Cora. "But whoever they are or whatever their +motive, I wish they'd send back my car. I want it." + +"I don't blame you a bit," came from Bess. "Come on, we'll go out on +another searching tour." + +"All right," agreed Cora, and they were soon on the road again in the +car of the Robinson twins. The girls had not left it all to the +authorities to find the missing automobile. They had made diligent +inquiries themselves on all roads leading out of Chelton and in the +vicinity of the tea room. Nor had the boys been idle. Paul Hastings +arrived in town on business connected with the automobile concern by +which he was employed, and he, Jack and Walter, made it their business +to scurry around in Jack's car, looking for clews. + +But the slender ones they found proved unavailing. Automobiles are all +too common to attract attention unless there is something unusual about +them. And Cora's car, while it was a fine one, was not unusual enough to +call for special notice. + +The number on the license plates had been given to the police and +constables, but it would have been a comparatively easy matter for the +thieves to change the number or rub oil on and let dust accumulate until +it would have been all but indecipherable. Then, too, persons seldom +notice the number on a car unless there has been some accident. + +"It just seems to have disappeared," declared Cora at the close of the +day, when a long tour and many inquiries had resulted in nothing. "I +just wish I had hold of those two fellows!" + +"It _is_ provoking," agreed Belle. "Let's stop at the tea room and see +if they've heard anything more there." + +The girl at the cash register, the young lady manager, and the colored +maid who had waited on them before greeted the three pretty chums +smilingly as they again entered the pleasant tea room of Ye Olde +Spinning Wheel. + +"Were your tickets for the play all right?" asked Cora as the manager +stepped over to inquire if everything was to their liking. + +"I haven't used them yet. They are for this week Friday. Oh! I'm sure +they're all right. Some of my friends bought tickets from the same +fellows for the same night and they are next mine." + +"Those chaps must have planned for a regular theatre party," observed +Belle. + +"Have you had any trace of your car yet?" the cashier asked, as Cora +went up to pay the check. + +"No, I'm sorry to say, I haven't." + +"If you don't get it soon, Cora," said Belle, "you'd better plan to use +ours to go to Camp Surprise." + +"Oh, we're going in the motor boat," Cora said. "I didn't tell you, but +mother learned that the roads around the camp were so rough that it +would certainly spoil a car to take it to camp, so I wouldn't take mine, +anyhow." + +"Camp Surprise," repeated the pretty cashier. "That sounds interesting." + +"I hope we don't find it too much so," returned Belle. + +The plans for going to live at the bungalow with the odd name, which was +situated in the mountains some miles west of Chelton, had been talked +over at length, and an earlier trip than the one originally decided on +had been voted for. + +"Going in the motor boat! How nice!" cried Bess, as they went out of the +tea room. "Then it doesn't matter about your auto, Cora--I mean, of +course--oh! I don't mean that!" she cried, blushing. "Of course you want +it back----" + +"Well, I should say I do!" exclaimed Jack's sister with mock +indignation. + +"I mean we won't have to wait until you get your car back before going +to Camp Surprise," Bess went on. + +"No," agreed Cora. "That won't delay us." + +"And now don't you think you ought to tell us why the camp where we are +going to spend most of the summer has such an odd name?" asked Belle. + +"I've been meaning to this long while," assented Cora, "but so many +things have happened that I didn't get to it. Come on, let's sit out +here on the porch, where it's so nice, cool and shady, and I'll tell you +all I know." + +"You couldn't, Cora, dear--not in the limited time at our disposal," said +Belle, languidly sinking into an easy wicker chair. "You know too much." + +"Thank you. I believe this was my treat, so now we're even. But I meant +all I know about Camp Surprise." + +"First, how did it get its name?" asked Bess. + +"Because of the surprising things that happen there." + +"Happen--happen?" queried Belle. "Do you mean they still happen?" + +"Well, so mother said," observed Cora. + +"Bur-r-r!" shivered Bess, with a hasty glance over her shoulder. "I'm +not so sure I want to go there." + +"Nonsense!" cried Cora. "If there's a ghost we'll lay it--whatever that +means." + +"Oh, Cora! Ghosts!" + +"Oh! I don't mean that, exactly. It isn't so bad as that. The worst +things that have happened are that things in the bungalow seem to be +upset and misplaced without reason." + +"Upset? Misplaced?" murmured Belle. + +"Without reason?" added her sister. + +"Oh! perhaps I am making a mountain out of a molehill," confessed Cora. +"This is how the matter stands. Up in the mountains are a number of +camps, cottages, bungalows--what you like--which belong to a development +company. The bungalows and camps are rented, furnished, to whoever wants +them. Camp Surprise, where we shall have a good-sized bungalow to live +in, is one of the best of these resorts. It is about five miles in from +the Towanda river, which is what the Chelton is called up state, and it +was going up the river that I planned to use the motor boat." + +"How do we get over the five miles?" asked Bess. + +"By buckboards over a mountain road. That's why we won't need the autos. +Of course we could use a car, but as long as mine is still among the +missing we won't make any such plans. Camp Surprise is right on the edge +of a stream which is quiet enough in dry weather, but a torrent when +there's a heavy rain. And there's a little lake and a waterfall near the +bungalow." + +"That sounds lovely," remarked Belle. + +"It is lovely," asserted Cora. "I've seen pictures of it. And while our +bungalow is on one side of the mountain torrent there is another one, +not far off, on the other side, where the boys are going to stay." + +"How nice," commented Bess. + +"Is that other bungalow within sight or calling distance of ours?" asked +Belle. + +"One or the other, yes," assented Cora. "But why so anxious?" + +"Because when those ghosts, or whatever they are, get to moving things +about I want a man, or at least a good-sized boy around," was the +answer. + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Cora. "It isn't so bad as that." + +"Say it again," begged Bess. "You told about unseen hands moving chairs +and tables." + +"I didn't mean it exactly that way," and Cora smiled. "You see there is +a man and his wife who have rooms in the bungalow, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd. +They look after the place, and they'll be our chaperons. I did think +mother might be able to go with us, but she won't. But mother knows Mrs. +Floyd, and says she's very nice." + +"I hope the ghosts will be nice," said Belle. + +Cora laughed. + +"Oh, you funny girl! Why will you persist in calling them ghosts?" + +"Well, aren't they? Moving chairs about?" + +"Is that what happened--or happens?" asked Bess. + +"So I understand," returned Cora. "Mr. and Mrs. Floyd don't use the main +bungalow, keeping to their own rooms. But they wrote mother that, of +late, there have been some queer goings on. They said they would go out, +leaving the rooms in perfect order, only to find them all upset on their +return. Chairs would be misplaced, tables that had been in the middle of +the room would be shoved back against the wall. Dishes would be taken +out of the closets, and----" + +"Tramps!" interrupted Belle. + +"What?" cried Cora, rather startled by the suddenness of the +ejaculation. + +"I mean tramps got in and did it." + +"No, I don't think so," and Cora spoke slowly. "For, though the dishes +were taken from the pantry, there was no food missing. Tramps would take +food." + +"Is this all that happened?" Bess demanded. + +"Well, once something was taken," Cora said. "A party had the bungalow, +and when they left at the end of their stay, they forgot to take some of +their silver with them. Then came one of the upsetting periods, and the +furniture was misplaced and the silver taken." + +Belle and Bess looked at their chum, then the former said slowly: + +"I--I don't believe we want to go to Camp Surprise, Cora." + + + + +CHAPTER V--COUNTERFEIT TICKETS + + +Cora laughed melodiously. Belle and Bess looked at her with just a shade +of indignation in their eyes. + +"I didn't think you'd be such--such, well, I won't say cowards," Cora +voiced, when the gale of merriment had passed. "But I think, Belle, that +you would rise above the occasion, even if Bess----" + +"Now what is there she can do that I can't?" demanded the plump twin +truculently. "I guess if it's a question of bravery, I'm as willing as +she is to go to Camp Surprise." + +"I thought you'd be," Cora observed. + +"But is it a question of bravery?" asked Belle. + +"What else?" her sister demanded. + +"Well, from the way in which Cora told it, I should think it would need +some members of the Society for Psychic Research to get to the bottom of +all those queer manifestations. Cora Kimball!" Belle suddenly exclaimed, +sitting up in her chair. "You haven't been hoaxing us; have you? This +isn't a joke; is it? I mean all those things really did happen; didn't +they?" + +"My! what a lot of questions to set off at once," objected Cora. "But I +can answer them all by saying that I have given the story to you just as +it came to me. As far as I know, it's no joke, and the way the furniture +behaved, or rather, was made to act, is strictly true." + +"And you are still going to Camp Surprise?" asked Bess. + +"Certainly. Why not?" + +"Well--er--that is---- Oh! of course I know there's no such thing as a +ghost," said Belle. "But, at the same time, even if those things +happened by human agencies--as naturally they did--it might make it very +unpleasant for us up there." + +"Nonsense!" cried Cora. "It will make it all the more interesting. Think +of the fun we can have, organizing ghost-detecting parties, sitting up +until all hours of the night, daring the boys to sit with us. And then, +after all, finding out it is only the tricks of some alleged fun-loving +person, or perhaps boys of the neighborhood." + +"Do you really think so, Cora?" Belle asked. + +"Why, yes." + +"I don't know," murmured Bess, thoughtfully. + +"Come! Where has all the bravery of the Motor Girls vanished to?" +demanded Cora with a silvery laugh. "We didn't act thus timidly when we +solved the secret of the red oar on Crystal Bay. And perhaps----" + +"Cora's right!" interrupted Belle. + +"She generally is," contributed Bess. + +"There's a secret here, and we will solve it!" her sister went on. "I +didn't look at it that way before, but I see it now. We mustn't be +driven away, or kept from going just because of these rumors. We'll go +to Camp Surprise and surprise those who are making such a fuss there. I +wonder some one hasn't done it long ago." + +"Just what I was about to remark," came from Cora. "I'm glad to see that +your natural courage has come back. I thought it would. We haven't been +together on various quests for nothing. Now we'll prove ourselves true +Motor Girls, and get at the bottom of these surprising happenings. You +won't back out?" + +"Never!" affirmed Bess. + +"Cross my heart!" laughed her sister, with the old, familiar, childish +gesture of emphasizing a statement. + +"Then it's all settled. Now let's go home. Jack and Walter said they +were going over to Meadport to-day to see if any word had been received +there of my missing auto. They may have returned with some news." + +"Why was Meadport regarded so favorably?" asked Bess. + +"Well, a constable there sent word to our police that there had been a +number of petty robberies committed in the neighborhood. A number of +thefts would take place in one night, and so far apart that the only +probable theory was that the thieves used an auto. Jack thought my dear +car might be used for such base purposes, so he and Wally went over +there to-day." + +"Let us hope they have good news," said Belle, as with her sister and +Cora she entered the Robinson automobile and headed back for Cheerful +Chelton. + +"Nothing doing," announced Jack, as his sister and her chums came in +sight of the Kimball home, and saw him with Walter, sitting on the +broad, shady piazza. "Absolutely nothing transpiring, as the poet +saith." + +"College hasn't improved your slang any," observed Bess. + +"No, I guess I'll have to take a P. G. course to accomplish that. I am a +bit rusty. Wally, suppose you give them a sample." + +"Spare us," murmured Cora. "Was there really no news, Jack?" + +"Not an atom, or even a molecule. Which is smaller, Wally? I forget." + +"Same here. Anyhow they hadn't caught those Meadport thieves, so whether +they have your auto or not, Cora, my dear, remains yet to be proved." + +The young people talked on, the conversation reverting naturally to Camp +Surprise. + +"What do you think it all means, Jack?" asked Bess. + +"Kids playing tricks," declared Jack tersely. "So it didn't scare you +girls out from going?" + +"Of course not!" declared Bess indignantly. A look passed from her to +Cora, from Cora to Belle--and that was all. + +"That's right!" chimed in Walter. "Don't let a little thing like that +scare you away. We'll get at the bottom of this mystery." + +"When do you plan to go?" asked Cora of her brother. + +"As soon as Wally can get his new suit that he's ordered from that nobby +tailor." + +"Don't you believe him," cried Walter, thumping his chum on the back. +"I'm as ready as he is. He's waiting for one of those sport shirts----" + +"Go on! I wouldn't wear one!" + +"Well, make up your minds, and we'll all go together," urged Cora. "We +can go up in the motor boat as far as possible, and take buckboards the +rest of the way. We'd like to have you boys on hand when we begin the +investigation of Camp Surprise." + +"Oh, ho! Afraid?" laughed Walter. "I thought there was a mouse in the +woodpile somewhere, Jack, my boy!" + +"Nothing of the sort!" came from Cora. "Besides, you're thinking of the +mouse and the lion. It is an African gentleman of color who makes the +woodpile his habitation." + +"That's right," admitted Walter. "I never was very good at dates +anyhow." + +"Fig paste is more to your liking. Have a chocolate," urged Bess. + +"We want you along to bear testimony when we have routed out the +mischief-makers," said Cora, after the laughter had subsided. "Your +bungalow is near ours, and we can call to you to come and hold the +disturbers when we capture them." + +"Is that what you're going to do?" asked Jack. + +"Certainly," returned Belle, as if the girls had never hesitated. + +"Well, it would be a pity to disappoint you," Walter declared. "We'll go +when they do, Jack. But--whisper--they'll be more than a week yet. I know +girls." + +"You only _think_ you do," mocked Cora. "We'll be ready before you are." + +Then they began to talk seriously and plan for their summer outing. It +was not the first time they had been away together, the boys and girls +often going to the same resort and occupying adjacent bungalows or +cottages. In this way they divided such work as there was, and +multiplied the possible good times. + +Mrs. Kimball was to go to the Thousand Islands with her sister, which +left Jack and Cora free to do as they pleased. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson +would, as usual, occupy their seashore cottage, but Bess and Belle would +not join them there until later in the season, going first to Camp +Surprise with Cora. + +"Well, now it's all settled," declared Cora, after a season of talk. +"We'll go to Camp Surprise two weeks from to-day. I'll tell mother, and +have her write to Mrs. Floyd to have everything in readiness." + +"Even the ghosts?" demanded Walter. + +"Even the ghosts," agreed Cora, accepting the implied challenge. + +"Good!" cried Jack. + +A few days after this the three girls, all of whom belonged to a church +home mission society, went to take some medicine and food to an old +woman who was one that the society looked after. This dependent lived +some distance out of Cheerful Chelton, and the Robinson twins brought +their car in which to carry the baskets of food. + +They had done their little errand of mercy and on the way back Cora +proposed that they stop at Ye Olde Spinning Wheel for some tea or ice +cream, as the girls preferred. + +They had the place practically to themselves, as it was not the hour +when most motorists stopped for refreshments. Cora and her chums spoke +to the manager, and noticed that she seemed a bit downcast. + +"What is the matter?" asked Cora. + +"Oh, it's something that happened last night. You know I told you I had +two tickets for the opera. My friend gave me the money to get them, and +I bought them off the two young fellows who were here one day last +week." + +"Yes, it was the time my auto was taken," Cora said. + +"Of course! I ought to have remembered. Well, I bought two tickets for +the opera from those men at a reduced price." + +"And couldn't your friend go with you?" asked Belle sympathetically. + +"Oh, yes. He came for me all right. But when we went to go in they +wouldn't let us." + +"Who wouldn't let you, those two young men?" asked Cora eagerly. + +"No, I only wish it had been the young men. I'd have had 'em arrested. +But the doorkeeper would not let me and my friend in on those tickets." + +"Why not?" asked Bess. + +"Because he said they were counterfeit. And after my friend had given me +his good money for them. I was that angry I could have cried! +Counterfeit tickets! What do you know about that?" + + + + +CHAPTER VI--OFF TO CAMP + + +"Really, were they bogus tickets?" asked Cora after a pause. + +"And wouldn't they let you in?" Bess cried. + +"How could they tell they were counterfeits?" was Belle's question. + +"'Cause some one else had our seats, or the seats our tickets called +for," said Miss Magin, the manager of the tea room. "This is how it was. +I got all ready to go--it was my day off, you know, and I had a new +dress. Had my nails manicured and went to a hair dresser, for I wanted +to look nice. My friend is some swell dresser himself, and you know how +it is. You want to be a credit when a person goes to the trouble to take +you out." + +"I know," Cora murmured. + +"Well, I did look nice, if I do say it myself," went on Miss Magin, "and +I was quite pleased when I handed my friend back a dollar. + +"'What's this for?' he asked me. + +"'What I saved on the tickets,' I told him, and I mentioned how I'd +bought two from the fellows who were here trying to sell some railroad +transportation as well. My friend was quite pleased, of course, for he +has to work hard for his money. 'This'll do to help get a lunch after +the show,' he said, and I was glad. + +"Well, we got to the opera house all right, but they wouldn't let us in. +That is, they wouldn't give us the seats our coupons called for. We did +get in, but when we went to the seats there was a couple already in +them. + +"My friend thought the usher had made a mistake, and there was a mix-up +for a while. Then the usher got the other couple's coupons and they were +the same number as ours. They called the manager, and he said our +tickets were counterfeit. + +"First my friend wouldn't believe it, but the manager showed by the +other tickets taken in that ours were different. The print was the same, +and so was the color of the pasteboard, but it was stiffer than the +regular tickets. There was no way out of it. We had been cheated, and so +had some other people who had bought tickets from those fellows. There +was quite a disturbance." + +"It's too bad!" exclaimed Cora. "Then you didn't see the opera after +all?" + +"Oh, sure I did!" exclaimed Miss Magin. "My friend wouldn't see me +disappointed. He bought other tickets, though they weren't as good as +the ones I had--or thought I had." + +"And they really were counterfeit?" repeated Bess. + +"Yes, but cleverly done. It was only the quality of the paper, or +pasteboard, that showed," went on the tea room manager. "If we had +gotten there first we might have had our seats without any trouble, +though of course when the folks came in that had the real tickets it +would have been found out, I s'pose." + +"And you say others also bought the bogus tickets?" Cora asked. + +"Yes, quite a few. Got them from the same fellows, too, who told the +same story about being hard up for cash, and wanting to sell the tickets +they'd purchased." + +"Were they the same young men?" asked Belle. + +"The descriptions were the same as the two who were here, and who must +have taken your auto, Miss Kimball. When I found out our tickets were +worthless I told the manager about your car, though of course he had +heard of it from reading the paper. Oh! I just wish I could have them +arrested!" + +"So do I," agreed Cora. + +"Could they find out where the tickets were printed?" asked Bess. + +"Not just by looking at them," answered Miss Magin. "The bogus ones +looked for all the world like the real ones, even to the company's name +that was printed on them. But the opera house manager kept those my +friend and I turned in and said he'd make an investigation. Say! I felt +pretty cheap when it turned out I'd bought bogus tickets with my +friend's money." + +"Oh! you couldn't help it," Cora said, her chums murmuring their +agreement. + +"Well, I meant all right," Miss Magin went on, "but I cost my friend +more than if I hadn't a' been so soft-hearted wanting to help out those +fellows who told a hard-luck story." + +"They'll be caught some day," declared Bess. "Printing bogus theatrical +tickets isn't easily done. Care has to be used, and sooner or later +those fellows will be arrested." + +"The sooner the better," said Cora. "I want my car back." + +The girls and the manager talked for some little time longer about the +happenings of the night before. Presently a man alighted from a taxicab, +or rather, one of the town's few jitney cars, and entered the tea room. +He looked rather sharply at our friends--at least so Cora thought--and, +taking a seat at a table not far away, ordered a cup of coffee and a +sandwich. + +He spoke casually to the waitress, and as Miss Magin, as was her custom, +walked up to see if the service was satisfactory, he spoke also to her +pleasantly, and she replied. + +"Was it one of the young ladies here who recently purchased some bogus +theatre tickets?" the man asked, after some casual remarks. + +"I hope you haven't any more to sell!" retorted the manager, a bit +sharply. + +"No. I am a detective sent out by the agency which prints theatre +tickets for many shows. This isn't the first time we have had trouble, +and I want, if possible, to get on the track of the persons responsible. +Do you mind telling me all you can of this?" + +Of course Miss Magin was only too glad to do so, and, incidentally, she +mentioned the loss of Cora's automobile. Naturally that brought our +friends into the conversation, and the detective, who introduced himself +as Mr. Boswell, went over to the girls' table. He spoke of having been +for some time unsuccessfully on the trail of the bogus ticket sellers. + +"Taking automobiles is a new line for their activities, though," said +Mr. Boswell. "This may make it easier to catch them." + +"Of course," suggested Cora, "we are not altogether certain that the +same persons who sold Miss Magin the tickets took my auto." + +"Very likely they were," declared the detective. "They probably realized +that they had done all the illegitimate business possible in this +neighborhood, and they wanted to get as far away as they could before +the fact about the tickets became known. An auto offered the simplest +means." + +"I should have locked the ignition switch," said Cora. "I usually do +when I get out. But we thought we would stay only a little while, so I +didn't do it this time." + +"Too bad," said Mr. Boswell. "If I get on the track of your car, Miss +Kimball, I'll let you know." + +He made a memorandum of the description of the two men as furnished by +Miss Magin, and took his departure, promising to let Cora hear from him +in case anything developed. + +"More of the mystery," remarked Bess, as she and the others were on +their way back in the automobile. "What with this and what may happen at +Camp Surprise, I can see we are in for a busy summer." + +And busy enough the girls were during the next week. There were trunks +to pack, messages to send to the caretakers at the camp, dresses to have +finished in time, and many odds and ends to be looked after before +leaving for so long a time. + +"There's a nice dancing pavilion not far away," Cora told her chums. +"And of course there'll be one or two formal affairs at a neighboring +hotel." + +Hazel Hastings had come on to be Cora's guest and was staying at the +Kimball house. She was the same sweet girl as before, though a little +older, and not quite so timid as she had been. + +Paul was the same jolly chap, quite engrossed in his automobile +business, but not so much so that he could not enjoy the little outing +in prospect. + +"I've sent a description of your car, with the number of it, the number +of the engine and other identifying marks, to all the second hand +dealers," he told Cora. "If it's offered for sale to any one in the +dealers' association I'll hear of it and there's a chance that we'll get +it back for you. + +"Of course there are some 'outlaw dealers' who do not belong to the +association, and who might take a chance on buying a stolen car," said +the young automobile agent. "But we can't help that. I think we'll get +your machine sooner or later." + +Cora was grateful for Paul's efforts, but she had about given up hope. +The police had secured no clews, and, though they professed to be +active, there really was little for them to do. + +The motor boat had been overhauled and put in shape for the trip up the +Chelton river. Though the craft offered accommodations for sleeping on +board they did not plan to use the berths on this occasion. They were to +make an early start and reach Riverhead, the end of navigation on the +Chelton, early in the afternoon. From Riverhead they would go to Camp +Surprise in wagons of the buckboard type, made with wooden slats for +springs, very comfortable to ride in over rough roads. + +The boys were to go with the girls, Jack and his sister acting as +chaperons for the others until camp was reached, when Mr. and Mrs. Floyd +would perform this office. + +Light baggage would be taken with them on the boat, the trunks being +sent on ahead. + +"And we'll take lunch along, of course," Bess said. + +"Of course," echoed her sister. "We don't want to go hungry any more +than do you." + +The day of departure came at last. Bess and Belle were early at Cora's +house, and found her, Jack, Paul and Hazel busy making the final +preparations. + +The valises and bundles were carried down to the motor boat, good-byes +were said over and over again, various cautions were given by Mrs. +Kimball and Mrs. Robinson, and then Cora, standing at the wheel of the +craft, steered out into the middle of the pretty stream. + +"Off for Camp Surprise!" she cried gaily. + + + + +CHAPTER VII--JACK'S BATH + + +Out into the sunlit Chelton river swung the smart motor boat with Cora +at the wheel. The sun glinted on the water, it reflected from the +polished brass rail and the white forward deck of the craft, it sparkled +from the brass letters of the name--_Corbelbes_, and danced in javelins +of light on the little waves. + +The _Corbelbes_ was the latest name of the motor boat which had been +variously christened at times. The craft was owned jointly by Cora, +Belle and Bess, and in accordance with their agreement they had in turn +the privilege of naming it, such name to be used during a whole season. + +In turn the girls had adopted various more or less classical +nomenclature. Each one's time having expired, it came to Cora again, and +she confessed that she did not know what to select. + +"Let me name the boat for you," suggested Jack. "I've thought of a swell +name." + +"Something ridiculous, I'm sure of that," ventured Cora. + +"No, something really classy. How's this," and Jack quickly printed on a +piece of paper the name now glinting on either bow of the craft. + +"_Corbelbes_," repeated his sister. "That isn't half bad. What is it, +Spanish or Latin?" + +"It's French for curling iron and face powder," laughed Jack. + +"You mean thing!" + +"No, it isn't, Sis. Don't you see, it's the first part of the names of +all three of you." + +"Oh, so it is." Cora was smiling now. + +"What better name could you have for a boat?" Jack demanded. "It's +something distinctive and individual." + +Cora and her chums agreed with him, and the motor boat became the +_Corbelbes_, and as such had remained. + +"Does she steer all right, Cora, with the new tiller ropes on?" asked +Jack, as he lolled lazily on one of the cushioned lockers, which, at +night, could be turned into comfortable bunks. + +"A bit stiff," responded his sister. + +"Well, the ropes will stretch, after they've been used a bit, so it's +just as well to have them tight now. You get quicker action when you +turn the wheel, though the river will not be crowded after we get up a +way." + +Bess, Belle and Hazel busied themselves setting to rights their various +possessions in the little cabin, and then they sat out in the wicker +chairs in the after part of the craft, where Jack and Walter were. Paul +seemed to find entertainment up in the bow with Cora. + +"Where are the eats?" demanded Walter, when they had been under way for +perhaps a half hour. "Didn't I see you smuggling something on board, +Bess?" + +"Eats? Now?" cried Jack. "And if you saw Bess have anything it was a box +of chocolates." + +"It was not, Jack Kimball!" retorted the pretty, plump twin. "I've given +up chocolates." + +"For how long?" he teased. + +"For ever. I'm eating lime drops and lemon drops now. Have some?" + +"I knew I saw you have something," declared Walter. "Why, they're +chocolates after all!" he went on, as he helped himself to what Bess +offered. + +"I know they are, but the chocolate coating is very thin," she said. +"They're sour inside." + +"Sort of Christian Science treatment," remarked Jack. "Bess couldn't +altogether give up her chocolate, so she takes it in homeopathic doses. +Whew! they _are_ sour!" he cried, as he bit into one of the candies, +making a wry face. + +"Fruit acids make one thin, I read," Bess stated, "so I had these made +to order." + +"Bess Robinson, you never did!" voiced her sister in surprised accents. + +"Why shouldn't I? They didn't cost any more than the others. All the +candy shop did was to dip their regular lime and lemon drops into +chocolate for me." + +"Well!" exclaimed Belle. "Did you hear that, Cora?" + +There was no reply from the girl at the wheel. She and Paul were busy +talking. + +"Let her alone," urged Bess. "She knows about my candy. I told her." + +"Yes, don't disturb 'em," agreed Walter. "But I want something more +substantial than candy. Didn't you bring anything else, Bess?" + +"Yes, we have a nice lunch, but I'm not going to have you spoil your +appetite by eating now," declared