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diff --git a/38609-h/38609-h.htm b/38609-h/38609-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a426437 --- /dev/null +++ b/38609-h/38609-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9226 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/> + <meta name="generator" content="pph (1.17)"/> + <meta name="title" content="The Corner House Girls on a Houseboat"/> + <meta name="author" content="Grace Brooks Hill"/> + <meta name="date" content="1920"/> + <title>The Corner House Girls on a Houseboat</title> + <style type="text/css"> + p.center {text-align:center} + p.caption {text-align:center; margin-left:20%; margin-right:20%;} + h2.chapter {font-size:1.2em; text-align:center; margin: 2em auto 1em auto; font-weight:normal} + </style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Corner House Girls on a Houseboat, by +Grace Brooks Hill + +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 Corner House Girls on a Houseboat + How they sailed away, what happened on the voyage, and + what was discovered + +Author: Grace Brooks Hill + +Illustrator: Thelma Gooch + +Release Date: January 18, 2012 [EBook #38609] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS ON A *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div style='text-align:center'> +<img id='ilink01' src='images/illus-001.jpg' alt=''/> +<p class='caption'>“There they are!” cried Ruth, clasping Mr. Howbridge’s arm in her excitement. “The same two men!”</p> +</div> +<hr style='border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:70%; margin:2em auto' /> + +<p class='center' style='font-size:1.4em;margin-top:0em;margin-bottom:0em;'>THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS</p> +<p class='center' style='font-size:1.4em;margin-top:0em;margin-bottom:2em;'>ON A HOUSEBOAT</p> + +<table style='margin:auto' summary=''> +<tr><td> +HOW THEY SAILED AWAY<br/> +WHAT HAPPENED ON THE VOYAGE<br/> +AND WHAT WAS DISCOVERED<br/> +</td></tr> +</table> + +<p class='center' style='font-size:1.1em;margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:0;'>BY</p> + +<p class='center' style='font-size:1.2em;margin-top:0em;margin-bottom:1em;'>GRACE BROOKS HILL</p> + +<p class='center' style='font-size:0.8em;margin-top:0em;margin-bottom:0em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Author of “The Corner House Girls,” “The</span></p> +<p class='center' style='font-size:0.8em;margin-top:0em;margin-bottom:2em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Corner House Girls Snowbound,” etc.</span></p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:0em;margin-bottom:0em;'><i>ILLUSTRATED BY</i></p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:0em;margin-bottom:0em;'><i>THELMA GOOCH</i></p> + +<p class='center' style='font-size:0.8em;margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:0em;'>NEW YORK</p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:0em;margin-bottom:0em;'>BARSE & HOPKINS</p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:0em;margin-bottom:0em;'>PUBLISHERS</p> +<hr style='border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:70%; margin:2em auto' /> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>BOOKS FOR GIRLS</p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>By Grace Brooks Hill</p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>The Corner House Girls Series</p> + +<p class='center' style='font-size:0.8em;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated.</p> + +<table style='margin:auto' summary=''> +<tr><td> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS<br/> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS AT SCHOOL<br/> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS UNDER CANVAS<br/> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS IN A PLAY<br/> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS’ ODD FIND<br/> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS ON A TOUR<br/> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS GROWING UP<br/> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS SNOWBOUND<br/> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS ON A HOUSEBOAT<br/> +</td></tr> +</table> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>BARSE & HOPKINS</p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>Publishers, New York</p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:0;'>Copyright, 1920,</p> +<p class='center' style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>by Barse & Hopkins</p> + +<p class='center' style='font-size:0.8em;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'><i>The Corner House Girls on a Houseboat</i></p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>Printed in U. S. A.</p> +<hr style='border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:70%; margin:2em auto' /> + +<p class='center' style='font-size:1.2em;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>CONTENTS</p> + +<table id='toc' style='margin:auto' summary='TOC'> +<tr><td> + <a href='#clink01'>I. “What’s That?”</a><br/> + <a href='#clink02'>II. Neale Has News</a><br/> + <a href='#clink03'>III. The Elevator</a><br/> + <a href='#clink04'>IV. An Auto Ride</a><br/> + <a href='#clink05'>V. The Houseboat</a><br/> + <a href='#clink06'>VI. More News</a><br/> + <a href='#clink07'>VII. Making Plans</a><br/> + <a href='#clink08'>VIII. The Robbery</a><br/> + <a href='#clink09'>IX. All Aboard</a><br/> + <a href='#clink10'>X. A Stowaway</a><br/> + <a href='#clink11'>XI. Overboard</a><br/> + <a href='#clink12'>XII. Neale Wonders</a><br/> + <a href='#clink13'>XIII. The Trick Mule</a><br/> + <a href='#clink14'>XIV. At the Circus</a><br/> + <a href='#clink15'>XV. Real News at Last</a><br/> + <a href='#clink16'>XVI. Ruth’s Alarm</a><br/> + <a href='#clink17'>XVII. Up the River</a><br/> + <a href='#clink18'>XVIII. The Night Alarm</a><br/> + <a href='#clink19'>XIX. On the Lake</a><br/> + <a href='#clink20'>XX. Drifting</a><br/> + <a href='#clink21'>XXI. The Storm</a><br/> + <a href='#clink22'>XXII. On the Island</a><br/> + <a href='#clink23'>XXIII. Suspicions</a><br/> + <a href='#clink24'>XXIV. Closing In</a><br/> + <a href='#clink25'>XXV. The Capture</a><br/> +</td></tr> +</table> +<hr style='border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:70%; margin:2em auto' /> + +<p class='center' style='font-size:1.2em;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>ILLUSTRATIONS</p> + +<table id='loi' style='margin:auto' summary='TOC'> +<tr><td> + + <a href='#ilink01'>“There they are!” +cried Ruth, clasping Mr. Howbridge’s arm in the excitement. “The +same two men!” <i>Frontispiece.</i></a><br/> + + <a href='#ilink02'>“Get us down!” cried +Dot and Tess in a chorus, while Mrs. MacCall stood beneath them +holding out her apron</a><br/> + + <a href='#ilink03'>While Dot and Tess +clung to one another, Hank managed to fish up the +“Alice-doll”</a><br/> + + <a href='#ilink04'>“You shouldn’t have +come here, Aggie!” he cried above the noise of the +storm</a><br/> + +</td></tr> +</table> + +<hr style='border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:70%; margin:2em auto' /> + +<p class='center' style='font-size:1.2em;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS ON A HOUSEBOAT</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink01'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER I—“WHAT’S THAT?”</a></h2> + +<p>Delicious and appetizing odors filled the kitchen +of the old Corner House. They were wafted even +to the attic, were those whiffs and fragrant +zephyrs. Some of them even escaped through the +open windows, causing Uncle Rufus to cease his +slow and laborious task of picking up some papers +from the newly cut lawn.</p> + +<p>“Dat suah smells mighty good—mighty good!” +murmured the old darkey to himself, as he +straightened up by the process of putting one +hand to the small of his back and pressing there, as +though a spring needed adjusting. “Dat suah +smells mighty good! Mrs. Mac mus’ suah be out-doin’ +of herse’f dish yeah mawnin’!”</p> + +<p>He turned his wrinkled face toward the Corner +House, again sniffing deeply.</p> + +<p>A pleased and satisfied look came over his countenance +as the cooking odors emanating from the +kitchen became more pronounced.</p> + +<p>“Dey’s suah to be some left—dey suah is, ’cause +hit’s Miss Ruth’s party, an’ she’s always gen’rus +wif de eatin’s. She suah is. Dey’s suah to be +some left.”</p> + +<p>He removed his hand from the small of his +back, thereby allowing himself to fall forward +again in the proper position for picking up papers, +and went on with his work.</p> + +<p>Inside the kitchen, where the odors were even +more pronounced, as one might naturally expect +to find them, two girls and a pleasant-faced woman +were busy; though not more so than a fresh-appearing +Finnish maid, who hummed an air full of +minor strains as she opened the oven door now +and then, thereby letting out more odors which +were piled upon, mingled with, and otherwise +added to those already bringing such a delicious +sensation to Uncle Rufus.</p> + +<p>“Aren’t you planning too much, Ruth?” asked +her sister Agnes, as the girl addressed carefully +placed a wondrously white napkin over a plate of +freshly baked macaroons. “I mean the girls will +never eat all this,” and she waved her hand to include +a side table on which were many more plates, +some empty, awaiting their burden from the oven, +while others were covered with white linen like +some mysterious receptacles under a stage magician’s +serviette.</p> + +<p>“Oh, don’t worry about that!” laughed Ruth. +“My only worry is that I shall not have enough.”</p> + +<p>“Well, for the land’s sake! how many do you +expect?” demanded Agnes Kenway.</p> + +<p>“Six. But there will be you and me and—”</p> + +<p>“Then Mr. Howbridge <i>is</i> coming!” cried +Agnes, as if there had been some question about +it, though this was the first time his name had +been mentioned that morning.</p> + +<p>“He <i>may</i> come,” answered Ruth quietly.</p> + +<p>“He <i>may</i>! Oh my stars! As if you didn’t +<i>know</i> he was coming!” retorted Agnes. “Is it +in—er—his official capacity?”</p> + +<p>“I asked Mr. Howbridge to come to advise us +about forming the society,” Ruth said. “I +thought it best to start right. If we are going to +be of any use as a Civic Betterment Club in Milton +we must be on a firm foundation, and—”</p> + +<p>“Hear! Hear!” interrupted Agnes, banging +on the table with an agate mixing spoon, and +thereby bringing from a deep pantry the form +and face of Mrs. MacCall, the sturdy Scotch +housekeeper.</p> + +<p>“Please don’t do that!” begged Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Hoots! Whut’s meanin’ wi’ the rattlin’ an’ +thumpin’?” demanded Mrs. MacCall.</p> + +<p>“Oh, some nonsense of Agnes’,” answered +Ruth. “I was just telling her that I had asked +the girls to luncheon, to talk over the new Civic +Betterment Club, and that Mr. Howbridge is coming +to advise us how to get a charter, or incorporate, +or whatever is proper and—”</p> + +<p>“I was only applauding after the fashion in the +English Parliament,” interrupted Agnes. “They +always say ‘Hear! Hear!’ away down in their +throats.”</p> + +<p>“Well, they don’t bang on tables with granite +spoons,” retorted Ruth, as she handed a pie +to Linda, the humming Finnish maid, who popped +it into the oven, quickly shutting the door, to +allow none of the heat to escape.</p> + +<p>“Hoot! I would not put it past ’em, I would +not!” murmured Mrs. MacCall. “What those +English law makers do—I wouldna’ put it past +them!” and, shaking her head, she retired into +the deep pantry again.</p> + +<p>“Well, you’re going to have enough of sweets, +I should say;” observed Agnes, “even as fond as +Mr. Howbridge is of them. For the land’s sake, +aren’t you going to stop?” she demanded, as +Ruth poured into a dish the cake batter she had +begun to stir as soon as the pie was completed.</p> + +<p>“This is the last. You don’t need to stay and +help me any longer if you don’t want to, dear. +Run out and play,” urged Ruth sweetly.</p> + +<p>“Run out and play! As if I were Dot or Tess! +I like that! Why, I was thinking of asking you +to let me join the society!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, of course you may, Agnes! I didn’t +think you’d care for it. Why, certainly you may +join! We want to get as many into it as we +can. Do come to the meeting this afternoon. +Mr. Howbridge is going to explain everything, and +I thought we might as well make it a little social +affair. It was very good of you to help me with +the baking.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I like that. And I believe I will come +to the meeting. Now shall we clean up?”</p> + +<p>“I do him,” interposed Linda. “I wash him +all up,” and a sweep of her muscular arm indicated +the pots, pans, dishes and all the odds and +ends left from the rather wholesale baking.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I shall be so glad if you will!” exclaimed +Ruth. “I want to go over the parlor and library +again. And I wonder what has become of Dot +and Tess. I asked them to get me some wild +flowers, but they have been gone over an hour +and—”</p> + +<p>The voice of Mrs. MacCall from the deep pantry +interrupted.</p> + +<p>“Hi, Tess! Hi, Dot!” she called. “Where ha’ +ye been? Come ye here the noo, and be for me +waukrife minnie.”</p> + +<p>“What in the world does she mean?” asked +Agnes, for sometimes, well versed as she was +in the Scotch of the housekeeper, there were new +words and phrases that needed translating. Especially +as it seemed to the girls that more and +more Mrs. MacCall was falling back into her childhood +speech as she grew older—a speech she had +dropped during her younger life except in moments +of excitement.</p> + +<p>This time, however, it was beyond even the +“ken” of Ruth, who rather prided herself on +her Highland knowledge. But Mrs. MacCall herself +had heard the question. Out she came from +the pantry, smiling broadly.</p> + +<p>“Ye no ken ‘waukrife minnie’?” she asked. +“Ah, ’tis a pretty little verse o’ Rabbie Burns. +I’ll call it o’er the noo.”</p> + +<p>Then she gave them, with all the burring of +which her tongue was capable:</p> + +<p> +       “Whare are you gaun, my bonnie lass,<br/> +       Whare are you gaun, my hinnie?<br/> +       She answered me right saucilie,<br/> +       An errand for my minnie.”<br/> +</p> + +<p>Coming down to earth again, Mrs. MacCall +shot back into the pantry and from an open +window in the rear that looked out in the orchard +she called:</p> + +<p>“Hi, Tess! Hi, Dot! Come ye here, and be for +me the lassies that’ll gang to the store.”</p> + +<p>“Are Tess and Dot there?” asked Ruth. “I’ve +been wondering where they had disappeared to.”</p> + +<p>“They be coming the noo,” answered Mrs. MacCall. +“Laden in their arms wi’ all sorts of the +trash.” And then she sang again:</p> + +<p> +       “O fare thee well, my bonnie lass,<br/> +       O fare thee well, my hinnie!<br/> +       Thou art a gay an’ a bonnie lass,<br/> +       But thou has a waukrife minnie.”<br/> +</p> + +<p>“What in the world is a ‘waukrife minnie’?” +asked Agnes, but there was no chance to answer, +for in the kitchen, making it more busy than +ever, trooped the two younger members of the +Corner House girls quartette—Tess and Dot.</p> + +<p>Their arms were filled with blossoms of the +woods and fields, and without more ado they +tossed them to a cleared place on the table, whence +Linda had removed some of the pans and dishes.</p> + +<p>“Oh, what a lovely lot of flowers!” cried Ruth. +“It’s just darling of you to get them for me. +Now do you want to help me put them into vases +in the library?”</p> + +<p>Dot shook her head.</p> + +<p>“Why not?” asked Ruth gently.</p> + +<p>“I promised my Alice-doll to take her down by +the brook, and I just have to do it,” answered +Dot. “And Tess is going to help me; aren’t you, +Tess?” she added.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” was the answer. “I’m going to take +Almira.”</p> + +<p>“Then you must take her kittens, too!” insisted +Dot. “She’ll feel bad if you don’t.”</p> + +<p>“I won’t take ’em all—I’ll take one kitten,” +compromised Tess. “There she is, now!” And +Tess darted from the room to pounce on the cat, +which did not seem to mind very much being +mauled by the children.</p> + +<p>“Will ye gang a’wa’ to the store the noo?” +asked Mrs. MacCall, with a warm smile as she +came from the pantry. “There’s muckle we need +an’—”</p> + +<p>“I’ll go if you give me a cookie,” promised Dot.</p> + +<p>“So’ll I,” chimed in Tess, coming in on the +tribute. “We can take Almira and your Alice-doll +when we come back,” she confided to her +sister.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I think they’ll wait. I know Alice-doll +will, but I’m not so sure about Almira,” and Dot +seemed rather in doubt. “She may take a notion +to carry her kittens up in the bedroom—”</p> + +<p>“Don’t dare suggest such a thing!” cried Ruth.</p> + +<p>“I’m to have company this afternoon, and if that +cat and her kittens appear on the scene—”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I wasn’t going to carry them in!” interrupted +Dot, with an air of injured innocence. +“They’re Almira’s kittens, and she can do what +she likes with them, I suppose,” she added as an +afterthought. “Only I know that every once in a +while she takes a notion to plant them in a new +place. Once Uncle Rufus found them in his rubber +boots, and they scratched him like anything +when he put his foot inside.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if you have to go to the store for Mrs. +MacCall you won’t have any time to help me +arrange the flowers,” observed Ruth, anxious to +put an end to the discussion about the family cat +and kittens, for she knew Dot had a fund of +stories concerning them.</p> + +<p>“Yes, traipse along now, my bonnie bairns,” +advised the Scotch housekeeper, and, bribed by +two cookies each, a special good measure on Saturday, +Dot and Tess were soon on their way, or at +least it was so supposed.</p> + +<p>Linda was helping Mrs. MacCall clear away the +baking utensils, and Ruth and Agnes were in the +parlor and library, tastefully arranging the wild +flowers that Dot and Tess had gathered.</p> + +<p>“Isn’t Dot queer to cling still to her dolls?” remarked +Agnes, as she stepped back to get the effect +of a bunch of red flowers against a dark brown +background in one corner of the room.</p> + +<p>“Yes, she is a strange child. And poor Almira! +Really I don’t see how that cat stands it +here, the way Tess and Dot maul her.”