Belle. + +"You don't know how hard it is to spoil his appetite," laughed Jack. +"I've tried several times to find out just where the vanishing point is, +but I haven't succeeded. I've begun to believe that his appetite is like +the poor--always with us--or him." + +"Base traitor!" retorted Walter, reaching out to punch Jack, but finding +him too far away he did not exert himself. + +The Chelton river was a busy place in the neighborhood of the town where +our friends lived. On the way up the _Corbelbes_ passed a number of +craft, some of them slow-moving coal or grain barges, others passenger +steamers, and not a few pleasure craft. Those in charge of the latter +recognized the _Corbelbes_ and saluted her with the regulation three +whistles, which Cora returned. + +"We couldn't have had a better day," remarked Paul, as he sat beside +Cora. + +"No, it's perfect. If the weather only behaves when we get to camp we'll +be in all sorts of ways obliged to it." + +"Oh, I guess it will," was the comment. "Look out for that fellow, Cora. +He doesn't seem to know which way he wants to go." + +"I've been noticing him," and Cora looked at a man in a rowboat who was +yawing from side to side as though unfamiliar with the proper method of +navigation. + +Cora blew the whistle sharply as the man seemed about to cross her bows, +and this further confused him so that he was really in danger of being +run down. + +"Look out!" cried Paul again, instinctively, though he knew Cora knew +how to manage the boat. + +And she proved that she did by quickly reversing the propeller, while a +series of sharp blasts informed any craft coming astern to look out for +themselves. + +"What's the matter with you?" demanded Paul, as the _Corbelbes_ passed +the man in the rowboat. "You ought to take lessons before you come out +on the river." + +The man looked frightened but did not answer, pulling awkwardly away. + +"What are you trying to do, Cora?" demanded Jack. "Have an accident +before we're fairly started? Better let me steer." + +"I will not, indeed! It wasn't my fault!" + +"I should say not!" cried Paul. "That fellow was a dub!" + +That was the only near approach to a collision, though the river was +unusually crowded that morning. In a little while, however, the water +traffic thinned out, and Cora did not have to devote so much attention +to the wheel. + +"Say, isn't it time for lunch now?" demanded Walter, insinuatingly. + +"It's only eleven," announced Belle, with a look at her wrist watch. + +"That's his regular feeding time--at least he'll say so," put in Jack, +before his chum had a chance to answer. + +"I had an early breakfast," put in Walter in extenuation. + +"Oh, well, give the child something," laughed Bess, "and let us have +peace!" + +Sandwiches, cake and other things were brought out, set on a table which +unfolded from the side of the boat, and the merry chatter was soon +interspersed with periods of silence to allow a chance to eat. + +"We'll get there in good season," Cora was saying, when the engine gave +a sudden combined cough, wheeze and sneeze, and stopped. + +"No gasoline!" cried Walter. + +"Indeed not!" answered Cora. "Both tanks are full." + +"Ground wire broken," suggested Paul. + +A hasty look at the conductors proved this theory to be wrong. + +"Then it's the carburetor," Jack affirmed. "The worst possible place for +trouble. I'll look after it, Sis. I've had the dingus apart, and if +anybody knows about its insides I do. Throw that anchor overboard, +Wally, and I'll tinker with the troublemaker." + +A small anchor splashed into the river, while Jack, putting on an old +jumper and overalls, kept for such emergencies, took off the carburetor +and proceeded to examine it, from cork float to butterfly valve. + +"Must be poor gasoline they're serving us lately," he said. "It's +awfully dirty. Look!" and he held up his grimy hands. + +"Have you found the trouble?" Cora asked. + +"Yes, it was the air intake valve. Little speck of carbon in it +prevented the proper mixture. I'll have it fixed in a jiffy." + +Jack proved the truth of his assertion by replacing the carburetor, and, +a little later, by starting the engine without any trouble. + +"Hurrah!" cried Paul. "That's what it is to have a good mechanician +aboard." + +"It's a wonder you wouldn't qualify yourself," said Jack grimly. "Look +at me! I'll have to take a bath!" and he held up his hands, grimier than +ever. + +"There's some of that mechanic's soap--with pumice stone in it--in one of +the lockers," volunteered Cora. "Use that, Jack." + +The anchor was hauled in and the _Corbelbes_ started up the river once +more. Jack knelt down on one side of the stern deck, and, reaching down +into the river, wet his hands, rubbing on them some pasty soap, +guaranteed to remove grime of all kinds and leave most of the original +skin. + +"Where's the camera?" asked Bess. + +"What for?" demanded her sister. + +"I want a view of Jack at his bath. Doesn't he look cute?" + +"Wait until I pose for you," Jack suggested, making a lather of the +soap. "I'm a dandy when it comes to poses. Just watch me." + +He stood up on the after deck, but his foot slipped on a bit of the +lather that dropped from his hands, and, a moment later, Jack plunged +overboard. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII--THE STORM + + +"Oh, Jack!" cried Cora, as she had a hasty glimpse of her brother making +a rather ungraceful dive over the side of the _Corbelbes_. "Oh!" + +Her words were echoed by Bess and Belle, and while they started up, +overturning the chairs on which they had been sitting, Cora, alive to +the emergency, quickly threw in the reverse clutch, and a smother of +foam arose under the stern of the boat as it lost way. + +Nor had Walter and Paul been idle. The former seized a canvas covered +cork life ring, and, waiting a moment to catch a glimpse of the bobbing +head of his chum, threw the ring to him, with a cry of: + +"There you are, Jack!" + +"I'll go after him in the boat!" called Hazel's brother, for a small +dingey was riding astern of the larger boat, and Paul now hauled this +toward the side. + +There was no need for any one else to go overboard, for Jack, as his boy +and girl chums well knew, could swim excellently, and he had fallen in +with only overalls and jumper on, which made raiment almost as light as +a bathing suit. True, he had on his shoes, but in several tests at +summer camp Jack had swum across a lake with all his heavy clothes on. + +Still Paul was not sure but what his chum might have struck his head +going overboard, and in this case it would be advisable to have the +little boat ready. + +"There he is--he's all right," cried Walter, as he saw Jack striking out +for the motor boat, ignoring the life ring. + +"Get it, Jack! Get it!" cried Cora, indicating the white, floating +object. + +"Don't need it!" Jack sung out, cheerfully enough. "What do you think I +am, an invalid?" + +However, he was glad enough to crawl into the smaller boat, which Paul +sent over toward him, for Jack found his shoes heavy, and the side of +the _Corbelbes_ was high out of water, making it difficult for one to +reach the gunwale. + +"All right?" asked Cora, as Jack sat dripping on the stern seat. + +"Sure I'm all right. I was going in for a swim anyhow, and this saved me +the trouble." + +"Well, come on board and we'll start again," Cora said. "Pick up the +ring, Paul. I don't want to lose it!" + +"Aye, aye, my captainess!" and he saluted with an oar. + +"How did it happen, Jack?" asked Walter, when his chum, dripping, was +safe on board again. + +"Somebody pushed me! I think it was Hazel," and he winked at the others +while he gazed as severely as possible (which was not greatly) at the +blushing girl. + +"Oh, Mr. Kimball! I--I did not!" cried Hazel. + +"My goodness, how very formal! _Mr._ Kimball!" mocked Bess. "Since when, +Hazel?" + +"Since he accused me that way." + +"Oh! I'll withdraw the accusation if you'll only call me Jack! I love to +hear you say that, Hazel! Call me Jack." + +"Silly!" muttered Cora. + +"Mushy, I call it," declared Bess. "Downright mushy!" + +"You're jealous," added Walter. + +"Say Jack!" commanded the dripping owner of the name, "or I'll come over +and sit by you, Hazel, and I'm almost sure that blue dress of yours +spots." + +"It does! Oh, don't let him come near me!" begged Hazel, trying to +retreat into the cabin. + +"Say Jack then!" commanded the relentless one, dripping at every step as +he pursued her. + +"Oh--Jack!" she complied. + +"Your brains seem to have gone overboard, and not to have come back with +you," said Cora to her brother. "Quit your fooling. You're getting the +cushions all wet." + +Jack subsided after blowing a kiss to his sister, and sprinkling her +with water from his dripping hair. Then the boat was put back on her +course, the dingey was made fast, the life ring put in place, and there +was peace and quietness once more, broken only by Jack's grunts and +exclamations as he struggled to get off his wet shoes. + +"Cora," called Jack, from the curtained cabin, where he was changing +into dry garments, "I didn't put an extra pair of shoes in your valise; +did I?" + +"I rather guess not," was the quick answer. + +"Then I haven't any," wailed Jack. "I'll have to borrow a pair of you +girls' slippers. The biggest I can get--don't all speak at once." + +There were some subdued giggles. + +"Did I hear Cora say hers would be too big for me?" asked Jack. + +"Oh, do get sensible!" commanded his sister. "There's a pair of worsted +bedroom slippers of mine you can take until your shoes get dry. You +can't stretch them any too much. Put your shoes near the muffler. +They'll dry there." + +"Yes, and get all out of shape," objected Jack. "I'll put them on the +forward flag staff and let the gentle breezes dry them. 'Tis Nature's +way." + +"You'll do nothing of the sort!" groaned Cora. "What would people say on +seeing a pair of shoes at the top of the staff? Please put them near the +muffler and they'll dry all right." + +This Jack did, the iron cylinder that received the burned gases from the +engine being quite hot, so that the wet garments and shoes bid fair to +dry speedily. Jack, meanwhile, donned a pair of his sister's slippers--a +pink one and a blue one, Cora not having been able to find mates. + +"I don't know what's in him to-day," Cora confided to Hazel. + +"He's awfully jolly, I think," said Paul's sister. + +"Jolly? You wouldn't think so if you had to live with him as long as I +have had to." + +"Is he always this way?" + +"No, thank goodness; it goes by streaks, like the lean and fat in a +piece of bacon." + +"The idea of comparing Jack to a piece of bacon!" commented Bess, who +overheard. + +"Well, he is that way," insisted Cora. + +"I hope my shoes get dry by the time we reach Riverhead," Jack confided +to Paul and Walter. "I have another pair in my trunk, but that may not +be there when we get to camp. And I do hate wet shoes to dance in." + +"Who said we were going to dance?" asked Walter. + +"I did," replied Jack. "There's a hotel not far from the camp, I hear, +and the season ought to be partly in swing now. Well, if you fellows +don't want to go I can borrow your shoes." + +"Who said we didn't want to go?" Paul cried. + +"Oh, well, don't bite me!" pleaded Jack, in falsetto accents. + +The little excitement caused by Jack's involuntary bath gradually +subsided. He made a final and fairly successful effort to rid his hands +of the grime caused by cleaning the carburetor, and then, attired in dry +garments, and with one pink and one blue slippered foot resting +"nonchalantly" (as he called it) on the rail, he watched the receding, +wooded shores of the Chelton. + +From somewhere in the distance a factory whistle blew. + +"One o'clock!" cried Jack. "Is dinner ready? I say, Cora, I have a +wonderful appetite!" + +"Never knew you when you didn't have," she replied. + +"Why, we just had lunch--just before Jack fell overboard!" ejaculated +Hazel. + +"That won't make a bit of difference to him--or them," said Belle, with a +resigned air. "We'll have to serve another meal I suppose." + +"A regular one this time, if you please," begged Walter. "Those olives, +anchovies and the caviar sandwiches only made me a bit keen." + +The girls were nothing loath to put out the food again, for, truth to +tell, the river air had given them, as well as the boys, an appetite. +They had brought plenty with them, for though they had requested Mr. +Floyd to have supper ready when they reached the bungalow (the first +meal in camp the boys were to share with the girls), still Cora had +feared they would arrive late, and had made arrangements accordingly. + +They had as much fun over the regular lunch as they had had over the +"temporary" one, as Walter and the boys designated the first meal, and +the afternoon waned pleasantly. + +"I hope we shall get to Riverhead before the storm," observed Cora, as +she came back to take her place at the wheel again, a post she had +abandoned while she helped the girls put away the dishes and what was +left of the food. + +"What storm?" asked Paul. + +Cora indicated a bank of sullen-looking clouds in the west. They were +sufficiently ominous to cause Cora to speed up the motor a bit, and to +request her brothers and his chums to see to the side curtains. + +"We ought to get in long before that breaks," Jack declared. + +But he did not count on the speedy approach of the storm, nor on the +fact that the boat ran into a shallow section of the river, where there +grew long grass which got entangled in the propeller. + +Though the _Corbelbes_ managed to force her way through this patch of +"seaweed" as Jack called it, when she emerged into free water again the +motor could hardly turn the screw. It was necessary to reverse the +engine, to unwind the grass, and even then some had to be pulled away +with the boat hook--no easy task. + +And then, when they were once more under full speed, the storm came down +with a rush and a roar, with blinding sheets of rain, with a wind that +caught the boat broadside, where the rubber curtains made a wide sail +area, and heeled her over at no small angle. + +With the rain came thunder and lightning, sufficiently fierce and loud +for a time to terrify at least Belle, who was the most nervous of the +girls. + +"I can hardly see to steer," said Cora, peering out of the rain-drenched +windows of the cabin. + +"Want me to take the wheel?" asked Jack. + +"No, thank you, I think not. We ought to be almost there now. But I +don't know about going over the mountain trail in this storm." + +"Maybe it will stop," suggested Belle. + +"It doesn't act so," commented Walter. + +The thunder had almost ceased, and the lightning was not so startling, +but the rain came down harder than ever. + +"I declare I can't see either bank of the river," Cora said. "I hope I +shan't run into anything." + +They kept on for perhaps an hour longer, the rain never ceasing. But +they were good and dry in the snug motor boat. + +"I think we'd better put ashore and find out where we are," suggested +Jack, after a bit. "We may have run past Riverhead, Cora." + +"Run past it! How could we, Jack? The river's almost too shallow for a +rowboat past Riverhead. We'd be aground." + +"Not necessarily. They've lately dredged a channel about a mile beyond, +to let boats bring ice down from the houses up above. You may be in the +channel," Walter said. + +"I don't believe--" began Cora, when suddenly the boat ran against an +obstruction. The occupants were almost thrown off their feet. A +grinding, scraping sound was heard and Cora threw out the gears. + +"Why--why!" she cried, as she looked out into the dark mist of the storm. +"We've run ashore!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX--TIED UP + + +Silence followed Cora's startling announcement--that is comparative +silence, for the rain, hissing into the river, and pelting on the deck +and cabin roof, made quite a noise. + +"What's that you say?" demanded Walter, arising from a stern locker +where he had been talking more or less nonsense to Hazel. + +"Run ashore?" echoed Jack. + +"At least I suppose it's the shore," said Cora, who had stopped the +engine, the controls being near the wheel. "There aren't any islands in +this part of the river; are there?" + +"Not one," said Jack. "It is the shore," he confirmed after a look +through the cabin window. + +"Any damage done, Sis?" + +"Not to the shore, at any rate. We didn't hit very hard. I saw something +looming up through the mist and slowed down." + +"We must be up to Riverhead all right," remarked Bess. "Though I haven't +noticed anything like a town." + +"You couldn't notice much of anything in this rain," Cora said. "We're +not aground, at all events," for they could feel the boat moving down +stream under the influence of the current. + +"Switch on the searchlight and see if we can discover where we are," +suggested Belle. + +"Good idea," commented Captain Cora. A push of a button and the small +but powerful searchlight, mounted amidships on the cabin roof, gleamed +out. It was operated by a storage battery, which, in turn, was charged +by a small dynamo connected to the engine fly wheel. And by means of a +worm gear, operated by a wheel near the steering apparatus, the light +could be deflected in any direction. + +Cora trained it on the bank. Looking through the rain-covered windows of +the cabin the girls, and their boy guests, saw a water-soaked bank, +covered with bushes and rushes. It was dusk now. + +"That doesn't look like Riverhead," commented Jack. + +"More like river-end," said Paul. "Where in the world are we?" + +"Don't ask me!" exclaimed Cora, a trifle nervously. "I'm sure I did the +best I could in the mist." + +"Of course you did, Sis," said her brother soothingly. "It isn't any +one's fault. We're all right. The boat doesn't seem to be damaged by +trying to poke her pretty nose into the bank, and if we can't go on to +Camp Surprise in the darkness and rain we can go to some hotel and stay. +There's one in Riverhead." + +Just then, into the radiance of the searchlight stepped a man clad in +yellow oilskins, rubber boots and with a sou'wester on his head. + +"I'll ask him," said Jack. "He'll tell us where we are." + +The individual--evidently a fisherman, as indicated by his unjointed pole +and a basket--stopped in some surprise as he saw the big motor boat so +close to shore, with lights gleaming and the powerful beams of the one +on the cabin roof setting him out in bold relief in its glare. + +"How far to Riverhead, if you please?" called Jack, sliding back one of +the cabin windows. + +"Riverhead?" cried the man, and surprise was plain in his voice. "Why, +Riverhead's over on the Chelton side, about ten miles from here." + +"On the Chelton side!" repeated Jack. "Isn't this the Chelton?" + +"No. This is Batter Creek," the man explained. "The Chelton river +branches off to the right, six miles down. You must have taken the left +turn where Batter Creek runs into it. First you know you'll be up in the +swamp." + +"Good-_night_!" cried Jack, with a tragic gesture. + +"On Batter Creek!" echoed Walter. + +"Ten miles from Riverhead!" was Cora's gasping remark. + +"No wonder the poor boat ran ashore," commented Bess. "She'd rather do +that than get lost in a swamp." + +"So this is Batter Creek," went on Jack. "I see how it happened. You +steered over to the left at the junction, Cora, instead of following the +right shore--I mean the right hand shore." + +"I suppose I must have," Cora admitted. "But I couldn't see in all that +storm." + +"Of course not," said Hazel, slipping her arm around Cora's waist. "It +wasn't your fault." + +"Certainly not," added Walter and Paul in a duet. + +"Jack, please shut the window," begged Belle. "That is, if you have +finished talking to that man. The damp wind will----" + +"Take all the frizz out of your hair--I know!" Jack cut in. "All right. +Much obliged to you, sir," he continued. + +"Don't mention it," replied the man of the yellow oilskins. "Quite a +drizzle; isn't it?" + +"Regular Scotch mist!" chuckled Walter, in exaggerated Highland accents. + +"I suppose we can get to Riverhead by turning around, following the left +shore here until we come to the place where Batter Creek runs into the +Chelton, and then go up the river?" suggested Jack, as he slowly slid +the window shut. + +"That's right," returned the fisherman. "But don't go up this creek any +further, or you'll run aground in a swamp." + +"Thanks," called Jack. "Oh, I say, are you going or coming?" + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean have you been fishing, or are you just going?" + +"Just going. They always bite pretty well for me in a rain." + +"Oh. I thought maybe if you had any we'd buy 'em." + +"Sorry, but I haven't anything but shiners for bait. I'm going down to +the deep water." + +"What in the world did you want to buy fish for, Jack?" asked his sister +as he closed the window, and the yellow figure splashed away. + +"To eat," was his answer. "We've got to have supper; haven't we?" + +"But can't we go on to Riverhead, and then to the bungalow?" asked Bess. + +"Hardly," declared Jack. "It isn't so late, of course. But this rain is +going to keep up, if I'm any judge, and though we might manage to reach +Riverhead, we certainly couldn't undertake a ride over the mountain +trail in an open buckboard in this downpour." + +"But what are we going to do?" cried Hazel, opening her eyes wide. She +seemed in much distress. + +"Do? Why, stay right here, my dear," said Jack. "That is, if you will +allow that poetic license--because 'dear' rhymes with 'here.'" + +"Oh," murmured Hazel, blushing. "Stay here?" + +"We have remained on board over night," Cora remarked. "But we'll be a +bit crowded," and she glanced appraisingly at Jack and his chums. + +"Don't worry about us, Sis," he hastened to assure her. "We can bunk +anywhere, or sit up. I don't feel sleepy anyhow." + +"But we've got to eat," said Walter. "Too bad that chap didn't have any +fish. We could have fried them on the gasoline stove." The _Corbelbes_ +was fitted up with a little galley, the girls often having stayed on +board for days at a time. + +"Maybe we can catch some ourselves," suggested Paul. + +"No outfit or bait," remarked Jack. + +"A bent pin and a piece of string?" suggested Paul, but not with any +degree of enthusiasm. + +"Well, we've got to do something," Cora declared. She had again set the +engine in motion, but it was running only fast enough to overcome the +sluggish current in the creek. + +"Stay here," urged Jack. "We know where we are now, but if we go down +stream in the darkness we may fetch up at a place we don't know." + +"You mean tie up here?" asked his sister. + +"Sure. Cast the anchor, set the riding lights, make everything snug +below and aloft, my captainess, and turn in. Set an anchor watch, heave +the lead, and 'ware the lee shore and breakers ahead! Yo ho! My +hearties! The stormy winds do blow, do blow, do blow!" and Jack began +howling an old sea-song at the top of his voice. + +"Jack, be quiet!" insisted Cora. "You'll arouse the neighborhood." + +"There aren't any neighbors here," he laughed. "The only one there was +has gone fishing, and he doesn't mind! Yo, he ho!" + +"I guess to tie up is the best thing to do," said Paul, and there was +something in his manner that caused Cora to say: + +"All right, Jack. Drop the anchor, and we'll stay here for the night." + +"And then see about something to eat," suggested Walter. + +Jack made a dash outside, shoved over the anchor, took a turn of the +cable about a deck cleat and came back into the cabin. The _Corbelbes_ +was tied up for the night. + + + + +CHAPTER X--A NIGHT RIDE + + +"Well, now that we're here----" + +"Because we're here," Walter interrupted Cora, in the words of the +foolish song. "Excuse me," he added, as he caught her look, "I didn't +mean anything special." + +"Now that we're here," Cora resumed, "hadn't we better----" + +"See to the eats," broke in Paul. "No offense, loidy!" he hastened to +add, imitating a tramp, "but wees would loik a bit of a bite----" + +"Speaking of bites," laughed Jack, "some fish wouldn't go half bad." + +"Will you be quiet!" commanded Cora. "I want to say something!" + +"Say on!" urged Jack. "Now that we are here, as snug as a rug in a +bug----" + +Cora reached for something, she was not just sure what, and Jack, +knowing that his sister had a straighter aim than have most girls, +cried: + +"Don't shoot, Davy Crockett, I'll come down." + +"You'd better," Cora said, laughing in spite of herself. "Now that we +are here----" + +"She said that before," whispered Jack, but his sister took no notice, +going on with: + +"We must see about something to eat. We have enough for supper, but +breakfast will be another matter. I'd like to get some bacon and eggs. +That, with coffee, will make a good morning meal." + +"And what, if I may be so bold as to ask," came from Bess, "is to be the +menu for this evening." + +"We'll have a look," suggested Cora. Attached to the small galley, in +which was a gasoline stove, was a sort of cupboard. An inspection of +this did not reveal as much as Cora had hoped for. + +"There isn't a great deal left; is there?" she said. + +"I should say not!" cried Jack, peering over his sister's shoulder. +"Fellows, we've got to rustle for the grub! Don't all speak at once. +Listen to that!" and he signaled for silence, which, when it came, +enabled them all to hear the swish and patter of the raindrops on the +roof. + +"I'll go," offered Walter. "I'm hungrier than any of you, I guess, and I +have a pair of rubbers in my valise." + +"Regular fireman you are," commented Jack. "Why didn't you bring rubber +boots?" + +"And I see Cora has an umbrella," Walter went on, ignoring Jack's +sarcasm. "I'll go out in the rain, and----" + +"Give a correct imitation of a duck doing its Christmas shopping!" gibed +Jack. "Wally, you're all right!" + +"If you had some of his public spirit we'd all be better off," said +Cora. + +"Oh, don't um be mad at um's 'ittle bruver!" mocked Jack. + +"Oh, quit it!" begged his sister. + +"Where can you get anything to eat around here?" asked Paul. + +"I don't know, but I can forage for it. The presence of that fisherman +clearly proves that this is an inhabited land, and where there are +inhabitants there must be food. I may find a country store, or, if I +can't find that, I'll find a house, describe our plight in such moving +words as I am able to command, and buy what they'll sell." + +"I'd like a cup of tea," murmured Belle. "My nerves----" + +"Are nothing to what they'll be when the ghosts of Camp Surprise begin +to make the stairs stand on their head," broke in Jack. + +"We have tea," Cora said. "I'll put the kettle on at once. It seems a +pity to have you go out in this storm, though, Walter." + +"I don't mind a bit. I'm glad to do it." + +"He'll say anything as long as there are ladies present," declared Jack. +"But wait until you're gone. He'll say you drove him to it." + +Walter paid no attention to his tormenting chum, but began talking to +Cora as to what best he had better try to get in the way of food, +provided he could find a store or a house where some might be obtained. + +And then, having donned his rubbers, and taking Cora's umbrella, Walter +set off on his quest. It was still raining hard, but the thunder and +lightning had ceased some time since. + +While he was gone the others began their preparations for spending the +night on board. The girls would occupy the main cabin, where there were +four berths. The after part of the boat had been enclosed in heavy +curtains when the rain set in, and here the boys could sleep on the +locker cushions spread on the floor. They had done it on one or two +other occasions. + +There were a few blankets, besides those for the bunks, but the boys +said they would not need many coverings, as the night was warm. + +Cora put the kettle on the gasoline stove, and as soon as it boiled, tea +was made. There was condensed milk in the larder, and sugar for those +who wished it, though Bess bewailed the lack of lemon, for she wanted to +"reduce" she said, and some one had told her lemon juice in tea was +helpful. + +Cora was setting out what remained of the sandwiches and cake, and Jack +was eyeing, rather dubiously, the apology for a meal, when they heard a +hail: + +"_Corbelbes_ ahoy!" + +"That's Walter!" declared Paul. + +"And may he come well-laden!" ejaculated Jack. + +"You poor boy!" exclaimed Cora, sympathetically, as Walter came dripping +into the after cabin. "Are you soaked?" + +"Not quite so bad as that," he answered, laying down some +brown-paper-wrapped bundles. + +"Never mind how _he_ is, what about the eats?" asked Jack. + +"You are heartless," said Hazel, and then she wished she had not spoken, +for Jack flashed a look at her, and whispered: + +"Can you blame me for being heart-_less_ where _you_ are?" + +"Oh, oh!" she murmured. + +"Found a store about half a mile down the--well, I wouldn't call it a +road," and Walter looked at his mud-splashed feet. "Say, rather, down +the swamp. Found a store there, and I got a few things." + +"I should say you did!" exclaimed Bess, who, with Belle, had opened the +packages. "This will be fine," for Walter had purchased jellies, jams, +some tinned meat, bacon, eggs and enough canned food, together with some +rather doubtful oranges, to make a substantial meal. + +"That looks good to me!" declared Jack, while Walter divested himself of +his rubbers, and put the umbrella where it would not flood the cabin. + +"Oh, and even olives!" gasped Hazel. + +"Olives for Olivia," crooned Walter. "Say, Jack, s'pose those overalls +you went bathing in would be dry enough for me?" + +"Sure! Try 'em on. You'll look sweet in 'em." + +"I don't care whether I look sweet as long as I feel dry," retorted +Walter. + +And while the girls prepared the supper, he changed to the garments Jack +had used, they having dried sufficiently. + +With the hot tea, and with what Walter had foraged for, a really good +meal was made. The young people were hungry, and their appetites made up +for any lack in the nicety of the food. + +"It was a regular country store," Walter explained, "but they had some +good things." + +"And now we have 'em," murmured Jack, tipping back on his stool +contentedly. + +It was still early, for the storm had brought darkness ahead of time, +and, unwilling to retire so soon with no very good prospects of +sleeping, the boys and girls sat up and talked. + +"I wonder what Mr. and Mrs. Floyd will think, when we fail to arrive on +time," remarked Cora. "I hope they don't send telegrams home, telling +the folks we have turned up missing." + +"I don't believe they will," argued Jack. "They'll know the storm +delayed us. And in the morning we can send telegrams ourselves, +notifying our folks that we're all right, any reports to the contrary +notwithstanding." + +The girls passed a fairly comfortable, and the boys a rather +uncomfortable night, but it could not, as Jack said, last forever, and a +bright morning sun made them all forget the discomforts. + +Hot coffee, bacon and eggs, that were fresher, Cora said, than the +high-priced ones at home, made them all look at the day's prospect with +genial spirits. + +"And now we'll make another attempt to get to Camp Surprise," said Cora, +as the anchor was hauled