</p> + +<p>“They aren’t as bad as Sammy Pinkney. +Actually I caught him yesterday tying the poor +creature to the back of Billy Bumps!”</p> + +<p>“Not on the goat’s back!” cried Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Really, he was. I sent him flying, though!”</p> + +<p>“What was his idea?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, he said he’d heard Neale tell how, in a +circus, a little dog rode on a pony’s back and +Sammy didn’t see why a cat couldn’t ride on a +goat.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if he put it that way I suppose she +could,” assented Ruth. “But Almira seems to +take herself very seriously with all those kittens. +We really must get rid of them. Vacation will +soon be here, and with Tess and Dot around the +house all day, instead of just Saturdays, I don’t +know what we shall do.”</p> + +<p>“Have you made any vacation plans at all?”</p> + +<p>“Not yet, Agnes. I thought I’d wait until I +saw Mr. Howbridge at the club meeting this +afternoon.”</p> + +<p>“What has he to do with our vacation—unless +he’s going along?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, I didn’t mean that, at all! But the +financial question does enter into it; and as he is +our guardian and has charge of our money, I want +to know just how much we can count on spending.”</p> + +<p>“Why, have we lost any money?”</p> + +<p>“Not that I know of. I hope not! But I always +have consulted him before we made any +summer plans, and I don’t see why we should +not now.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I suppose it’s all right,” assented Agnes, +as she took up another bunch of flowers. “But I +wonder—”</p> + +<p>She never finished that sentence. From somewhere, +inside or outside the house, a resounding +crash sounded. It shook the walls and floors.</p> + +<p>“Oh, my! what’s that?” cried Ruth, dropping +the blossoms from her hands and hastening to the +hall.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink02'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER II—NEALE HAS NEWS</a></h2> + +<p>Deep, and perhaps portentous, silence had succeeded +the crash. But both Ruth and Agnes knew +enough of the goings and comings in the Corner +House not to take this silence for serenity. It +meant something, as the crash had.</p> + +<p>“What was it?” murmured Ruth again, and +she fairly ran out into the hall, followed by her +sister.</p> + +<p>Then came a series of bumps, as if something of +no small size was rolling down the porch steps. +By this time it was evident that the racket came +from without and not from within. Then a voice +cried:</p> + +<p>“Hold it! Hold it! Don’t let it roll down!”</p> + +<p>“That’s Dot!” declared Ruth.</p> + +<p>And then a despairing voice cried:</p> + +<p>“I can’t! I can’t hold it! Look out!”</p> + +<p>Once again the rumbling, rolling, bumping +sound came, and with it was mingled the warning +of the Scotch housekeeper and the wail of Dot +who cried:</p> + +<p>“Oh, she’s dead! She’s smashed!”</p> + +<p>“Something really has happened this time!” +exclaimed Ruth, and her face became a little +pale.</p> + +<p>“If only it isn’t serious,” burst out Agnes. +“Oh, dear, what those youngsters don’t think of +for trouble!”</p> + +<p>“They don’t mean to get into trouble, Agnes. +It’s only their thoughtlessness.”</p> + +<p>“Well then, they ought to think more. Oh, +listen to that, will you!” Agnes added, as another +loud bumping reached the two sisters’ ears.</p> + +<p>“It’s something that’s sure,” cried Ruth, and +grew paler than ever.</p> + +<p>The happening was not really as tragic as it +seemed, yet it was sufficiently momentous to cause +a fright to the two older girls. Especially to +Ruth, who felt herself to be, as she literally was, +a mother to the other three; though now that +Agnes was putting up her hair and putting down +her dresses a new element had come into the +household.</p> + +<p>While yet in tender years the responsibilities +of life had fallen on the shoulders of Ruth Kenway. +In their former home—a city more pretentious +in many ways than picturesque Milton, their +present home—the Kenways had lived in what, +literally, was a tenement house. Their father +and mother were dead, and the small pension +granted Mr. Kenway, who had been a soldier in +the Spanish war, was hardly sufficient for the +needs of four growing girls.</p> + +<p>Then, almost providentially, it seemed, the +Stower estate had come to Ruth, Agnes, Dot and +Tess. Uncle Peter Stower had passed away, and +Mr. Howbridge, the administrator of the estate, +had discovered the four sisters as the next of +kin, to use his legal phrase.</p> + +<p>Uncle Peter Stower had lived for years in the +“Corner House” as it was called. The mansion +stood opposite the Parade Ground in Milton, and +there Uncle Rufus, the colored servant of his +crabbed master, had spent so many years that he +regarded himself as a fixture—as much so as the +roof.</p> + +<p>At first no will could be found, though Mr. +Howbridge recalled having drawn one; but eventually +all legal tangles were straightened out, and +the four sisters came to live in Milton, as related +in the first book of the series, entitled “The +Corner House Girls.”</p> + +<p>There was Ruth, the oldest and the “little +mother,” though she was not so very little now. +In fact she had blossomed into a young lady, a +fact of which Mr. Howbridge became increasingly +aware each day.</p> + +<p>So the four girls had come to live at the Corner +House, and that was only the beginning of their +adventures. In successive volumes are related +the happenings when they went to school, when +they had a jolly time under canvas, and when +they took part in a school play.</p> + +<p>The odd find made in the garret of the Corner +House furnished material for a book in itself and +paved the way for a rather remarkable tour in an +auto.</p> + +<p>In those days the Corner House girls became +acquainted with a brother and sister, Luke and +Cecile Shepard. Luke was a college youth, and +the friendship between him and Ruth presently +ripened into a deep regard for each other. But +Luke had to go back to college, so Ruth saw +very little of him, though the young folks corresponded +freely.</p> + +<p>All this was while the Corner House girls were +“growing up.” In fact, it became necessary to +tell of that in detail, so that the reason for many +things that happened in the book immediately +preceding this, which is called “The Corner +House Girls Snowbound,” could be understood.</p> + +<p>In that volume the Corner House girls become +involved in the mysterious disappearance of two +small twins, and after many exciting days spent +in the vicinity of a lumber camp a clue to the +mystery was hit upon.</p> + +<p>But now the memory of the blizzard days spent +in the old Lodge were forgotten. For summer had +come, bringing with it new problems, not the +least of which was to find a place where vacation +days might be spent.</p> + +<p>Ruth proposed to speak of that when her guardian +called this Saturday afternoon. As she had +hinted to Agnes, Ruth had invited a number of +girl friends to luncheon. It was the plan to form +a sort of young people’s Civic Club, to take up +several town matters, and Ruth was the moving +spirit in this, for she loved to work toward some +definite end.</p> + +<p>This Saturday was no exception in being a busy +one at the Corner House.</p> + +<p>In pursuance of her plans she had enlisted the +whole household in preparing for the event, from +Mrs. MacCall, who looked after matters in general, +Linda, who helped with the baking, Uncle +Rufus, who was cleaning the lawn, down to Dot +and Tess, who had been sent for flowers.</p> + +<p>And then had come the bribing of Dot and +Tess to go to the store and, following that, the +crash.</p> + +<p>“What can it be?” murmured Ruth, as she and +Agnes hastened on. “Some one surely must be +hurt.”</p> + +<p>“I hope not,” half whispered Agnes.</p> + +<p>From the side porch came the sound of childish +anguish.</p> + +<p>“She’s all flatted out, that’s what she is! She’s +all flatted out, my Alice-doll is, and it’s all your +fault, Tess Kenway! Why didn’t you hold the +barrel?”</p> + +<p>“I couldn’t, I told you! It just rolled and it +rolled. It’s a good thing it didn’t roll on Almira!”</p> + +<p>“Gracious! did you hear that?” cried Agnes. +“What can they have been doing?”</p> + +<p>The two older sisters reached the porch together, +there to find Mrs. MacCall holding to Tess, +whom she was brushing off and murmuring to in +a low voice, filled with much Scotch burring.</p> + +<p>Dot stood at the foot of the steps holding a +rather crushed doll out at arm’s length, for all +who would to view. And stalking off over the +lawn was Almira, the cat, carrying in her mouth +a wee kitten. Uncle Rufus was hobbling toward +the scene of the excitement as fast as his rheumatism +would allow. Scattered on the ground at the +foot of the steps was a collection of odds and ends—“trash” +Uncle Rufus called it. The trash had +come from an overturned barrel, and it was this +barrel rolling down the steps and off the porch +that had caused the noise.</p> + +<p>“What happened?” demanded Ruth, breathing +more easily when she saw that the casualty list +was confined to the doll.</p> + +<p>“It was Tess,” declared Dot. “She tipped the +barrel over and it rolled on my Alice-doll and +now look at her.”</p> + +<p>Dot referred to the doll, not to her sister, though +Tess was rather a sight, for she was covered with +feathers from an old pillow that had been thrown +into the barrel and had burst open during the +progress of the accident.</p> + +<p>At first Tess had been rather inclined to cry, +but finding, to her great relief, that she was unhurt, +she changed her threatened tears into laughter +and said:</p> + +<p>“Ain’t I funny looking? Just like a duck!”</p> + +<p>“What were you trying to do, children?” asked +Ruth, trying to speak rather severely in her capacity +as “mother.”</p> + +<p>“I was trying to put Almira and one of her +kittens into the barrel,” explained Tess, now that +Mrs. MacCall had got off most of the feathers. +“I leaned over to put Almira in the barrel, soft +and easy like, down on the other pillow, and it +upset—I mean the barrel did. It began to roll, +and I couldn’t stop it and it rolled right off the +porch and—”</p> + +<p>“Right over my Alice-doll it rolled, and she’s +all squashed!” voiced Dot.</p> + +<p>“Oh, be quiet! She isn’t hurt a bit,” cried +Tess. “Her nose was flat, anyhow.”</p> + +<p>“Did the barrel roll over you?” asked Agnes, +smiling now.</p> + +<p>“Almost,” said Tess. “But I got out of the +way in time, and Almira grabbed up her kitten and +ran. Where is she?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Never mind the cat,” advised Ruth. “She’s +caused enough excitement for one Saturday morning. +Why were you putting her in the barrel, +anyhow, Tess?”</p> + +<p>“So I’d know where she was when I came back. +I wanted her and one kitten to play with if Dot is +going to play with her Alice-doll when we get +back from the store. But I guess I leaned too +far over.”</p> + +<p>“I guess you did,” assented Ruth. “Well, I’m +glad it was no worse. Is your doll much damaged, +Dot?”</p> + +<p>“Maybe I can put a little more sawdust or some +rags in her and stuff her out. But she’s awful +flat. And look at her nose!”</p> + +<p>“Her nose was flat, anyhow, before the barrel +rolled over her,” said Tess. “But I’m sorry it +happened. I guess Almira was scared.”</p> + +<p>“We were all frightened,” said Ruth. “It was +a terrible racket. Now let the poor cat alone, and +run along to the store. Oh, what a mess this is,” +and she looked at the refuse scattered from the +trash barrel. “And just when I want things to +look nice for the girls. It always seems to happen +that way!”</p> + +<p>Uncle Rufus shuffled along.</p> + +<p>“Doan you-all worry now, honey,” he said, +speaking to all the girls as one. “I’ll clean up +dish yeah trash in no time. I done got de lawn +like a billiard table, an’ I’ll pick up dish yeah +trash. De ash man ought to have been along +early dis mawnin’ fo’ to get it. I set it dar fo’ +him.”</p> + +<p>That explained the presence on the side porch +of the barrel of odds and ends collected for the +ash man to remove. He had not called, and seeing +the receptacle there, with an old feather pillow +among the other refuse, Tess thought she had her +opportunity.</p> + +<p>“Run along now, my bonny bairns! Run +along!” counseled the old Scotch woman. “’Tis +late it’s getting, and the lassies will be here to +lunch before we know it.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, do run along,” begged Ruth. “And then +come back to be washed and have your hair +combed. I want you to look nice if, accidentally, +you appear on the scene.”</p> + +<p>Thus bidden, and fortified with another cookie +each, Tess and Dot hurried on to the store, Dot +tenderly trying to pinch into shape the flattened +nose of her Alice-doll.</p> + +<p>Rufus got a broom and began to clean the scattered +trash to put back into the barrel, and Mrs. +MacCall hurried into her kitchen, where Linda +was humming a Finnish song as she clattered +amid the pots and pans.</p> + +<p>“Oh, we must finish the parlor and library,” +declared Ruth. “Do come and help, Agnes.”</p> + +<p>“Coming, Ruth. Oh, here’s Neale!” she added, +pausing to look toward the gate through which at +that moment appeared a sturdy lad of pleasant +countenance.</p> + +<p>“He acts as though he had something on his +mind,” went on Agnes, as the youth broke into +a run on seeing her and her sister on the steps. +“Wait a moment, Ruth. He may have something +to tell us.”</p> + +<p>“The fates forbid that it is anything more +about Tess and Dot!” murmured Ruth, for the +children had some minutes before disappeared +down the street.</p> + +<p>“News!” cried Neale O’Neil, as he swung up +the steps. “I’ve got such news for you! Oh, it’s +great!” and his face fairly shone.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink03'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER III—THE ELEVATOR</a></h2> + +<p>“Just a minute now, Neale,” said Ruth, in the +quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess +and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of +their many startling feats. “Quiet down a bit, +please, before you tell us.”</p> + +<p>The boy had reached the porch, panting from +his run, and he had been about to burst out with +the news, which he could hardly contain, when +Ruth addressed him.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter? Don’t you want to hear +it?” he asked, fanning himself vigorously with +his hat.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, it isn’t that,” said Agnes, with a +smile, which caused Neale’s lips to part in an answering +one, showing his white teeth that made +a contrast to his tanned face. “But we have just +passed through rather a strenuous time, Neale, +and if you have anything more startling to tell +us about Tess and Dot—”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it isn’t about them!” laughed Neale +O’Neil. “They’re all right. I just saw them going +down the street.”</p> + +<p>“Thank goodness!” murmured Ruth. “I +thought they had got into more mischief. Well, +go on, Neale, and tell us the news. Is it good?”</p> + +<p>“The best ever,” he answered, sobering down +a little. “The only trouble is that there isn’t +very much of it. Only a sort of rumor, so to +speak.”</p> + +<p>“Sit down,” said Agnes, and she herself suited +her action to the words. “Uncle Rufus has the +spilled trash cleaned up now.”</p> + +<p>“Yes’m, it’s done all cleaned up now,” murmured +the old colored servant as he departed, having +made the side porch presentable again. “But +I suah does wish dat trash man’d come ’roun’ yeah +befo’ dem two chilluns come back. Dey’s gwine +to upsot dat barrel ag’in, if dey gets a chanst; +dey suah is!” and he departed, shaking his head +woefully enough.</p> + +<p>“What happened?” asked Neale. “An accident?”</p> + +<p>“You might call it that,” assented Ruth, sitting +down beside her sister. “It was a combination +of Tess, Dot, Alice-doll and Almira all rolled +into one.”</p> + +<p>“That’s enough!” laughed the boy, to whom +readers of the previous volumes of the series need +no introduction.</p> + +<p>Neale O’Neil had once been in a circus. He +was known as “Master Jakeway” and was the +son of James O’Neil. Neale’s uncle, William +Sorber, was the ringmaster and lion tamer in the +show billed as “Twomley & Sorber’s Herculean +Circus and Menagerie.” Some time before the +opening of the present story, Neale had left the +circus and had come to Milton to live, making +his home with Con Murphy, the town cobbler.</p> + +<p>“Well, go on with your news, Neale,” said Ruth +gently, as she gazed solicitously at the boy. She +was beginning to have more and more something +of a feeling of responsibility toward him. This +was due to the fact that Ruth was growing older, +as has been evidenced, and also to the fact that +Neale was also, and at times, she thought, he +showed the lack of the care of a loving mother.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I want to hear it,” interposed Agnes. +“And then we simply must get the house in shape, +if the girls aren’t to find us with smudges of dust +on our noses.”</p> + +<p>“Is there anything I can do?” asked Neale eagerly. +“Are you going to have a party?”</p> + +<p>“Some of Ruth’s young ladies are coming to +lunch,” explained Agnes. “I don’t suppose I +may be classed with them,” and she looked shyly +at her sister.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see why not,” came the retort from +the oldest Kenway girl. “I’d like to have you +come to the meeting, Agnes.”</p> + +<p>“No, thank you, civics are not much in my line. +I hated ’em in school. Though maybe I’ll come +to the eats. But let’s hear Neale’s news. It +may spoil from being kept.”</p> + +<p>“Not much danger of that,” said the boy, with +another bright smile. “But are you sure there +isn’t anything I can do to help?”</p> + +<p>“Perfectly sure, Neale,” answered Ruth. +“The two irrepressibles brought me the flowers I +wanted to decorate with, and it only remains to put +them in vases. But now I’m sure we have chattered +enough about ourselves. Let us hear about +you.”</p> + +<p>“It isn’t so much about me; it’s about—father,” +and Neale’s voice sank when he said that. He +spoke in almost a reverent tone. And then his +face lighted up again as he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“I have some news about him! That’s why I +ran to tell you. I knew you’d be glad.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Neale, that’s fine!” cried Agnes, clasping +him by the arm. “After all these years, really +to have news of him! I’m so glad!”