up and the engine set in motion. + +"I'm surprised that we didn't get there before," Jack said. + +"Oh, what a miserable pun!" groaned Walter. + +Good time was made to the junction where Batter Creek flowed into the +Chelton river. It was not much of a junction and the creek was so +unimportant a stream that Cora and her friends had never thought of +going up it. + +"But this time we did it in spite of ourselves," said Bess. + +"It was only because of the mist and darkness that I made the wrong +turn," declared Cora. + +They stopped long enough to send reassuring telegrams home, and also one +to Mr. and Mrs. Floyd, explaining the delay. + +Again they were on their way up the Chelton river, and for a time all +seemed to go well. But four miles from their destination, engine trouble +developed, and when the cause of it was discovered, it proved to be a +break that needed the attention of a machinist. + +"We could leave the boat here and go on," Cora said, "but we have made +arrangements to have it taken care of at Riverhead, and the man I have +engaged won't know what to think if we don't come." + +"Oh, let's wait here until it's fixed," suggested Belle. "We want to +arrive in style. It won't take long, and to go on we'd have either to +hire another boat or go by wagon." + +"All right," Cora agreed. + +The repairs took longer than they anticipated, and it was not until late +afternoon that they were able to go on. This time they arrived safely at +Riverhead, shortly before dusk, which was the time they should have been +there the previous evening. + +The man who was to dock the _Corbelbes_ was on hand and took charge of +the craft. He also directed the party to the big waiting buckboard, in +charge of a driver, that had been sent by Mr. Floyd to meet the girls +and boys. + +"You're a little late," said the man. "Not that I mind, but we'll have +to make a night drive of it." + +"We don't care," Cora said, "as long as the roads are safe." + +"Oh, they're safe enough." + +"What about supper?" asked Jack. + +"Mrs. Floyd said she'd have it ready for you," the driver stated. + +"I've got some sandwiches and a box of candy," observed Bess. + +"Then we won't starve," said Jack. + +"May blessing be upon thy head!" intoned Walter. + +The driver looked at them in a queer sort of way, as though he did not +know altogether how to take them, and he was heard to murmur something +about "queer city folks." + +The valises and other belongings they had brought along on the motor +boat were put in the big wagon, the driver climbed to his seat, and, +with the shadows of night falling, they set off up the mountain for Camp +Surprise. + +"Some buckboard this!" remarked Jack, as he surveyed the vehicle. + +"It sure is," responded Walter. "The largest buckboard I ever saw." + + + + +CHAPTER XI--IN CAMP SURPRISE + + +"Isn't it dark!" voiced Belle, nestling against her sister. + +"Well, we don't have many electric lights up here," chuckled the driver +of the buckboard. + +"How do you see the road?" asked Cora, the wagon lurching along over the +rocky way, though riding much easier than an ordinary vehicle would have +done, for buckboards are made for just this purpose. + +"I don't try to see it," the driver said. "I let the horses pick their +way. They're like cats, I reckon--can see in the dark." + +"What sort of place is this Camp Surprise?" asked Jack, giving Walter, +next to whom he sat, a nudge as a signal to play second to his game of +questioning. "We'll get some inside information about this business," +Jack said in an aside to his chum. + +"Camp Surprise?" repeated the driver. "Well, it's a mighty nice place, +as far as scenery goes--for them as likes scenery," he hastened to add. +"I don't care much for it myself. There's a waterfall, and a little +lake, though I don't reckon you could get your boat up to it," and he +chuckled. "Yes, folks what come up here always like this neighborhood, +and Camp Surprise is one of the best outfits around here. You boys are +going to take the small bungalow, I hear." + +"Yes," assented Jack. "If we get there alive!" he said quickly, for the +wagon gave such a lurch that Jack, who was on his feet to assume a more +comfortable position, nearly slid out. + +"Oh, this isn't anything," the driver said. "That stone must 'a' been +put there since I come down this afternoon," and he chuckled again. +"We'll get there alive all right." + +"But what I meant was," went on Jack; "what sort of place is our camp? +It has a queer name, you see, and they say--at least we've heard--that +queer things go on there. What are they?" + +The driver was silent a moment, and then he answered: + +"Well, I don't take much stock in them stories myself. I never see +anything out of the way happen." + +"Oh, don't spoil all the romance that way!" begged Cora. "Aren't there +any ghosts?" + +"Ghosts! Huh!" the man fairly snorted. "I never see any." + +"But about things being taken?" ventured Bess. + +"And the furniture being moved?" asked Belle. + +"Humph!" and the driver seemed out of patience. "Things will be taken +from almost any camp or bungalow if you don't watch 'em. Thieves up here +aren't any more virtuous than in the city." + +"And didn't you hear anything about chairs and tables being moved +about?" asked Cora. + +The driver fidgeted in his seat. + +"G'lang there!" he called to his horses. + +"Didn't you?" persisted Jack's sister. + +"Oh, yes, there was some such story," the driver finally admitted, +slowly. "But I reckon it was just boys skylarking. That was all. Boys +will go into any place they can get in you know, and I reckon when they +found the bungalow of Camp Surprise without any one in it they just +naturally went in and cut up." + +"If they try anything like that when we're around, there'll be trouble!" +threatened Jack. + +Cora sighed. + +"All the poetry seems to be going out of it," she said. "I hoped we +would have at least one visitation from the spirits." + +"You may yet," Walter whispered in her ear. "In my private opinion this +driver person is concealing something from us." + +"Do you think so?" asked Cora, hopefully. + +"Yes. He's afraid we won't stay if he tells all the horrible details of +the story." + +"What object would it be to him to have us stay?" + +"Why, he may get a percentage on our board. Or perhaps he has the only +mountain-cruising buckboard in these parts, and he doesn't want to lose +trade. Have done with thy queries, Friend Jack," he went on. "We'll +scare up a ghost or two for the young ladies ourselves, if this sordid +and heartless driver person refuses." + +Jack left off with his questions about Camp Surprise, and the +conversation became general. The driver, who volunteered the information +that his name was Jim Dobson, said there was good fishing in the pool of +water at the foot of the cataract. + +"All you have to do is to throw in your baited hook," he told the boys, +"and haul out as many fish as you want for breakfast, dinner or supper." + +"That sounds good!" commented Jack. "I'm glad I brought my pole." + +"Same here," echoed Paul, who, when he had time, was an ardent +fisherman. + +Up and up, and on and on they went over the rough mountain trail, for +they had to ascend to a height of about fifteen hundred feet to reach +the reservation owned by a company which had divided it into camps and +bungalows. + +"My, but it is dark!" said Cora, after a period of silence. + +A lantern was slung under the buckboard, and cast gleams of light on the +ground, but the darkness seemed only blacker by contrast. The horses, +however, did not seem to find any difficulties in making their way. They +never stumbled, though the boys and girls tried in vain to distinguish +anything like a road ahead of them. The wagon was going along in a lane +of trees, which in most places met in an arch overhead, thus cutting off +what little light might have come from the stars. + +Occasionally there would be a break in this leafy arch, and then +glimpses could be had of the star-studded sky above. It was a +beautifully clear evening, and warm enough to be comfortable. + +Now and then Jim Dobson spoke without being asked a question, but he was +not unduly talkative. He seemed to enjoy the chatter of the young folks, +chuckling now and then at some of their remarks. + +As for Cora and the others they talked about everything imaginable, as +you may well imagine, from the latest dance steps to what they would do +now that they were really starting their summer vacation. + +"Is there any golf up here?" asked Bess, who had taken up the sport to +"reduce." + +"Well, not enough to hurt," the driver said. "Once in a while I hear of +a case, but it ain't nothing like as bad as hay fever, and there's none +of that here." + +"Mercy!" whispered Bess to Cora. "I guess he thinks golf is a disease!" + +"Well, don't say anything. He's real nice." + +"I won't. But I guess I'd better ask only plain questions after this." + +"I guess so," Cora agreed. + +"Come on there, boys, not that way!" the driver suddenly called, as he +pulled his team to the right. "They want to take the road home," he +explained. "There's a turn here." + +"How you know it I can't tell," said Jack. "It's all as dark as a +pocket." + +"Oh, I'm used to it and so are the horses. We're on a private road now, +leading to Camp Surprise. Be there in half an hour." + +"Are you sure this is the right road?" asked Cora. "We don't want to be +lost again," and she mentioned their going up the creek instead of the +river. + +"Oh, sure, this is the right road," the driver assured them. + +There was silence for a little while, and suddenly Belle grasped Cora's +arm, and whispered: + +"What's that?" + +"Where?" inquired Cora, for Belle's voice was startling. + +"Over to the left--in the woods. Don't you see something white?" + +Cora looked where Belle directed. At the moment the others were deep in +a discussion about something of comparative unimportance. + +"There!" whispered Belle, tensely, and she gripped Cora's arm hard. + +"Yes--yes. I see it!" + +"It--it looks like a--a ghost!" + +They both saw something white that seemed to float, rather than move +among the trees, and Cora was about to call it to the attention of the +others when it disappeared. + +"Don't say anything about it," she quickly whispered to Belle. "Of +course it wasn't a ghost. It may have been a wisp of fog, or some one +going through the woods. Then there's that--oh, what do they call that +light which comes from rotting wood?" + +"You mean _ignis fatuus_?" asked Belle. + +"Yes; that's it. Will-o'-the-wisp some folks term it. It comes from +phosphorus. It may have been that." + +They went on a little farther, and suddenly a light shone through the +woods, while a dull rumble and roar, increasing in intensity, came to +the ears of all. + +"What's that?" asked Jack. + +"Camp Surprise," announced the driver. "That's the waterfall you hear. +Here we be!" he called in louder tones, as an approaching lantern +flashed through the dark forest. + + + + +CHAPTER XII--DISAPPOINTMENT + + +"Well, well! Glad to see you!" called a small, grizzled, but +cheerful-faced man, as he came out to the buckboard. "Got here all right +did you?" + +"This is Mr. Floyd," explained the driver. + +"Yes, we're here," said Cora. "Sorry to be so late, but we had engine +trouble and----" + +"Don't make no manner of difference at all. We're used to seeing people +come early and late. I'll help set your things inside. Here comes Mrs. +Floyd." + +"Is that them?" asked a woman's voice. "The Kimball party?" + +"They're here," her husband answered while the boys helped the girls +down from the wagon, and the driver and Mr. Floyd looked after the +baggage. + +"Glad to see you all!" went on Mrs. Floyd, who was the same genial sort +of personage as her husband. "I was afraid you'd give us another +disappointment, and not get here." + +"Oh, we're here," affirmed Cora, "and we're sorry to give you so much +trouble by being late." + +"No trouble at all!" the chaperon assured them. "Come right in. Supper +is all ready and----" + +"Whoop!" + +"Supper is my middle name!" + +"Lead us to it!" + +Thus in turn cried Jack, Walter and Paul. + +Mrs. Floyd looked a bit startled as she stood revealed in the light of a +lamp, the illumination streaming out of the door of a big bungalow. + +"It's only the boys," explained Cora. + +"Only!" accented Bess with a resigned expression. + +"Jack!" chided Cora. "Why don't you behave? Hazel, say something to your +brother, you and I have more responsibility than the twins." + +Hazel did not know what to say, and the girls could not help laughing, +in spite of themselves at the antics of Jack and his two chums. + +"Welcome to Camp Surprise," said Mrs. Floyd as the girls followed her +into the house, or rather, bungalow, for it was of that style of +architecture, and was but a story and a half high. The boys followed the +girls, Mr. Floyd and the driver bringing up the rear with the valises. + +"Do we eat with the family, or at second table?" Jack demanded. + +"You shan't eat with us if you don't behave," his sister threatened him. +"Do quiet down, boys. Mrs. Floyd may not like----" + +"Oh, don't worry about _me_, Miss Kimball," the chaperon hastened to +say. "I've raised a family, and I know what _boys_ are." + +"If she doesn't she'll find out before those three leave," observed +Belle. + +The buckboard rattled off in the darkness and the young people were thus +thrown on their own responsibilities as far as getting away from the +place was concerned, for it was near no railroad. + +"Isn't he afraid to go home alone?" asked Belle. + +"Who?" inquired Mr. Floyd. + +"That driver; Mr. Dobson I think he said his name was." + +"Afraid? Him? I guess not!" exclaimed the caretaker. "What's there to be +afraid of?" + +"The dark woods," said Belle. "Cora and I thought----" + +"Belle, dear, don't you think we'd better see to our baggage?" +interrupted Cora with a sharp glance at her chum. She raised her +eyebrows meaningly. + +"Oh, yes, I suppose we had. Of course he, being a big man, wouldn't have +anything to be afraid of," she concluded, nodding in the direction of +Mr. Dobson. + +"But there's nothing here to be afraid of," insisted Mr. Floyd. +"Leastways, nothing you can put your hand on, though----" + +"Harry," said Mrs. Floyd, and it seemed as though there was a caution in +her voice, "I think I'll have to ask you to bring in some more wood. I +want a hot fire to finish supper." + +"All right," he answered, and went out. + +"Now if you young ladies want to freshen up you'll have time before I +get the meal on the table," went on the chaperon. "The boys can go with +my husband and they'll be shown where they are to stay. Their bungalow +is just across on the other side of the mountain stream. I don't know +just what arrangements you made about the meals for the young men, Miss +Kimball----" + +"Oh, they're to shift for themselves," said Jack's sister. "They are so +uncertain, going and coming, that no earthly mortal could tell when to +feed them. They were to have supper with us to-night, and perhaps +breakfast in the morning, my mother said. But after that they'll look +after things themselves. They'd rather, anyhow." + +"Sure," assented Jack, while the others nodded assent. "We can't be +positive when we'll be on hand." + +The boys followed Mr. Floyd, while Cora and her chums looked about the +bungalow before going to their rooms, where their trunks had been +carried, having arrived safely the day before. + +The main floor of the bungalow consisted of one big living room, with +three smaller rooms opening off from it. These could be used as sitting +rooms or bed rooms, folding bunks making beds at night. The living room, +as also an alcove dining room, was simply but tastefully furnished, with +rustic furniture. At one end was a big stone fireplace, though it was so +warm now that no blaze was needed. + +A broad stairway gave access to the upper story and here the bedrooms +were. Though the rooms there were not high-ceilinged they had such large +windows that plenty of air was assured. There were two bath rooms, a +spring up in the hills filling a tank on the roof so that a supply of +running water was to be had. + +The bedrooms each contained a white iron bed and just enough furniture +to make a simple life agreeable. There was a touch of daintiness, +mingled with utility, and the girls were delighted with their +apartments. + +Soap and water, with a mere suggestion of talcum powder, wonderfully +refreshed the four, and they were ready for the appetizing meal, odors +of which were wafted up from the kitchen. + +This was in a separate part of the bungalow, and the quarters of the +caretaker and his wife were in a building connecting with the bungalow +by a covered passageway. + +"There come the boys back!" exclaimed Hazel, giving a hasty glance in a +mirror, as she floated out of Cora's room, having come in to borrow some +hairpins. + +"Yes, you can hear them before you see them," agreed Jack's sister. "I +hope Mrs. Floyd has enough for them to eat." + +"And for us, too. I'm hungry, Cora. But she looked like a good cook." + +"Mother said she was. Well, are you ready to go down?" she called to +Bess and Belle. + +"Whenever you are," answered the plump twin. + +They found the boys waiting for them in the dining room, which opened +off the living room at the rear, and a supper which met the most +exacting requirements of Jack and his chums was soon on the table. + +"How do you like your quarters?" asked Cora of her brother. + +"Couldn't be better. Not that we'll be in them much, though. We'll be +over here or out-of-doors most of the time." + +"You can't live here," Cora warned him. + +"Oh, you'll be glad enough to have us when the ghost begins to walk," +prophesied Walter. + +"Has anything really strange happened here, Mrs. Floyd?" asked Cora, +determined to get at the bottom of the matter. + +"Well, I suppose you must have heard the stories about Camp Surprise," +answered the chaperon. "It would be strange if you had not. And I must +admit that there have been little happenings here that I can't explain." + +"Such as----," hinted Bess. + +"Oh, disturbances in the bungalow when we weren't here. Misplaced +furniture, and once some silver was taken. But that might be the work of +tramps. I don't set much store by that. However, don't let it worry you. +I don't believe anything will happen while you're here." + +"I hope it does," Jack said. "We're going to lay the ghost." + +Talk went on during the meal and toward the close Jack said: + +"This sure is a fine place! You ought to see the waterfall." + +"Is it nice?" asked Cora. They could hear the roar of it as they sat at +table. + +"It's great! I'm going to take some pictures of it," said Walter. "And +the way to our bungalow is over a bridge just made for lovers to stand +on and look down into the water." + +"As long as they don't _fall_ down into the water they'll be all right," +commented Paul. "But it sure is nice. Our shack is just across the +stream." + +"We'll be all ready to respond to the first alarm, girls," promised +Walter, as the boys left the main bungalow later in the evening to +repair to their own. "If the tables begin dancing, or the chairs do a +jig, call us." + +"It's a little far to shout," said Cora. "We'll have to put up some sort +of telephone from one bungalow to the other." + +It must be admitted that the girls were a little nervous when they went +to bed that night. Tales of queer happenings, not easily explicable, are +apt to get on the nerves of the best of us. But the young people were +tired from their journey and lack of restful sleep the night before, so +they had hopes of a good rest. + +Cora was awakened by a shout under her window. + +"I say! Sis! Cora! Stick out your head!" cried Jack. + +Slipping on a robe Cora went to the casement. + +"Go on away, Jack!" she ordered. "Let the girls sleep." + +"Sleep? Why, it's nine o'clock," he said. "Say, did the ghost walk?" + +Cora yawned. + +"Not even a creep," she said. "I didn't hear a sound." + +"Well, if that isn't poor luck!" exclaimed Jack in disappointed tones. +"There we go and stay awake half the night, expecting a summons to +capture a spirit, and nothing happens. Camp Surprise! Where's the +surprise come in, I wonder." + +But there was plenty of time, as Jack soon learned. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII--THAT NOISE + + +One after another the girls drifted lazily downstairs to the dainty +breakfast Mrs. Floyd had prepared for them. + +"I just couldn't bear to get up," confessed Bess, "though I knew it was +a perfectly glorious day outside." + +"It is wonderful," declared Cora. + +"How do you know? Have you been out?" asked Hazel, with a questioning +look at Cora's negligee. + +"Peeped from the window--Jack called to me," explained his sister. + +"I was _so_ tired," said Belle. "I thought I never would get enough +sleep. I wouldn't have gotten up if a ghost had called me." + +"Jack was a bit disappointed that we didn't call on them for help," +remarked Cora, and she detailed her brother's morning salutation. + +"I think it's all perfect nonsense," declared Belle. "Of course I don't +mean you, Cora," she said, "for you only told us what you heard. But I +don't believe a thing will happen." + +"I hope nothing unpleasant does," remarked Bess, tucking back a +rebellious lock of her pretty hair, and glancing at her pink nails which +she kept, as Jack taunted her, "in a state of faultless repair." + +"Did you sleep well?" asked Mrs. Floyd, coming in with more coffee. + +"Fine," answered Cora. "And please don't think we are going to impose on +you in this way every morning. We came up to help with the work, and +we're going to do it. But this morning----" + +"I know, my dear. You girls don't exactly need any beauty sleep," and +she beamed at the four pretty faces that smiled back at her, "but you +must have been tired after your trip. I don't in the least mind." + +"You'll find us quite energetic after this," predicted Belle. "That is +all but my sister, and you see she is----" + +"Belle Robinson! If you talk about me that way I'll--I'll---- Oh! why do +you all poke fun at me?" and Bess seemed quite distressed. + +"I won't any more," promised Belle. "She is trying to 'reduce'" she +added to Mrs. Floyd, "so let her do all the work she wants to. We shan't +stop her." + +"What's the program to-day?" asked Hazel, as the girls finished their +coffee. "It is perfectly glorious outside. From my window I can see part +of the fall. It's beautiful. I could sit and look at it forever." + +"And not want anybody to share the view?" asked Cora, pinching her +blushing cheek. + +"The witness refuses to answer," mocked Belle. "But we mustn't dawdle +here all day. Let's go and get dressed, and by then----" + +There came a knock at the door. + +"May we come in?" asked Walter. + +"We--want--our--breakfast!" bawled Jack and Paul. + +"Mercy no! Don't let them in!" cried Bess, beating a precipitate +retreat. + +"We--are--coming!" chanted Walter. + +"Stay out a minute," ordered Cora. "Don't be afraid, the door's locked," +she added to her companions. "We've just finished," she went on in +louder tones. "Hurry with your breakfasts, and then prepare to give us a +good time." + +"Your majesty's wishes shall be obeyed," declared Paul, and as the girls +went upstairs to put on more conventional garments, the boys hurried in, +bubbling over with good spirits, greeting Mrs. Floyd effusively, and +preparing to devour everything in sight, which not very remarkable feat +(for them) they nearly accomplished. + +"Did that waterfall bother you?" asked Jack, of his chums. + +"Kept me awake a little," admitted Walter. "Sounded a bit like the surf +at first, and I dreamed I was down at Crystal Bay again." + +"We sure had a swell time down there," said Jack. + +"I like the mountains better," confessed Paul. "This place suits me." + +"It will be all right," Jack said. "Now then, let's see what's doing." + +"Fishing for mine," declared Walter. "That pool below the fall looks +good to me." + +The others also voted to try their luck as disciples of Izaak Walton, +and presently, with rods and lines, having dug some worms where Mr. +Floyd showed them a place, they were patiently waiting on the bank of +the stream that flowed away from the waterfall. + +Camp Surprise was situated amid one of the wildest and most desolate +parts of the mountains west of Chelton. It was remarkable, in a way, +that such a lonesome place could be found so close to such a number of +large and thriving towns and villages. But it was this wildness and +isolation that gave it the peculiar charm, and which had led the land +company to establish a number of camps and bungalows in the vicinity. + +So rugged and diversified was the scenery, that, with the exception of +the two bungalows occupied respectively by the boys and girls, no other +two buildings were in sight of each other. Though not far removed from +one another the dwelling places were off by themselves, giving a +seclusion so often demanded by those who go to summer resorts. + +At present, as the season had hardly opened, there were no other +visitors at Camp Surprise, though many were expected later in July and +August. Camp Surprise was not the real name of the place, which was +called by the development company, Mountain View. But Camp Surprise had +been applied because of the queer happenings, as has been intimated, +though so far our friends had seen no occasion for such appellation. + +The waterfall and the stream which flowed from it divided practically in +half the area of land owned by the Mountain View Company. Having its +origin some miles back in the mountains, the stream was augmented by +brooks, creeks and other streams until, on reaching Camp Surprise, it +had become almost a river. + +Flowing along peacefully, through green meadows, or down the slope of +some rocky hill, the river came suddenly to a great cleft in the hills, +and down this it plunged in a most beautiful fall, from a height of +about fifty feet, and perhaps a hundred feet in breadth. + +At the foot of the fall was a deep pool, worn in the limestone rocks by +the erosion of the falling water, and there the white foam boiled and +bubbled in a miniature whirlpool and rapids until the stream slipped +farther on down the side of the mountain, in a series of little +cascades, in which were, so it was said, many fishes. + +The boys had selected as their spot a quiet one, where a sort of eddy, +or back-water, made a quiet pool that looked, as Jack said, "like a +regular bachelor apartment for fish." + +"Keep still! Don't move!" called Belle, as she and her chums, now with +all their "war paint on," as Walter hinted, approached the three young +men. + +"What is it--the ghost or the furniture mover?" asked Walter. + +"I just want to get a picture," Belle explained, snapping her camera. +"You look so respectable to what you do ordinarily." + +"Just for that you shan't hold my hand!" declared Paul. + +"Don't come any nearer," warned Walter. "I think I have a bite. Yes! +He's on!" he cried as the tip of his pole bent, and a moment later he +hauled out a flashing beauty. + +"Oh, I want to catch one!" cried Cora, who was as ardent a lover of +outdoor sports as any of her boy friends. + +"You may take my pole," offered Paul, as Walter unhooked his fish. + +"Oh, no, I don't want to deprive you," Cora objected. + +"I'll sit near and watch you--have all the fun and let you do the work," +he retorted. And the boys and girls were soon together on the bank. + +Luck was fairly good, and presently enough fish had been caught for a +"good mess," as Mr. Floyd observed when he came past. + +"We'll cook them for you," offered Belle. "Won't we, girls?" + +"Do you know how?" asked Jack. + +"Listen to him!" mocked Bess. + +As Mr. Floyd and his wife had to go to one of the more distant +bungalows, to see about some repairs, and as they would be gone most of +the day, Cora and her chums agreed to be the housekeepers and to let the +boys share the lunch with them. + +"Which isn't such a concession after all," Jack said, "seeing as how we +caught the fish." + +"I caught one myself," Cora declared. + +"With Paul's pole, so that doesn't count," retorted her brother quickly. + +They had a jolly time at lunch and spent the afternoon roaming about the +mountainside. The girls took pictures of the fall, which was really a +beauty-spot, and some of the prints were afterward enlarged, and they +made most charming pictures. + +"There's the hotel," said Paul, as they came out on a ledge of rock, and +looked down in a valley. "That's where I'm going to have some tango +tea." + +"To-night?" asked Jack. "I'm with you if you go." + +"Count me in," added Walter. "I haven't had a good dance, not since----" + +"The one with me," cut in Cora, for she and Walter were good partners. + +"Right--oh, little one!" he cried. "Shall we all go down to-night?" + +The hotel was about a mile from the Mountain View property, and was +quite a well-known hostelry, though the season was not yet in full +swing. + +"Some other night," suggested Cora. "We haven't really gotten settled +yet, and we don't know what time Mrs. Floyd will come back. Besides, do +they let any others than guests and their friends dance?" + +"Oh, I guess so," said Walter. "We'll find out. But if you don't want to +go to-night we'll wait." + +This was agreed to, and the rest of the day was spent on the part of the +girls in getting their rooms in order, putting away their dresses and +arranging for supper, for they were going to do much of their own work +in camp, Mrs. Floyd being more of a chaperon and general manager than +housekeeper or cook. + +The boys said they would shift for themselves. + +"Aren't you going to get your suppers?" asked Cora of her brother, as +she saw him and his two chums going down the road about five o'clock in +the afternoon. + +"Later," he answered. "We're going for the mail now. It gets in about +this time, and Walter is expecting a letter." + +"No more than you are!" was the quick retort. + +"Bring us all one!" called Bess. "Does the mail really come up here?" + +It did, twice a day it developed, coming to the little village of +Mountain View, which was about a mile from Camp Surprise. + +"Maybe there'll be some word about your car, Cora," said her brother. + +"That's too good to hope for, Jack." + +There was a letter for Cora from her mother, but there was no news of +the car. And as there were epistles also for Bess, Belle and Hazel, the +boys took great credit to themselves for having fulfilled the commands +of the girls. + +"And we think we ought to be rewarded, too," said Walter. + +"What form ought the reward to take?" Cora asked. + +"The form of supper," was the quick answer. "We don't feel like pitching +in and opening a tin of corned beef just now. Feed us to-night, and +we'll rustle the grub for ourselves after this." + +"Well, in view of the fact that you've been so nice to us, we will. +Shan't we, girls?" asked Cora. + +"Yes!" came in an unhesitating chorus; and once more the boys ate +bounteously with no effort on their part. + +Mrs. Floyd and her husband returned about eight o'clock, to find the +young people playing games in the big living room, and having a jolly +time. + +They planned an excursion for the next day, to include a stop at the +hotel to ask about dance privileges, and then, this having been arranged +for, good nights were said. + +Cora, whose room adjoined that of Belle, was awakened some time in the +night by a touch on her arm. + +"Yes! What is it?" she asked, sitting up quickly, and reaching for the +little electric flashlight she always had under her pillow. "Oh, it's +you," and she revealed Belle's face. "What's the matter--are you ill?" + +"No, but listen! Did you hear that--that noise?