</p> + +<p>“Is he really found?” asked Ruth, who was +of a less excitable type than her sister, though she +could get sufficiently worked up when there was +need for it.</p> + +<p>“No, he isn’t exactly found,” went on Neale. +“I only wish he were. But I just heard, in a +roundabout way, that he may not be so very far +from here.”</p> + +<p>“That is good news,” declared Ruth. “How +did you hear it?”</p> + +<p>“Well, you know my father was what is called +a rover,” went on the boy. “I presume I don’t +need to tell you that. He wouldn’t have been in +the circus business with Uncle Bill, and he +wouldn’t have had me in the circus—along with +the trick mules—unless he had loved to travel +about and see the country.”</p> + +<p>“That’s a safe conclusion,” remarked Agnes. +To her sister and herself Neale’s circus experiences +were an old story. He had often told them +how, when a small boy, he had performed in the +sawdust ring.</p> + +<p>“Yes, father was a rover,” went on Neale. “At +least that’s the conclusion I’ve come to of late. I +really didn’t know him very well. He left the +circus when I was still small and told Uncle Bill +to look after me. Well, Uncle Bill did, I’ll say +that for him. He was as kind as any boy’s uncle +could be.”</p> + +<p>“Anyhow, as you know, father left the circus, +gave me in charge of Uncle Bill, and went off to +seek his fortune. I suppose he realized that I +would be better off out of a circus, but he knew +he had to live, and money is needed for that. +So that’s why he quit the ring, I imagine. He’s +been seeking his fortune for quite a while now, +and—”</p> + +<p>“Neale, do you mean to say he has come back?” +cried Agnes.</p> + +<p>“Not exactly,” was the answer. “At least if +he has come back I haven’t seen him. But I just +met a man—a sort of tramp he is, to tell you the +truth—and he says he knew a man who saw my +father in the Alaskan Klondike, where father had +a mine. And this man—this tramp—says my +father started back to the States some time ago.”</p> + +<p>“With a lot of gold?” asked Ruth, her eyes +gleaming with hope for Neale.</p> + +<p>“This the man didn’t know. All he knew was +that there was a rumor that my father had struck +it fairly rich and had started back toward civilization. +But even that news makes me feel good. +I’m going to see if I can find him. I always had +an idea, and so did Uncle Bill, that it was to +Alaska father had gone, and this proves it.”</p> + +<p>“But who is this man who gave you the news, +and why doesn’t he know where your father can +be found?” asked Ruth. “Also is there anything +we can do to help you, Neale?”</p> + +<p>“What a lot of questions!” exclaimed Agnes.</p> + +<p>“I think I can answer them,” Neale said. He +was calmer now, but his face still shone and his +eyes sparkled under the stress of the happy excitement. +“The man, as I said, is a tramp. He +asked me for some money. He was driving a team +of mules on the canal towpath, and I happened to +look at one of the animals. It reminded me of +one we had in the circus—a trick mule—but it +took only a look to show me it wasn’t the same +sort of kicker. I got to talking to the man, and +he said he was broke—only had just taken the +job and the boss wouldn’t advance him a cent until +the end of the week. I gave him a quarter, +and we got to talking. Then he told me he knew +men who had been in the Klondike, and, naturally, +I asked him if he had ever heard of a man named +O’Neil. He said he had, and then the story came +out.”</p> + +<p>“But how can you be sure it was your father?” +asked Ruth, wisely not wanting false hopes to be +raised.</p> + +<p>“That was easily proved when I mentioned +circus,” said Neale. “This tramp, Hank Dayton, +he said his name was, remembered the men speaking +of my father talking about circuses, and saying +that he had left me in one.”</p> + +<p>“That does seem to establish an identity,” Ruth +conceded. “Where is this man Dayton now, +Neale?”</p> + +<p>“He had to go on with the canal boat. But I +learned from him all I could. It seems sure that +my father is either back here, after some years +spent in Alaska, or that he will come here soon. +He must have been writing to Uncle Bill, and so +have learned that I came here to live. Uncle Bill +knows where I am, but I don’t know where he is +at this moment, though I could get in touch with +him. But I’ll be glad to see my father again. +Oh, if I could only find him!”</p> + +<p>Neale seemed to gaze afar off, over the fields and +woods, as if he visualized his long-lost father coming +toward him. His eyes had a dreamy look.</p> + +<p>“Can’t we do something to help you?” asked +Ruth.</p> + +<p>“That’s what I came over about as soon as I +had learned all the mule driver could tell me,” +went on the boy. “I thought maybe we could ask +Mr. Howbridge, your guardian, how to go about +finding lost persons. There are ways of advertising +for people who have disappeared.”</p> + +<p>“There is,” said Agnes. “I’ve often seen in +the paper advertisements for missing persons who +are wanted to enable an estate to be cleared up, +and the last time I was in Mr. Howbridge’s office +I heard him telling one of the clerks to have such +an advertisement prepared.”</p> + +<p>“Then that’s what I’ve got to have done!” declared +Neale. “I’ve got some money, and I can +get more from Uncle Bill if I can get in touch +with him. I’m going to see Mr. Howbridge and +start something!”</p> + +<p>He was about to leave the porch, to hasten away, +when Ruth interposed.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Howbridge is coming here this afternoon,” +said the girl. “You might stay and see +him, if you like, Neale.”</p> + +<p>“What, with a whole Civic Betterment Club of +girls coming to the Corner House! No, thank +you,” he laughed. “I’ll see him afterward. But +I have more hope now than I ever had before.”</p> + +<p>“I’m very glad,” murmured Ruth. “Mr. Howbridge +will give you any help possible, I’m sure. +Shall I speak to him about it when he comes to +advise us how to form our Civic Betterment +Club?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I think not, thank you,” answered Neale. +“He’ll have enough to do this afternoon without +taking on my affair. I can tell him later. But I +couldn’t wait to tell you.”</p> + +<p>“Of course you couldn’t!” said Agnes. “That +would have been a fine way to treat me!” Neale, +who was Agnes’ special chum, in a way seemed like +one of the family—at least as much so as Mrs. +MacCall, the housekeeper, Uncle Rufus, or Sammy +Pinkney, the little fellow who lived across Willow +Street, on the opposite side from the Corner House.</p> + +<p>“Well, I feel almost like another fellow now,” +went on Neale, as he started down the walk. “Not +knowing whether your father is alive or not isn’t +much fun.”</p> + +<p>“I should say not!” agreed Agnes. “I wish I +could ask you to stay to lunch, Neale, but—”</p> + +<p>“Oh, gee, Aggie!” The boy laughed, and off +down the street he hastened, his step light and +his cheery whistle ringing out.</p> + +<p>“Isn’t it wonderful!” exclaimed Agnes, as she +followed her sister into the house.</p> + +<p>“Yes, if only it proves true,” returned the older +girl, more soberly.</p> + +<p>From the kitchen came the clatter of pans and +dishes as Linda disposed of the clutter incidental +to making cakes and dainties for a bevy of girls. +Mrs. MacCall could be heard humming a Scotch +song, and as Tess and Dot returned from the +store she raised her voice in the refrain:</p> + +<p> +       “Thou art a gay an’ bonnie lass,<br/> +       But thou hast a waukrife minnie.”<br/> +</p> + +<p>“What in the world is a waukrife minnie?” demanded +Agnes again, pausing in her task.</p> + +<p>“It’s ‘wakeful mother,’” answered Ruth. “I +remember now. It’s in Burns’ poem of that +name. But do hurry, please, Aggie, or the girls +will be here before we can change our dresses!”</p> + +<p>“The fates forbid!” cried her sister, and she +hastened to good advantage.</p> + +<p>The lunch was over and the “Civic Betterment +League” was in process of embryo formation, under +the advice of Mr. Howbridge, and Ruth was +earnestly presiding over the session of her girl +friends in the library of the Corner House, when, +from the ample yard in the rear of the old mansion, +came a series of startled cries.</p> + +<p>There was but one meaning to attach to them. +The cries came from Dot and Tess, and mingled +with them were the unmistakable yells of Sammy +Pinkney.</p> + +<p>At the same time Mrs. MacCall added her remonstrances +to something that was going on, +while Uncle Rufus, tottering his way along the +hall, tapped at the door of the library and said:</p> + +<p>“’Scuse me, Miss Ruth, but de chiluns done got +cotched in de elevator!”</p> + +<p>“The <i>elevator</i>!” Agnes screamed. “What in +the world do you mean?”</p> + +<p>“Yas’um, dat’s whut it is,” said the old colored +man. “Tess an’ Dot done got cotched in de elevator!”</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink04'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER IV—AN AUTO RIDE</a></h2> + +<p>Mr. Howbridge had been making an address to +Ruth’s assembled girl chums when the interruption +came. He had been telling them just how +to go about it to organize the kind of society +Ruth had in mind. In spite of her half refusal to +attend the session, Agnes had decided to be present, +and she was sitting near the door when Uncle +Rufus made his statement about the two smallest +Kenways being “cotched.”</p> + +<p>“But how can they be in an elevator?” demanded +Agnes. “We haven’t an elevator on the +place—there hardly is one in Milton.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know no mo’ ’bout it dan jest dat!” +declared the old colored man. “Sammy he done +say dey is cotched in de elevator an’—”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Sammy!” cried Agnes. “If Sammy has +anything to do with it you might know—”</p> + +<p>She was interrupted by a further series of +cries, unmistakably coming from Tess and Dot, +and, mingled with their shouts of alarm, was the +voice of Mrs. MacCall saying:</p> + +<p>“Come along, Ruth! Oh, Agnes! Oh, the poor +bairns! Oh, the wee ones!” and then she lapsed +into her broadest Scotch so that none who heard +understood.</p> + +<p>“Something must have happened!” declared +Ruth.</p> + +<p>“It is very evident,” added Agnes, and the two +sisters hurried out, brushing past Uncle Rufus +in the hall.</p> + +<p>“Can’t we do something?” asked Lucy Poole, +one of the guests.</p> + +<p>“Yes, we must help,” added Grace Watson.</p> + +<p>“I think perhaps it will be best if you remain +here,” said Mr. Howbridge. “I don’t imagine +anything very much out of the ordinary has happened, +from what I know of the family,” he said +with a smile. “I’ll go and see, and if any more +help is needed I shall let you young ladies know. +Unless it is, the fewer on the scene the better, +perhaps.”</p> + +<p>“Especially if any one is hurt,” murmured Clo +Baker. “I never could stand the sight of a child +hurt.”</p> + +<p>“They don’t seem to have lost their voices, at +any rate,” remarked Lucy. “Listen:”</p> + +<p>As Mr. Howbridge followed Agnes and Ruth +from the room, there was borne to the ears of +the assembled guests a cry of:</p> + +<p>“Let me down! Do you hear, Sammy Pinkney! +Let me down!”</p> + +<p>And a voice, undoubtedly that of the Sammy in +question, answered:</p> + +<p>“I’m not doing anything! I can’t get you +down! It’s Billy Bumps. He did it!”</p> + +<p>“Two boys in mischief,” murmured Lucy.</p> + +<p>“No, Billy is a goat, so I understand,” said Clo. +“I hope he hasn’t butted one of the children down +the cistern.”</p> + +<p>And while the guests were vainly wondering +what had happened, Ruth, Agnes and Mr. Howbridge +saw suspended in a large clothes basket, +which was attached to a rope that ran over the +high limb of a great oak tree in the back yard, +Tess and Dot. They were in the clothes basket, +Dot with her Alice-doll clasped in her hands; +and both girls were looking over the side of the +hamper.</p> + +<p>Attached to the ground end of the rope, where +it was run through a pulley block, was a large +goat, now contentedly chewing grass, and near +the animal, with a startled look on his face, was +a small boy, who, when he felt like it, answered +to the name Sammy Pinkney.</p> + +<p>“Get us down! Get us down!” cried Dot and +Tess in a chorus, while Mrs. MacCall stood beneath +them holding out her apron as if the two +little girls were ripe apples ready to fall.</p> + +<p>“How did you get up there?” demanded Ruth, +her face paling as she saw the danger of her little +sisters, for Tess and Dot were too high up +for safety.</p> + +<div style='text-align:center'> +<img id='ilink02' src='images/illus-002.jpg' alt=''/> +<p class='caption'>“Get us down!” cried Dot and Tess in a chorus, while Mrs. MacCall<br/>stood beneath them holding out her apron.</p> +</div> + +<p>“Sammy elevatored us up,” explained Dot.</p> + +<p>“Well, you wanted to go!” replied the small +boy in self justification.</p> + +<p>The goat kept on eating grass, of which there +was an ample supply in the yard of the Corner +House.</p> + +<p>“What shall we do?” cried Agnes.</p> + +<p>“Run into the house and get a strong blanket +or quilt,” advised Mr. Howbridge quickly, but +in a quiet, insistent voice which seemed to calm +the excitement of every one. “Bring the blanket +here. We will hold it beneath the basket like a +fire net, though I do not believe there is any immediate +danger of the children falling. The rope +seems to be firmly caught in the pulley block.”</p> + +<p>His quick eye had taken in this detail of the +“elevator.” The rope really had jammed in the +block, and, as long as it held, the basket could +not descend suddenly. Even if the rope should be +unexpectedly loosened, there would still be the +weight of the attached goat to act as a drag on the +end of the cable, thus counterbalancing, in a measure, +the weight of the girls in the clothes basket.</p> + +<p>“But I don’t want to take any chances,” explained +the lawyer. “We’ll take hold and extend +the blanket under them, in case they should fall.”</p> + +<p>“I have my apron ready now!” cried Mrs. MacCall. +“Oh, the puir bairns! What ever possit it +ye twa gang an’ reesk their lives this way, ye +tapetless one?” she cried to Sammy angrily, suddenly, +in her excitement, using the broadest of +Scotch.</p> + +<p>“Well, they wanted to ride in an elevator, an’ +I—I made one,” he declared.</p> + +<p>And that is just what he had done. Whether +it was his idea or that of Tess and Dot did not +then develop. What Sammy had done was to +take the largest clothes basket, getting it unobserved +when Mrs. MacCall and Linda were busy +over Ruth’s party. He had fastened the basket +to a long rope, which had been thrown over the +high limb of the oak tree. Then Sammy had +passed the rope through a pulley block, obtained +no one knew where, and had hitched to the cable +the goat, Billy Bumps.</p> + +<p>By walking away from the tree Billy had pulled +on the rope. The straightaway pull was transformed, +by virtue of the pulley, into an upward +motion, and the basket ascended. It had formed +the “elevator” to which Uncle Rufus alluded.</p> + +<p>And, really, it did elevate Dot and Tess. They +had been pulled up and had descended as Sammy +made the goat back, thus releasing the pull on the +rope. All had gone well for several trips until +the rope jammed in the pulley, thus leaving the +two girls suspended in the basket at the highest +point. Their screams, the fright of Sammy, the +alarms of Uncle Rufus and Mrs. MacCall had followed +in quick succession.</p> + +<p>“Here’s the blanket!” cried Agnes speeding +to the scene with a large woolen square under her +arm. “Have they fallen yet?”</p> + +<p>Behind her came stringing the guests. It had +been impossible for them to remain in the library +with their minds on civic betterment ideas when +they heard what had happened.</p> + +<p>“Well, did you ever!” cried one of the number +in astonishment.</p> + +<p>“What can it mean?” burst out a second.</p> + +<p>“Looks to me like an amateur circus,” giggled +a third. She was a lighthearted girl and had not +taken much of an interest in the rather dry meeting.</p> + +<p>“Those children will be hurt,” cried a nervous +lady. “Oh, dear, why did they let them do such +an awful thing as that?”</p> + +<p>“I think they did it on their own account,” said +another lady. “Our Tommy is just like that—into +mischief the minute your back is turned.”</p> + +<p>“I’m glad they came!” said Mr. Howbridge. +“They may all take hold of the edges of the +blanket and extend it as firemen do the life net. +You may stand aside now, Mrs. MacCall, if you +will,” he told the Scotch housekeeper, and not +until then did she lower her apron and move out +from under the swaying basket, murmuring as +she did so something about Sammy being a “tapetless +gowk” who needed a “crummock” or a good +“flyte,” by which the girls understood that the +boy in question was a senseless dolt who needed +a severe whipping or a good scolding.</p> + +<p>Ruth, Agnes and the guests took hold of the +heavy blanket and held it under the basket as directed +by Mr. Howbridge. Then, seeing there +would be little danger to the children in case the +basket should suddenly fall, the lawyer directed +Sammy to loosen the goat from the rope.</p> + +<p>“He’ll run if I do,” objected Sammy.</p> + +<p>“Let him run, you ninnie!” cried Mrs. MacCall. +“An’ if ever ye fetchet him yon again I’ll—I’ll—”</p> + +<p>But she could not call up a sufficiently severe +punishment, and had to subside.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the mischievous boy had led Billy +Bumps off to one side, by the simple process of +loosening the rope from the wagon harness to +which it was fastened. Mr. Howbridge then took +a firm hold of the cable and, after loosening it +from where it had jammed in the pulley block, he +braced his feet in the earth, against the downward +pull of the basket, and so gently lowered Tess +and Dot to the ground.</p> + +<p>“I’m never going to play with you again, +Sammy Pinkney!” cried Tess, climbing out of +the basket and shaking her finger at the boy.</p> + +<p>“Nor me, either!” added Dot, smoothing out +the rumpled dress of her Alice-doll.</p> + +<p>“Well, you asked me to make some fun and I +did,” Sammy defended himself.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and you made a lot of excitement, too,” +added Ruth. “You had better come into the +house now, children,” she went on. “And, +Sammy, please take Billy away.”</p> + +<p>“Yes’m,” he murmured. “But they asked me +to elevator ’em up, an’ I did!”</p> + +<p>“To which I shall bear witness,” said Mr. Howbridge, +laughing.</p> + +<p>Mrs. MacCall “shooed” Tess and Dot into the +house, murmuring her thanks to providence over +the escape, and, after a while, the excitement died +away and Ruth went on with her meeting.</p> + +<p>The Civic Betterment League was formed that +afternoon and eventually, perhaps, did some +good. But what this story is to concern itself with +is the adventure on a houseboat of the Corner +House girls. Meanwhile about a week went by. +There had been no more elevator episodes, though +this does not mean that Sammy did not make mischief, +nor that Tess and Dot kept out of it. Far +from that.</p> + +<p>One bright afternoon, when school was out and +the pre-supper appetites of Dot and Tess had +been appeased, the two came running into the +room where Ruth and Agnes sat.</p> + +<p>“He’s here! He’s come!” gasped Tess.</p> + +<p>“And he’s got, oh, such a dandy!” echoed +Dot.</p> + +<p>“Who’s here, and what has he?” asked Agnes, +flying out of her chair.</p> + +<p>“You shouldn’t say anything is a ‘dandy,’” +corrected Ruth to her youngest sister.</p> + +<p>“Well it is, and you told me always to tell the +truth,” was the retort.</p> + +<p>“It’s Mr. Howbridge and he’s out in front with +a—the—er the beautifulest automobile!” cried +Tess. “It’s all shiny an’ it’s got wheels, an’—an’ +everything! It’s newer than our car.”</p> + +<p>Ruth was sufficiently interested in this news to +look from the window.</p> + +<p>“It <i>is</i> Mr. Howbridge,” she murmured, as +though there had been doubts on that point.</p> + +<p>“And he must have a new auto,” added Agnes. +“Oh, he has!” she cried.</p> + +<p>A moment later they were welcoming their +guardian at the door, while the smaller children +formed an eager and anxious background.</p> + +<p>“What has happened?” asked Agnes, while +Ruth, remembering her position as head of the +family, asked:</p> + +<p>“Won’t you come in?”</p> + +<p>“I’d much rather you would come out, Miss +Ruth,” the man responded. “It is just the sort +of day to be out—not in.”</p> + +<p>“Especially in such a car as that!” exclaimed +Agnes. “It’s a—”</p> + +<p>“Be careful,” murmured Ruth, with an admonishing +glance from Agnes to the smaller girls. +“Little pitchers, you know—”</p> + +<p>“It’s a wonderful car!” went on Agnes. “Is +it yours?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I sometimes doubt a little, when I recall +what it cost me,” her guardian answered with a +laugh. “But I am supposed to be the owner, +and I have come to take you for a ride.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, can’t we go?” came in a chorus from +Tess and Dot.</p> + +<p>“Yes, all of you!” laughed Mr. Howbridge. +“That’s why I waited until school was out. They +may come, may they not, Miss Ruth?” he asked. +Always he was thus deferential to her when a +question of family policy came up.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I think so,” was the low-voiced answer. +“But we planned to have an early tea and—”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I promise to get you back home in plenty +of time,” the lawyer said, with a laugh. “And +after that, if you like, we might take another +ride.”</p> + +<p>“How wonderful!” murmured Agnes.</p> + +<p>“Won’t you stay to tea?” asked Ruth.</p> + +<p>“I was waiting for that!” exclaimed Mr. Howbridge. +“I shall be delighted. Now then, youngsters, +run out and hop in, but don’t touch anything, +or you may be in a worse predicament than +when you were in the clothes basket elevator.”</p> + +<p>“We won’t!” cried Tess and Dot, running down +the walk.</p> + +<p>“You must come back and be washed!” cried +Ruth. It was a standing order—that, and the two +little girls knew better than to disobey.</p> + +<p>But first they inspected the new car, walking +all around it, and breathing in, with the odor of +gasoline, the awed remarks of some neighboring +children.</p> + +<p>“That’s part our car,” Dot told these envious +ones, as she and Tess started back toward the +house. “We’re going for a ride in it, and don’t +you dare touch anything on it or Mr. Howbridge’ll +be awful mad!”</p> + +<p>“Um, oh, whut a lubly auto,” murmured Alfredia +Blossom, who had come on an errand to +her grandfather, Uncle Rufus. “Dat’s jest de +beatenistest one I eber see!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is nice,” conceded Tess, proudly, airily +and condescendingly.</p> + +<p>A little later the two younger children and +Agnes sat in the rear seat, while Ruth was beside +Mr. Howbridge at the steering wheel. Then +the big car purred off down the street, like a +contented cat after a saucer of warm milk.</p> + +<p>“It was very good of you to come and get us,” +said Ruth, when they were bowling along. “Almost +the christening trip of the car, too, isn’t +it?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“The very first trip I have made in it,” was +the answer. “I wanted it properly christened, +you see. There is a method in my madness, too. +I have an object in view, Martha.”</p> + +<p>Sometimes he called Ruth this, fancifully, with +the thought in mind that she was “cumbered +with many cares.”</p> + +<p>Again he would apply to her the nickname of +“Minerva,” with its suggestion of wisdom. And +Ruth rather liked these fanciful appellations.</p> + +<p>“You have an object?” she repeated.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” he answered. “As usual, I want your +advice.”</p> + +<p>“As if it was really worth anything to you!” +she countered.</p> + +<p>“It will be in this case, I fancy,” he went on +with a smile. “I want your opinion about a +canal boat.”</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink05'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER V—THE HOUSEBOAT</a></h2> + +<p>Ruth stole a quick glance at the face of her +guardian. There was a silence between them for +a moment, broken only by the purr of the powerful +machine and the suction of the rubber tires +on the street. Agnes, Dot and Tess were having +a gay time behind the two figures on the front +seat.</p> + +<p>“A canal boat?” murmured Ruth, as if she had +not heard aright.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps I had better qualify that statement,” +went on Mr. Howbridge in his courtroom voice, +“by saying that it is, at present, Minerva, on the +canal. And a boat on the canal is a canal boat, +is it not? I ask for a ruling,” and he laughed as +he slowed down to round a corner.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know anything about your legal phraseology,” +answered Ruth, entering into the bantering +spirit of the occasion, “but I don’t see why a +boat on the canal becomes a canal boat any more +than a cottage pudding becomes a house. The +pudding has no cottage in it any more than a club +sandwich has a club in it and—”</p> + +<p>“I am completely at your mercy,” Mr. +Howbridge broke in with. “But, speaking seriously, +this boat is on the canal, though strictly it is not +a canal boat. You know what they are, I dare +say?”</p> + +<p>“I used to have to take Tess and Dot down to +the towpath to let them watch them often enough +when we first came here,” said Ruth, with a laugh. +“They used to think canal boats were the most +wonderful objects in the world.”</p> + +<p>“Are we going on a canal boat?” asked Tess, +overhearing some of the talk on the front seat. +“Oh, are we?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I hope we are!” added Dot. “My Alice-doll +just loves canal boats. And wouldn’t it be +splendiferous, Tess, if we could have a little one +all to ourselves and Scalawag or maybe Billy +Bumps to pull it instead of a mule?”</p> + +<p>“That would be a sight on the towpath!” cried +Agnes. “But what is this about canal boats, Mr. +Howbridge?”</p> + +<p>“Has some one opened a soda water store on +board one?” asked Dot suddenly.</p> + +<p>“Not exactly. You’ll see, presently. But I +do want your opinion,” he went on, speaking directly +to Ruth now, “and it has to do with a boat +on a canal.”</p> + +<p>“I still think you are joking,” she told him. +“And except for the fact that we have a canal +here in Milton I should think you were trying to +fool me.”</p> + +<p>“Impossible, Minerva,” he replied, soberly +enough.</p> + +<p>As Ruth had said, Milton was located on both +the canal and a river, the two streams, if a canal +can be called a stream, joining at a certain point, +so that boats could go from one to the other. +Gentory River, which acted as a feeder to one section +of the canal, also connected with Lake Macopic, +a large body of water. The lake contained +many islands.</p> + +<p>The automobile skirted the canal by a street +running parallel to it, and then Mr. Howbridge +turned down a rather narrow street, on which were +situated several stores that sold supplies to the +canal boats, and brought his machine to a stop on +the bank of the waterway beside the towpath, as +it is called from the fact that the mules or horses +towing the boats walk along that level stretch of +highway bordering the canal and forming part +of the canal property.</p> + +<p>At this part of the canal, the stream widened +and formed a sort of harbor for boats of various +kinds. It was also a refitting station; a place +where a captain might secure new mules, hire +helpers, buy grain for his animals and also victuals +for himself and family; for the owners of the +canal boats often lived aboard them. This place, +known locally as “Henderson’s Cove,” was headquarters +for all the canal boatmen of the vicinity.</p> + +<p>“Here is where we disembark, to use a nautical +term,” said Mr. Howbridge, with a smile at the +younger children.</p> + +<p>“Is this where we take the boat?” asked Dot +eagerly.</p> + +<p>“You might call it that,” said Mr. Howbridge, +with another genial smile. “And now, Martha, +to show that I was in earnest, there is the craft +in question,” and he pointed to an old hulk of a +canal boat, which had seen its best days.</p> + +<p>“That! You want my opinion on <i>that</i>?” cried +the girl, turning to her guardian in some surprise.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, the one next to it. The <i>Bluebird</i>.”</p> + +<p>Ruth changed her view, and saw a craft which +brought to her lips exclamations of delight, no less +than to the lips of her sisters. For it was not a +“rusty canaler” they beheld, but a trim craft, a +typical houseboat, with a deck covered with a green +striped awning and set with willow chairs, and a +cabin, the windows of which, through their draped +curtains, gave hint of delights within.</p> + +<p>“Oh, how lovely!” murmured Agnes.</p> + +<p>“A dream!” whispered Ruth. “But why do +you bring us here to show us this?” she asked +with much interest.</p> + +<p>“Because,” began Mr. Howbridge, “I want to +know if you would like—”</p> + +<p>Just then an excited voice behind the little +party burst out with:</p> + +<p>“Oh, Mr. Howbridge, I’ve been looking everywhere +for you!” Neale O’Neil came hurrying +along the towpath, seemingly much excited.</p> + +<p>“I hope that Supreme Court decision hasn’t +gone against me,” Ruth heard her guardian murmur. +“If that case is lost—”</p> + +<p>And then Neale began to talk excitedly.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink06'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER VI—MORE NEWS</a></h2> + +<p>“They told me at your office you had come +here, Mr. Howbridge,” said Neale. “And I hurried +on as fast as I could.”</p> + +<p>“Did they send you here to find me?” asked the +lawyer.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“With any message?” As Mr. Howbridge +asked this Ruth noticed that her guardian seemed +very anxious about something.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I have a message,” went on Neale. “It’s +about—”</p> + +<p>“The Jackson case?” interrupted the lawyer. +“Is there a decision from the court and—”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, this isn’t anything about the Jackson +case or any other,” Neale hastened to say. “It’s +about my father. And—”</p> + +<p>Ruth and Agnes could not help gasping in surprise. +As for the two smaller Kenway children +all they had eyes for was the houseboat.</p> + +<p>“Oh, your father!” repeated Mr. Howbridge. +“Have you found him, Neale?” There was very +evident relief in the lawyer’s tone.</p> + +<p>“No, sir, I haven’t found him. But you know +you told me to come to you as soon as I had +found that tramp mule driver again, and he’s +back in town once more. He just arrived at the +lower lock with a grain boat, and I hurried to tell +you.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that was right, Neale,” said Mr. Howbridge. +“Excuse me, Miss Ruth,” he went on, +turning to the girl, “but I happen to be this young +man’s legal adviser, and while I planned this for +a pleasure trip, it seems that business can not be +kept out of it.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, we don’t mind!” exclaimed Ruth, with a +smile at Neale. “Of course we know about this, +and we’d be so glad if you could help find Mr. +O’Neil.”</p> + +<p>“All right then, if the young ladies have no +objection,” said the lawyer, “we’ll combine business +with pleasure. Suppose we go aboard the +<i>Bluebird</i>. I want Miss Ruth’s opinion of her +and—”</p> + +<p>“I don’t see why in the world you want <i>my</i> +opinion about this boat,” said the puzzled girl. +“I’m almost sure there’s a joke in it, somewhere.”</p> + +<p>“No, Martha, no joke at all, I do assure you,” +answered her guardian. “You’ll understand +presently. Now, Neale, you say this mule driver +has come back?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir. You know I went to you as soon as +he gave me a hint that my father might have +returned from Alaska, and you said to keep my +eyes open for this man.”</p> + +<p>“I did, Neale, yes. You of course know this +story, don’t you, Miss Ruth?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I believe we were the first Neale told +about it.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” went on Mr. Howbridge, while Tess +and Dot showed signs of impatience to get on +board the boat, “I told Neale we must find out +more from this Hank Dayton, the mule driver, before +we could do anything, or start to advertise for +Mr. O’Neil. And now, it seems, he is here again. +At first, Neale, when I saw you hurrying along, +excited, I was afraid I had lost a very important +law case. I am glad you did not bring bad +news.”</p> + +<p>Ruth stole a glance at her guardian’s face. He +was more than usually quiet and anxious, she +thought, though he tried to be gay and jolly.</p> + +<p>“We’ll have a look at this boat,” said Mr. Howbridge, +as they advanced toward it. “I’ll get +Minerva’s opinion, and then we’ll try to find Hank +Dayton.”</p> + +<p>“I know where to find him,” said Neale. +“He’s going to bunk down at the lower lock for a +while. I made him promise to stay there until +he could have a talk with you.”</p> + +<p>“Very good,” announced the lawyer. “Now +come on, youngsters!” he cried with a gayer manner, +and he caught Dot up in his arms and carried +her aboard the boat, Neale, Ruth and the others +following.</p> + +<p>It was a typical houseboat. That is, it was a +sort of small house built on what would otherwise +have been a scow. The body of the boat was +broad beamed forward and aft, as a sailor would +say. That is, it was very wide, whereas most +boats are pointed at the bow, and only a little less +narrow at the stern.</p> + +<p>“It’s like a small-sized canal boat, isn’t it?” remarked +Agnes, as they went down into the cabin.</p> + +<p>“But ever so much nicer,” said Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Oh, look at the cute little cupboards!” cried +Dot. “I could keep my dolls there.”</p> + +<p>“And here’s a sweet place for the cats!” added +Tess, raising the cover of a sort of box in a +corner. “It would be a crib.”</p> + +<p>“That’s a locker,” explained Mr. Howbridge, +with a smile.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I wouldn’t want to lock Almira in there!” +exclaimed the little girl. “She might smother, +and how could she get out to play with her kittens?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t mean that it can be locked,” explained +the lawyer. “It is just called that on a +boat. Cupboards on the wall and the window +seats on the floor are generally called lockers +on board a ship.”</p> + +<p>“Is this a ship?” asked Dot.</p> + +<p>“Well, enough like one to use some of the same +words,” replied Mr. Howbridge. “Now let’s +look through it.”</p> + +<p>This they did, and each step brought forth new +delights. They had gone down a flight of steps +and first entered a small cabin which was evidently +intended for a living room. Back of that +was very plainly the dining room, for it contained +a table and some chairs and on the wall +were two cupboards, or “lockers” as the lawyer +said they must be called.</p> + +<p>“And they have real dishes in them!” cried +Tess, flattening her nose against one of the glass +doors.</p> + +<p>“Don’t do that, dear,” said Ruth in a low +voice.</p> + +<p>“But I want to see,” insisted Tess.</p> + +<p>“So do I!” chimed in Dot, and soon the two +little sisters, side by side, with noses pressed flat +against the doors, were taking in the sights of +the dishes. Mr. Howbridge silently motioned to +Ruth to let them do as they pleased.</p> + +<p>“Oh, what a lovely dolls’ party we could have +here!” sighed Dot, as she turned away from the +dish locker.</p> + +<p>“And couldn’t Almira come?” asked Tess, appealing +to Agnes. “And bring one of her kittens?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, we’ll even allow you two kittens, for fear +one would get lonesome,” laughed Mr. Howbridge. +“But come on. You haven’t seen it all yet.”</p> + +<p>There was a small kitchen back of the dining +room, and both Ruth and Agnes were interested to +see how conveniently everything was arranged.</p> + +<p>“It would be ever so much easier to get meals +here than in the Corner House,” was Ruth’s opinion.</p> + +<p>“Do you think so?” asked the lawyer.</p> + +<p>“Yes, everything is so handy. You hardly have +to take a step to reach anything,” added Agnes. +“You only have to turn from the stove to the sink, +and another turn and you have everything you +want, from a toasting fork to an egg beater,” and +she indicated the different kitchen utensils hanging +in a rack over the stove.</p> + +<p>“I’m glad you like it,” said Mr. Howbridge, +and Ruth found herself wondering why he said +that.