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV--WAS IT THUNDER? + + +The silence of Cora's room, into which Belle had tiptoed, was broken +only by the accentuated breathing of the two girls. + +"I don't hear anything," began Cora. "Are you sure----" + +"Listen!" interrupted her chum. "Did you hear it then?" + +For a moment Cora was not aware of anything, and then there seemed +gradually to come to her a dull, scraping sound. Perhaps it would be +more correct to call it a vibration. If you have ever tried to raise a +window which fits loosely in the frame sidewise, as compared to the +other direction, and have felt it go up in a series of vibrations, you +will understand what is meant. The whole room seemed to tremble like the +shaking of the window. + +The whole bungalow, too, seemed to be vibrating and delicately trembling +from some cause--a deep, low and hardly audible sound that was, in +effect, more sensation than noise. + +"It's the waterfall," said Cora. "Don't be a goose, Belle!" + +"I'm not. It's a noise. Can't you hear it above the sound of the water?" + +Cora listened more intently. + +"Yes, I can," she reluctantly confessed. "It's like the rumbling of a +wagon going past the house." + +"Yes," agreed Belle in a whisper. "But it isn't a wagon. There isn't any +out at this hour, and the noise is in this bungalow, not outside." + +Cora agreed to that, also. She snapped on the switch of her little +portable light, so that it would glow without the necessity of holding +her finger on the push-button, and then she slipped on her robe, and put +her feet in slippers. Belle was similarly attired. + +"What are you going to do?" asked Belle. + +"Find that noise," whispered Cora. "But don't let's wake up the others. +It may be--nothing, and they'd only laugh." + +"It can't be nothing," insisted Belle. "There it sounds louder than +ever." + +Together they went silently to the door of Cora's room. But either their +movements or the queer noise had awakened Bess in the adjoining +apartment. + +"Is that you, Cora?" she called. + +"Yes. It's nothing. I'm going to get a drink, Bess. I am," she added in +a whisper to Belle, to justify herself. + +"Bring me one," begged Bess, sleepily. + +It was evident that the noise which had alarmed--or if not alarmed, had +awakened--Belle, had not disturbed her sister. For as Belle and Cora went +toward the door they could both hear and feel the vibration more plainly +now. + +"What can it be?" asked Belle. "Some one trying to get in?" + +"Nonsense!" chided Cora. + +"But it sounds like raising a sticking window. Are you going to call Mr. +Floyd?" + +"I wish he weren't so far off," said Cora, pausing undeterminedly in the +middle of the room. "He might just as well be in another building as +where he is. I don't like going through that connecting passage. And he +and his wife both sleep soundly. She told me so." + +"We ought to have some means of summoning them--or the boys," continued +Belle. + +"We can always scream," Cora remarked. + +"Yes, and startle every one. I almost screamed when I heard the noise, +and then I thought I'd come in to you." + +"I'm glad you did. Can you hear it now?" + +They were out in the hall, and could see the light that was kept aglow +in the bath room. Cora switched off her electric. + +"I don't hear it," affirmed Belle. "The noise has stopped." + +It had, that was certain. The silence of the night outside was broken +only by the distant roar of the waterfall, a sound with which by this +time the girls had become so familiar that they did not notice it unless +they listened especially for it, as the receiver of a wireless message +must be tuned to catch the wave impulses of a certain length. + +"I can't hear it," said Cora, breathing softly, as Belle was doing. + +There was no more noise. + +"Could it have been distant thunder?" asked Cora, when a minute passed +in silence--and a long minute it seemed to the waiting ones. + +Belle stepped to the window and looked out and up at the sky. + +"The stars are shining," she said. "If there is a storm it is a distant +one, and one that far off wouldn't sound so near. I don't believe it was +thunder." + +Whatever it was, the sound was not repeated. Together Cora and Belle got +a drink in the bath room, and brought one to Bess. Cora called softly to +her, but the plump twin had gone to sleep again, without waiting for the +water. Cora set it in a chair by the bed and came out of the room as +softly as she had gone in. + +"No use letting her know about it," she remarked to Belle. "And we won't +tell anything in the morning, until we hear what the others have to +say." + +"All right," agreed Belle. "I'll lie with you a while." + +"Yes," assented Cora. She understood Belle's feelings. + +The two girls talked in whispers, straining their ears for a repetition +of the strange noise, but none came, and finally Belle, who was fighting +off sleep, announced that she was going to her own room. + +Cora and Belle looked significantly at one another across the breakfast +table, and Bess remarked: + +"Did you hear me knock it over?" + +"Knock what over?" asked Cora, wonderingly. + +"The glass of water in the chair by my bed. I didn't know it was there, +and just before daylight I awoke, and as I put my arm out of bed I +knocked the glass to the floor. I thought sure you must have heard it." + +"No," Cora replied. "Did you break it?" + +Bess shook her head. + +"It fell on the rug, but the water splashed in my ties. I'll have to +wear my high shoes until the others dry. Why didn't you tell me the +water was there?" + +"You were asleep when I brought it in," Cora said, "and I felt it was a +pity to disturb you." + +"What were you prowling around for?" asked Hazel. + +"Oh, just for fun," Cora said, with another warning look at Belle. + +"They didn't hear anything," the latter said to Cora when they were +alone a little later. + +"No, and Mrs. Floyd or her husband didn't either, for they didn't say +anything." + +"Unless they heard it and don't want to tell us." + +"Why shouldn't they tell us?" Cora asked. + +"Oh, they might think we'd go away if the queer things begin happening." + +"It wasn't so very queer--just a noise," declared Cora. + +"Was it just a noise?" asked Belle, suspiciously. + +"I don't know--was it--or--wasn't it?" Cora questioned. + +"I guess we'll have to let it go that way," Belle decided. "Here come +the boys. Shall we tell them?" + +"No--that is, not directly. I'll see if I can't find out in an indirect +way." + +"All right, I'll leave it to you." + +After some general talk when the boys had come in, Cora brought the +subject around to the waterfall. + +"Have you boys gotten used to the noise of it yet?" she asked. "You're +nearer to it than we are. Does it keep you awake now?" + +"Can't anything keep me awake," yawned Jack. "I don't get half enough +sleep as it is." + +"You certainly slept soundly last night," said Walter. + +"How do you know? Did you stay awake to find out?" + +"No, but I heard it thundering, and I called to you that you'd better +put your window down, for your room faces the west and most storms come +from there this time of the year. You didn't answer so I concluded you +must have been sleeping." + +"I was," declared Jack. "Thunder, eh? I didn't hear it." + +"It was only a rumble," Walter said. "I didn't stay awake longer myself +than to hear that." + +"They heard it, too," said Belle, when she and Cora had walked off by +themselves. + +"Yes," agreed her chum. "But was it thunder?" + +"We're right back where we started," laughed Belle, "arguing in a +circle. Let's forget it." + + + + +CHAPTER XV--A NARROW ESCAPE + + +But though Cora and Belle agreed to drop the matter of the unexplained +noise, they could not dismiss it from their minds. Several times that +day Cora would notice Belle in a brown study, and on taxing her with it +would be met with the statement: + +"I can't think what caused it." + +"That noise you mean?" + +"Yes. Wasn't it queer?" + +"Oh, not so very. At home we wouldn't give it a second thought." + +"Yes," agreed Belle, "but there are so many ways of explaining noises in +town, and so few ways up here. I wonder if that is the beginning of the +surprises, Cora?" + +"If it is they aren't so unpleasant. Noise never hurt any one." + +So they said nothing to the others about the little disturbance in the +night, and the only remark the others made, having any reference to it, +was that of Walter's about thunder. + +"It must have been thunder," Cora said, "for if the noise had been in +our bungalow the boys couldn't have heard it in theirs." + +"I don't see how they could," Belle agreed. + +"But, all the same, I'm going to have some way of calling to Jack and +the others without screaming our lungs out," declared Cora. "It's only +right to be able to summon them if we want them. One of us might become +ill, and they'd have to go for the doctor. I'd rather call Jack than Mr. +Floyd." + +Cora spoke to her brother that afternoon. + +"We should have some sort of speaking tube," he assented. "I might rig +up one of the string telephones we used to make with tin baking powder +boxes that served both as transmitter and receiver." + +"Can you do it?" asked Cora. + +"I guess so." + +"I know something better than that," Paul put in. "There's a toy +telephone that comes now, made of string, but the baking powder boxes +are replaced by wooden cylinders with parchment tightly stretched over +one end. You can hear quite well with them." + +"Where can we get it?" asked Cora. + +"I have one," Paul said. "I bought it just before we left to come up +here, intending to give it to a kid cousin of mine, but I forgot to mail +it. You can use that if you like." + +"Just the thing!" exclaimed Jack. "The dear girls can't get along +without us after all; can they?" + +"Oh, don't flatter yourself that we're as fond of you as all that," +laughed Belle. "But we do like to have you within call--especially up +here." + +"Why, have you seen any suspicious characters lurking around?" asked +Walter. + +"Nary a lurk," responded Cora. "We're just getting ready for +emergencies." + +The toy telephone was strung that day from the girls' bungalow to that +of the boys', and it worked quite well. As simple as it was, and it +scarcely could have been more simple, talk could be plainly heard over +it. The string took up the vibrations imparted to the parchment by the +voice, and transmitted them across space to the other end of the line. +Of course the string had to be tight, and it must not touch anything in +its course, or the vibrations would have been interfered with. But space +was what they had most of in Camp Surprise. + +"To my mind the camp isn't living up to its name," declared Paul, after +the telephone had been put up and tested, the boys sending any number of +foolish messages over the string. "No, sir! There hasn't been a surprise +worth talking about," went on Paul. "Why doesn't something happen?" + +"Give it time," suggested Jack. + +"Perhaps that noise was the start," said Cora to Belle when they were +alone. + +"Perhaps." + +The trip down to the hotel had given the young folks the information +that there were dances twice a week, the Saturday night "hop" being +quite an event. They were cordially invited to attend, and the first +Saturday night in camp they took advantage of the chance. + +The crowd was not large, but, as Walter said, it was "nice and +comfortable," and the girls and boys thoroughly enjoyed the dance. The +hotel proprietor introduced them to some other young folks and, as was +voted by Jack and his chums afterward, "a large and glorious time was +had by all." + +"What a splendid moon!" cried Belle, as she walked along with Jack on +the way home. "It's a shame to go to bed." + +"Let's don't!" proposed Paul. "Let's go down where we left the motor +boat and have a ride." + +"Let's don't!" cried Cora. "Walk over that rough mountain road at this +hour of the night? I guess not!" + +"But look at the moon!" begged Paul. "The glorious moon!" + +"You've been looking at it too long already," was Cora's retort. "I +guess you're looney." + +And so, laughing and joking, they walked on. + +"This is how it goes!" said Belle suddenly, seemingly apropos of nothing +at all, and, at the same time she began to step backward and forward in +a peculiar manner in the road. + +"What in the world----" began Hazel. + +"That new Cortez step the girl in pink was doing with that nice man +dancer," Belle explained. "I've been puzzling over it. I hoped he would +ask me to dance, but he didn't." + +"Say, I like that!" cried Walter. "Didn't I ask you?" + +"Yes, but you can't do that step. I remember now how it went. I was +watching that couple. It's a rocking step forward, then one back, step +back with the left, draw the right and go forward again with the left, +see!" + +She executed it there in the road, her shadow, cast by the moon, bobbing +curiously back and forth. + +"It is pretty," agreed Cora. "How does it go?" + +Belle and she took a dancing position and Cora had soon acquired the new +Cortez step. + +"Now you've got me doing it!" cried Jack. "Come on, Hazel, I'll show +you." + +"He doesn't even know himself," derided Cora. + +"You watch!" challenged Jack. + +"Why, he can do it," said Belle, as she looked at Jack and Hazel. For +Hazel was a natural dancer and, it developed, she, too, had been +watching the girl in the pink dress. + +"Well, here we are," said Bess, as they reached their bungalow. "I'm +tired." + +"Is that all you're going to say, after we took you to the dance?" +demanded Walter. + +"Don't we get asked in to have some cake and chocolate?" questioned +Jack. + +"Shall we?" queried Cora. + +"Please do!" urged Paul. + +And they did. + +The plans for the next day included a long walk up the mountain to a +place where it was said a wonderful view could be had. They were to take +their lunch and stay all day, for they could not get back to the +bungalow by noon. + +"All aboard!" cried Jack, as he and his two chums called for the girls, +crossing the rustic bridge at the foot of the fall. "All aboard!" + +They started off merrily together, talking and laughing. Walter had been +down to get the early morning mail, and there was a letter from Cora's +mother, which said, among other things, that the police had some clews +to the men who took the automobile. + +"Good!" cried Jack, when Cora read out this. "What's the rest of it?" + +"Well, it seems that some more bogus tickets have been disposed of in +places around Chelton, and the men who sold them are described as the +same two who sold the coupons in the tea room. The police seem to think +there is a good chance of getting them." + +"They didn't see them have your car; did they, Cora?" asked Hazel. + +"No such luck, I suppose. But mother doesn't mention that." + +The view was voted all that had been said of it, and after admiring it +for some time, preparations were made to eat lunch. + +"Let's sit down here," proposed Cora, pointing to a grassy spot in the +shade of a big sycamore tree. "Boys, spread the cloth and unpack the +baskets. Oh, what a curious root!" she cried, stooping over toward +something near a stone. + +"Look out!" suddenly cried Paul, pulling Cora back so sharply that she +nearly toppled over. The next moment Paul caught up a stone and threw it +with all his force at the spotted root. There was an angry hiss. + +"Narrow escape for you, Cora," said Paul, a trifle pale. "That was a +copperhead snake!" and he pointed to the writhing, dying reptile. His +stone had struck it fairly. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI--LOST + + +Cora Kimball was not an unusually nervous girl, nor was she given to +hysterical demonstrations, but, somehow or other, she felt sick and +faint as she looked at the wiggling snake in its death agony. Her eyes +saw black, and she swayed so that Paul stepped forward and slipped an +arm around her waist. + +"I thought you were going to faint," he said in explanation. + +"I--I was," faltered Cora. "But I've gotten over the notion. Thank--thank +you, Paul. Could I have a drink of water?" + +Jack brought her some from a spring not far away. + +"Brace up, Sis," he said with rough, brotherly kindness. "You're all +right. That snake wouldn't have killed you anyhow. I've been bitten by +'em, and it isn't much worse than a mosquito." + +"You have?" cried Paul, in such a queer tone that all save Cora realized +that Jack was bluffing for the sake of minimizing the effect on Cora. + +Jack made this plain to Paul by winking quickly, and motioning to him to +confirm what he had said. + +"Oh, yes, that's right," Paul went on. "I'd forgotten that the +copperheads aren't poisonous this time of year. You wouldn't have been +much damaged, Cora, if you had been nipped by this fellow," and with a +swift motion of his foot he kicked the still writhing reptile to one +side. + +"Really?" she asked. + +"Really." + +She looked relieved. The faint spell passed and Cora smiled. The color +was coming back to her cheeks. + +"I'm sorry I acted so," she said, "but I have a terrible fear of snakes, +even harmless ones. I thought this one was a curiously mottled root, and +I was going to pick it up. Suppose I had? Oh!" + +She shuddered and looked at Paul. + +"A miss is as good as a bird in the hand," he misquoted. "Come on now, +let's eat." + +"Say, old man," said Jack to Paul, when they were alone a little later, +"that snake was a bad chap, wasn't he?" + +Paul nodded in confirmation. + +"I thought so," Jack went on. "Just as well, though, not to let her +know, she's so deadly afraid. There'd have been trouble if she had been +bitten?" he questioned. + +"Yes," said Paul, simply. "Of course they're not sure death, but they're +dangerous enough." + +"I thought so. Shake!" + +After the temporary scare of the snake had passed, the picnic party made +merry, laughing and talking as they enjoyed the lunch the girls had put +up. It was a perfect day, rather warm, but cool enough in the shade, and +the mountain air was invigorating. There followed a delightfully lazy +time, lying on the grass under the trees when every one had eaten +enough. + +Then they packed up the rest of the food and walked on, intending to +make a circle and return to Camp Surprise late in the afternoon. Now and +then they would come to some open space, where the sloping mountain +dropped away suddenly, revealing below a vista which made them pause in +admiration. + +Once they reached a point where they could look down on Mountain View, +and, though they could not distinguish their own bungalows, they could +see about where they were situated. + +Cora stood gazing down, in rather a thoughtful mood. Walter was by her +side, and noted her abstraction. He held up the proverbial penny. + +Cora shook her head. + +"No. I won't tell," she said with a smile. + +Walter guessed that she was thinking of the snake, but he refrained from +saying so. And then Cora, fearing he might put a wrong construction on +her words added: + +"I was just wondering when they were going to continue." + +"What was going to continue?" he inquired. + +"The surprises in our camp. You know----" + +"Continue!" he interrupted. "I didn't know we had had any. I had begun +to think it was all a hoax." + +"Oh, no," cried Cora, impulsively. "There was a----" + +She caught herself just in time, for she recalled that she and Belle had +agreed not to mention the queer noise. + +"Was it a ghost?" asked Walter. + +"It wasn't anything," Cora hastened to say. "Look, see that curl of +smoke. Isn't it just like a great big ostrich plume? What a hat it would +require to carry it! A giant's hat." + +"Lady giant you mean," said Walter. "But look here, Cora, you are +keeping something from me." + +"Not at all." + +Her manner was light, but Walter was a good guesser. + +"Yes, you are!" he insisted. "Something did happen, Cora. Go on, tell a +fellow." + +"Nothing really happened, Walter." + +"Then you heard something." + +"How did you know?" she asked with a start. + +"I thought I'd catch you. Come now. Own up. You didn't have that toy +telephone strung to our bungalow just on general principles. Did you +hear something, Cora?" + +She looked around to make sure none of the others were listening. Then +she told Walter of the queer noise, enjoining him to secrecy, however. + +"So that's what it was," he said. "I thought it was thunder myself, but +if you heard it in your bungalow it couldn't have been." + +"And it was in our bungalow," Cora said. "Seemingly away down in the +cellar, or sub-cellar, if they have such a thing." + +"Not as deep as that, I guess, Cora. But it was a queer rumbly noise, +though how I could hear it, when it was under your bungalow I can't +imagine." + +"Unless it came from the waterfall." + +"How could it come from the waterfall?" Walter asked. + +"I don't know," said Cora. "But there might be some sort of hollow +rock--blowing stones I believe they are called--and when air is forced +into the hollow, by the action of the water, it might give a roaring +sound, and vibrate the earth." + +Walter considered a moment. + +"It's worth looking into," he said. "I won't say anything, but the first +chance I get I'll have a peep at the fall. I think I can get behind the +water curtain." + +"Oh, Walter! don't take any risks." + +"I won't, Cora. But come on. The others will wonder what we find to talk +about and look at here. Not that I wouldn't want to stay talking a great +deal longer, but, well----" + +"I understand," and she smiled. + +"We're going berrying," cried Bess, as Walter and Cora came up to join +the others. "That is, unless you two want to stand there on the edge of +'Lovers' Leap' and think sad thoughts." + +"Is that place called Lovers' Leap?" asked Cora. + +"Well, it might be if any lovers ever jumped off there. Do you want to +go berrying?" + +"Surely," said Cora, and Walter nodded assent. + +The berry hunt was not very successful, though a few early ones were +found. However, it served as an incentive to call the young folks +farther afield and up the mountainside, and they found new beauties of +nature at every step. + +"This is the nicest place I was ever in," declared Hazel. + +"I like it, too, almost as well as any place we ever picked out for our +vacation," said Belle. "My hair doesn't get so slimpsy as at the beach." + +"We're getting beautifully tanned, instead of the lobster-red I always +turn at the shore," said plump Bess. + +"Say, hadn't we better begin to think of turning back?" asked Cora, +after a while, when the few berries that had been gathered had been +eaten, though Jack begged that they be saved for a pie. + +"Yes, it's getting late," said Paul, looking at his watch. "And we have +a few miles to go." + +"I should say they were a few!" chimed in Walter. "Seven at the least +back to Camp Surprise." + +"Don't say that!" begged Bess. "You'll have to carry me." + +"All right. We'll make a litter of poles and drape you over it in the +most artistic fashion," said Paul. "Do you prefer to be carried head or +feet first?" + +"Feet, of course. Riding backwards always makes me car-ill." + +"It's down hill, that's one consolation," came from Jack. "Well, come +on. All ready! Hike!" and he marched off, swinging a long stick he had +picked up to use Alpine-stock fashion. + +There was a patch of woodland to go through, a fairly good path +traversing it. The party of young people went along, talking and +laughing, occasionally breaking into song as one or another started a +familiar melody. + +"Say, Jack," remarked Cora at length, "aren't these woods pretty long?" + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean oughtn't we to be out of them by this time? Are you sure you're +going the right way?" + +"Well, I never was here before," said Jack, "but I set our course by +compass," and he indicated the little instrument on his watch chain. + +"We started to walk due west," he said, "up the mountain. Now we are +going east, as you can see, because the setting sun is at our backs. So +we are going toward camp." + +"But we swung off to the right as we came up the mountain," Cora went +on. + +"Exactly, a sort of northwest course," agreed Jack. "And now we are +heading southeast, which is exactly the reverse. Look for yourself, +Sis." + +He held out the compass, the tiny needle vibrating as the instrument +rested in his hand. Cora was enough of a navigator to see that Jack was +right. + +"Well, the only thing to do is to keep on," she said. "But I should +think, by this time, we'd be somewhere near the camp." + +"Oh, not yet!" declared Jack. "We've got miles and miles yet to go!" + +"You horrid creature!" cried Bess. "Oh, my feet!" + +"This is the best exercise for reducing you could have," laughed Paul. +"Come on, I'll race you." + +"Run? Never!" wailed the plump one. "I can only hobble." + +They tramped on. The afternoon shadows were lengthening now, and Cora's +face wore a somewhat anxious look. They entered another patch of +woodland, and as they emerged into a clearing Cora cried: + +"Look at the sun!" + +"What's the matter with it?" Belle demanded. "I think that is a +perfectly good sun." + +"But it's in front of us," said Cora. "It's in front of us!" + +For a moment the others did not realize what she meant. They stared at +the big red ball which was sinking to rest amid a bank of gorgeously +colored clouds. Then Jack exclaimed: + +"By Jove! you're right, Sis. The sun should be back of us. We were going +east, but we've got turned around, and are going west." + +"Unless the sun has changed," put in Paul, with a laugh, "and is coming +up in the morning. We may have been walking all night and didn't know +it." + +"It's no joke," said Cora, seriously, as the others laughed. "Jack, +we're lost!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII--TWO MEN + + +Naturally enough Cora's words were echoed aloud by some of the party. + +"Lost!" cried Belle. "How do you know?" + +"We're going in the wrong direction," Cora said. "Don't you know when +persons get lost in the woods they always go around in a circle? Nearly +always they turn to the right, as we have done. I forget the +explanation, but it has something to do with the right side of the body +being stronger than the left. And that's what we've done. We've wandered +around in a circle, so of course we're lost." + +"That doesn't follow at all," declared Walter. + +"Why not?" challenged Cora. + +"Because the path may have been shifting. We've only followed the trail +through the woods. We haven't gone off it." + +"That's so," chimed in Paul. "We're still on the path, and it must lead +somewhere." + +"Perhaps it's a cow-path," suggested Bess. "It's narrow enough for one." + +"Well, even a cow-path leads somewhere," said Hazel. "We'll end up at a +stable." + +"Or a dairy," added Jack. "Some bread and milk won't go bad if we miss +our supper." + +"Oh, we won't miss it," declared Walter. "We're bound to end up +somewhere, and even if we come out a mile or more from our camp. And if +we see a house, we can hire a farmer to drive us over, if we're too +tired to walk." + +"Yes, we could do that," Cora assented. "But what plan is best to follow +now? Shall we keep on the way we are going, on this path, even though it +leads west and our camp is to the east? Or shall we go back until we +find a path extending in an easterly direction?" + +"Whew!" whistled Jack. "That sounds like a question in my old school +geography. What's the answer, Cora?" + +"I wish I knew," said his sister. "Let's take a vote on it." + +They discussed the matter a little while, and the general opinion was +that it was better to go on than to retreat. + +"We didn't see any houses in all the distance we came," said Walter, +"and it is getting so late now we may have to appeal to a farmer to +drive us back. I say go ahead, even if the direction seems to be wrong. +We may reach a house this way." + +"I guess you're right," admitted Cora, "though it seems illogical to go +deliberately away from, instead of toward, our camp." + +"Perhaps it isn't called Camp Surprise for nothing," suggested Hazel. + +"What do you mean?" asked her brother. + +"I mean it may surprise us by appearing when and where we least expect +it." + +"You always were a hopeful child," laughed Paul. His sister blushed. +"You believed in Santa Claus long after I had detected our respected +parents sneaking down the back stairs with the presents," he continued. +"Hope on, foolish one." + +"She may be right at that," said Jack, championing Hazel's cause. "If +the sun insists on appearing where we think it oughtn't to be the camp +may take a notion to do the same thing. Come on! Forward!" + +A little anxious, they kept on, rather tired, but not greatly +discouraged. Youthful hearts are not made for discouragement, +fortunately. + +"Anything left to eat?" asked Jack after a bit, when the path seemed to +be shifting somewhat toward the east. + +"A little," announced Walter, who was carrying the basket. "But you +can't have any." + +"Why not?" demanded Jack, indignantly. "I have as good a right as you. +Who delegated you to carry the rations?" + +"Nobody else seemed to want to. Now I'm in charge of the commissary +department, and I'm going to put you, and myself included, on short +rations. We may have to stay out all----" + +"Ahem!" interrupted Paul, giving Walter a nudge. "Do you see anything +like a house through the trees? Cut out that talk about having to stay +out all night, if that's what you were going to say," he added in a +quick whisper. + +"It was," Walter admitted. "But I'll cease." + +"You'd better. We don't want the girls to get nervous." + +"I don't see any house," Jack reported, having looked in the direction +indicated by Paul. + +"I thought I saw smoke, and where there's smoke there's generally a +house or a camp," Paul said. "However, I may have been mistaken." + +It was evident that he had been, but a little later, as they once more +emerged from the woods, Cora gave a joyful cry and called out: + +"There it is!" + +"What, our camp?" asked Belle. + +"No, a house! See it?" + +They looked to where her finger pointed. Undoubtedly, it was a +farmhouse, located on the farther edge of the clearing in which they had +halted. There was a vacant space about it, and several barn-like +structures. But there was a curious lack of life around the place. + +"I don't believe any one lives there," said Jack. + +"Don't be a pessimist," urged his sister. "Let's go and find out." + +They hurried toward the house, but the nearer they approached it the +more it seemed that it was not a farmhouse in the ordinary sense of the +word. Though in the midst of cleared fields that must at one time have +been part of a farm, there were no growing crops. The fields were +overgrown with weeds, there were no horses or cattle to be seen, and no +challenging dog rushed out to bark at the boys and girls. + +"Still some old man or woman may live there who can put us on the right +road," Cora suggested. "We won't give up yet." + +Confirmation of Jack's idea that the house was uninhabited was given as +they went up the weed-entangled front path. And the sight of broken +windows, a door sagging open on fractured hinges gave further aspects of +abandonment. + +"Anybody home?" called Walter, knocking on the door, which swayed as +though it wanted to part company from the only hinge that held it up. +"Who's in here? Hello inside!" + +An echo was his only answer, though as they had approached the place +Paul had said he heard a noise inside. + +"Nobody home," said Jack. "But this is at least encouraging. We are +getting 'warm' as they say in hunt the thimble. Let's go around back. +Maybe they don't use the front door." + +He started around a side path, followed by Cora, Bess and Belle. The +others straggled along in the extreme rear. As the four in the lead +turned around an ell of the house, Cora uttered a cry and pointed to two +men who were running out of the barn, not far off. + +"Look, Jack!" she cried. + +Jack stood still, quite taken by surprise, and then Belle added: + +"Why, Cora! I declare! One of those men looks like one of the two who +ran off with your car!" + +"Are you sure about that, Belle?" demanded Cora's brother. "I don't want +to make a mistake." + +"I only saw their backs, of course," explained Belle, quite excited. +"But that one on the left looks like the one who took the wheel and +steered Cora's auto away from the tea room. The coat is just the same." + +"Well, it's pretty slim evidence on which to chase after two strange +men," said Jack, "but here goes. Come on, boys!" he called to Walter and +Paul. "Tally-ho!" + +"What's the excitement?" asked Walter, as he and Paul came running +around the corner of the house. "Dog after you, Jack?" + +"No, but we want to get after those two fellows. See 'em?" + +He pointed to the fleeing men. + +"Who are they?" Paul queried. + +"Belle thinks they're the ones who took Cora's auto. It's a rather slim +identification, but we'll take a chance." + +"Yell at 'em," suggested Paul. + +"Good idea," commented Jack. "I say there--you two! Hold on a minute, we +want to talk to you!" he cried. + +The two men, running away, never heeded nor looked around. They ran on +toward the woods, the boys following, while the girls stood in a group +near the deserted house. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII--REAL SURPRISES + + +"They aren't going to stop," observed Paul, as he ran along beside Jack, +watching the fleeing men. + +"No, and that makes me suspicious. Why should those men run away just +because we hailed them? They don't know us--that is, they haven't any +reason to suppose we represent the girl whose auto was taken. They have +never seen us." + +"And they didn't have a chance to get a good look at Cora and the other +girls, even supposing they are the thieves who took the auto. According +to what Belle says, the men didn't once look around as they got into the +car and drove off. + +"Though they must have been hanging around the Spinning Wheel for some +time to have disposed of the tickets," said Walter. "They might have +seen the three girls, and again recognized them as they came along now." + +"Possibly, but not probably," declared Jack. "They are either tramps, +who have been sleeping in the barn and think we own this place and have +come to drive them out, or they are the auto thieves, and naturally +would run." + +"I'm inclined to the tramp theory," declared Paul. "They don't look like +knights of the roads, though." + +"I guess we won't have much further sight of them," commented Jack. +"They're almost at the woods, and going strong." + +The men, indeed, were distancing the boys, running fast with never a +backward glance. + +"Give 'em another hail!" cried Paul. "All together. Tell 'em we only +want to ask the way from them. Now yell!" + +The three lads united their voices in a loud shout, but it had no +effect, and, a moment later, the two fleeing men plunged in among the +trees. + +"Shall we follow?" asked Paul, bringing his run down to a walk. + +"Hardly worth while," commented Jack. "We'd never find them in the +woods." + +"Besides, we don't want to leave the girls alone," added Paul. + +"They are evidently determined not to be left alone," commented Jack +with a smile. "There they come after us." + +Cora and her chums were advancing across the weed-grown field that lay +between the house and the woods, and over which the unsuccessful chase +had taken place. + +"Come on, we'll give it up," Walter said, as he started back to meet the +girls. + +"We didn't like to stay there all alone," confessed Cora. + +"So we observe," remarked Jack. + +"You didn't get them?" questioned Cora. + +"They wouldn't even hesitate," laughed Walter. "Now for an inspection of +the barn and house." + +"Are you going in?" asked Hazel. + +"Why not? We may find some valuable evidence that will put us on the +track of Cora's auto. We may even find some hermit living in the house +who can put us on the right road. Let's try the barn first, though, as +it was from there the men came." + +The girls would not go in, but Walter and Jack did, leaving Paul to stay +with his sister and her friends. + +"Just keep your eyes open, Paul," suggested Jack. "Those fellows may +come back while Wally and I are inside." + +"Trust me," observed Hazel's brother. + +But Jack and Walter found little to repay them for their inspection of +the barn. It was a dilapidated building, almost tumbling down in fact, +and contained nothing save some wisps of hay and straw. In one corner, +though, was a pile of old feed bags, arranged as a rude bed. + +"Tramps been sleeping here," observed Walter. "Maybe those two men." + +"Maybe," agreed Jack. + +But that was all they could gather, and they came out. + +"Now for the house," suggested Walter. + +"There's some sort of lane over there, leading to the cow shed," said +Cora. "Suppose you look in that building." + +"Might as well," agreed Jack. And it was in approaching the smaller farm +building through the grass-grown lane that they made a discovery. + +"There's been an auto in here!" cried Paul, as he saw some depressions +in the ground. "An auto has been driven in here and out again. I can see +two sets of wheel marks plainly." + +"Did one tire have a vulcanized patch on?" Cora asked eagerly. "Mine +had." + +"The marks aren't plain enough to decide that," said Paul. "If there +were dust or dirt here I could tell, but grass and weeds don't take a +good enough impression. The auto was put in the shed, evidently." + +That proved to be a good guess, for the marks of the big-tired wheels +went up to the shed, which was roomy enough for a car. + +"Yes, one's been in here!" cried Jack, as he swung open the door. "See +the tire marks on the boards." + +"Was it mine?" asked Cora, eagerly. But again the impression left was +too faint to show the vulcanized patch. + +"Maybe some autoists, caught out in a storm, put in here," suggested +Walter. "We mustn't build up too hopeful a theory on a slender basis of +fact." + +Traces of the automobile wheels were lost a short distance down the +lane, and none appeared in the road which ran in front of the house--near +which the highway did not seem to be much traveled. + +"And now for the house itself," said Jack. "Come on, boys!" + +"And girls, too!" exclaimed Cora. "We're not going to be left outside." + +They entered the old farmhouse, calling aloud to ascertain if in some +distant room there might not be an occupant. But their voices were +answered only by echoes, with which their footsteps mingled. + +The house was typical of many another deserted farm residence, of which +there are many throughout New England. + +Windows were void of glass, doors hung uncertainly on one hinge, moldy +wall-paper drooped down from the ceiling like unlovely Spanish moss, and +in many of the rooms the dampness and rain had loosened the plaster +which had fallen. + +There were some old boxes, a broken chair or two, and a moldy horsehair +settee that, in bygone days, must have graced the closed-up parlor, +opened only for marriages or deaths. Or, perchance, on its glossy and +slippery surface, lovers had sat long ago. + +"Ugh!" exclaimed Cora, with a little shudder. "Come on out. It gives me +the creeps in here." + +"Yes, I guess there's nothing to gain by staying," Jack remarked. +"Nobody home, and there's no use wasting time." + +"I wish we were home," said Belle. + +"And I. At least, back in camp," added her sister. + +As they went from the house they saw out in the road a man driving a +horse attached to a farm wagon. + +"Oh, there's something human at last!" cried Cora. "Wait, please, we +want to ask you something!" she called impulsively. + +But the man had already stopped of his own accord, and a look of +surprise came over his face as he saw the party of young folks come out +of the abandoned house. + +"Can you tell us the way to Mountain View?" asked Jack. + +"Yes, I'm going that way myself," the man answered. "At least within a +mile of it. Want to ride?" + +"Oh, do we!" exclaimed Bess with such a sigh of relief that the others +laughed. + +"Pile in," invited the farmer. "You aren't thinking of buying the old +Mellish place; are you?" + +"Is that what this is called?" asked Walter. + +"Yes. Zeb Mellish used to own it, but he went crazy and hung himself and +nobody's lived here since; 'ceptin' maybe tramps." + +"Yes, we saw two run away from the barn as we came up," stated Jack. + +"Humph!" commented the farmer. "I'll have to speak to the constable +about 'em. Too many of us have been losin' chickens lately. I suspected +it was tramps. Which way'd they go?" + +The boys told; also narrating the details of their little picnic and of +their becoming lost. + +"Well, that ain't surprisin', considerin' how th' cow paths in the woods +twist to and fro," commented the farmer, who gave his name as Anthony +Wale. "So you're from one of the bungalows in the Mountain View +property; eh?" + +"Yes, Camp Surprise," said Cora. + +The man seemed to start, and looked sharply at Cora. + +"Camp Surprise; eh!" he exclaimed. + +"Know anything about it?" asked Walter. "We have been expecting to be +surprised, but haven't been, so far." + +"I know they tell queer stories about it," said Mr. Ware, "but that's +all I do know. Maybe the surprise party hasn't started yet." + +"Well, if it's bound to happen, I wish it would get over and done with," +said Cora. "It's awfully good of you to give us a lift this way." + +"Glad to do it," said Mr. Ware. "There's room on the seat with me for +two of you gals--at least the thinnest ones--not meanin' anything against +you," and he looked at Bess, half smiling. + +"Oh, I'm used to it now," she declared. "You can't hurt my feelings. +I'll be glad to sit on one of the boxes." + +The wagon contained several crates, and these were utilized as seats, +Hazel and Belle, as the "thinnest gals," sitting on the seat with Mr. +Ware. + +He drove them to within a half mile of their own camp and they were soon +at the bungalow, just as Mr. and Mrs. Floyd were getting anxious about +their charges, and were talking of going in search of them. + +"What happened to you?" Mrs. Floyd inquired. + +"Lost," explained Jack, sententiously. + +The adventures of the day were gone over again at a joint supper, the +boys being invited in by the girls. + +"You aren't doing any housekeeping at all," Cora complained to Jack, +afterward. + +"What's the use when you girls are such good cooks?" he asked with a +laugh. "We're thinking of hiring a chef, anyhow, and then we'll +reciprocate and give you a good feed." + +A trip down the mountain stream to where it widened into a lake was the +plan for the next day, and an early start was made, Mrs. Floyd and her +husband stating that they had to go to town to do some shopping, and +would not be back before night. They started before the young folks +left, and the girls locked their bungalow as they came out. + +Nothing of moment occurred on the trip to the little lake, if the fact +that Jack fell in up to his knees, while trying to get some pond lilies +for Hazel be excepted. + +"Well, I wonder if anything happened while we were away?" asked Cora of +Walter, as they neared their camp on the return trip. + +"Why do you suggest that?" he queried. + +"Oh, I don't just know. I have a funny sort of feeling 'in my bones,' as +mother used to say." + +Cora had the key and opened the door. The boys were coming in, as they +usually did, and stood waiting for the girls to enter. + +As Jack's sister threw back the door she gave one look in the living +room, and exclaimed: + +"It's here!" + +"What?" asked Walter, quickly. + +"The surprise! Look!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX--WHERE'S MY LIGHT? + + +Crowding up behind Cora, the others peered over her shoulders. The +setting sun, streaming in through the windows, revealed a strange sight +in the big living room. Several chairs were overturned, a large couch +that had been against the wall was out in the middle of the floor, a +table that had been piled with magazines and books was turned on its +side, and turned upside down on the overturned table was perched a +chair, as though children had been playing some simple game, like +stagecoach or steamboat, with the table and chair to represent +make-believe articles of locomotion. + +For a moment surprise and wonder held them all dumb, then Jack burst out +with: + +"Say! who did this monkey-business, anyhow?" + +"Monkey-business?" repeated Cora. + +"It's the surprise!" exclaimed Belle, and her voice was not quite +steady. "We've been expecting this. The ghosts have paid one of their +visits. Oh dear!" + +"Don't be silly!" exclaimed Bess, who, perhaps because her nerves were +better protected, did not give way to emotion so readily as did her +thinner sister. "Isn't this just what we've been looking for--and hoping +for?" + +"Hoping for?" asked Paul. "Well, I must say it's a queer sort of hope!" + +"Oh, I don't mean that, exactly," Bess went on. "But we knew something +like this was bound to happen, and this is the first manifestation." + +"No, not exactly the first," Cora said. + +"What do you mean?" asked Bess. "Isn't this the first time anything has +been upset in our bungalow?" + +"Yes, but it isn't the first manifestation," Cora went on. "Shall we +tell, Belle?" she asked. + +"Yes," nodded the slim Robinson girl. + +"Though how you can connect the queer noise with what has taken place +here I don't see," put in Walter who had been looking curiously about +the upset room, which none of them had ventured yet to enter. + +"What! Does he know about it, too?" asked Belle. + +Cora nodded. "He heard it, and thought at first it was thunder." + +"Say, what's this all about?" demanded Jack. "Are you hiding part of the +secret from us, Sis?" + +"Well, in a way--yes." + +"That isn't fair. If there's a secret here we ought to share it. And if +you girls are going to keep things to yourselves we fellows will pack up +and leave, and----" + +"Don't dare desert us!" cried Belle. "I won't stay here a minute after +the boys go; will you, Cora?" + +"Well, I like to have them here, of course," answered Jack's sister. +"But if we talk that way about them they'll get an exaggerated idea of +their importance, and there'll be no way of enforcing discipline. So if +they want to go let them, and we'll solve this mystery ourselves." + +"I think we're making a mountain out of a molehill," declared Walter. "I +don't see any great mystery here. A few chairs and a table are upset. +It's the most natural thing in the world." + +"Natural? How do you make that out?" asked Bess. + +"Why, Mrs. Floyd has been sweeping and dusting in here, and she has +moved the chairs about. They always do it at our house. And say! some +days it's as much as your life is worth to try to navigate through the +misplaced furniture. You need a harbor pilot and a searchlight, to say +nothing of a chart and an automobile road map. That's all that's +happened here. Mrs. Floyd has been doing a little house-cleaning." + +"So that's your explanation of it; is it?" asked Cora. "Then how do you +account for the fact that Mrs. Floyd and her husband have been away all +day?" + +She pointed toward the road and the others saw the two caretakers in Mr. +Floyd's light wagon approaching the bungalow. They were returning from +their day's shopping trip, as was evident by the number of bundles in +the vehicle. + +"I think you'll find that Mrs. Floyd hasn't done any house-cleaning +to-day," said Cora. "You can't account for the surprise that way." + +Cora was right, in so far as Mrs. Floyd was concerned. The chaperon and +her husband had been away all day. + +"What is it? What has happened? Is anything the matter?" asked Mrs. +Floyd, as she saw the young people on the porch of the bungalow, looking +in at the open door. "Is any one hurt?" + +"No, it's just the surprise," said Cora. "Is that what has happened +before, Mrs. Floyd?" + +The caretaker looked inside, and caught her breath sharply. + +"Yes--yes," she answered slowly. "This has happened before, but never as +bad as this. I mean it never before was quite so upset. I--I can't +account for it." + +"It's them pesky tramps!" said Mr. Floyd. "I'll notify the constable +again; that's what I'll do!" + +"Do you think it was tramps?" asked Jack. + +"Who else could it be?" the caretaker demanded, and neither Jack nor the +others could answer, though Walter asked: + +"Well, if it were tramps, wouldn't they steal something if they had the +chance they've had to-day? Let's take a look and see if anything is +missing." + +Then they went in, a bit gingerly at first, for there is a queer, +uncanny sort of feeling in coming back to find the furniture upset in a +strange fashion. They all felt it, even joking Jack. + +But, aside from the misplaced tables, chairs and couch, nothing wrong +was found. Nothing was missing, as far as could be ascertained, and no +food had been taken from the pantry, though more than once, Mrs. Floyd +said, on former occasions when the "surprise" had been manifested, the +larder showed signs of an unknown visitor. + +"Now before we set things to rights," suggested Jack, "suppose we see if +there are any clews. Let's go at this thing right. Look at each piece of +furniture and see if it has----" + +"Any finger marks on? Is that what you mean, Jack?" asked Paul. + +"No, I'm not drawing it quite as fine as that. I mean look around on the +floor for bits of mud, for any signs of foot prints--anything, in fact, +that would give us a line on who did this." + +"It seems to have been done deliberately, anyhow," observed Walter. "The +chairs and other things weren't misplaced in a hurry. They took their +time. Why any one but a child would want to pile that chair on the table +is remarkable." + +"That very thing may indicate that it was just some skylarking boys," +commented Jack. + +Mr. Floyd shook his head. + +"There aren't any boys around here," he said. "Of course lads might come +out from the village, and break in to do this mischief, but it isn't +likely. This is private land, and on several previous occasions +trespassers have been arrested, so the boys don't generally come here. +Besides, they wouldn't have had a key to come in with." + +"Did they use a key to enter?" asked Paul. + +"The door was locked when we got back," replied Cora, as if that settled +it. + +"And the window fastenings are still on," reported Jack, who made a +quick inspection. + +"Here's a bit of mud near this one chair, as if it had dropped from some +one's shoe," Walter said. "So the surprisers must have come in from +outside." + +"Where else would they come from?" Jack demanded. "Did you think they +were concealed in the bungalow?" + +"I don't know what to think," Walter answered slowly. "It's a queer +mystery." + +"I hope it won't cause you folks to leave," said Mrs. Floyd a bit +anxiously. "We'd like you to stay on." + +"And we will!" cried Cora. "We knew that a surprise awaited us when we +came here, and we haven't been disappointed. And, now that it has come, +we're not going to turn cowards and run away. We'll get to the bottom of +this mystery." + +"That's right!" cried Jack. "Who's afraid? You aren't; are you, Hazel?" + +"Not--not if----" + +"Not if _I_ stay! There, I knew it!" and Jack puffed out his chest. "See +what it is to have confidence in a man. Now if the rest of you will act +as I do, we'll soon----" + +"Oh, I didn't say that at all!" cried the blushing Hazel. "I meant I +would stay if the _rest_ did." + +"Squelched!" murmured Jack in dejected tones. "Never mind, I'll lay this +ghost yet. Now let's get things to rights, and then we'll stay to supper +with you girls." + +"Hadn't you better wait until you're invited?" asked Cora. + +"Oh, do let them stay!" begged Belle. "I--I'm a bit nervous over this." + +"Another manly protector needed," murmured Paul. + +"Let us stay and we'll help find the ghost," suggested Walter, and the +girls were glad enough to agree, for, truth to tell, they were a bit +upset, and even Cora looked over her shoulder nervously as she ascended +the stairs. + +"Well, they didn't come up and disturb your bedrooms this time," said +Mrs. Floyd, as she went to the upper story with the girls. + +"Do you mean to say they actually have upset the things in the +_bedrooms_?" asked Belle. + +"Sometimes," replied the caretaker. "Though that hasn't happened of +late." + +"Oh, dear!" sighed the slim girl. "I did hope we would be safe from them +up here." + +"Oh, they never come--that is, things never happen--when any one is in the +house," Mrs. Floyd hastened to add. "It's always when the place is left +to itself." + +"Then the--er--well, call it ghost, for want of a better name," said +Jack--"then the ghost must keep watch to know when we go out." + +"I'm sure I don't know," said Mrs. Floyd. "It's very annoying, and I do +hope you will find out what does it and stop it." + +"We will," Jack declared. "I'm sure, after all, we'll find out that it +is due to perfectly natural causes." + +"That's what I believe," said Walter. "I wonder if it could be an +earthquake?" + +"Earthquake?" echoed the others. + +"Yes," Walter went on. "You know that queer noise which Cora, Belle and +I seem to have heard to the exclusion of you others? Well, that was a +sort of rumbling of the earth. It might have been a slight shock, a +reaction from a distant quake. Such things have been known to happen. +And if there was one there might well be another. If the bungalow shook +hard enough the chairs might have been upset as we found them." + +Jack shook his head. + +"Your theory won't hold water," he said. "If there was a hard enough +shock to knock over chairs and tables, the dishes in the closets would +have been broken." + +"I think so, too," declared Paul. "The earthquake won't account for it, +Walter." + +"Perhaps not. But I can't think what else it could be." + +"A human agency, you may be sure of that," declared Cora. "I don't +believe in the supernatural. This was done by human hands and, sooner or +later, we'll discover by whom. Humans are fallible and will make a +mistake. We must watch for that mistake." + +They righted the furniture and talking of the matter seemed to make it +lose some of its mysteriousness. The boys stayed to supper and until +late in the evening. Jack offered to remain all night, and sleep on the +couch downstairs, but Cora would not hear of it. + +"We'll be all right," she declared. "We can call you on the telephone if +we want you. Besides, Mr. Floyd is going to leave open the door leading +to his quarters, and he can hear if we call. We'll be all right." + +"Well, ring us up if you find the chairs doing a fox trot or hesitation +waltz in the middle of the night," suggested Walter. + +The girls went upstairs together, casting quick, nervous glances over +their shoulders as they ascended. They locked their hall doors as soon +as they were inside. But as the four chambers communicated, it was as if +they were in one large apartment. + +"Oh dear!" exclaimed Cora, as she was taking down her hair. "I've +forgotten it." + +"What?" asked Bess, who was taking off her shoes. + +"My flashlight," Cora answered. "I left it on the table in the living +room. I meant to bring it up, for I like to see what time it is if I +awaken in the night." + +"I'll go down with you if you want to get it," offered Hazel. + +"No, thank you. I'll do without it. I dare say I shan't need it." + +"Let's burn a light all night," proposed Belle. + +And no one called her silly. So the lamp was left aglow, turned down a +little. + +Contrary, at least to some expectations, the night passed peacefully. +There was no disturbance, and the girls awoke refreshed and with only a +little feeling of uneasiness as to what might happen in the future. + +But when Cora went downstairs, and began looking among the things on the +table in the living room, another manifestation of the queer happenings +was in evidence. + +"Where's my light?" she demanded. "I left my flashlight here last night, +and now it's gone. Did any one take it?" + +No one had, the boys and girls denying all knowledge. Nor had Mr. or +Mrs. Floyd removed it, and Cora was positive she had left it on the +table. She recalled her remarks about it the night previous. + +"Well, it's gone," she said. "Another one of the mysteries." + +"You seem to be singled out," observed Walter. "First it's your auto, +and now your light." + +"Do you think the two cases have any connection?" asked Cora. + + + + +CHAPTER XX--MORE HAPPENINGS + + +Walter considered the matter rather judicially before answering. Then he +gave as his decision: + +"No, I can't say that I do. It is, perhaps, only a coincidence that your +automobile and your flashlight should have been taken. I dare say that +had it been a light belonging to any one else it would have disappeared +just the same." + +"You mean that they--the mysterious They--would have taken the light, no +matter to whom it belonged?" asked Jack. + +"Exactly! It was a case of wanting a light and taking it." + +"But how did they get in to take it?" asked Paul. "There's no sign of +anything having been broken; is there--no doors or windows?" + +"We didn't look," Cora said. + +"Then that's what we'd better do," Jack suggested. + +But an examination did not show that any means had been used to force a +passage from without. The windows were provided with screens which +fastened from within in such a way that force would have to be exerted +to slip them. And this had not been done. Nor had the door been tampered +with. + +"There's only one way to account for it," said Walter, "and that is on +the theory that the Surprisers, Ghosts, They--whatever you choose to call +them--used skeleton keys. And they must be professional burglars, or they +would have made noise enough to have aroused you girls. You didn't hear +anything; did you?" + +Not one had heard a sound. + +"But if they were professional thieves wouldn't they have taken +something else besides a flashlight?" asked Jack. "There's plenty of +other things they might have picked up." + +This was true enough, for the girls had left many of their more or less +valuable belongings downstairs. But none of them had been taken. + +"Perhaps they just needed Cora's light to help them in some of their +other surprise visits," suggested Bess. "Isn't it most delightfully +mystifying?" + +"I don't know that I find it especially so," retorted Belle, with a +quick glance over her shoulder. "It's getting on my nerves." + +"Well, you can quit and go away when you want to," suggested her sister. + +"Never!" cried Cora. "We're not going to desert in the face of danger; +are we, Belle?" + +The slim twin hesitated a moment, and then answered, but not very +decidedly: + +"No." + +"I knew you wouldn't," said Jack's sister. "We Motor Girls aren't +cowards." + +"We give you credit for that," declared Walter. + +In spite of the brave front of Cora and her chums, the happenings at +Camp Surprise were getting on their nerves. The boys, true to their +promise, began to plan to do their own cooking; but in view of the fact +that the oftener they were in the girls' bungalow the better Cora and +her chums liked it, it was decided to have the boys take all their meals +with the girls. Jack, Walter and Paul would merely sleep in the smaller +building, where they were in close call by means of the telephone. + +For the next two days nothing happened. No more articles were missed, +and the furniture remained where it was put. Then came two or three days +when our friends were off on long picnics, remaining all day, leaving +Mr. and Mrs. Floyd in charge. Nor on these occasions did anything +happen. The bungalow was as peaceful when they returned as when they +left. + +"I guess it's all over," said Cora, when nearly a week had passed, and +there had been no more manifestations. "It was a flashlight they were +looking for all the while, and, now that they have it, they are +satisfied." + +"It might be," admitted Belle. "I hope it is." + +There were happy days in the mountains. Sometimes the young folks would +wander far afield or through the woods, taking their lunches and staying +all day. Again they would go berrying or fishing. And they did not get +lost again, for the boys became familiar with the lay of the land. Cora, +too, as well as Belle and Bess, got her bearings, and knew how to find +the back paths. + +Fishing formed a pastime that all enjoyed, for the streams and ponds in +Mountain View were private property, and had not been depleted of their +finny inhabitants. So fish formed many a dainty dish for the table. + +It was one day when Mr. Floyd had gone in to town, and Mrs. Floyd had +departed to one of the more distant bungalows to get it in readiness for +occupancy, that Cora and her friends again went on a little trip to the +small lake which once before they had visited. + +"And make sure everything is well locked," Belle advised, as they +started away, boys and girls together. + +Windows and doors were seen to, though no one had more than a faint +suspicion that any unbidden visitors would call. They got back rather +early in the afternoon, for a thunder shower was threatening, and as +Jack opened the door and looked in the living room, he called out: + +"All serene. They haven't been here this time." + +"That's good," said Belle. "I guess we've broken the hoodoo." + +But when Cora and Hazel went upstairs there came simultaneous cries of +surprise from them. + +"Oh, Cora!" cried Hazel. "Look at my room!" + +"And look at mine!" Cora added. + +"What's the matter?" asked Jack from below. + +"Everything!" answered his sister. "They've been up here, Jack!" + +"Who?" + +"The Surprise, of course. Our rooms are all upset." + +"Is anything taken?" asked Jack, who, with the others, came up to look +at the strange evidences left by the mysterious visitors. + +"We can't tell yet," said Cora. "Oh dear! what does it all mean?" + +No one answered for a moment, but Belle and Bess looked half-fearfully +about, as though even then they might be standing in the presence of +some unseen creature. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI--A DANCING LIGHT + + +"This is getting to be the limit of patience!" exclaimed Jack a bit +wrathfully, as he looked at the disordered rooms. "Why can't we do +something?" + +"We could, if we knew what to do," said Walter. "But you can't fight +nothing with something." + +"It is very intangible," said Cora. "Oh, all my pretty things scattered +about!" + +"Look and see if anything is taken," suggested Paul. "If we can find out +what is missing--I mean the character of the things--we can get a better +line on who might have taken them. So far, the flashlight indicates +regular burglars." + +For a time the girls were so put out, and so nervous over what had +happened, that they could not ascertain what, if anything, was missing. + +Then Cora began to reckon up her belongings, and found that a number of +articles had been taken. Hazel found the same misfortune had visited +her. + +"There are lots of my things gone," said Cora. + +"What?" asked Walter, producing pencil and paper. "Let's get at this +systematically." + +"Oh, well, there are lots of things you--you wouldn't understand about," +said Cora, blushing slightly. + +"That's true enough," Walter admitted with a smile. "You are not on the +witness stand, so you needn't mention face powder, nose rings----" + +"Well, I like that!" cried Cora. "As if we used face powder!" + +"Just for that he will have to eat at the second table," pronounced +Hazel. + +"Come on!" challenged Jack, laughing. "Get down to business. What sort +of things are missing, Cora?" + +"Girls' things, of course," said his sister. "We didn't have much else +up here." + +And that, it developed, was what was missing. Trinkets, some toilet +articles, including a silver-mounted set belonging to Cora which Jack +had given her the previous Christmas, were gone. Hazel lost a +silver-backed mirror and a box full of bright ribbons. + +"Well, this beats me!" said Walter with a puzzled air, as he looked at +the list he had made. "They took some things they may possibly dispose +of at a pawnshop, but why grown men burglars should want hair ribbons, +or neck ribbons, or whatever ribbons they are, gets me." + +"What makes you think they were men?" asked Belle. + +"Who else would it be?" + +"Well, we first had a theory that the upsetting might have been done by +boys," said Cora. + +"Yes, that theory would fit, under certain circumstances," agreed +Walter. "So would the taking of the flashlight. Almost any boy would +have been glad to get that. But what boy would take a lot of pretty +ribbons, even though he were enough of a criminal to know that he might +be able to dispose of the silver-mounted toilet articles? It doesn't +jibe." + +In the main, they were forced to agree with Walter. + +"Well, the fact remains that we have had another visit from the +unknowns," concluded Walter, "and what are we going to do about it?" + +For a moment no one knew what to say. And then, as brains were busy with +the mystery, several schemes were offered. + +"Put some animal traps about and catch the intruders," said Jack. + +"One of us stay and watch, while the others go away," was Paul's +contribution. + +"Sprinkle talcum powder on the floor, and then we can track them by the +marks," offered Hazel. + +"Not such a bad idea," declared Jack, as the others laughed. "It has +been known to work." + +"Call in the police," came from Bess. + +"Pooh!" scoffed Cora. "If they couldn't get back my automobile they +can't find mysterious thieves who enter through locked doors or windows, +and vanish into thin air with their ill-gotten gains." + +"Let--let's go home!" faltered Belle. + +"Nonsense!" cried Cora. "We'll stick it out. It is just getting +interesting." + +"That's all right," announced Belle, "but suppose--suppose they come in +the night, when we're asleep, and take one of us?" + +"Let them begin on Bess," suggested Jack, with a laugh. "No offense, of +course, fair one," and he bowed, "but you know you could give a good +account of yourself if some one did try to walk off with you." + +"Don't dare suggest such a thing!" cried the plump twin. "I'd never go +to sleep if I thought they'd come at night." + +"They do seem to confine their visits to daytime, and to the periods +when we are away," said Cora. + +"Which makes it look, more than ever, as if they watched the bungalow +and knew just when to take advantage of our absence," commented Paul. + +"Oh, don't say that!" begged Belle. "Just think--they--they may be +watching now!" + +"Well, if they are let's go and see if we can rout them out," suggested +Jack. "There aren't many places of concealment about the bungalow." + +While the other girls helped Cora and Hazel put to rights the upset +rooms, the boys made a thorough search outside. There did not seem to be +any place where the mysterious persons might conceal themselves in order +to spy on the bungalow. There were trees all about, but the underbrush +had been cut away, and there was small chance for concealment. The boys +also started to make an inspection about their own bungalow, but this +was cut short by a shower that came up. + +"Well, so far, we are just about where we started," said Jack, as he and +his two chums were eating supper with the girls that night. "We haven't +found out anything." + +"But we will!" declared Cora. "I'm not going to be beaten this way. +We'll organize a campaign." + +They talked to this end, making a tentative plan that the next time they +went off on a trip, some member of the party would be left behind in +concealment in the bungalow, to see, if possible, who the visitor or +visitors were. + +"And if that doesn't work we'll try something else," said Walter. + +It was evident, though, that after the first few trials the new plan was +not going to work. Though the boys took turns in remaining in +concealment while the others went away, not a sound or sign of +disturbance was noted. No furniture was misplaced, and nothing was +taken. + +"We've got to have a new scheme," said Cora. "Let's talk to Mr. and Mrs. +Floyd about it. Maybe they can suggest something." + +But the caretaker and his wife had nothing to offer. They were as much +worried and disturbed by the queer happenings as were the girls and +boys. And though they were generous and kindly souls, they were not +quick thinkers, and had little imagination. + +"It's just spirits," said Mrs. Floyd. "Spirits come and go." + +"There aren't any such things," declared Cora. + +"Maybe it's lightning," suggested Mr. Floyd. "We have pretty heavy +thunderstorms up here." + +"Lightning can't move furniture, nor carry off looking glasses and hair +ribbons," Cora went on. + +"Well, once lightning struck Jim Dobson's cabin," the caretaker said, +"and knocked all his pots and pans off the stove, and burned a hole +right through his clock." + +"That's within the bounds of possibility," admitted Jack. + +"It's boys!" decided Walter. "You'll find that some youngsters are up to +these tricks, and they're cute enough to cover up their tracks." + +"That's it," said Paul. "They're too cute. They don't leave any tracks. +How they get in and out again, without leaving a clew or a mark is more +than I can see." For an examination of the place after the losses +suffered by Cora and Hazel had disclosed no apparent means of egress or +ingress. + +One evening when the girls had gone over to the boys' bungalow to sit +and talk, Cora, who had gone to the end of the porch, whence a view +could be had of the other building, uttered an exclamation. + +"There's a light in our bungalow!" she called. "Did we leave one +burning?" + +"No," answered Belle. "I put it out, as I was afraid of fire." + +"Well, one's there now. See how it dances about!" + +Indeed, a light could be observed, dancing up and down, flashing first +from one window and then from another. + +"It's Mr. or Mrs. Floyd," said Jack. + +"They've gone to the village," Paul said. "I saw them go." + +"It's the mysterious visitors!" cried Walter. "They're using Cora's +flashlight! Come on, boys, this time we have them!" + +He ran toward the bungalow, followed by the others. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII--A MOUNTAIN CAVE + + +Advancing rapidly toward the girls' bungalow, where so many strange +happenings had occurred, and where even now the strange light was +flashing, first at one window, then at another, Cora and her chums--boys +and girls--speculated on what could be the cause. + +"Let the boys go first," cautioned Belle. "We don't know what it might +be." + +"That's right! Wish the danger on to us!" commented Jack. "But we're not +afraid." + +"It's only those mischievous boys," declared Paul. "We'll catch 'em in +the very act now." + +"But how did the little rascals get in without our seeing them?" asked +Walter. + +"We weren't watching the bungalow very closely," said Paul. "They could +easily have slipped in from the back, around on the forest side. They +watched their chance." + +"But what's their game?" asked Jack, as they crossed the rustic bridge +on the run, their footsteps echoing dully on the boards. + +"Go easy!" cautioned Walter. "Don't make so much noise, or we'll scare +them away before we have a chance to catch them." + +"They can't hear us above the noise of the waterfall," declared Jack. +"But what's their game? That's what I want to know. Why are they +flashing that light about so?" + +"There must be two or three of them with lights," said Cora. "For first +I noticed it up in the window of my room, and a second later, certainly +in less time than any human boy could make the trip downstairs, the +light showed from a window in the living room." + +"Probably there are three or four of the little rascals," said Walter. +"Come on now, we're almost there." + +"Wait here, girls," suggested Cora. "Let the boys go ahead, though after +they catch these mischief-makers I'll feel like giving them a good +shaking myself." + +Walter, Paul and Jack advanced toward the bungalow. They went softly up +on the porch, looking sharply for a sign of the light. + +"Seems to have gone out," commented Jack in a whisper. + +"Yes. They must have heard us and switched it off." + +"Probably they've skipped out, too, worse luck!" came from Paul. + +Indeed, as they listened, they could hear no sound from the bungalow, at +the door of which they now stood. All was silent and dark within. + +"Got a match?" Walter asked. + +"Take my flashlight," returned Jack. "It's stronger than Cora's." + +The brilliant white beam of light from the electric flash which Jack +handed to Walter illuminated the interior of the living room. And at the +sight which met the gaze of the boys, they could not restrain murmurs of +astonishment. + +"Well, would you look at that!" + +"Same thing over again!" + +"And right under our noses too! They never made a sound!" + +"What is it?" called Cora, from where she and her chums stood waiting. +"Did you catch them?" + +"Haven't yet," answered Walter, playing the light about the room. "But +the furniture is all upset, just as it was the other day, only more so. +Come on up, girls. I guess there's no danger. The boys have probably +skipped out, though we may get them yet. Jack, you go around to the side +door. Paul, you cover the back. I'll take a run through the bungalow and +stir them up." + +Pausing to light a lamp in the living room, Walter ran up the stairs to +the apartments of the girls, while Jack and Paul formed a guard outside +the bungalow. The girls still remained a little distance away, awaiting +developments. + +But there were none--at least inside the bungalow. Walter came down +stairs to report that no one was up there. + +"But are things upset in our rooms?" asked Bess. + +"And is anything taken?" Hazel questioned. + +"I didn't stop to look," confessed Walter. "I was just trying to drive +out intruders." + +"None came out the door I was watching," declared Jack. + +"Nor where I was," said Paul. + +"How in the world did they get away so quickly?" asked Walter. + +No one could answer him and they all turned their attention to the +living room. + +As Walter had said, it was more upset than on the other occasion. Every +chair in the big apartment had been overturned, and in some cases two +were jammed together, the legs interwoven. On a table two chairs had +been piled, while the couch was turned completely upside down, and a +stool perched on top of it, a sofa cushion surmounting that. + +Other sofa cushions were tossed about the room, as though the intruders +had been having a pillow fight, and in fact the whole room had that +appearance. + +"But nothing seems to have been taken," said Cora, after a look around, +when the furniture had been put to rights. + +"Better not be too sure," cautioned Walter. "Wait until you take a look +upstairs. I only glanced around." + +"How in the world could they do all this without making a noise?" asked +Paul. "It seems to have been done in a hurry, and boys are rather +clumsy--I know I was. They ought, by rights, to have stumbled all over +themselves, doing this by the light of only a pocket flash. And yet we +heard no racket as we ran up. It was all quiet." + +"That's one queer part of it," admitted Walter. "It almost makes one +believe in----" + +"Ghosts! Go on and say it," challenged Cora. "You can't scare us." + +"Any more than we are frightened now," said Belle. + +"Are you frightened?" asked Jack. + +"A little," she confessed. "Wouldn't you be--if you were I?" + +"I might be," he admitted. "But we'll get at the bottom of this for you, +and catch those youngsters." + +"If we only could be sure they were boys," Belle murmured. + +"Who else could it be?" asked Jack. + +"Ask us something easier," suggested Paul. "Go ahead upstairs, girls, +and see if anything is missing." + +This advice was acted upon, and when the place was aglow with lights +Cora and her chums took "an account of stock," as Jack said. + +"Well, any of your 'war paint' missing?" he demanded of his sister when +she came down. + +"Only a few little trinkets," she said, "ribbons and things like that. +If it were not impossible, I should say girls had a hand in this." + +"It isn't impossible," declared Walter. "Girls can do almost anything +nowadays. But it isn't likely. Some boys are just as fond of bright +things as are girls, and probably these youngsters hope to make neckties +of your ribbons." + +"Well, what are we going to do about it?" asked Jack, when they had sat +discussing the curious happening for some time. + +"What _can_ we do?" Walter demanded. + +"I know one thing _I_ am going to do," declared, Belle, "and that is I'm +going home in the morning." + +"No!" cried Cora. + +"I am if this mystery isn't cleared up. It's getting on my nerves +horribly," and she gave a quick glance over her shoulder as a slight +noise sounded. + +"I did that," confessed Hazel, who had dropped a book. + +"Don't do it again, my dear," begged Belle. + +"Now look here!" cried Cora, "this won't do. We're going to stick it +out. We agreed on that, you know. We're going to find out what this +mystery is." + +"That's what I say!" came from Bess. + +"I'm willing to stay," declared Hazel. + +"Well, since I seem to be in the minority I'll have to give in," sighed +Belle. "I'll stay if you all do, but I really think some one ought to be +in this bungalow with us--one of the boys or----" + +"I'll stay here," came from Jack, Walter, and Paul in a trio. + +But when Mr. and Mrs. Floyd returned from town, and heard of the strange +happenings, they offered to sleep in a small room opening off the living +apartment. + +The night, however, passed without incident, though none of the girls +slept well. Morning seemed to quiet the frayed nerves, and the +happenings of the night before did not seem so mysterious in the glare +of the golden sun. + +The season for berries was at its height now, and as many varieties grew +on the mountainside the young campers organized another expedition one +day, about a week after the disturbance in which the light figured. Mrs. +Floyd promised to bake the pies if the boys and girls gathered the +berries. + +They planned for an all day stay, taking their lunch, and early in the +afternoon all berry baskets were filled. Then, as there were some +ominous-looking clouds in the west, they decided to start for the +bungalows. + +They were about half a mile from Camp Surprise, on a new short cut which +Mr. Floyd had mentioned, when Cora, who was hurrying along in the lead, +slipped on a slight declivity and, to save herself from falling, grasped +a bush. + +The bush, however, offered little hold, for it came away in her hand, +and Cora slid on, until she brought up on a level place. She looked +back, to join the others in the laugh at her slight mishap, when her +eyes noted the place from which the bush had pulled away. + +"Why look! Look here!" she called to the others. "Here's a regular +cave!" + +"A cave?" echoed Jack. + +"Yes. There's a big hole which I'd never have seen only the bush became +uprooted. Come here!" + +"Come on!" cried Jack. "Let's see where this leads to. It may have +something to do with the mystery." + +"What mystery?" asked Bess. + +"What mystery? The mystery of Camp Surprise! Maybe the boys hide in this +cave. Come on!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII--THE TREMBLING NOISE + + +Jack, Walter, and Paul tore away more of the bushes screening the mouth +of the natural cave. As they removed the leafy branches the black hole +was seen to be of large size, fully high enough to permit even a tall +man to enter without stooping, and wide enough to enable three to walk +abreast. + +"This is some cave!" exclaimed Jack. "I wonder Mr. Floyd never told us +about it." + +"Perhaps he didn't know," suggested Cora. "I wouldn't have seen it, and +I was within a few feet of it, if I hadn't slipped and pulled away the +bush." + +"Well, we'll soon see if it amounts to anything," declared Paul, setting +down the pail of berries he was carrying. + +"Are you girls coming in with us?" asked Walter, looking at Cora and her +chums who had not advanced. + +"I don't know. Shall we?" asked Hazel, looking at her brother. + +"I don't want to stay here," said Cora. "Besides, something might happen +to the boys. But how are you going to explore the cave in the dark? And +it is as dark as a bottle of ink in there. Have any of you your +flashlights?" + +"We can make a torch of wood," said Jack, when it developed that none of +them had one of the pocket electric lights. + +But just as Jack and the others were about to enter the cave the +mutterings of thunder which had been increasing, culminated in such a +clap that the girls, involuntarily placed their hands over their ears. + +"Come on! Run for the bungalow!" cried Cora. "Else we'll be caught in a +terrible storm! It's starting to rain now." + +Some hot drops hissed down, the prelude to an almost tropical fury of +the elements it seemed. + +"We can go into the cave," suggested Paul. + +"No!" cried his sister. "You shan't go in there with this storm coming +up. The cave will keep. Come on, let's run!" + +She darted off down the side of the mountain, the other girls following. +The boys hesitated a moment, and then, not wishing to desert the girls, +even though the latter ran first, they followed. + +"We can come back to the cave to-morrow," said Walter. "It won't run +away. And to explore it well we ought to have the electric lights. Come +on." + +Paul and Jack followed him, and they all reached the girls' bungalow +just as the deluge of rain came down. + +For an hour or more the storm raged, blinding lightning and deafening +thunder succeeding one another. But the bungalow was snug and safe, +though once, when a tree was struck not far away, the girls screamed in +terror. + +That crash, however, seemed to be the culmination of the outburst, for +from then on the rain began to slacken, and the thunder died away in +muttered rumblings and the lightning became paler and paler until it was +only a faint, shimmering light. + +Then the dark sky cleared and the sun came out, shining through the +storm-riven clouds and warming the ground and trees which were dripping +from the vigorous bath. + +"We got home just in time," commented Cora, as they looked out on the +ceasing storm. "A little longer on the mountain and we would have been +drenched." + +"That cave was a find," commented Jack. "I want to see what's in it." + +"Probably nothing more than a hole in the side of the mountain," +commented Bess. + +"I wouldn't be too sure of that," voiced Walter. "I wonder if Mr. Floyd +knows anything about it?" + +It developed that the caretaker did not, though he said there were +several small mountain caves in that section, and this was probably one +of them that he had not chanced upon. + +"Do you think smugglers or pirates might have used it?" asked Hazel, +with a smile. + +"Hardly pirates," commented Jack. "Too far from the water. But smugglers +might have done so. We're not so far from the Canadian line." + +"All bosh!" declared Paul. "It's probably a garage dating from the stone +age when the early inhabitants used the dinosaur as a jitney!" + +They all laughed at his conceit and talked further of the cave and what +they might find in it when they explored it the next day. + +Whether it was the severe thunderstorm, or whether it was the +culmination of the happenings of the past few weeks was not made clear, +but it was certain that the girls, even Cora, were more nervous than +they had been at any time yet. + +"I--I wish we didn't have to stay here to-night," said Belle when supper +was over, and they sat out on the porch, gazing into the fast-gathering +darkness. + +"Why?" asked Cora. + +"Because I--I'm afraid. Come now, aren't you?" she challenged. + +"Well, I can't say I like all the mysterious happenings," Cora admitted. +"And now that we know there is a cave near us--more than one perhaps--and +that we don't know who--or what--may be in them, why, I can't say it is +the most pleasant vacation we have experienced." + +"This bungalow gives me the creeps!" complained Hazel. + +"Why not take ours?" suggested Walter. "It's large enough for you to +sleep in, and we'll take this one. Come on, what do you say?" + +"No, not to-night anyhow," decided Cora. "We'll keep to our agreement +and stay here. Mrs. Floyd will be here with us." + +"And not Mr. Floyd?" asked Belle. + +"No, not until later. He has to go to some town meeting I believe, and +will come in around midnight. But nothing has happened in the last few +days--not even a noise." + +"I've heard noises," confessed Belle. + +"What sort?" Jack inquired. + +"Oh, sort of rumbling, trembling noises, and they seemed to be away down +under the ground. I heard one yesterday, when I came back to get my veil +after the others had gone out. It scared me," Belle added. + +"I think the waterfall causes those rumbling noises," said Walter. +"We'll have to investigate that to-morrow." + +The boys went to their own bungalow, and Mrs. Floyd came in to occupy +the small temporary bedroom. Her husband would be in later, she +explained, confirming Cora's information in that respect. The +thunderstorm had cooled the rather oppressive air and there was a +refreshing breeze blowing as the girls went up to their bedrooms. + +Just who awakened first, it would be hard to say. Probably it was Belle, +as she was the lightest sleeper. Cora heard her calling, and at the same +time she was aware of another disturbance. + +"Do you hear it?" asked Belle from her room. + +"Yes," Cora answered. At the same time she could hear Bess and Hazel +getting up. + +The whole bungalow seemed filled with a roaring, trembling noise, and +there was a slight vibration of the building. + +"What is it? Oh, what is it?" cried Belle, in hysterical tones. + +"I don't know," answered Cora. "But I'm going to find out." + +"How?" + +"By calling the boys. Mrs. Floyd, are you awake?" Cora demanded, going +to the head of the stairs. + +"Yes. That noise awoke me." + +"Is Mr. Floyd home?" + +"Not yet." + +"Then I'm going to telephone for the boys!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV--THE SECRET PASSAGE + + +Hastily donning robes and slippers, the girls gathered about Cora as she +rang the electric bell which had been arranged to summon the boys in the +other bungalow to the toy telephone. Meanwhile, Mrs. Floyd had arisen +and dressed to let in the boys. The rumbling, trembling noise had +stopped. + +"Oh, why don't they answer?" cried Cora, impatiently pushing the +electric bell button again and again. + +Then, through the toy receiver came a faint voice. + +"Hello! Hello, there! Is that you, girls? What is the matter?" + +"This you, Jack?" Cora asked. + +"Yes." + +"Come over as fast as you can! Hurry!" + +"What's the matter?" he asked. + +"Don't stop to question! Hurry over!" Cora begged. "It's that terrible +noise again. Can't you hear it?" + +"No," answered Jack. "But we'll be right over. Come on, fellows!" Cora +heard him call to Walter and Paul, as he left the telephone. "The girls +are scared." + +"I guess he'd be too, if he heard that noise," Cora said. "Did you all +hear it?" and she appealed to her chums. + +"I did," affirmed Hazel. "It sounded like distant thunder." + +"Could it have been?" asked Mrs. Floyd, who had joined the girls. + +"The stars are shining," reported Belle, looking from a window, shading +her eyes with her hands from the light in the room. They had partly +dressed and gone down to the living room. There they listened and waited +both for a recurrence of the noise and for the approach of the boys. + +The latter made their presence known first, fairly running along the +graveled way that led from their bungalow, over the rustic bridge, to +the girls' abiding place. + +"What's all the racket about?" demanded Jack, as he and his two chums +entered, rather breathless from their run and their hurry in dressing, +the hurry showing itself in the absence of collars and ties. + +"It's that noise," said Cora, her voice trembling slightly. "We heard it +again, Jack." + +"Was it so scary?" demanded Paul, looking at his sister. + +"It certainly was--too scary for words!" answered Belle. "I'm not going +to pass another night in Camp Surprise!" + +"It _has_ been a surprise with a vengeance," declared Bess. "Boys, can't +you do something?" she appealed. + +"What's to be done?" asked Jack. "We'll have to wait until we hear the +noise again, and then we can tell from which direction it comes. +Suppose, while we're waiting, you girls just tell us what you heard." + +They had all heard something different, it developed. At least, they all +had a different impression of the noise. + +Cora described it as a "trembling roar." + +Bess said it was a rumble, as though a heavy wagon had passed in front +of the bungalow. + +Belle said it reminded her of a deep, heavy sound, such as she had once +heard in a blast furnace. + +It was reserved for Hazel to describe accurately the noise, though none +of them knew her description was correct until afterward. + +"It was like a factory or machine shop next door," said Paul's sister. +"It seemed to shake the bungalow as though heavy machinery were +working." + +"It must be the waterfall," decided Jack. "Only a large body of water, +tumbling down into some chasm, could make a noise like that. There's no +machinery around here. Besides, the waterfall is bigger than ever now, +on account of the rain. It must be that." + +"It wasn't!" declared Cora, though when pressed for reasons to bolster +up her denial she could give none. "It wasn't that sort of noise at +all," she affirmed. "It was more like----" + +"What's that?" asked Belle so suddenly that the other girls jumped +nervously. + +It was the sound of a footstep on the porch, a firm, unhesitating +footstep. + +"I expect that's my husband," said Mrs. Floyd. + +It was Mr. Floyd, and he was, greatly surprised to see the "whole family +up," as he expressed it. + +"What's the matter?" he asked, looking around on the circle of rather +startled faces, ending with his wife's. "Did you sit up to see how late +I got in? Strictly business, young ladies and gentlemen," he went on, +smiling at them. "The committee had considerable to transact, and I had +to stay." + +"This is a sort of surprise party," Cora told him. "Camp Surprise is +living up to its name," and she went on to tell about the noise, the +others adding bits here and there. + +"Pshaw now! That's queer!" commented Mr. Floyd. "I have heard them +rumblings myself, but I laid 'em to the waterfall. It's a curious +cataract at times." + +"This noise," began Cora, "isn't like anything I ever----" + +She paused midway in the sentence, and a strange look grew and spread +over her face, as it did over the faces of the others. + +"There it is now," whispered Bess. "That--that noise!" + +They all heard it, a dull, rumbling roar that made the bungalow tremble +as when a heavy wind blows and vibrates the timbers of a house. + +"So that's what it is!" exclaimed Jack. "This is my first experience." + +"I heard it once, though distantly," said Walter. + +"Listen!" cautioned Cora. + +The noise seemed to increase. + +"Say, that is curious!" commented Mr. Floyd. "I never noticed that +before. Where does it come from?" + +Hardly had he spoken than the rumbling ceased, and there came a sharp +crash, as though wood had broken somewhere. + +"The chimney's fallen!" cried Mrs. Floyd. + +"Nonsense, Eliza," said her husband. "The crash would be up on the roof +if the chimney toppled over. Besides, there's no wind, and the noise +didn't come from above, it came from--down there!" + +He pointed to the floor of the living room, which was of bare boards, +with rugs here and there. + +"That's right!" cried Jack. "The crash was below us. It's under this +bungalow somewhere. Up with the floor boards! We'll get at the bottom of +this!" + +There was no doubt on that score. Every one in the room was sure the +noise had come from under the floor. + +"But how could it?" asked Walter. "There's no cellar to the bungalow; is +there?" + +"None that I ever heard of," said Mr. Floyd. "I didn't live here when +the bungalow was built, but I've always understood it had no cellar." + +"It hasn't," Cora affirmed. "At least none that you can find. There are +no cellar stairs and the place seems to rest on piles." + +"But the noise came from down there," and Jack pointed to the floor. +"The only way to find out is to take up the boards. May we, Mr. Floyd?" + +"Why, yes, I reckon so. We've got to get at the bottom of this. It's +better to spoil the floor than to lose the renting of the bungalow by +ghosts scaring tenants away. Take up the boards. I'll get an axe and a +crowbar." + +And so, in the middle of the night, for it was close to twelve o'clock, +the strange work of looking under the floor of the bungalow for the +source of the queer noise was begun. + +"Where shall we start?" asked Jack, when Mr. Floyd had brought the +implements. + +The caretaker considered a moment. + +"If there is some sort of cellar, or space under this bungalow, it must +be near the center of the floor, I'm thinking. We'll begin there. Don't +be afraid of spoiling the floor. I'll take the responsibility." + +Jack swung the axe vigorously, and, being aided by Walter, soon had +removed two or three of the narrow boards. As they were prying on +another, a queer thing happened. + +A solid section of the floor from the middle of the room suddenly sank +down, and then rolled back, exactly as a sliding door rolls, only this +door was horizontal instead of vertical. Back it rolled, leaving what +was practically a trap in the floor, and as the light shone down this a +flight of steps was revealed leading into darkness. + +"Great bumblebees!" gasped Jack. "See what we've done! Uncovered a +secret passage! Now for the solution of the mystery!