</p> + +<p>They passed into the sleeping quarters where +small bunks, almost like those in Pullman cars, +were neatly arranged, even to a white counterpane +and pillow shams on each one.</p> + +<p>“Oh, how lovely.”</p> + +<p>“And how clean and neat!”</p> + +<p>“It’s just like a sleeping car on the railroad.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, or one of those staterooms on some +steamers.”</p> + +<p>“A person could sleep as soundly here as in a +bed at home,” was Ruth’s comment.</p> + +<p>“Yes, unless the houseboat rocked like a ship,” +said Agnes.</p> + +<p>“I don’t think it could rock much on the canal.”</p> + +<p>“No, but it might on a river, or a lake. I guess +a houseboat like this can go almost anywhere.”</p> + +<p>There were two sets of sleeping rooms, one on +either side of a middle hall or passageway. Then +came a small bathroom. And back of that was +something that made Neale cry out in delight.</p> + +<p>“Why, the boat has an engine!” exclaimed the +boy. “It runs by motor!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, the <i>Bluebird</i> is a motor houseboat,” said +Mr. Howbridge, with a smile. “It really belongs +on Lake Macopic, but to get it there through the +canal mules will have to be used, as this boat has +such a big propeller that it would wash away the +canal banks. It is not allowed to move it through +the canal under its own power.”</p> + +<p>“That’s a dandy engine all right!” exclaimed +Neale, and he knew something about them for one +summer he had operated a small motor craft on +the Gentory River, as well as running the Corner +House girls’ automobile for them. “I wish I +could run this,” he went on with a sigh, “but I +don’t suppose there’s any chance.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know about that,” said the lawyer, +musingly. “That is what I brought Minerva here +to talk about. Let’s go back to the main cabin +and sit down.”</p> + +<p>“I’m going to sit on one of the lockers!” cried +Tess, darting off ahead of the others.</p> + +<p>“I want to sit on it, too!” exclaimed Dot.</p> + +<p>“There are two lockers on the floor—one for +each,” laughed Mr. Howbridge.</p> + +<p>As the little party moved into the main cabin, +Ruth found herself wondering more and more +what Mr. Howbridge wanted her opinion on. She +was not long, however, in learning.</p> + +<p>“Here is the situation,” began the lawyer, when +they were all seated facing him. His tone reminded +Ruth of the time he had come to talk to +them about their inheritance of the Corner House. +“This boat, the <i>Bluebird</i>, belongs to an estate. +The estate is being settled up, and the boat is going +to be sold. A man living at the upper end of +Lake Macopic has offered to buy it at a fair price +if it is delivered to him in good condition before +the end of summer. As the legal adviser of the +estate I have undertaken to get this boat to the +purchaser. And what I brought you here for, +to-day, Minerva,” he said, smiling at Ruth, “is to +ask your opinion about the best way of getting the +boat there.”</p> + +<p>“Do you really mean that?” asked the girl.</p> + +<p>“I certainly do.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I should say the best plan would be to +start it going, and steer it up the canal to the +river, through the river into the lake and up the +lake to the place where it is to be delivered,” Ruth +answered, smiling.</p> + +<p>“But Mr. Howbridge said the boat couldn’t be +moved by the motor on the canal,” objected Agnes.</p> + +<p>“Well, have mules tow it, then,” advised Ruth. +“That is very simple.”</p> + +<p>“I am glad you think so,” replied the lawyer. +“And the next matter on which I wish your advice +is whether to start the boat off alone on her trip, +or just in charge of, say, the mule driver.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I wouldn’t want to trust a lovely houseboat +like this to only a mule driver!” exclaimed +Ruth.</p> + +<p>“That’s what I thought,” went on her guardian, +with another smile. “It needs some one on board +to look after it, doesn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“Well, yes, I should say so.”</p> + +<p>“Then how would you like to take charge?” +came the unexpected question.</p> + +<p>“Me?” cried Ruth. “<i>Me?</i>”</p> + +<p>“You, and all of you!” went on the lawyer. +“Listen. Here is the situation. I have to send +this houseboat to Lake Macopic. You dwellers of +the Corner House need a vacation. You always +have one every summer, and I generally advise +you where to go. At least you always ask me, and +sometimes you take my advice.</p> + +<p>“This time I advise you to take a houseboat +trip. And I make this offer. I will provide the +boat and all the needful food and supplies, such as +gasoline and oil when you reach the river and lake. +Everything else is on board, from beds to dishes. +I will also hire a mule driver and engage some +mules for the canal trip. Now, how does that suit +you?”</p> + +<p>“Oh! Oh!” exclaimed Agnes, and it seemed to +be all she could say for a moment. She just +looked at Mr. Howbridge with parted lips and +sparkling eyes.</p> + +<p>“How wonderful!” murmured Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Can we go?” cried Tess.</p> + +<p>“The whole family, including Neale,” said Mr. +Howbridge.</p> + +<p>“Oo-ee!” gasped Dot, wide-eyed.</p> + +<p>Agnes and Neale stared entranced at each other, +Agnes, for once, speechless.</p> + +<p>“Well, now I have made the offer, think it over, +and while you are doing that I’ll give a little attention +to Neale’s case,” went on Mr. Howbridge. +“Now, young man, suppose we go and find this +mule driver who seems to know something of your +father.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, wait! Don’t go away just yet!” begged +Ruth. “Let’s talk about the trip some more! +Do you really think we can go?”</p> + +<p>“I want you to go. It would be doing me a +favor,” said the lawyer. “I must get this boat to +Lake Macopic somehow, and I don’t know a better +way than to have Martha and her family take it,” +and he bowed formally to his ward.</p> + +<p>“And did you really mean I may go, too?” +asked Neale.</p> + +<p>“If you can arrange it, and Miss Ruth agrees.”</p> + +<p>“Of course I will! But, oh, there will be such +a lot to do to get ready. We’d have to take Mrs. +MacCall along, too,” she added.</p> + +<p>“Of course,” assented Mr. Howbridge. “By +all means!”</p> + +<p>“And would you go too?” asked Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Would you like me to?” the lawyer countered.</p> + +<p>“Of course. We’d all like it.”</p> + +<p>“I might manage to make at least part of the +trip,” was the reply. “Then you have decided to +take my offer?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I think it’s perfectly <i>wonderful</i>!” burst +out Agnes.</p> + +<p>As for Tess and Dot, it could be told what they +thought by just looking at them.</p> + +<p>“Very well then,” said the guardian, “we’ll +consider it settled. I’ll have to see about mules +and a driver for the canal part of the trip and—”</p> + +<p>An exclamation from Neale interrupted him.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked the lawyer.</p> + +<p>“Why couldn’t we hire Hank Dayton for a mule +driver?” Neale asked. “He’s rough, but I think +he’s a decent man and honest, and he knows a lot +about the canal and boats and mules.”</p> + +<p>“It might not be a bad idea,” assented Mr. +Howbridge. “We’ll find him and ask him, Neale. +And it would be killing two birds with one stone. +He could help you in your search for your father. +Yes, I think that will be a good plan. Girls, I’ll +leave you here to look over the <i>Bluebird</i> at your +leisure while Neale and I go to interview the mule +driver.”</p> + +<p>“And I hope he will be able to tell you how to +find your father, Neale,” said Agnes, in a low +voice.</p> + +<p>“I hope so, too,” added the boy. “You don’t +know, Aggie, how much I’ve wanted to find +father.”</p> + +<p>“Of course I do, Neale. And you’ll find him, +too!”</p> + +<p>Neale went on with Mr. Howbridge, somewhat +cheered by Agnes’ sympathy.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink07'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER VII—MAKING PLANS</a></h2> + +<p>Left to themselves on the <i>Bluebird</i>, Ruth, +Agnes, Dot and Tess went over every part of it +again, from the engine room to the complete +kitchen and living apartments.</p> + +<p>“Neale will just love fussing around that +motor,” said Agnes.</p> + +<p>“You speak as if we had already decided to +make the trip,” remarked Ruth, with a bright +glance at her sister.</p> + +<p>“Why, yes, haven’t you?” Agnes countered. +“I thought you and Mr. Howbridge had fixed it up +between you when you were chatting up on the +front seat of the auto.”</p> + +<p>“He never said a word to me about it,” declared +Ruth.</p> + +<p>“He must have said something,” insisted her +sister.</p> + +<p>“Oh, of course we talked, but not about <i>this</i>,” +and Ruth swept her hands about to indicate the +<i>Bluebird</i>. “I was as much surprised as you to +have him ask us if we would take her up to the +lake.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it will be delightful, don’t you think?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I think it will. But of course it depends +on Mrs. MacCall.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t see why!” exclaimed Agnes quickly +and reproachfully.</p> + +<p>“Of course you do. She’ll have to go along to +act as chaperone and all that. We may have to tie +up at night in lonely places along the canal or +river and—”</p> + +<p>“We’ll have Neale and Mr. Howbridge! And +how about asking Luke Shepard and his sister +Cecile?” went on Agnes.</p> + +<p>Ruth flushed a little.</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe Cecile and Luke can go,” she +replied slowly. “Cecile has got to go home to +take care of her Aunt Lorena, who is sick, and +Luke wrote me that he had a position offered to +him as a clerk in a summer hotel down on the +coast, and it is to pay so well that he would not +dream of letting the opportunity pass.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, that’s too bad, Ruth. You won’t see much +of him.”</p> + +<p>“I am not sure I’ll see anything of him.” And +Ruth’s face clouded a little.</p> + +<p>“Well, anyway, as I said before, we’ll have +Neale and Mr. Howbridge,” continued Agnes.</p> + +<p>“Neale. But Mr. Howbridge is not sure he can +go—at least all the way. However, we’ll ask Mrs. +MacCall.”</p> + +<p>“I think she’ll be just crazy to go!” declared +Agnes. “Come on, let’s go right away and find +out.”</p> + +<p>“But we must wait for Mr. Howbridge to come +back. He told us to.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then we’ll say we’re already living on +board,” said Agnes. “Oh, won’t it be fun to eat +on a houseboat!” and she danced off to the dining +room, took her seat at the table, and exclaimed: +“I’ll have a steak, rare, with French fried potatoes, +plenty of gravy and a cup of tea and don’t +forget the pie <i>à la mode</i>.”</p> + +<p>Tess and Dot laughed and Ruth smiled. They +then went all over the boat again, with the result +that they grew more and more enthusiastic about +the trip. And when Mr. Howbridge and Neale +came back in the automobile a little later, beaming +faces met them.</p> + +<p>“Well, what about it, Minerva?” Mr. Howbridge +asked Ruth. “Are you going to act as +caretakers for the boat to help me settle the +estate?”</p> + +<p>“Since you put it that way, as a favor, I can +not refuse,” she answered, giving him a swift +smile. “But, as I told the girls, it will depend on +Mrs. MacCall.”</p> + +<p>“You leave her to me,” laughed the lawyer. +“I’ll recite one of Bobby Burns’ poems, and if +that doesn’t win her over nothing will. Neale, do +you think you can manage that motor?”</p> + +<p>“I’m sure of it,” said the boy. “It isn’t the +same kind I had to run before, but I can get the +hang of it all right.”</p> + +<p>“Is there any news about your father?” +asked Ruth, glancing from her guardian to the +boy.</p> + +<p>“Nothing very definite,” answered the lawyer. +“We found Hank Dayton, and in spite of his +rough and ragged clothes I discovered him to be +a reliable fellow. He told us all he knew about the +rumor of Mr. O’Neil having returned from the +Klondike, and I am going to start an inquiry, with +newspaper advertising and all that. And I may +as well tell you that I have engaged this same +Hank Dayton to drive the mules that will draw +the <i>Bluebird</i> on the canal part of the trip.”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” exclaimed Agnes. “I thought Neale +said this man was a tramp!”</p> + +<p>“He is, in appearance,” said Mr. Howbridge, +with a smile. “A person can not wear an evening +suit and drive canal mules. But Hank seems +to be a sterling chap at the bottom, and with Neale +and Mrs. MacCall to keep him straight, you will +have no trouble.</p> + +<p>“It is really necessary,” he went on, “to have +some man who understands the canal, the mules, +and the locks to look after the boat, and I think +this Dayton will answer. He has just finished a +trip, and so Neale and I hired him. It will be well +for Neale to keep in touch with him, too, for +through Hank we may get more news of Mr. +O’Neil. And now, if you have sufficiently looked +over the <i>Bluebird</i>, we may as well go back.”</p> + +<p>“It would be a good while before I could see +enough of her!” exclaimed Agnes. “I’m just in +love with the craft, and I know we shall have a +delightful summer on her. Only the trip will be +over too soon, I’m afraid.”</p> + +<p>“There is no necessity for haste,” the lawyer +assured her. “The purchaser of the boat does not +want her until fall, and you may linger as long as +you like on the trip.”</p> + +<p>“Good!” exclaimed Agnes.</p> + +<p>A family council was held the next day at which +Mr. Howbridge laid all the facts before Mrs. +MacCall. At first the Scotch housekeeper would +not listen to any proposal for the trip on the +water. But when Ruth and Agnes had spoken of +the delights of the boat, and when the housekeeper +had personally inspected the <i>Bluebird</i>, she +changed her mind.</p> + +<p>“Though I never thought, in my old age, I’d +come to bein’ a houseboat keeper,” she chuckled. +“But ’tis all in the day’s work. I’ll gang with ye +ma lassies. A canal boat is certainly more staid +than an ice-boat, and I went alang with ye on +that.”</p> + +<p>“Hurray!” cried Agnes, unable to restrain her +joy. “All aboard for Lake Macopic!”</p> + +<p>The door opened and Aunt Sarah Maltby came +in.</p> + +<p>“I thought I heard some one calling,” she said +anxiously.</p> + +<p>“It was Agnes,” explained Ruth. “She’s so +excited about the trip.”</p> + +<p>“Fish? What fish? It isn’t Friday, is it?” +asked the old lady, who was getting rather deaf.</p> + +<p>“No, Auntie dear, I didn’t say <i>fish</i>—I said +<i>trip</i>.” And Ruth spoke more loudly. “We are +going to make a trip on a houseboat for our summer +vacation. Would you like to come along?”</p> + +<p>Aunt Sarah Maltby shook her head, as Tess +pulled out a chair for her.</p> + +<p>“I’m getting too old, my dear, to go traipsing +off over the country in one of those flying machines.”</p> + +<p>“It’s a houseboat—not a flying machine,” +Agnes explained.</p> + +<p>“Well, it’s about the same, I reckon,” returned +the old lady. “No, I’ll stay at home and look +after things at the Corner House. It’ll need +somebody.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, there’s no doubt of that,” Ruth said.</p> + +<p>So it was arranged. Aunt Sarah Maltby would +stay at home with Linda and Uncle Rufus, while +Mrs. MacCall accompanied the Corner House +girls on the houseboat.</p> + +<p>There was much to be done before the trip could +be undertaken, and many business details to arrange, +for, as inheritors of the Stower estate, Ruth +and her sisters received rents from a number of +tenants, some of them in not very good circumstances.</p> + +<p>“And we must see that they will want nothing +while we are gone,” Ruth had said.</p> + +<p>It was part of her self-imposed duties to play +Lady Bountiful to some of the poorer persons who +rented Uncle Peter Stower’s tenements.</p> + +<p>“Well, as long as you don’t go to buying +‘dangly jet eawin’s’ for Olga Pederman it will be +all right,” said Agnes, and they laughed at this +remembrance of the girl who, when ill with diphtheria, +had asked for these ornaments when Ruth +called to see what she most wanted.</p> + +<p>Eventually all the many details were arranged +and taken care of. A mechanic had gone over the +motor of the <i>Bluebird</i> and pronounced it in perfect +running order, a fact which Neale verified for +himself. He had made all his plans for going on +the trip, and between that and eagerly waiting for +any news of his missing father, his days were busy +ones.</p> + +<p>Mr. Howbridge had closely questioned Hank +Dayton and had learned all that rover could tell, +which was not much. But it seemed certain that +Mr. O’Neil had started from Alaska for the +States.</p> + +<p>That he had not, even on his arrival, written to +Neale, was probably due to the fact that the man +did not know where his son was. His Uncle Bill +Sorber, of course, knew Neale’s address, but the +trouble was that the circus, which was not a very +large affair, traveled about so, on no well-kept +scheduled route, that Mr. Sorber was difficult to +find. Letters had been addressed to him at several +places where it was thought his show might +be, but, so far, no answer had been received. He +was asked to send a message to Mr. Howbridge as +soon as any word came from Mr. O’Neil.</p> + +<p>To Hank Dayton was left the task of picking out +some mules to tow the houseboat through the +stretch of canal. About a week, or perhaps +longer, would be consumed on this trip, as there +was no hurry.</p> + +<p>Where the voyage is kept up for any length of +time, two sets of mules or horses are used in towing +canal boats. When one team is wearied it is +put in the stable, which is on board the canal boat, +and the other team is led out over a bridge, or +gangplank, specially made for the purpose, on to +the towpath.</p> + +<p>But on the <i>Bluebird</i> there were no provisions +for the animals, so it was planned to buy only one +team of mules, drive the animals at a leisurely +pace through the day and let them rest at night +either in the open, along the canal towpath, or in +some of the canal barns that would be come upon +on the trip. At the end of the trip the animals +would be sold. Mr. Howbridge had decided that +this was the best plan to follow, though there was +a towing company operating on the canal for such +boat owners as did not possess their own animals.</p> + +<p>As Mr. Howbridge had shrewdly guessed, the +rough clothes of Hank Dayton held a fairly good +man. He had been in poor luck, but he was not +dissipated, and even Mrs. MacCall approved of +him when he had been shaved, a shave being something +he had lacked when Neale first saw him. +Then, indeed, he had looked like a veritable tramp.</p> + +<p>Gradually all that was to be done was accomplished, +and the day came when Ruth and Agnes +could say:</p> + +<p>“To-morrow we start on our wonderful trip. +Oh, I’m so happy!”</p> + +<p>“What about your Civic Betterment Club?” +asked Agnes of her sister.</p> + +<p>“That will have to keep until I come back. +Really no one wants to undertake any municipal +reforms in the summer.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, my! The political airs we put on!” +laughed Agnes. “Well, I’m glad you are going +to have a good time. You need it.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I think the change will be good for all of +us,” murmured Ruth. “Tess and Dot seem delighted, +and—”</p> + +<p>She stopped suddenly, for from the floor above +came a cry of alarm followed by one of distress.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” gasped Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Dot or Tess, I should say,” was the opinion +of Agnes. “They must have started in to get +some of their change already. Oh, gee!”</p> + +<p>“Agnes!” Ruth took time to protest, for she +very much objected to Agnes’ slang.</p> + +<p>A moment later Dot came bursting into the +room, crying:</p> + +<p>“Oh, she’s in! She’s in! And it isn’t holding +her up at all! Come on, quick. Both of you! +Tess is in!”</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink08'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER VIII—THE ROBBERY</a></h2> + +<p>Dot Kenway stood in the middle of the room, +dancing up and down, fluttering her hands and +crying over and over again:</p> + +<p>“She’s in! She’s in! And it isn’t holding her +up! Oh, come quick!”</p> + +<p>With a bound Ruth was at her sister’s side. +She grasped Dot by the arm and held her still.</p> + +<p>“Be quiet, honey, and tell me what the matter +is,” Ruth demanded.</p> + +<p>“Oh, she’s in! She’s in! And it isn’t holding +her up!” Dot repeated.</p> + +<p>“We’d better go and see what it is,” suggested +Agnes. “Tess may merely have fallen out of +bed.”</p> + +<p>“Fallen out of bed—this time of day?” cried +Ruth. “Impossible!”</p> + +<p>But she let go of Dot and sped up the stairs +whence floated down a series of startled cries. +Agnes followed, while Dot called after them:</p> + +<p>“Look in the bathroom! She’s in! It isn’t +holding her up!”</p> + +<p>To the bathroom rushed Ruth and Agnes, there +to behold a sight which first made them gasp and +then, instantly, started them into energetic action. +For Tess was floundering about in the tub, +full of water, with part of her bathing suit on +and something bulky tied around her waist. She +was clinging to the edge of the tub with both +hands and trying to get to her feet. The tub was +filled with water, and much of it was splashing +over the side. Fortunately the floor of the bathroom +was tiled.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Tess! what are you doing?” cried Agnes, +as she and Ruth pulled the small girl to her feet. +Tess was gasping for breath, and had evidently +swallowed some water.</p> + +<p>“I—I—er—gug—I—was—” That was all +Tess could say for a while.</p> + +<p>“You poor child!” exclaimed Ruth, reaching +for a towel, to dry the dripping face. “Did you +fall in? And what possessed you to put on your +bathing suit?”</p> + +<p>“And what <i>have</i> you got around your waist?” +cried Agnes.</p> + +<p>“That—that—that’s my—my <i>life preserver</i>!” +exploded Tess. “If—if you’ll take the towel out +of my moo-oo-oo-uth I’ll t-t-tell—you!” she stammered.</p> + +<p>“Yes, do let’s let her tell, for mercy’s sake!” exclaimed +Ruth. “Did your head go under, Tessie, +dear?”</p> + +<p>Tess nodded. It was easier than speaking, +especially as she had not yet quite got her breath +back.</p> + +<p>The two older sisters dried her partly on the +towel, the little girl raising her hands to keep her +sisters from stuffing any more of the Turkish +towel into her mouth, and then Dot came up the +stairs.</p> + +<p>“Is she—is she drowned?” was the awed +whisper.</p> + +<p>“No, but she might have been,” answered Ruth.</p> + +<p>“What were you two doing? This is worse than +the clothes basket elevator. What were you +doing?”</p> + +<p>“I was making a life preserver,” volunteered +Tess, when she had been helped out of the bathtub +and was standing on a big mat that absorbed +the little rivulets of water streaming from her.</p> + +<p>“A life preserver?” questioned Agnes.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” Tess nodded. “I thought maybe I +might fall off the houseboat and I didn’t see any +life preservers on it, so I made one.”</p> + +<p>“Out of the hot water bag,” put in Dot. “She +tied it around her waist and she wanted me to tie +one on me and make believe we fell into the bathtub. +But I wouldn’t, and she got in, and it didn’t +hold her up.”</p> + +<p>“I should say it didn’t!” cried Agnes. “How +could you expect a rubber bag full of water to hold +you up? It couldn’t hold itself up.”</p> + +<p>“It wasn’t full of water. I blew it up full of +air just as Sammy Pinkney blows up his football,” +said Tess. “And that floats in water, ’cause I +saw it.”</p> + +<p>“A hot water bag is different,” returned Ruth. +“Yes, she has one on,” she added, as she and +Agnes unwrapped from their sister some folds of +cloth by which the partly inflated hot-water bag +had been fastened around Tess’s waist.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you ever do anything like that again!” +scolded Dot, as Tess was sent to her room to dress +while Linda came up to mop the floor.</p> + +<p>“Well, what am I to do if I fall overboard off +the <i>Bluebird</i>, I’m asking you?” called Tess, turning +back, and holding her bath robe around her +slim form. “There aren’t any life preservers +on it!”</p> + +<p>“We will provide some if they are needed,” +said Ruth, laughing.</p> + +<p>Just then Aunt Sarah Maltby came in and heard +the story from Agnes.</p> + +<p>“Just think, Dot and Tess, one of you might +have been drowned,” she said severely. “If that +bag had got around your feet, and the winding +strips had tangled, your feet might have been held +up and your head down. You might easily have +been drowned in the bathtub.”</p> + +<p>“Not me—I wouldn’t!” declared Dot.</p> + +<p>“Why not?” Agnes wanted to know.</p> + +<p>“’Cause I wouldn’t get in it! I told Tess +maybe it was dangerous.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it wouldn’t have been if I’d had more +air in the bag,” called Tess from the half-open +door of her room. “That was the matter.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. MacCall shook her head when she heard +what had happened.</p> + +<p>“I ha me doots about them on the boat,” she +said. “If they cut up such didoes here, what’ll +they do then?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I think we shall manage somehow,” said +Ruth with cheerful philosophy. “We’re used to +mishaps.”</p> + +<p>By dint of hard work the final preparations for +the houseboat trip were made. The <i>Bluebird</i> was +got in shape for the first part of the trip through +the canal. Hank Dayton had been “slicked up,” +and had his two sturdy mules in readiness. Neale +had tested the motor again. A supply of food +had been put on board, together with gasoline to +use as soon as the transition from the canal to the +river should have taken place.</p> + +<p>Mr. Howbridge had arranged his plans so as to +start with the girls, and Mrs. MacCall had her +small trunk packed and in readiness. All that +was possible had been done to get into communication +with Neale’s father, and all that could +be done was to await word from him, or from +Mr. Sorber, who might be the first to hear, +that the missing Klondike explorer had returned.</p> + +<p>And at last the morning of the start arrived.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s going to rain!” cried Tess as she +arose early and ran to the window to look out.</p> + +<p>“I don’t care. We can take umbrellas, and the +boat has a roof on it,” said Dot. “My Alice-doll +has been wet before.”</p> + +<p>“But Almira doesn’t like rain, and her kittens +might get cold,” objected Tess.</p> + +<p>“We can’t take Almira!” said Ruth in a voice +that Tess knew it was useless to appeal from. +“The poor cat wouldn’t have a good time, Tessie, +and she’d be in the way with her kittens.”</p> + +<p>“She could catch mice,” suggested Tess, as a +sort of last hope.</p> + +<p>“There are mice on canal boats. I heard Hank +Dayton say so,” put in Dot, seeking to strengthen +Tess’s position.</p> + +<p>“We’ll get a cat later if we need it,” compromised +Ruth. “Don’t think of bringing Almira.”</p> + +<p>“All right!” assented Dot, and then Tess +called:</p> + +<p>“There’s Sammy, and he’s got Billy Bumps. +Let’s go down and tell them good-by!”</p> + +<p>“Can’t Sammy come with us?” asked Dot, +turning to Ruth.</p> + +<p>“No indeed, nor the goat either! So don’t ask +him and make him feel bad when I have to refuse +him.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” sighed Dot.</p> + +<p>Then she and Tess finished dressing and went +out to greet Sammy, who was paying one of his +early morning calls.</p> + +<p>“Want me to do any errands for you, Ruth?” +he politely asked when he had refused an invitation +to breakfast, saying he had already eaten.</p> + +<p>“No, thank you, Sammy,” was the answer.</p> + +<p>“I could go quick—hitch Billy to the wagon +and get anything you wanted from the village,” he +went on.</p> + +<p>Ruth shook her head, and then had to hurry +away to see about one of the many last-minute +details.</p> + +<p>“Well, good-by, then,” said Sammy to the other +sisters, as he prepared to depart. “I wish I was +going! We could take Billy Bumps.”</p> + +<p>“But if they wouldn’t let me take a cat on the +boat I don’t suppose they’d want a goat,” put in +Tess.</p> + +<p>“I don’t guess so,” said Sammy, more meekly +than he usually spoke. “Well, good-by!” And +down the street he went, taking Billy Bumps, who +belonged to Tess and Dot, with him.</p> + +<p>“It does look like rain,” said Agnes, when it +was almost time for Mr. Howbridge to call for +them in his machine to take them and their +baggage to the houseboat.</p> + +<p>“It may hold off until we get on board,” said +Ruth. She gave a sudden start. “Oh, Agnes! +Our jewelry! We forgot to take it to the bank!”</p> + +<p>“That’s so! I knew we’d forget something! +Well, haven’t we time to run down with it now before +Mr. Howbridge comes?”</p> + +<p>Ruth looked at her wrist watch.</p> + +<p>“Just about,” was her decision. “Come on. +You and I can take the package down and then +hurry back.”</p> + +<p>“You’d best take an umbrella, ma dearies!” +cautioned Mrs. MacCall. “’Tis showery goin’ +to be this day!”</p> + +<p>“We’ll take one,” assented Ruth.</p> + +<p>She and Agnes had planned to leave their +jewelry and some other articles of value in their +safe deposit box, but had forgotten it until now.</p> + +<p>The two older girls sallied forth with a large +umbrella, which Agnes carried, while Ruth had the +package of jewelry.</p> + +<p>They were half way to the bank, no great distance +from home, when suddenly a downpour began +with the usual quickness of a summer shower.</p> + +<p>“Hurry! Raise the umbrella!” cried Ruth. +“I’m getting drenched!”</p> + +<p>“Isn’t it terrible!” gasped Agnes.</p> + +<p>She and her sister stepped into the shelter of +the nearest doorway for a moment. Something +was wrong with the catch of the umbrella. Ruth +was just going to help her sister raise it when +suddenly two rough-looking men rushed from the +hall back of the doorway in which the girls had +taken shelter.</p> + +<p>One of the men rudely brushed past Ruth, and, +as he did so, he made a grab for the packet of +jewelry, snatching it from her.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” screamed the girl. “Stop! Oh! Oh, +Agnes!”</p> + +<p>The other man turned and pushed Agnes back as +she leaned forward to help Ruth.</p> + +<p>Then, as the rain came down harder than ever, +the men sped up the street, leaving the two horror-stricken +girls breathless in the doorway.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink09'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER IX—ALL ABOARD</a></h2> + +<p>For a moment after the robbery neither Ruth +nor Agnes felt capable of saying anything or doing +anything. Ruth, it is true, had cried out as the +burly ruffian had snatched the packet of jewelry +from her, and then fear seemed to paralyze her. +But this was only for a moment. In few seconds +both she and Agnes became their energetic selves, +as befitted the characters of Corner House girls.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Agnes! did you see? He has the +jewelry!” cried Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I saw! He pushed me back or I’d have +grabbed it away again! We must take after +them!”</p> + +<p>The girls started to leave, having managed to +get the umbrella up, but at that instant there +came such a fierce blast of wind and such a blinding +downpour of rain that they were fairly forced +back into the doorway.</p> + +<p>And, more than this, their umbrella was turned +inside out and sent flapping in their faces by the +erratic wind, so that they could not see what they +were doing.</p> + +<p>“This is awful!” exclaimed Agnes, and she was +near to crying.</p> + +<p>“We must call for help,” said Ruth, but they +would have needed to shout very loud indeed to +be heard above the racket made by the wind and +rain. A momentary glimpse up and down the +street, when a view of it could be had amid the +sheets of rain, showed no one in sight.</p> + +<p>“What shall we do?” cried Ruth, vainly trying +to get the umbrella to its proper shape.</p> + +<p>At that moment the door behind them opened. +The girls turned, fearing a further attack, but +they saw Myra Stetson, whose father kept a +grocery, and it was in the doorway adjoining the +store that the Corner House girls had taken +refuge.</p> + +<p>“What is the matter?” asked Myra, when she +saw who it was. “I heard the door blow open +and I came down to shut it.”</p> + +<p>The Stetson family lived up over the grocery, +where there were two flats.</p> + +<p>“What has happened?” went on the grocer’s +daughter. She was rather more friendly with +Agnes than with Ruth, but knew both sisters, and, +indeed, Ruth was planning to have Myra on one of +the Civic Betterment committees. There had +been some little differences of opinion between +Myra and Agnes, but these had been smoothed out +and the girls were now good friends.</p> + +<p>“We’ve been robbed! At least Ruth has!” +exclaimed Agnes. “A ruffian took our jewelry +box!”</p> + +<p>“You don’t mean it!” cried Myra.</p> + +<p>“I only wish I didn’t,” said Ruth brokenly. +“Oh, my lovely rings!”</p> + +<p>“And my pins!” added Agnes.</p> + +<p>“Tell me about it,” begged Myra, and, rather +breathlessly, the Corner House girls told the story +of the assault of the two burly men in the doorway.</p> + +<p>“They ran off down the street with the box of +jewelry we were taking to the bank,” explained +Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Then you’d better tell the police at once,” +advised Myra. “Come on up into our flat and +you can telephone from there. Mr. Buckley is a +special officer and he has a telephone. Father +will send for him. Do come up!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I think we had better,” agreed Ruth. +“And we must notify Mr. Howbridge. That is, if +he hasn’t left his office.”</p> + +<p>“If he has we can get him at our house,” said +Agnes. “We were just going to start on a houseboat +trip when this terrible thing happened,” she +explained to Myra.</p> + +<p>“Isn’t it too bad!” said the grocer’s daughter. +“But do come upstairs. Did you say the man +came out of our hallway?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” answered Ruth. “We stepped into +the doorway to be out of the rain for a moment and +to raise the umbrella, the catch of which had been +caught in some way, when they both rushed past +us, one of them grabbing the box from under my +arm.”</p> + +<p>“And one gave me a shove,” added Agnes.</p> + +<p>“That’s the most amazing thing I ever heard +of!” declared Myra. “Those men must have +been hiding in there waiting for you.”</p> + +<p>“But how did they know we were coming?” +asked Ruth. “We didn’t think of going to the +bank with the jewelry ourselves until a few minutes +ago. Those men couldn’t have known about +it.”</p> + +<p>“Then it’s very strange,” said Myra. “I must +tell father about it. There may be more of them +hiding upstairs.”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean in your house?” asked Agnes, +for they were now ascending the stairs, the refractory +umbrella having at last been subdued and +turned right side out.</p> + +<p>“I mean in the vacant flat above ours,” went +on Myra. “It’s to let, you know, and two men +were in to look at it yesterday. They said they +were from the Klondike.”</p> + +<p>“From the Klondike!” exclaimed Ruth, and she +and Agnes exchanged significant glances.</p> + +<p>“Yes. That’s in Alaska where they dig gold, +you know,” explained Myra. “I didn’t see the +men. Father said they came to look at the flat, +and one of them remarked they had just come back +from the gold regions. They didn’t rent it +though, as far as I know.”</p> + +<p>“Isn’t that strange?” said Agnes slowly.</p> + +<p>“Very,” agreed Ruth, and, by a look, she +warned her sister not to say any more just then.</p> + +<p>They were ushered into the Stetson living apartment +over the store and Mr. and Mrs. Stetson were +soon listening to the story.</p> + +<p>“The idea of any men daring to use our hallway +to commit a robbery!” cried Mrs. Stetson. +“Father, you’d better see if any more of the +villains are hiding. I’m sure I’ll not sleep a +wink this night.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll take a look,” said the grocer. “That hall +door often blows open, though. The lock needs +fixing. It would be easy for any one to slip into +the lower hall from the street and wait there.