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV--THE PATCHED TIRE + + +Crowding around Jack they all gazed down into the opening. For a moment +no one spoke. Then Cora softly murmured: + +"A secret passage." + +"What else is it?" demanded her brother. "No one knew it was here. You +didn't; did you?" he asked Mr. Floyd. + +"Never had the least notion of it. How it got here is a mystery to me." + +"It must have been built in the bungalow, or put in after it was built," +said Bess. "What does it mean? What's it all about?" + +"That's what we're going to find out," declared Walter. + +"You don't mean to say you're going down--there!" and Belle, with a +dramatic gesture, pointed to the dark opening. + +"Why shouldn't we go down there?" asked Paul. "It's nothing but a +cellar." + +"Cellar!" ejaculated Jack. "We'll find this more than a cellar I'm +thinking!" + +"Well, the steps are just like cellar stairs," said Paul. + +"Except they're of stone," added Walter, "and that passage isn't going +to prove as prosaic as a cellar, I'm thinking." + +"How did you come to open it, Jack?" asked Hazel. + +"That's what I can't tell you," was the answer. "It seemed to open of +itself when the axe, or something, hit on the hidden spring. It's a +secret door to a secret passage, and the land knows what we may find at +the end." + +"Why, it's just like in a book or a play!" gasped Belle. + +"More like a play," said Cora. "They have sliding doors like this on the +stage where the spirits appear and disappear." + +"That's it!" cried Jack, as if an idea had suddenly come to him. + +"What's what?" Walter demanded. + +"This is where the spirits came from--the spirits that have been having +fun with the furniture," Jack went on. "Don't you see? They came up +through this secret door, did what they pleased, and went down again, +closing the door after them by means of some secret mechanism." + +"You're not so far wrong at that," remarked Paul, examining the queer +sliding door in the floor with a mechanic's eye. "This is a pretty piece +of work. You seem to have smashed the operating part of it with your +axe, Jack, or at least the part of it that opened the door from this +side. It slides back and forth though," and Paul rolled the section of +the flooring to and fro. + +"Don't close it!" cried Walter. "You might shut it so we couldn't get it +open again. We want to explore that passage." + +"That's what!" came from Jack. "This is where the furniture-movers came +from all right." + +"Though why they should want to upset chairs is more than I can account +for," commented Walter. + +"We'll find out when we go down there," suggested Paul. "Wait until I +take a look at this apparatus. We don't want it closing over our heads +after we get down there." + +The sliding door, or rather the section of flooring, was comparatively +simple in arrangement. It was made so that it could be dropped down two +inches, and then it could be rolled under the floor on small steel +wheels, which ran on projecting strips of wood. + +As Paul had said, Jack, by a blow of his axe, had destroyed the spring +that controlled the mechanism, but this very chance blow of the +implement had revealed the secret. Probably there was one certain board +which, when pressed on, or shifted, operated the sliding door. And so +cleverly was it fitted into the floor, and so tight was the joining, +that the presence of it would never have been seen. Only by chance had +they happened upon it. + +"Well, who's going down?" asked Jack, as they stood looking into the +opening. "We'll need lights, though." + +"I have my flash," said Walter. Paul, it developed, had his also. Both +were powerful pocket electric torches, with dry storage batteries. + +"We'll all go," suggested Paul. + +"No you won't!" cried his sister. "We're not going to be left here +alone, with that queer noise likely to happen at any time." + +"I guess there won't be any more noise, now that we have discovered +this," said Jack, significantly. "This is where it came from all right." + +"But what caused it?" asked Bess. + +"That's what we've got to find out," said Walter. "Come on, boys. Into +the secret passage!" + +"I'll stay with you girls," said Mr. Floyd. "Let the boys investigate +all they like. But this sure does beat me! To think this bungalow had +this concealed under the floor all the while, and I never knew it." + +"No wonder this was named Camp Surprise," said Cora. + +"I don't believe even them folks that give it that name suspected +anything like this," Mrs. Floyd remarked. + +"We'll take all the surprise out of it before we're through," Jack said, +as he started down the stone steps. Walter and Paul followed, their +flashes switched on. The stone steps proved to be made of cement well +moulded, and there were ten of them, which led to a flat place under the +bungalow, the floor of which was now three feet above the boys' heads. +They found themselves standing in a rectangular space, with heavy planks +on the sides. + +"Is it just a cellar?" called Mr. Floyd from up above, where he stood at +the edge of the opening, with the girls and his wife. + +"There's a long narrow passage leading off somewhere," Jack called back. +"We'll investigate. It doesn't seem to be just a cellar though." + +"Be careful," warned Cora, as the boys passed out of sight of those who +were watching. + +Jack, Walter and Paul found themselves in what was practically a planked +passageway, about four feet wide and eight feet in height. There was a +musty, damp smell to it, and when they had walked on a few feet over the +hard-packed dirt floor, Jack said: + +"This goes beyond the bungalow." + +"What do you mean?" asked Walter. + +"I mean that we have passed beyond the limits of the bungalow. This +passage extends back under the ground, perhaps into the mountain." + +"Maybe right into that cave we found to-day," suggested Paul. + +"It might be," agreed Walter. "There's something queer about +this--something big, too. Keep on, and we'll find where this passage +leads to. It's been built some time, that's evident." + +This was shown by the fact that the planking on the sides and overhead +was old, and rotted in some places. And the ground underfoot was packed +so hard that it gave no evidences of footprints or other marks. + +Wondering what lay before them, the boys pressed eagerly forward. And +then, after a sudden turn, the passage came to an abrupt end. They found +themselves up against a stone wall, a veritable, and not figurative one. + +"Well, what do you know about this!" exclaimed Jack in chagrin. + +"This is the end," said Paul. + +"Perhaps not," asserted Walter. "This passage must lead somewhere. +Nobody would go to all this work making it, only to block it off in this +fashion. And it's blocked off solidly enough, too," he added as he +banged his fist against the stone. Like the steps it seemed to be of +cement. + +"Isn't there any way of opening that?" asked Jack. + +"There doesn't seem to be," Paul said, examining it closely. "Looks to +be pretty solid." + +"Can't be," declared Jack. "Else how could those spirits or boys get +through and up into the bungalow to play tricks with the furniture?" + +"If they were spirits a stone wall wouldn't stop them," Paul said. "But +we can't do anything more to-night." + +"Can we at any time?" asked Walter. + +"Sure!" cried Jack. "We'll get crowbars to-morrow and tear down this +cement wall. Then we'll find what's at the other end of the passage. Now +come on back and tell the girls." + +They found their friends eagerly waiting, though there was some +disappointment when the boys reported finding nothing. + +"Not a thing in that passage except the solid wall at the end," Jack +said. "But we'll tear that down to-morrow and see what's beyond." + +"Now hold on a minute," said Mr. Floyd. "Of course I'm as anxious as you +folks are to get at the bottom of this. But I don't own this property, +and before I let you go to work tearing down stone walls and so on, I'll +have to get permission from the owners." + +"Well, that's right," assented Jack. "Who are they?" + +Mr. Floyd gave the name, and added the information that they, or rather +the one man who owned this particular bungalow, could be reached by the +long-distance telephone. + +"Then we'll call him up in the morning," decided Jack. "I don't know how +far the passage extends, or whether it's all under the property that +goes with this bungalow, but we'll get permission before we go ahead." + +This was agreed to, and when the girls learned that there was nothing to +be alarmed at they went down into the passage also, as did Mr. and Mrs. +Floyd. + +"Well, there's nothing more we can do," said Cora. "Let's get what +little sleep there is left, and then prepare for work in the morning." + +"It's almost morning now," said Belle, pointing to the windows through +which they could see a faint glow in the east, presaging the rising sun. + +They were all too highly excited to sleep much, and they were up early. +Boards were laid over the opening in the floor, it being feared if the +sliding section was closed there might be trouble in opening it again. + +The strange happenings of the night formed the only topic at breakfast, +and then the boys set off for town to get in communication on the +telephone with the bungalow owner. + +"I can't see why he would object," said Jack. + +"Unless he made that passage for his own use, and doesn't want any one +to meddle with it," Paul remarked. + +"What could he use it for?" asked Walter. + +"Well, that may be part of the mystery. Let's take a short cut to the +village," and he indicated a path that led toward the cave in the +mountainside. + +They emerged into a country road, thick with dust, and were trudging +along this, talking on all the aspects of the queer discovery, when Jack +suddenly stopped and stared intently at something in the dirt of the +highway. + +"What is it?" asked Walter. "A snake?" + +"No, marks of an automobile tire," Jack answered. + +"Nothing very remarkable in that," laughed Paul. + +"There is in this one," Jack declared excitedly. "See the big Z mark +where the tire has been patched--vulcanized. Boys, that's the same mark +as was on the tire of Cora's car! I believe her machine has been along +here this morning!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI--THE DROPPED BUNDLE + + +Walter and Paul stood beside Jack, looking at the queer mark of the +automobile tire in the dust. + +"It is just as Cora described it," said Walter. + +"I remember, too," added Paul. "She spoke about it at the time, saying +the man at the garage had made a poor job when he vulcanized on that +patch. He didn't know his business, that's a fact. But still there might +be other cars with that same sort of tire, Jack." + +"Of course, but this is worth taking a chance on. What do you fellows +say?" + +"Tell us first what you want to do," suggested Walter. + +"Follow this tire mark until we either see the car, or lose trace of +it." + +"What about telephoning to Mr. Haight about permission to rip down that +cement wall?" + +"We can do that, too," answered Jack to Paul. "This auto seems to be +headed for town, and that's where we're going. If we see the men who +have stolen Cora's car, we'll get it back for her." + +"If the men let you," added Walter, significantly. + +"Oh, we'll get help if we have to," said Jack. "Come on." + +For some distance it was comparatively easy to follow the automobile +track by means of the prominent impression left by the patch on the +tire. + +"But if you can tell whether it's going to town or coming from there, it +is more than I can," asserted Paul, "and I know something about autos." + +"Of course, I'm not sure of that part of it," Jack admitted. "But we +have to go to town anyhow, and it won't be any harm to go by this road, +on the chance of seeing Cora's car; will it?" + +"No," agreed Walter. "Perhaps we can kill two birds with one stone that +way, as well as any other." + +But the hopes of the boys were doomed to disappointment, at least in +respect to getting further trace of Cora's car, provided the tire marks +were made by hers. At least it was a temporary setback. For after about +half a mile there came a patch of hard oily road, in which the +impression of the big Z was lost. And when next a dusty stretch was +encountered, there were so many marks of automobile tires that it was +impossible to distinguish any particular one. + +"Baffled!" exclaimed Walter, semi-dramatically, after a back-aching +inspection of the road. + +"Only for a time," added Jack, cheerfully. "After we telephone we'll +take the trail of the marks, going in the other direction. That will be +back toward the cave, and I wouldn't be surprised if there were some +connection between the cave, the passage under the bungalow and the men +in Cora's car." + +"Some cute little detective you're getting to be," laughed Paul. "Well, +it may be that you're right. Go on." + +A little later the boys reached the village, and, after executing some +commissions for the girls, including the purchase for Bess of a box of +chocolates, they found a long distance telephone in a drug store where +there was a booth to insure privacy. + +It was decided that Walter should explain matters over the wire to Mr. +Haight, the owner of the bungalow, and ask permission of him to batter +down the stone wall that brought the secret passage to such an abrupt +end. + +"And while you're about it, Wally," suggested Jack, "ask him what the +whole mysterious business means, what makes those noises, and why +spirits, or humans, should have the nerve to sneak into the girls' rooms +and upset the furniture." + +"I'd need a night letter to get all that information," Walter retorted. +"You forget this is long distance telephone rates I'll have to pay." + +"We'll whack up on it," suggested Paul. "Go ahead, Walter, get all the +information you can." + +Walter's stay in the telephone booth was a lengthy one. His chums only +caught disconnected murmurs of his talk, but they had glimpses of his +face through the glass door and there was sufficient astonishment and +satisfaction depicted to whet their curiosity to the utmost. + +"Whew!" Walter exclaimed as he came out. "It was some hot in there!" + +"Never mind about that!" exclaimed Jack. "Can we tear down that wall?" + +"Sure!" gasped Walter. "Mr. Haight was as surprised as we were to hear +about it. He's coming up to have a look." + +"Do we have to wait until then?" asked Jack, in disappointed tones. + +"Not at all. He said to go right ahead." + +"And doesn't he know anything about the queer goings on, or who upsets +the furniture?" came from Paul. + +"Not in the least. It's all news to him, though he says Mr. Floyd did +write a letter telling about some strange happenings. Mr. Haight didn't +pay much attention--said he couldn't make head or tail of the letter. He +intended to look into the matter when he had a chance, but now he +authorizes us to do it for him." + +"And couldn't he give even a hint as to why the sliding door was made in +the floor, and who cut the passage?" asked Jack. + +"No, though he said something which may prove to be a clew. He said he +bought the bungalow from a man who used to be a well-known actor. This +actor gave up the stage, and it was rumored that he was slightly +demented before he died. Now it occurs to me that this theatrical chap +may have had this sliding door made to gratify his whim for sudden and +unexplained comings and goings. Perhaps to frighten his servants. Any +sort of theory might explain it. That's only a guess, but it's as good +as any." + +"It sounds reasonable," admitted Jack. "At least the actor may have had +the secret door built, but the passage, which leads to goodness knows +where, looks more like the work of smugglers or a band of outlaws." + +"Perhaps it may turn out to be that before we've finished," said Walter. +"Anyhow, we have permission to go ahead, and the sooner we get at it, +and have that wall down, the sooner we'll know where we're at." + +They hastened out of town, eager to begin work on the wall, and were +soon on the same highway where they had seen the automobile marks. + +"And this time we'll follow them in the other direction," said Jack. "We +might as well spend a little time on this end of the game now as later, +and it may be that this will fit in with the rest of the mystery." + +"Good idea," commented Walter. + +As the boys retraced their steps they took note of the fact that the +mark of the big Z in the dust became plainer. + +"We were wrong before," decided Jack. "We were going in the direction +from which the auto had come. Now we're following it." + +"To its lair, I hope," said Paul. "I'm anxious to get back to the +bungalow and have a go at that wall." + +"Same here," commented Walter. + +The boys were walking along, their eyes on the ground so as not to lose +sight of the marks, when Jack, raising his head, uttered a cry that +attracted the attention of his companions. + +"Look!" he cried, pointing down the road. "There's Cora's car now, and +two men are in it!" + +There was no doubt about it. Cora's car was of a peculiar purple tint +with maroon trimmings. It had been made especially for her, and that it +was her machine was evident at a glance, especially to Paul who was in +the automobile business. + +"Come on!" cried Jack. "We've got 'em!" + +But had they? The automobile had turned out of a field, against a side +hill of which was built a wooden building, like a farmer's spring-house. +The men seemed to have been using it as a garage, and Cora's automobile, +occupied by two strangers, was rapidly speeding down the road. + +At Jack's cry one of the men looked around, and then the machine was +speeded up, raising a cloud of dust. + +"No chance of catching them!" cried Paul. "We've got to get another +machine somewhere." + +"We can't!" exclaimed Jack. "We'll have to follow until we see where +they go. We mustn't lose sight of 'em now." + +It seemed a hopeless chase, and it was, practically. Jack distanced his +companions, who called to him to come back so they could examine the +building in the lot. + +"Maybe we'll find a clew there," cried Walter. + +And finally even Jack gave up. Human legs, even those of an ambitious +youth, are no match for an automobile. But as Jack slackened his pace he +saw something which caused him to run forward again. For a bundle had +been dropped from Cora's car, and the men did not stop to pick it up. + +"Maybe that will prove the best clew yet," thought Jack, as he hastened +forward to pick it up. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII--THE GIRLS' DISCOVERY + + +"Why don't they come back?" + +"What keeps them so long?" + +"I declare this waiting is worse than----" + +"Doing nothing," Cora finished for Bess. "Probably the boys can't find +the kind of chocolates you ordered, pretty little plump maid, and +they're afraid to come back without them." + +"Silly," protested Bess. + +"But they are a long time," said Hazel, she and Belle having uttered the +two rather impatient sentences at the opening of this chapter. + +The girls were in the bungalow, eating, not exactly bread and honey, but +ice cream and cake, which Mrs. Floyd had made. And they were talking of +the absence of Jack and his chums, who had gone to town to telephone to +Mr. Haight. + +It was now lunch time and the girls, after waiting in vain for the boys, +had eaten, and were enjoying their dessert. Or rather, they were trying +to enjoy it under the rather unappetizing influence of impatient worry. + +"If they don't come back pretty soon I'm going down there myself and see +if we can discover anything," Cora declared. + +"Down where?" asked Belle. + +"In the passage, of course. I want to see if we can find where that +queer noise came from." + +"And who upset the furniture," added Bess. + +"Well, we're on the track of it," said Hazel. "We are pretty certain, +now, that whoever did it came up through that sliding door, and went +down the same way. That accounts for our never seeing any one enter or +leave the bungalow after the manifestations, and that's why, after the +boys ran over so promptly the time we saw the dancing light, they +couldn't find any one. Whoever it was just slipped down through the +secret passage, pulled the section of flooring back into place, and +there was no trace." + +"But where did they go after they got down in the passage?" asked Belle. +"They couldn't stay there all the while, and there's no sign of any one +there now, unless they're invisible. They couldn't get past the blocking +cement wall." + +"There's something beyond that wall, and we're going to find it!" +declared Cora. + +"Perhaps when the boys come back they won't have permission to tear it +down," suggested Bess. + +"Then we'll begin our investigations from the other end," Cora said. + +"What other end?" Hazel questioned. + +"The cave! I think this passage connects with the cave. That would +explain a hiding place for whoever has been playing these tricks on us, +and making that strange noise." + +"You mean the cave you accidentally discovered yesterday?" asked Belle. + +"Yes," Cora answered. "I'm sure that has something to do with the +mystery. So if Mr. Haight won't let us open the wall, we may be able to +see what is on the other side by going to the cave, and finding the +passage that connects with the one which comes out into our bungalow." + +"In that event the stone wall must be movable," suggested Hazel. + +Cora jumped up so suddenly that she disturbed Bess who was leaning +against her. + +"That's it! That's it!" Cora cried. "I wonder we didn't think of it +before. That surely is it!" + +"What is?" eagerly demanded Belle. "You are talking in riddles." + +"This whole affair is a riddle, girls!" exclaimed Cora. "But what Hazel +said gave me an idea. That cement wall seems solid, but it can't be. If +it were no one could pass. So it must be made to look solid to deceive +those not in the secret. Probably it is a balanced stone like the ones +you read of in stories of the cave dwellers. Some of them closed the +entrances to their caves by heavy rocks, set on pivots, turning when you +pressed on a certain mechanism. There are counterweights, just as in a +window, which makes the heaviest rock move easily. I'm sure that's what +is in the passage--a balanced rock doorway. And there won't be any need +of tearing the wall down at all!" + +"It sounds like a detective story," commented Bess. + +"It may turn out to be one before we're through," Cora said. + +"Oh, dear! Why don't those boys hurry back?" cried Belle for perhaps the +tenth time. "Let's go out and look down the road to see if they are +coming." + +The girls went out, too anxious and too eager to sit still, but they had +no sight of Jack and his chums. + +"I'm not going to wait any longer!" exclaimed Cora at length. "If I'm +right, there will be no need of tearing down the wall. That is, if I can +find the mechanism that turns the rocky door. And if I'm wrong, there +won't be any harm in doing it." + +"Doing what?" asked Bess. + +"Going down into the passage to see what we can discover. Will you +come?" + +"I will!" exclaimed Hazel. + +"Then we will, too, Belle," said Bess, quickly. "They shan't call us +cowards, even if we are twins." + +"Come on," cried Cora gaily. "We must do something or fly to pieces with +nerves. Anything is better than sitting still, waiting." + +Back to the bungalow the girls hastened. The hole in the floor was still +open, the sliding door having been braced back so it could not be closed +by any accident. + +"We don't want to go down there and not be able to get up again," Cora +remarked. + +"Shall we tell Mrs. Floyd we're going to see what we can find?" +suggested Belle. + +"No," decided Cora, after a moment's thought. "She might not want us to +until we have Mr. Haight's permission. We'll just do this on our own +responsibility. We won't damage the wall any." + +Down the cement steps went the four girls, into the dark passage. The +boys had left behind their flashlights and these were carried by Cora +and Hazel. The small, but powerful lamps gave a good light. + +"Ugh! It's rather creepy in here," complained Belle, looking back over +her shoulder. + +"Don't be silly!" said Cora, sharply. "Just think of it! We may solve +the mystery all by ourselves." + +"Let us hope so," murmured Bess. + +They came to the cement wall that barred further progress along the +passage. + +"First to see if it's solid rock," Cora suggested. + +"How?" asked Belle. + +"By tapping. I brought along a hammer." With this implement Cora gave +several blows against the obstruction. An unmistakable hollow sound +resulted. + +"I believe it's only a wooden door, covered over with cement stucco," +Cora said. "Now to find the secret catch." + +With their flash lamps the girls went over every inch of the surface of +the door. At first it all looked alike, dull, gray, smooth cement. Then +Cora's light lingered a moment on a certain place. + +"Girls, watch!" she said suddenly. + +With her thumb she pressed on the spot where it seemed the cement was +worn smoother than elsewhere. And then, to the surprise of even Cora +herself, the cement door swung slowly back, revealing a dark passage +beyond. + +"We've discovered it!" cried Cora. "No need to tear the door down. Just +as I suspected, it's on hinges. Come on, girls!" + +Hardly realizing what they were doing, the others followed, their +torches illuminating the plank sides of the underground tunnel. + +"Are you sure this is all right, Cora?" asked Belle, as she stepped +beyond the open door. + +"I'm not sure anything is right about all this mystery," was the answer, +"but this is a chance we mustn't miss. Come on." + +"But where are we going?" Belle queried. + +"I can't tell, but I think to the cave," Cora answered. "Don't be +afraid. There's no danger." + +Hardly had she spoken than a noise sounded behind them. + +"Oh! what's that?" cried Belle, rushing forward. + +"It sounded like a door closing," said Hazel. + +She flashed her light back on the way they had come, and as she did so +she cried: + +"It was the door. It has swung shut, girls! We're trapped!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII--PRISONERS + + +Walter and Paul stood close beside Jack Kimball, as he turned over the +package which had dropped from the automobile--Cora's automobile, to be +exact. + +"What is it?" asked Walter. + +"Just what I'm going to find out," answered Jack. "Feels like a package +of money, if I'm any judge." + +"Whew!" whistled Paul. "Counterfeiters, do you think?" + +"I'm not so rash as to do any thinking after the queer things that have +been happening," retorted Jack. "I'm going to make sure before I do any +guessing. Here goes!" + +He cut the string of the packet. It was well wrapped in stout brown +paper, and when Jack, sitting down on a wayside stone and resting the +bundle on his knees, had folded back the covering, there was revealed to +the boys bundles of tickets tied in little packets. + +"What in the world is this?" asked Paul, picking up one of the little +packages. "Tickets?" + +"Railroad and theatrical," added Walter, as he examined some more +closely. "Say, this is a queer find!" + +Jack whistled shrilly and then cried out: + +"It fits in! It all fits in!" + +"What does he mean?" asked Paul. + +"I don't know," Walter answered. "Tell us, Jack. Can you see through the +puzzle?" + +"Part of it. Don't you see? These tickets--some railroad and the others +for theatres and opera houses--they're counterfeit--bogus--no good! They're +just like those that girl in the Spinning Wheel tea room bought. Don't +you remember, she purchased two of a couple of young fellows. It was +thought at the time they might have been the ones who went off with +Cora's auto. Now we reverse the process. We find the bundle of tickets +that dropped out of Cora's car, and we see two men running away in it. +They're the same ones, or in the same gang, I haven't a doubt. It's up +to us to get after them." + +"You seem to have struck it," commented Walter. "Do you mean these men +have gone into the business of counterfeiting tickets on as big a scale +as this?" + +"I'm thinking that," Jack answered. "You see it wouldn't pay to print a +few tickets. They'd have to make a whole lot of them, and in the case of +theatrical coupons, sell them quickly, for the fraud would soon be +discovered. Railroad tickets might take a little longer to prove +invalid, for they would have to go to the head offices, and there the +railroad men could tell by the consecutive numbers that there was +duplication somewhere. And the tickets would have to be pretty well +distributed--only a few in each city." + +"That's what they wanted of Cora's auto," suggested Paul. "They wanted +to cover a big area." + +"Yes," Jack went on. "And they probably have accomplices in many places. +Once the tickets were printed, they had to distribute them over a wide +territory. Boys, I think we've discovered a daring band of +ticket-counterfeiters." + +"But where do they do their work--their printing?" asked Walter. + +"Why not in the cave?" asked Jack. "It would be the most natural place +around here." + +"What's the matter with looking in that shack where the auto came from?" +asked Paul, nodding back toward the field against a hill in which the +shed was built. + +"I was going to suggest that," Jack went on. "Perhaps that is another +entrance to the same cave Cora found. Come on, we'll have a look, +anyhow. We've got this for evidence, in any case," and he held up the +bundle of tickets. + +"Are you sure they are bogus?" asked Paul. + +"Well, not positive, of course," Jack said. "But you'd hardly find so +many kinds of railroad and theatrical tickets, the latter for a number +of different cities, all in one bundle unless something were wrong. I +put these fellows down as counterfeiters of tickets, and you'll see I'm +right." + +"Well, we'll take a chance," decided Walter. "Now what are we going to +do about getting Cora's car back?" + +"We can't do much right away," said Jack. "But those fellows will come +back, I'm sure. Let's explore a bit in that shack, and then we'll go and +rip out that door in the secret passage." + +The doors of the shack which stood against the hill in the big field +were fastened with a cheap padlock, and Jack, after a moment of +hesitation, smashed it with a stone. + +"Come on in, boys!" he called, swinging back the doors. + +"It's as dark as pitch," complained Walter. "Did any of you bring your +flash lamps?" + +"Left 'em at the bungalow," Paul answered. "I have some matches though." + +By the glimmer of one he struck, the boys saw that the shack was a sort +of vestibule to a cave, for a big hole extended under the side of the +hill. + +"Jack was right!" Walter exclaimed. "This is a cavern, and it looks to +be a good-sized one. I wish we had a light." + +"Here's a lantern," said Paul, who had lighted another match. "We'll +explore a bit." + +By the greater light of the lantern, which was found near the doors, the +boys saw that the cave was indeed a large one, extending well back under +the hill. They went in cautiously at first, not knowing what they might +find, or what hidden pitfalls might lie in their path. + +"Look!" exclaimed Jack, pointing to several boxes lying about. "They +must have been doing, or else are getting ready to do, lots of business. +Those boxes contain paper and cardboard by the looks and marks on them. +And now----" + +"Hark!" exclaimed Paul in a whisper. They all listened. From somewhere +far back in the cave came a dull, rumbling, vibrating noise, and the +ground faintly trembled. + +"There it is again!" said Walter--"that strange noise. Now we'll find out +what it is. Come on." + +He started forward, the others following, Paul in the rear with the +lantern, for it had a reflector on and gave better light when carried +behind the boys. + +"Wait a minute!" cautioned Jack. "I don't seem to hear that noise now. +It's stopped." + +"So it has," concurred Paul. + +They listened intently, then Jack said: + +"I hear another sound, though. It's behind us, toward the mouth of the +cave. Boys, it's those fellows coming back. Out with that light, Paul. +We'll hide in here and surprise them. Quick! Down behind some of these +boxes!" + +Paul extinguished the lantern, and he and his companions sought places +of concealment. They could now plainly hear footsteps approaching, while +they also distinguished the murmur of excited voices. + +Meanwhile, another part of the strange mystery was being enacted with +the girls as principal characters. They had entered farther into the +secret passage, beyond the queer swinging door which had closed after +them. + +"We're caught!" cried Belle. "Oh, Cora!" + +"Perhaps not," said Jack's sister. "If that door opened once for us it +will do it again. But don't go back. Come on. We must see what is ahead +of us. The boys will laugh if they hear we turned back when we had such +a good opportunity." + +"Well, they shan't laugh at _me_!" declared Hazel. "I'm with you, Cora." + +"And you may be sure we're not going to be left alone," cried Bess. +"Come on, Belle!" + +The latter hesitated a moment, looked back at the closed door, and then +went forward. Their lamps made the place fairly light, and they could +see that the passage was planked here as it had been nearer the +bungalow. + +They had gone on perhaps fifty paces more and were wondering when the +queer tunnel would come to an end, when Cora, who was walking in advance +with Hazel, put her hand on her companion's arm, and cried: + +"Do you hear it?" + +"Hear what?" + +"That strange, rumbling, trembling noise. Don't you _feel_ it?" + +"Yes! Yes!" cried Belle. "Oh, what is it?" + +There was no doubt of the noise. It seemed to fill the whole passage +with a dull, rumbling roar, and the ground vibrated and trembled. + +"Come on!" cried Cora, resolutely. "It's just ahead of us. We will solve +the mystery now!" + +Willing or unwilling, Belle, Bess and Hazel followed their leader. With +their electric lights showing the way the girls pressed forward. +Suddenly the passage turned, and, making that turn, the girls came upon +a strange sight. + +Before them was an open door, which gave entrance to a large cave with +rocky sides and roof. Vaulted and large the cave was, and from long +wires fastened somewhere in the roof hung a number of incandescent +lights. In the cave the girls saw several queer machines, and Cora, at +least, recognized more than one of them as printing presses. A gasoline +engine was throbbing away in one corner, and it was this, Cora decided, +which made the rumbling, the throbbing and trembling vibrations. + +Hardly realizing what they were doing, the girls walked forward, and, +passing through the open door, entered the cave which widened out at the +end of the secret passage. + +"What--what does it all mean?" asked Bess. + +Low as her voice was it seemed to awaken strange echoes in the vaulted +cave. And at the sound of it something stirred in one corner. From a +pile of boxes something arose--a something that resolved itself into an +old man with white hair and a long, white beard. He peered from beneath +his bushy white eyebrows, with piercing eyes at the startled girls, and +from his throat came a guttural cry. + +"Ah, ha! Police spies--four of 'em!" he snarled. "I thought we'd be found +out!" + +With surprising quickness in one seemingly so aged the man slipped +behind the girls. They turned, fearing an attack, but they need have had +no alarm on that score. With a quick motion the old man closed and +locked the door through which they had come. + +"Now you're here--you'll stay!" he rasped out. "On guard here, Bombee! +Hist! Watch 'em!" + +And, as he called, a raw-boned, half-witted boy shuffled forward, and +squatted, with a horrible grin, in front of the terrified girl +prisoners. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX--TO THE RESCUE + + +Jack and his two chums, waiting in the dark of the cave, wondered who it +was approaching. They had guessed it would prove to be the two men who +had gone down the road shortly before in Cora's car, but this was only a +guess. And whether these two were the same men who had first taken the +machine was, of course, only a conjecture. + +"What'll we do, Jack?" whispered Paul, from behind a barrel where he was +crouching. "Jump out on 'em?" + +"No," was the answer. "Not at first. Let's see what their game is and +then we'll have better evidence against them. Just lie low and wait." + +"Here they come!" cautioned Walter. + +The sound of the footsteps and of the voices was nearer now, and +presently the boys saw the glimmering reflection of light on the rocky +and dirt sides of the cave. + +"We've got to work lively!" said a man's voice. "Those campers are +beginning to suspect there's something wrong. We'll have to clear out, +bag and baggage, presses, engine and everything." + +"That's right," added another. "Lucky we have the car. We can take most +of the stuff in that if we have time, and set it up somewhere else. This +graft is too good to give up." + +"Where'll we take it?" a third voice asked, and the boys, who could not +see the speakers, wondered how many of them there were. + +"Oh, we can stow it away at----" began the man who had spoken first when +there came an interruption from his companion. + +"No names!" he cautioned. + +"Who's to hear?" + +"You can't tell. Since those boys opened up the floor of the bungalow, +there's no telling what might have happened. Besides, I don't want old +Jason to know where we are going. I'm going to get rid of him; he's more +trouble than help." + +"Especially with that horrible boy of his," some one said. "Ugh! I can't +bear the creature!" + +"Still he's been useful. He did the tricks all right. But it was a +mistake to go to the bungalow. That's caused all the trouble. We should +have stuck to this end of the cave." + +"We had to have an emergency exit," declared one of the men, "and the +bungalow was the best." + +"Yes, until these campers came. Now that jig is up." + +"Yes, the whole business is up, I'm afraid. Well, let's see what we can +get out now before we're found." + +Jack and his chums could hear the men moving about boxes and barrels. +They seemed to be taking them outside. What was in the packages the boys +could only guess. And Jack was wondering what he and his companions +could do if the men in the cave should suddenly discover the presence of +the intruders. + +Jack peered out from behind his barrel and had a glimpse of a man moving +about in the light of a lantern the criminals had brought into the cave +with them. But the man's legs alone were visible and Jack could form +very little idea from them of how the man looked. + +"Isn't this enough for one load?" asked one of the men. "We don't want a +breakdown." + +"Oh, that machine will carry more," declared another. "We did a fine +stroke when we picked that up. I wonder if those girls have an idea +where their car went to?" + +"They'll have one soon," thought Jack, gritting his teeth. "The nerve of +you!" + +"Let's go back and get that little numbering press," suggested a man. +"It's too valuable to leave, and it won't take up much room. Come on, +and pick up what we can. The fewer trips we make, the better it will be +for us. Come on." + +The light flickered and the footsteps of the men died away. + +"I say Jack!" called Walter, after a moment's pause. + +"Yes, what is it?" + +"What's the matter with our going outside and getting Cora's auto now. +It's got a lot of their stuff in it that will be fine for evidence +against them. It's our best chance--just slip out now and get Cora's +car." + +"That's right," agreed Paul. "If we let them get away with it again we +may never see it." + +"All right," agreed Jack. "You two go out and capture the car. Do +whatever you think best about it. I'll stay here and follow the men when +they come out. If they have some of their machinery that will be +additional evidence against them. Go ahead." + +Paul and Walter hurried out, leaving Jack alone in the dark cave. They +left him the lantern, saying they could find their way out by means of +matches. Jack felt a little apprehensive as he was left alone, knowing +that at least three men, who might prove desperate criminals, were in +the cave with him. And if they discovered him, and knew that he was one +of those working against them--well, Jack did not altogether like to +speculate on what might follow. + +Those seeking to solve the mystery were now divided into three parties. +There was Jack, alone in the cave, waiting for the return of the three +men. Walter and Paul were on their way outside to get the automobile. +While Cora and her chums were prisoners of the old man and his imbecile +son. + +Walter and Paul reached the outer end of the cave without incident, and +just without the wooden shack found Cora's car standing unguarded and +well-laden with packages and some small bits of machinery. + +"Caught with the goods!" chuckled Paul. "This game is coming right into +our hands now. What shall we do?" + +"Drive the car as near to the bungalow as we can," decided Walter. "The +girls will be anxious about us, anyhow. We can leave the car with Mr. +Floyd and then come back to Jack." + +A quick examination showed that Cora's car, though it had been sadly +misused, was in shape for running. It responded at once to the +self-starter and Walter and Paul were soon chugging down the road, +taking off the spoils of the ticket counterfeiters. + +"Camp Surprise ahoy!" called Walter as he ran the car as near as he +could to the bungalow. "Girls, where are you? We've got great news! +We've solved the mystery!" + +There was no answer to the hail, and Paul looked at his chum rather +apprehensively as they alighted. + +"They don't seem to be here," he said. + +"They must be," Walter argued. "There's Mrs. Floyd. We'll ask her." + +"Why, aren't the girls in the bungalow?" asked the chaperon, +wonderingly. "I have been away a little while, and just got back. They +were here when I left." + +A quick search through the bungalow failed, of course, to disclose the +presence of Cora and her chums. The entrance to the secret passage was +still open, but Walter, running down the steps, reported that the girls +were not there, and that the blocking door was closed. + +"But we'll soon have it open," he said. "We have permission from Mr. +Haight to tear down the obstruction." + +"Where is Mr. Kimball?" asked Mr. Floyd, who had been summoned by his +wife from a bungalow not far away, where he was making some repairs. + +"He's up in the cave, keeping watch on the counterfeiters," said Paul. +"It's a great story!" + +Thereupon he and Walter gave a short account of the movements of +themselves and Jack up to the present. + +"But where are the girls?" asked Paul. "We must find them." + +"Perhaps they went up to the cave Cora found," suggested Walter. "Let's +go there and look." + +"First we'd better see if Jack doesn't need help," Paul said. "I guess +the girls know enough to keep out of danger, and it's daylight yet. +We'll go to Jack." + +"I'll take charge here," said Mr. Floyd. "I've got a man working with me +at the other bungalow, and he and I will stand guard over the auto. When +you come back, if the girls haven't returned, we'll go after them." + +This plan was deemed the best to follow, and Paul and Walter hastened +back on foot to the cave where they had left Jack. + +Cora and her friends, made prisoners in the cave by the old man and his +horrible, grinning, half-witted helper, felt faint and sick as they +realized what might be the outcome. For a moment none of them spoke. The +old man laughed, showing his blackened teeth--a strange contrast to his +white beard--and then he chuckled: + +"Police spies; eh? Come to catch the old man! But he was too smart for +ye; wasn't he? He caught you; didn't he?" + +"What do you mean by locking us in?" demanded Cora. "Open that door at +once and let us go!" + +"And call away that--that horrid idiot!" half-sobbed Belle. "If he +catches hold of me----" + +"Oh, Bombee won't hurt you; will you, Bombee?" said the old man, patting +the half-witted youth on the head. "That is, he won't if you do as I +say, and don't try to run. Bombee's like a dog. He's my pet, so he is. +Hi, Bombee! Do a trick for the ladies!" + +The idiot gave a shrill cry, bounded up on a box and stood on his head, +his legs kicking in the air. + +"See!" chuckled the old man. "Bombee minds me. If I was to tell him to +bite you he would, but I won't tell him." + +"You let us go!" demanded Cora, her thoughts in a whirl with the strange +ideas that came to her mind. + +"I didn't ask you to come here," snapped the old man. "And them as comes +uninvited must stay until they're let go. Ye can't go out and bring in +the police." + +"But if--if we promise not to tell the police?" faltered Bess. + +"I wouldn't trust you," snarled the old man. + +"Then there must be something here about which you are afraid," said +Cora, boldly. "Why do you fear the police?" + +The man gave her a sharp glance. + +"Never you mind that," he said. "When the others come I'll know what to +do with you. I'll make you----" + +He paused and seemed to be listening. At the same time the idiot gave a +whimpering cry. + +"Some one's coming!" snarled the old man. "The police, maybe. You've +sent 'em. But they won't find you. Quick, Bombee--the secret room--open +the door!" + +The half-witted creature bounded forward, and caught up a club. Bess +screamed, fearing the fellow was going to attack them. But the idiot +merely put the stick in a hole in the wall, and pressed on the lever +with all his might. A heavy plank door swung out, revealing a black +room. + +"Into that with you!" cried the old man. + +"No!" screamed Cora. + +"In there with you or I'll----" + +He looked so terrible, and made such a threatening gesture, and the +half-witted youth seemed so ready to do his master's bidding that the +girls shrank back from the claw-like hands of the old man, and fairly +ran into the secret room opened by the helper. Once inside they heard +the door close after them. + +"Oh!" gasped Belle. "This is terrible, Cora! What shall we do?" + +"Keep quiet a minute. Let me think. Oh, oh!" + +Hazel flashed on her light. + +"Thank heaven for that!" moaned Belle. "We can at least see." + +The girls looked quickly about them. The light showed them that they +were in some sort of office. There were desks and chairs in it, and on +the desk were a number of papers, while innumerable tickets were +scattered about. The girls attached no significance to them at first. +There was an incandescent lamp swinging above the desk, and Cora turned +the black key. At once there was light, showing that the gasoline +engine, the rumble of which could still be heard, operated a small +dynamo. + +"Oh, what shall we do?" gasped Bess. + +"Listen!" whispered Cora. + +From the cave outside came the murmur of excited and angry voices. There +followed sounds of great activity, as if boxes and barrels were being +moved about. Once or twice came a snarl from the idiot, and the +commanding voice of the old man. The other voices the girls could not +recognize. + +"I'm going to call for help," said Cora. "That may be the boys come to +rescue us. Come on, girls! We'll all shriek!" + +This they did, uniting their shrill voices in an appeal for help. Cora +caught up a paper-weight from the desk and hammered on the door of their +prison. But neither their calls nor the pounding brought an answer. The +noise in the outer cave continued. The men seemed to be quarreling among +themselves now. + +Then came silence. The girls called again but with no result. They +listened. Not a sound came from beyond the door. + +"What has happened?" asked Bess. + +"I can't even guess," Cora said. "But don't worry. We'll get out of here +some time. Meanwhile, let's see if we can by any means open the door." + +Events were now happening in several different places--events connected +with the boys and the counterfeiters. + +Jack was waiting in his hiding place, wondering what would next take +place, and he was getting rather tired of his cramped position, when he +heard footsteps coming back. + +"Here's where I do a sleuthing act and follow them," he decided. But he +was hardly prepared for what followed. The footsteps broke into a run, +and there were excited voices calling one to another. There was the +crash of falling boxes, and above everything came a strange unearthly +yell, like that of some animal in pain. + +"What in the world----" began Jack. + +There was a rush of several bodies past his hiding place. Jack looked up +over the head of the barrel in time to see four men, one carrying a +lantern, dash along the cave, and behind them came another with +abnormally long arms. + +Pausing a moment to allow the fleeing ones to get a little ahead, Jack +followed. His brain was excitedly thinking. + +"There'll be a grand ruction in a minute," Jack chuckled to himself. +"Things will happen with a vengeance." + +He heard cries of rage from the shack at the mouth of the cave. +Advancing into it, but keeping himself concealed, Jack peered out. He +noted that the automobile was gone, and from the absence of Paul and +Walter he argued that they had driven away in it. + +The talk of the men confirmed this. + +"They've dished us!" exclaimed one, angrily. + +"The car's gone!" faltered another. "We were too slow!" + +"What are we going to do?" asked a third. + +"Cut and run for it!" some one answered. "The game is up. Scatter, and +we'll meet again, later. Lively's the word!" + +Jack looked out to see the two men he and his chums had observed before, +with a third one, start for the wooded slope of the mountain. Then he +saw the old man and the half-witted helper. + +"Wait--wait for me!" pleaded the aged one. "I can't run fast, I'm all +crippled with rheumatism! Wait!" + +"We can't wait. Look out for yourself," one man flung back unfeelingly +over his shoulder. "It's every one for himself." + +"Ah! desert me, would you!" cried the old man, shaking his fist at the +fleeing ones. "But I'll get even with you. Old Jason will get even! I'll +let the girls out of the cave, and tell them the whole story! I'll let +the girls out of the secret room in the cave!" + +Jack had been in two minds whether to advance and speak to the old man, +or follow the fleeing ones, but as he heard these words he knew +something else now called for his attention. + +"The girls in the cave!" he murmured. "It must be Cora and the others he +means. They must have gone into the cave while we were in town. I've got +to rescue them. Let the men go! I must help the girls." + +Catching up his lantern, Jack dashed back into the dark cavern. + +"I'm coming, girls! I'm coming!" he cried. "To the rescue!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXX--ALL'S WELL + + +Walter and Paul, hurrying to aid Jack, whom they had left in the cave, +came in sight of the shack just as the old man and his helper were +turning back into it. The two boys did not glimpse the three fleeing men +who had by this time disappeared among the trees. + +"Look--look at that!" gasped Paul, rubbing his eyes. "Am I dreaming, +Wally, or is that an ape or a human being?" + +"It's real enough--some sort of a crazy chap, I should say. But what's he +doing?" + +"Calling down the vengeance of heaven, I guess," observed Paul, for they +saw the old man shaking his fist in the air. + +"Hurry up and we'll speak to him," urged Walter. "Somehow I think he's +part of the mystery." + +They reached the old man just as he was turning back into the shack. He +did not seem greatly surprised to see them. + +"Will that--er--fellow hurt us?" asked Walter. + +"Not unless I tell him to. Are you the police?" + +"No, but we can get them if you wish," said Walter. "We are after the +ticket counterfeiters," he added shrewdly. "We have recovered the stolen +auto, and a lot of the stuff is in our possession. Now if you----" + +"Yes, I'll give up. I'm too old to run away. They deserted me, and I'll +tell all I know. I'm getting tired of it anyhow. Being a criminal +doesn't pay. I'll give up. Come on back and I'll let out the girls. I'm +sorry I locked them in, but I thought there was a chance to escape. I +didn't hurt them." + +"Girls! What girls?" gasped Walter. + +"Well, I guess likely they're of your party--from the bungalow," said the +old man, from whom all the spirit of rage and fighting seemed to have +gone. "They're in the secret room of the cave. Come on, Bombee, we'll +let them out." + +Wondering what it all meant, Walter and Paul followed the old man back +into the cave. He seemed to know his way in the dark, though Walter had +brought an extra flashlight from the bungalow, and now switched this on. + +A little later the two boys, with the old man and the half-witted +helper, entered the main cave where they found Jack running about half +wild with excitement. He was shouting, and muffled cries--the voices of +the girls--came in answer. + +"Jack! You here!" cried Walter. + +"Yes, and the girls are here too, but I can't locate them, though I can +hear them. They're locked in some secret room. We must find it." + +"I'll let them out," said the old man. "I locked them in. Hi, Bombee, +open the door." + +Once more the powerful helper took up the wooden club, or lever. He +inserted it in the opening and the plank door, which could not, at first +glance, be told from part of the cave sheathing, swung open. Then, +tearful and disheveled from their efforts to escape, out rushed the +girls. + +"Oh Jack!" + +"Oh Paul!" + +"Oh Walter!" + +Thus they gasped, the two girls seeking refuge in their brothers' arms, +while Belle and Bess clung to one another. + +"Oh, that horrible man!" gasped Belle. + +"Bombee won't hurt you," said the old man, humbly. "And I ask your +pardon. I had to do what I thought best, but it is all over now. I give +up!" + +"Let's get out of this terrible place," begged Cora. + +"Come on, then," returned Jack. "Why, it's a regular underground +printing shop," he added as he looked around. "Here's where they made +the counterfeit tickets." + +"Yes, this is the place," confessed the old man. "You have found our +secret." + +Walter and Paul started to go out of the cave the way they had come in. + +"There is a shorter way," said the old man. "It leads to your bungalow." + +"But that door is shut," said Cora. "It shut after us." + +"Bombee can open it," was his reply. "He knows the secret as well as I. +Come. It opens easily." + +He led the way back along the passage through which Cora and her chums +had lately come, first unlocking the door which he had closed after +them. When they came to the cement obstruction, the helper pressed on a +certain place, and it swung to one side. A little later the entire party +was in the bungalow, to the great surprise of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd. The +caretakers looked in astonishment at the old man and his assistant. + +"Well, now let's have some explanations," suggested Walter. + +"Did you get the auto?" asked Jack. + +"Yes, and a whole lot of tickets and other stuff," Paul said. + +"My auto?" asked Cora. + +"Yes, we have it back for you," answered Walter. "And before we lose any +more time we had better get the police after those three men." + +"I'll go into town," offered Mr. Floyd. "And about him?" he nodded to +the man the counterfeiters had called Jason. + +"Oh, I'll give myself up," the old man said. "Old Jason is tired of the +game. Lock me up whenever you wish," he seemed very tired and weary. "I +won't run away. I'll stay with Bombee." + +A little later the authorities took charge of matters, entering the cave +and taking possession of a very complete though small printing plant, +and numberless bogus tickets. Constables were sent to look for the three +men. The old man was arrested and taken to jail, and Bombee, his son, +who would not be separated from him, went with him. But before Jason was +taken away, he told enough to make the mystery clear. + +He was an expert printer, it seemed, and had fallen in with a band of +men who planned to flood the country with bogus railroad and theatrical +tickets. They had set up their plant in the cave, the existence of which +they had learned by accident and kept secret. + +There were three entrances to the cave. One was in the side of the hill, +where the men had put up a shack in order to conceal the opening. The +second was the one discovered by accident by Cora. This was not used, +being too small. And the third was through the bungalow and the passage. + +This passage, the secret sliding door in the floor, and the cement door +that blocked the passage (it developed later) had been constructed by +the actor who formerly owned the bungalow. Just what his object was no +one knew, but his unbalanced mind probably built a romance about the +great dark hole. The cave was then used for nothing, but it admirably +suited the purposes of the ticket men who fitted it up as they wished. + +To it they brought their machinery and began issuing tickets, Jason, +aided by the half-witted Bombee, doing the printing, while the others +distributed the product. It was the rumble and clank of the gasoline +engine and presses that made the queer trembling sounds heard by the +girls and boys. The rocky cave acted as a sort of telephone, or sound +box, and sometimes the noises would be louder than others. The fact that +the engine stood on a strata of rock upon which the bungalow was +constructed accounted for the trembling and vibration of the building. + +"We did the printing when you folks were away from the bungalow at most +times," said old Jason. "We found out when you were gone by means of the +secret passage. But sometimes we had to work on a rush order when you +were on hand." + +"Then is when we heard the noise," said Jack. + +"But who upset the furniture, and took our things?" asked Cora. + +"Oh, that was Bombee," said the old man. "I could not always watch him, +and he would slip away, open the secret door of the passage and get up +into the bungalow through the floor. He is very mischievous, but gentle. +He likes to upset chairs and tables. He used to do that trick, among +others, in a theatre where he used to show as a human ape. He didn't +look unlike an ape, you see." + +"He took your ribbons and things, too. They are in the cave. I thought +they came from your bungalow, but I did not dare return them. Once he +brought in a flashlight." + +"That was the time we saw the queer, dancing beams upstairs and down," +said Hazel. + +Before our friends had occupied the bungalow, Bombee had been up to his +tricks. He had upset the furniture, giving rise to the strange stories +about Camp Surprise, and he it was who had taken the silver, having a +love of bright things. He would slip out of the cave, open the passage +door (having seen Jason operate the mechanism), get into the bungalow by +means of the opening in the floor, upset the furniture and then run out +through the passage again, closing the doors after him, so there was +nothing to show how any intruder had gotten in and out. + +It was learned that the time the boys and girls saw the two men at the +tumbled-down old house, that the counterfeiters had gone there to meet +some persons to whom they gave bogus tickets to dispose of. The men +probably realized that our friends were on their trail and fled. The +taking of Cora's car had been done on the spur of the moment, the need +of some means of getting quickly about the country to dispose of the +tickets being pressing. + +The crash heard in the night, which caused the floor to be taken up, was +caused by one of the men dropping a box of tickets. He was storing it in +the passage near the secret door. Occasionally, when the bungalow was +not occupied, the men used it, and it was in this way that the big, +half-witted youth learned to find his way there. + +"Well, I guess that ends the surprises of this camp," said Cora, as the +officers took Jason away. "Now we can enjoy our stay here." + +And the surprises were indeed over. The secret door in the floor was +closed, and fastened, the mechanism having been broken. After the +printing apparatus had been taken out our boys and girls, and many +others inspected the cave. It was a large and curious place, and the +criminals had made it their living and hiding place for some time. + +Though a diligent effort was made to capture the three men, they were +not apprehended, and in view of his confession Jason was given only a +light sentence. + +Cora's recovered car was put in good order and used some, though the +mountain roads were not very good for automobile riding. + +"And now for some glorious times!" cried Bess one day, about a week +after the mystery had been cleared up. "Boys, we'll give you----" + +"A big chicken dinner!" interrupted Jack. "That's what we want." + +"Well, you deserve it," said Cora, "for the clever way you laid your +plans." + +"You girls were a bit clever too, getting into the cave by the secret +door while we were off in town telephoning," said Walter. "We give you +the credit for that." + +"Everything came out all right all around," remarked Hazel. "But, oh! we +were scared stiff for a while." + +"I should say so!" ejaculated Belle. "That horrible old man and his +awful son!" + +"Well, all's well that ends well," said Bess. "And I have a whole box of +chocolates to go with the chicken dinner." + +"Marvelous--a whole box!" echoed Cora. "How did she ever manage it, +girls?" + +The chicken dinner was voted a great success. By this time the summer +season was in full swing, and many cottages and bungalows in Mountain +View were occupied. Cora and her friends entered with zest into the +jolly life, and they were the recipients of much attention, for the +story of Camp Surprise had been told in many papers. + +"But it's nicer not to hear queer noises and see strange lights," said +Cora. "And it's a relief to come in and find the furniture the way you +left it." And the others agreed with her. + +"Will we ever have another time like this?" asked Belle. + +"Perhaps. Who knows?" returned Cora. And leaving that question to be +settled later we will say good-bye to the Motor Girls. + + + THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Motor Girls at Camp Surprise, by +Margaret Penrose + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR GIRLS AT CAMP SURPRISE *** + +***** This file should be named 36426.txt or 36426.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/4/2/36426/ + +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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