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what they probably did,” said Agnes. +“And it was just by accident that we went up to +the doorway to raise the umbrella. The men +must have seen us, and, though they couldn’t have +known what was in the box, they took it anyhow. +Oh, it’s too bad! Our trip is spoiled now!” and +she was on the verge of tears.</p> + +<p>“Don’t worry, my dear,” advised Mrs. Stetson. +“We’ll get the police after them. Father, you +must telephone at once. And you must have a +look in those vacant rooms upstairs.”</p> + +<p>“I will,” promised the grocer, and then began +a period of activity. A clerk and a porter from +the grocery downstairs made a careful examination +of the upper premises, but, of course, discovered +no more thieves. And, naturally, there +were no traces of the men who had robbed Ruth +and Agnes.</p> + +<p>The telephone soon put the police authorities of +Milton in possession of the facts, and Special Officer +Buckley, was soon “on the job,” as he expressed +it. He came, a burly figure in rubber +boots and a glistening rubber coat, to the Stetson +apartment, there to hear the story first-hand from +Ruth and Agnes. With him also came Jimmy +Dale, a reporter from the Milton <i>Morning Post</i>.</p> + +<p>Jimmy had been at the police headquarters when +word of the robbery was telephoned in, and he, too, +“got on the job.”</p> + +<p>All the description Ruth and Agnes could give +of the men was that they were rough and burly and +not very well dressed. But it had all taken place +so quickly and in such obscurity amid the mist of +the rain that it was difficult for either girl to be +accurate.</p> + +<p>Then as much as was possible was done. Several +other special officers were notified of the +occurrence, and the regular police force of Milton, +no very large aggregation, was instructed to “pick +up” any suspicious characters about town.</p> + +<p>Mr. Stetson confirmed the statement made by +Myra that two men who claimed to have recently +returned from the Klondike had been to look at +the vacant flat the day before. In appearance +they were rather rough, the grocer said, though +he would not call them tramps by any means.</p> + +<p>There might be a possible connection between +the two, it was agreed. Mr. Howbridge was notified +by telephone, and called in his automobile +for the two girls, who, after some tea, felt a little +more composed.</p> + +<p>“But, oh my lovely jewelry!” exclaimed Agnes. +“It’s gone!”</p> + +<p>“And mine,” added Ruth. “There were some +things of Dot’s and Tessie’s in the box, too, and +mother’s wedding ring,” and Ruth sighed.</p> + +<p>“The police may recover it,” said the lawyer. +“I am glad neither of you was harmed,” and his +gaze rested anxiously on his wards.</p> + +<p>“No, they barely touched me,” said the older +girl. “One of them just grabbed the box and +ran.”</p> + +<p>“The other one gave me a shove,” declared +Agnes. “If I had known what he was up to +he wouldn’t have got away so easily. I haven’t +been playing basket ball for nothing!” she +boasted.</p> + +<p>“Well, I think there is nothing more to be +done,” said their guardian. “While there is no +great rush, I think the sooner we get started on +our houseboat trip the better. So if you’ll come +with me, I’ll take you home, we can gather up +the last of the baggage and make a quick trip +to the <i>Bluebird</i>. I have the side curtains up and +the rain is stopping, I think.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, are we going on the trip—<i>now</i>—after the +robbery?” asked Ruth doubtfully.</p> + +<p>“Yes. Why not?” inquired the lawyer, with a +smile. “You can do nothing by staying here, and +if the men should be arrested I can arrange to +bring you back to identify them. I know how +bad you feel, but the trip will be the best thing +in the world for you, for it will take your mind +from your loss.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Ruth, it will!” agreed Agnes, for she saw +that her sister was much affected.</p> + +<p>“Well, we’ll go back home, anyhow,” assented +Ruth. And after they had thanked the +Stetson’s for their hospitality the two sisters left +in charge of Mr. Howbridge. As he had said, the +rain was stopping, and when they reached the +Corner House the sun was out again, glistening +on the green leaves of the trees.</p> + +<p>“It’s a good omen,” declared Agnes.</p> + +<p>Of course there was consternation at the Corner +House when the story of the robbery was told. +But even Aunt Sarah Maltby agreed with Mr. +Howbridge that it would do Ruth and Agnes good +to make the houseboat trip. Accordingly, after +the two robbed ones had calmed down a little more, +the last belongings were gathered together, Dot +and Tess, who had considerably mussed their +clothes playing tag around the furniture, were +straightened out, good-bys were said over and over +again, and then, in Mr. Howbridge’s automobile, +the little party started for the <i>Bluebird</i>.</p> + +<p>“Where’s Neale?” asked Agnes, as they neared +the canal.</p> + +<p>“He’ll meet us at the boat,” said the lawyer. +“I just received a letter from his uncle, the circus +man, which contains a little information about the +boy’s father.”</p> + +<p>“Has he really returned from the Klondike?” +asked Ruth.</p> + +<p>“I believe he has. But whether he has money +or is as poor as when he started off to seek his +fortune, I don’t know. Time will tell. But I +am glad the sun is out. It would have been rather +gloomy to start in the rain.”</p> + +<p>“If it had not rained those men never would +have gotten our jewel box!” declared Agnes. “It +was only because we were confused by the umbrella +in the hard shower that they dared take +it.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t think about it!” advised Mr. Howbridge.</p> + +<p>They reached the <i>Bluebird</i>, to find Neale waiting +for them with smiling face.</p> + +<p>“I only wish we could start under gasoline instead +of mule power!” he cried gayly.</p> + +<p>“Time enough for that!” said Mr. Howbridge, +with a smile. “Is Hank on hand?”</p> + +<p>“He’s bringing out the hee-haws now,” said +Neale, pointing down the towpath, while Dot and +Tess laughed at his descriptive name for the +mules.</p> + +<p>The driver was leading them from the stable +where they had taken shelter from the downpour, +and they were soon hitched to the long towing +rope.</p> + +<p>“It ’minds me of the time I came from Scotland,” +murmured Mrs. MacCall as she went up +the “bridge,” as the gangplank of a canal boat +is sometimes called.</p> + +<p>“All aboard!” cried Neale, and they took their +places on the <i>Bluebird</i>. Mr. Howbridge had arranged +for one of his men to come and drive back +the automobile, and there was nothing further to +be looked after.</p> + +<p>“Shall I start?” called Hank, from his station +near the mules, after he had helped Neale haul up +the gangplank which had connected the houseboat +with the towpath.</p> + +<p>“Give ’em gas!” shouted the boy through his +hands held in trumpet fashion.</p> + +<p>The animals leaned forward in their collars, the +rope tauted, pulling with a swishing sound up +from the water into which it had dropped. The +<i>Bluebird</i> began slowly to move, and at last they +were on their way.</p> + +<p>Ruth, Agnes and the others remained on deck +for a while, and then the older folk, including +Neale, went below to get things “shipshape and +Bristol fashion.” Dot and Tess remained on +deck under the awning.</p> + +<p>“Don’t fall overboard!” cautioned Mrs. MacCall +to the small sisters.</p> + +<p>“We won’t!” they promised.</p> + +<p>It was about ten minutes later, during which +time the <i>Bluebird</i> was progressing slowly through +the quiet waters of the canal, that Agnes heard +shouts on deck.</p> + +<p>“Hark!” she exclaimed, for they were all moving +about, getting matters to rights in the cabins.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Ruth.</p> + +<p>“I thought I heard Tess calling,” went on +Agnes.</p> + +<p>There was no mistake about it. Down the stairway +that led from the upper deck to the cabin +came the cry of:</p> + +<p>“Oh, come here! Come here quick! One of +the mules is acting awful funny! I think he’s trying +to kick Mr. Hank into the canal!”</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink10'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER X—A STOWAWAY</a></h2> + +<p>Ruth dropped some of the garments she was +unpacking from her trunk. Agnes came from the +dining room, where she was setting the table for +the first meal on the craft. Neale and Mr. Howbridge +ran from the motor compartment in the +lower hold of the boat. Mrs. MacCall raised her +hands and began to murmur in her broadest Scotch +so that no one knew what she was saying. And +from the upper deck of the boat, where they had +been left sitting on camp stools under the green +striped awning, came the chorused cries of Tess +and Dot:</p> + +<p>“Oh, come on up! Come on up!”</p> + +<p>“Something must have happened!” exclaimed +Ruth.</p> + +<p>“But the girls are all right, thank goodness!” +added Agnes.</p> + +<p>Together all four of them, with Mrs. MacCall +bringing up the rear, ascended to the upper deck. +There they saw Dot and Tess pointing down the +towpath. Hank Dayton was, indeed, having +trouble with the mules. And Tess had not +exaggerated when she said that one of the animals +was trying to kick the driver into the canal.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Oh!” screamed Ruth and Agnes, as the +flying heels barely missed the man’s head.</p> + +<p>“I’ll go and give him a hand!” exclaimed Neale, +and before any one knew what his intention was +he ran down the stairs, out to the lower forward +deck of the craft, and leaped across the intervening +water to the towpath, an easy feat for a lad as +agile as Neale O’Neil.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter, Hank?” those on the <i>Bluebird</i> +could hear Neale ask the driver.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Arabella is feeling rather frisky, I guess,” +was the answer. “She hasn’t had much work to +do lately, and she’s showing off!” Arabella was +the name of one of the mules.</p> + +<p>Neale, born in a circus, knew a good deal about +animals, and it did not take him and Hank Dayton +long to subdue the fractious Arabella. After she +had kicked up her heels a few more times, just to +show her contempt for the authority of the whiffle-tree +and the traces, she quieted down. The other +mule, a more sedate animal, looked at his companion +in what might have been disgust mingled +with distrust.</p> + +<p>“Are they all right now?” asked Ruth, as Neale +leaped aboard the boat again.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes. Hank can manage ’em all right. +He just had to let Arabella have her kick out. +She’s all right now. Isn’t this fun, though?” +and Neale breathed in deeply of the fresh air.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Neale, it’s glorious!” and Agnes’ eyes +sparkled.</p> + +<p>The day had turned out a lovely one after the +hard shower, and everything was fresh and green. +They had reached the outskirts of Milton by this +time, and were approaching the open country +through which the canal meandered before joining +the river. On either side of the towpath were +farms and gardens, with a house set here and +there amid the green fields or orchards.</p> + +<p>Now and then other boats were passed. At such +times one of the craft would have to slow up to let +the tow-rope sink into the canal, so the other boat +might pass over it. The mules hee-hawed to each +other as they met, and Hank exchanged salutations +with the other drivers.</p> + +<p>“I think it’s just the loveliest way to spend a +vacation that ever could be thought of,” said +Agnes to Mr. Howbridge.</p> + +<p>“I hope you all like it,” he remarked.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, it’s going to be perfect,” said the +older Kenway girl. “If only—”</p> + +<p>“You are thinking of your jewelry,” interrupted +her guardian. “Please don’t! It will be +recovered by the police.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe so,” said Ruth. “I don’t care +so much about our things. We can buy more. +But mother’s wedding ring can never be replaced +nor, I fear, found. I believe those Klondikers +will dispose of it in some way. They’ll never be +caught.”</p> + +<p>“Klondikers!” cried Neale, coming into the +main cabin just then. “Did you say Klondikers?” +and it was plain to be seen that he was +thinking of his father.</p> + +<p>“Yes. There is a suspicion that the men who +robbed Ruth were two men who the day before +looked at the Stetson flat,” explained Agnes. +“They said they were Klondike miners.”</p> + +<p>“Klondike miners!” murmured Neale. “I +wonder if they knew my father or if he knew them. +I don’t mean the robbers,” he added quickly. “I +mean the men who came to rent the flat. I wish +I had a chance to speak to them.”</p> + +<p>“So do I,” said Mr. Howbridge. “I have +hardly yet had a chance to tell you, Neale, but I +have a letter from your Uncle Bill.”</p> + +<p>“Does he know about father?” asked the boy +quickly.</p> + +<p>“No. This letter was written before he received +mine asking for your father’s last known +address. But it may be possible for you to meet +your uncle during this trip.”</p> + +<p>“How?” asked Neale.</p> + +<p>“He tells me in his letter the names of the +places where the circus will show in the next +month. And one place is not far from a town we +pass on the canal.”</p> + +<p>“Then I’m going to see him!” cried Neale +joyfully. “I’ll be glad to meet him again. He may +know something of my father. I wonder if they +have any new animals since last summer. They +ought to have a pony to take Scalawag’s place.</p> + +<p>“He didn’t say,” remarked the lawyer. “But +I thought you’d be glad to know that your uncle +was in this vicinity.”</p> + +<p>“I am,” said the boy. “This trip is going to +be better than I thought. Now, if he only has +word of my father!”</p> + +<p>“We’ll find him, sooner or later,” declared the +guardian of the Corner House girls. “But now, +since the mules seem to be doing their duty, suppose +we take account of stock and see if we need +anything. If we do, we ought to stop and get it +at one of the places through which we pass, because +we may tie up at night near some small +village where they don’t keep hair pins and—er—whatever +else you young ladies need,” and he +smiled quizzically at Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Thank you! We brought all the hairpins we +need!” Agnes informed him.</p> + +<p>“And I think we have enough to eat,” added +Ruth. “At least Mrs. Mac is busy in the kitchen, +and something smells mighty good.”</p> + +<p>Indeed appetizing odors were permeating the +interior of the <i>Bluebird</i>, and a little later the company +were sitting down to a most delightful meal. +Dot and Tess could hardly be induced to come +down off the upper deck long enough to eat, so +fascinated were they with the things they saw +along the canal.</p> + +<p>“Isn’t Hank going to eat, and the mules, too?” +asked Dot, as she finished and took her “Alice-doll” +up, ready to resume her station under the +awning.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes. Mrs. MacCall will see that he gets +what he needs, and Hank, as you call him, will +feed the mules,” said Mr. Howbridge.</p> + +<p>“Do you think we ought to call him Hank?” +asked Tess. “It seems so familiar.”</p> + +<p>“He’s used to it,” answered Neale. “Everybody +along the canal calls him that. He’s been +a driver for years, before he went to traveling +around, and met men who knew my father.”</p> + +<p>“Hum! That just reminds me,” said the lawyer +musingly, as Dot and Tess hurried from the +table. “Perhaps I ought to question Hank about +the two Klondikers who inquired about the Stetson +flat. He may know of them. Well, it will +do to-night after we have tied up.”</p> + +<p>“Where is Hank going to sleep?” asked Ruth, +who, filling the rôle of housekeeper, thought she +must carry out her duties even on the <i>Bluebird</i>.</p> + +<p>“He will sleep on the upper deck. I have a +cot for him,” said the lawyer. “The mules will be +tethered on the towpath. It is warm now, and +they won’t need shelter. They are even used to +being out in the rain.”</p> + +<p>The afternoon was drawing to a close, matters +aboard the houseboat had been arranged to satisfy +even the critical taste of Ruth, and Mrs. MacCall +was beginning to put her mind on the preparation +of supper when Dot, who had come below +to get a new dress for her “Alice-doll,” ran from +the storeroom where the trunks and valises had +been put.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Oh, Ruth!” gasped the little girl. +“Somebody’s in there!”</p> + +<p>“In where?” asked Ruth, who was writing a +letter at the living-room table.</p> + +<p>“In there!” and Dot pointed toward the storeroom, +which was at the stern of the boat under +the stairs that led up on deck.</p> + +<p>“Some one in there?” repeated Ruth. “Well, +that’s very possible. Mrs. Mac may be there, or +Neale or—”</p> + +<p>“No, it isn’t any of them!” insisted Dot. “I +saw everybody that belongs to us. It’s somebody +else! He’s in the storeroom, and he sneezed +and made a noise like a goat.”</p> + +<p>“You ridiculous child! what do you mean?” exclaimed +Agnes, who was just passing through the +room and heard what Dot said.</p> + +<p>“You probably heard one of Hank’s mules hee-hawing,” +said Ruth, getting up from her chair.</p> + +<p>“Mules don’t sneeze!” declared Dot with conviction.</p> + +<p>Ruth had to admit the truth of this.</p> + +<p>“You come and see!” urged Dot, and, clasping +her sister’s hand, she led her into the storeroom, +Agnes following.</p> + +<p>“What’s up?” asked Mr. Howbridge, coming +along just then.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Dot imagines she heard some unusual +noise,” explained Ruth.</p> + +<p>“I did hear it!” insisted the younger girl. “It +was a sneeze and a bleat like a goat and it smells +like a goat, too. Smell it!” she cried, vigorously +sniffing the air as she paused on the threshold of +the storeroom. “Don’t you smell it?”</p> + +<p>Just then the silence was shattered by a vigorous +sneeze, followed by the unmistakable bleating +of a goat, and out of a closet came fairly tumbling—a +stowaway!</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink11'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XI—OVERBOARD</a></h2> + +<p>“There! What did I tell you!” cried Dot, +pointing a finger at the strange sight. “I heard +a noise, and then it was a sneeze and then it +was a bleat and then I <i>smelled</i> a goat. I knew +it was a goat, and it is, and it’s Sammy Pinkney, +too!”</p> + +<p>And, surely enough, it was. Tousled and disheveled, +dirty and with his clothes awry, there +stood the urchin who was, it seemed, continually +getting into mischief at or around the Corner +House.</p> + +<p>But if Sammy was mussed up because of having +been hidden in a small closet, the goat did not appear +to be any the worse for his misadventure. +Billy Bumps was as fresh as a daisy, and suddenly +he lowered his head and made a dive for +Mr. Howbridge.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” cried Ruth. “Look out!”</p> + +<p>“Hold him!” yelled Agnes.</p> + +<p>Neale, who had joined the wondering throng +now gazing at the stowaway, caught the goat by +the animal’s collar just in time, and held him back +from butting the lawyer.</p> + +<p>“He—he’s just a little excited like,” Sammy +explained.</p> + +<p>“Well, I should think he would be!” declared +Ruth, taking command of the situation, as she +often had to do where Sammy was concerned. +“And now what do you mean, hiding yourself and +Billy Bumps on the boat?” she demanded. +“Why did you do it? And why, above all things, +bring the goat?”</p> + +<p>“’Cause I knew you wouldn’t let me come any +other way,” Sammy answered. “I wanted to go +houseboating awful bad, but I didn’t think you’d +take me and Billy. So this morning, when you +was packing up, me and him came down here and +we got on board. I hid us in a closet, and we +was going to stay there until night and then maybe +you’d be so far away you couldn’t send us back. +But something tickled my nose and I sneezed, and +I guess Billy thought I was sneezing at him, for +he bleated and then he butted his head against the +door and it came open and—and—”</p> + +<p>But Sammy really had to stop—he was out of +breath.</p> + +<p>“Well, of all things!” cried Agnes.</p> + +<p>“It is rather remarkable,” agreed Mr. Howbridge. +“I don’t know that I ever before had to +deal with a stowaway. The question that’s puzzling +me is, what shall we do with him?”</p> + +<p>“Can’t me and Billy stay?” asked Sammy, +catching drift of an objection to his presence on +board.</p> + +<p>“Of course not!” voiced Ruth. “What would +your mother and father say?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, they wouldn’t care,” Sammy said, easily +enough and brightening visibly at the question. +“They let me stay when I went with you on +our auto tour.”</p> + +<p>“They surely did,” remarked Agnes dryly.</p> + +<p>“And Billy’s strong, too!” went on Sammy eagerly. +“If one of the mules got sick he could help +pull the boat.”</p> + +<p>“The idea!” exclaimed Agnes.</p> + +<p>“Oh, hello, Sammy!” called Tess, who had just +heard of the discovery of the stowaway.</p> + +<p>“Hello,” Sammy returned. “I’m here!”</p> + +<p>They all laughed.</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Mr. Howbridge at length, as the +houseboat was slowly pulled along the canal by +the mules driven by Hank, “we must get Sammy +home somehow, though how is puzzling me.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, please can’t I stay?” begged the boy. +“You can send Billy home, of course. I don’t +know why I brought him. But let me stay. I’m +going to be a canal mule driver when I grow up, +and I could begin now if you wanted me to.”</p> + +<p>“Aren’t you going to be a pirate?” asked +Agnes, for such had been Sammy’s desire for +years.</p> + +<p>“Yes, of course. But I’m going to be a canal +mule driver first.”</p> + +<p>“It’s out of the question,” said Ruth firmly. +“It was very wrong of you to hide away on +board, Sammy. Very wrong indeed! And it is +going to be a great bother for us to send you and +Billy Bumps back home, as we must do. Twice +for the same trick is too often.”</p> + +<p>“Aw, say, Ruthie, you might turn Billy Bumps +loose here on the bank and let me stay,” pleaded +Sammy. “Billy can take care of himself well +enough.”</p> + +<p>“Sammy Pinkney!” exclaimed Tess, her eyes +blazing. “Turn our goat loose just because you +brought him along when you know you had no +business to do that! Sammy Pinkney, you are the +very worst boy I ever heard of!”</p> + +<p>Sammy looked rather frightened for the first +time since being found on the boat, for, after all, +he had an immense respect for the usually gentle +Tess, and cared more for her good opinion than +he did for that of her elders.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t mean to be bad,” he whined. “I +wanted to go along, that’s all.”</p> + +<p>“But you wasn’t asked,” Tess insisted, pouting.</p> + +<p>“But I wasn’t asked on that auto tour,” went +on Sammy hopefully.</p> + +<p>“Well, that was—was different,” stammered +Tess. “Anyway, you had no right to talk about +turning our goat loose. Why, somebody might +steal him!”</p> + +<p>“What shall we do?” Ruth appealed to Mr. +Howbridge. “Can a boat turn around in the +canal?”</p> + +<p>“Not wide enough here,” volunteered Neale, +looking from a window. “But we can when we +get to the big waters, about five miles farther +along.”</p> + +<p>“It will not be necessary to turn about and +go back,” said the lawyer. “I’ll have to make +arrangements for some one either to take charge +of our stowaway at the next large town, and +keep him there until his father can come for him, +or else I may see some one going back to Milton +by whom we can return our interesting specimens,” +and he included boy and goat in his +glances.</p> + +<p>“Well, I was afraid you’d send us back,” said +Sammy with a sigh. “But could I stay to supper?” +he asked, as he sniffed the appetizing odors +that now seemed more completely to fill the interior +of the <i>Bluebird</i>.</p> + +<p>“Of course you may stay to supper, Sammy,” +conceded Ruth. “And then we’ll see what’s to be +done. Oh, what a boy you are!” and she had +to laugh, though she did not want to.</p> + +<p>“I was hoping Sammy could come,” murmured +Dot, as she hugged her “Alice-doll.”</p> + +<p>“And Billy Bumps is fun,” added Tess.</p> + +<p>“We have no room here for goats, whether they +are funny or not,” declared Agnes. “Take him +out in front, on the lower deck, Sammy. Tie him +there, and then wash yourself for supper. I +should think you would have smothered in that +closet.”</p> + +<p>“I did, almost,” confessed the boy. “And +Billy didn’t like it, either. But we wanted to +come.”</p> + +<p>“Too bad—young ambition nipped in the bud,” +murmured Mr. Howbridge. “Take Billy outside, +Sammy.”</p> + +<p>The goat was rather frisky, and it required +Neale and Sammy to tie him to the forward rail on +the lower deck. Then Mrs. MacCall, in the kindness +of her Scotch heart, sent the “beastie,” as +she called him, some odds and ends of food, including +beet tops from the kitchen, and Billy, at +least, was happy.</p> + +<p>“Low bridge!” suddenly came the call from +Hank, up ahead with the two mules.</p> + +<p>“What’s he saying?” asked Ruth to Mr. Howbridge.</p> + +<p>“He’s giving warning that we are approaching +a low bridge, and that if we stay on deck and hold +our heads too high we may get bumped. Yes, +there’s the bridge just ahead. I wonder if we can +pass beneath it. Our houseboat is higher than a +canal boat.”</p> + +<p>The stream curved then, and gave a view of a +white bridge spanning it. Hank had had the first +glimpse of it. It was necessary for the occupants +of the upper deck either to desert it, or +to crouch down below the railing, and they did +the former.</p> + +<p>There was just room for the <i>Bluebird</i> to squeeze +through under the bridge, and beyond it lay a +good-sized town.</p> + +<p>“I think I can get some one there to take Sammy +home, together with Billy Bumps,” said Mr. Howbridge. +“We’ll try after supper, and then we +must see about tying up for the night.”</p> + +<p>The houseboat attracted considerable attention +as it was slowly drawn along the canal, which +passed through the middle of the town. A stop +was made while Mr. Howbridge instituted inquiries +as to the possibility of sending Sammy back +to Milton, and arrangements were made with a +farmer who agreed to hitch up after supper and +deliver the goat and the boy where they belonged.</p> + +<p>“Well, anyhow, I’m glad I’m going to stay to +supper,” said Sammy, extracting what joy he +could from the situation that had turned against +him.</p> + +<p>The <i>Bluebird</i> came to rest at a pleasant place +in the canal just outside the town, and there supper +was served by Mrs. MacCall. A bountiful +one it was, too, and after Hank had had his, apart +from the others, he confided to Neale, as he went +back to the mules:</p> + +<p>“She’s the beatenist cook I ever see!”</p> + +<p>“Good, you mean?” asked Neale, smiling.</p> + +<p>“The best ever! I haven’t eaten victuals like +’em since I had a home and a mother, and that’s +years and years back. I’m glad I struck this +job.”</p> + +<p>In the early evening the farmer came for Sammy +and the goat, a small crate, that once had held a +sheep, being put in the back of the wagon for +Billy’s accommodation.</p> + +<p>“Well, maybe you’ll take me next time, when +I’ve growed bigger,” suggested the boy, as he +waved rather a sad farewell to his friends.</p> + +<p>“Maybe,” said Ruth, but under her breath +she added: “Not if I know it.”</p> + +<p>“Good-by, Sammy!” called Dot.</p> + +<p>But Tess, still indignant over Sammy’s suggestion +to turn the goat—her goat—loose to shift for +himself, called merely:</p> + +<p>“Good-by, Billy Bumps!”</p> + +<p>Mr. Howbridge went into the town and telephoned +to Milton to let Sammy’s father know the +boy was safe and on his way back, and then matters +became rather more quiet aboard the <i>Bluebird</i>.</p> + +<p>The houseboat was towed to a good place in +which to spend the night. Lines were carried +ashore and the craft moored to trees along the +towpath.</p> + +<p>The mules were given their suppers and +tethered, and Hank announced that he was going to +do some fishing before he “turned in.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, could I fish, too?” cried Dot.</p> + +<p>“And me! I want to!” added Tess.</p> + +<p>“I think they might be allowed to,” said Mr. +Howbridge. “There are really good fish in the +canal, coming from Lake Macopic, and we could +cook them for breakfast. They’d keep all right +in the ice box—if any are caught.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’ll catch some!” declared Hank. “I’ve +fished in the canal before.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, please let us!” begged the small girls.</p> + +<p>“But you have no poles, lines or anything,” +objected Ruth.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got lines and hooks, and I can easy cut +some poles,” offered Hank, and so it was arranged.</p> + +<p>A little later, while Ruth, Agnes and Mrs. MacCall +were busy with such housework as was necessary +aboard the <i>Bluebird</i>, and while Neale and +Mr. Howbridge were getting Hank’s cot in readiness +on the deck, the mule driver and Dot and +Tess sat on the stern of the craft with their lines +in the water.</p> + +<p>It was a still, quiet evening, restful and peaceful, +and as Hank had told the girls that fish liked +quietness, no one of the trio was speaking above +a whisper.</p> + +<p>“Have you got a bite?” suddenly asked Tess in +a low voice of her sister.</p> + +<p>“No, not yet. I’m going to set my Alice-doll +up where she can watch me. She never saw anybody +catch a fish—my Alice-doll didn’t.” And +Dot propped her “child” up near her, on the deck +of the craft.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Hank pulled his pole up sharply.</p> + +<p>“I got one!” he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I wish I’d get one!” echoed Tess.</p> + +<p>“Let me see!” fairly shouted Dot. “Let me +see the fish, Hank!” She struggled to her feet, +and the next moment a wild cry rang out.</p> + +<p>“She’s fallen in! Oh, she’s fallen in! Oh, +get her out!”</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink12'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XII—NEALE WONDERS</a></h2> + +<p>Dot’s startled cries roused all on board the +<i>Bluebird</i>. Neale and Mr. Howbridge dropped the +cot they were setting in place under the awning, +and rushed to the railing of the deck. Inside the +boat Ruth, Agnes and Mrs. MacCall hurried to +windows where they could look out toward the +stern where the fishing party had seated themselves.</p> + +<p>“Man overboard!” sang out Neale, hardly +thinking what he was doing.</p> + +<p>But, to the surprise of all the startled ones, they +saw at the stern of the boat, Hank, Dot and Tess, +and from Hank’s line was dangling a wiggling +fish.</p> + +<p>But Dot was pointing to something in the water.</p> + +<p>“Why!” exclaimed Ruth, “no one has fallen +in. What can the child mean?”</p> + +<p>“She said—” began Agnes, but she was interrupted +by Dot who exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“It’s my Alice-doll! She fell in when I got +up to look at Hank’s fish! Oh, somebody please +get my Alice-doll!”</p> + +<p>“I will in jest a minute now, little lady!” cried +the mule driver. “It’s bad luck to let your first +fish git away. Jest a minute now, and I’ll save +your Alice-doll!”</p> + +<p>Neale and Mr. Howbridge hurried down to the +lower deck from the top one in time to see Hank +take his fish from the hook and toss it into a pail +of water the mule driver had placed near by for +just this purpose. Then as Hank took off his +coat and seemed about to plunge overboard into +the canal, to rescue the doll, Ruth said:</p> + +<p>“Don’t let him, Mr. Howbridge. Dot’s doll +isn’t worth having him risk his life for.”</p> + +<p>“Risking my life, Miss Kenway! It wouldn’t +be that,” said Hank, with a laugh. “I can swim, +and I’d just like a bath.”</p> + +<p>“Here’s a boat hook,” said Neale, offering one, +and while Dot and Tess clung to one another Hank +managed to fish up the “Alice-doll,” Dot’s special +prize, which was, fortunately, floating alongside +the houseboat.</p> + +<div style='text-align:center'> +<img id='ilink03' src='images/illus-003.jpg' alt=''/> +<p class='caption'>While Dot and Tess clung to one another, Hank managed to fish up the “Alice-doll."</p> +</div> + +<p>“There you are, little lady!” exclaimed the +driver, and he began to squeeze some of the water +from Alice.</p> + +<p>“Oh, please don’t!” begged Dot.</p> + +<p>“Don’t what?” asked Hank.</p> + +<p>“Please don’t choke her that way. All her +sawdust might come out. It did once. I’ll just +hang her up to dry. Poor Alice-doll!” murmured +the little girl, as she clasped her toy in her arms.</p> + +<p>“Were you almost drowned?” and she cuddled +her doll still closer in her arms.</p> + +<p>“Don’t hold her so close to you, Dot,” cautioned +Ruth. “She’ll get you soaking wet.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t care!” muttered Dot. “I’ve got to +put dry clothes on her so she won’t catch cold.”</p> + +<p>“And that’s just what I don’t want to have +to do for you—change your clothes again to-day,” +went on Ruth. “You can love your doll even if +you don’t hold her so close.”</p> + +<p>“Well, anyhow I’m glad she didn’t drown,” said +Dot.</p> + +<p>“So’m I,” remarked Tess. “I’ll go and help +you change her. I’m glad we didn’t bring Almira +and her kittens along, for they look so terrible +when they’re wet—cats do.”</p> + +<p>“And I’m glad we didn’t have Sammy and Billy +Bumps here to fall in!” laughed Agnes. “Goats +are even worse in the water than cats.”</p> + +<p>“Well, aren’t you going to help me fish any +more?” asked Hank, as the two little girls walked +away, deserting their poles and lines.</p> + +<p>“I have to take care of my Alice-doll,” declared +Dot.</p> + +<p>“And I have to help her,” said Tess.</p> + +<p>“I’ll take a hand at fishing, if you don’t mind,” +said Neale.</p> + +<p>“And I wouldn’t mind trying myself,” added +the lawyer. And when Hank’s sleeping quarters +had been arranged the three men, though perhaps +Neale could hardly be called that, sat together at +the stern of the boat, their lines in the water.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Howbridge is almost like a boy himself on +this trip, isn’t he?” said Agnes to Ruth as the +two sisters helped Mrs. MacCall make up the +berths for the night.</p> + +<p>“Yes, he is, and I’m glad of it. I wouldn’t +know what to do if some grave, tiresome old man +had charge of our affairs.”</p> + +<p>“Well now, who is going to have first luck?” +questioned Mr. Howbridge, jokingly, as the three +sat down to try their hands at fishing.</p> + +<p>“I guess the luck will go to the first one who +gets a catch,” returned Neale.</p> + +<p>“Luck goes to the one who gits the biggest fish,” +put in the mule driver.</p> + +<p>After that there was silence for a few minutes. +Then the lawyer gave a cry of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>“Got a bite?” questioned Hank.</p> + +<p>“I have and he’s a beauty,” was the reply, and +Mr. Howbridge drew up a fair-sized fish.</p> + +<p>A minute later Neale found something on +his hook. It was so large he had to play his +catch.</p> + +<p>“You win!” cried the lawyer, when the fish was +brought on board. And he was right, for it was +the largest catch made by any of them.</p> + +<p>The fishing party had good luck, and a large +enough supply was caught for a meal the next day. +Hank cleaned them and put them in the ice box, +for a refrigerator was among the fittings on the +<i>Bluebird</i>.</p> + +<p>Then, as night came on, Dot and Tess were put +to bed, Dot insisting on having her “Alice-doll” +placed near her bunk to dry. Hank retired to his +secluded cot on the upper deck, the mules had +been tethered in a sheltered grove of trees just off +the towpath, and everything was made snug for +the night.</p> + +<p>“How do you like the trip so far?” asked Mr. +Howbridge of Ruth and Agnes, as he sat in the +main cabin, talking with them and Neale.</p> + +<p>“It’s just perfect!” exclaimed Agnes. “And +I know we’re going to like it more and more each +day.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is a most novel way of spending the +summer vacation,” agreed Ruth, but there was +little animation in her voice.</p> + +<p>“Are you still mourning the loss of your +jewelry?” asked the lawyer, noting her rather +serious face.</p> + +<p>Ruth nodded. “Mother’s wedding ring was in +that box,” she said softly.</p> + +<p>“You must not let it spoil your trip,” her guardian +continued. “I think there is a good chance +of getting it back.”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean you think the police will catch +those rough men who robbed us?” asked Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” answered the lawyer. “I told them +they must spare no effort to locate the ruffians, and +they have sent an alarm to all the neighboring +towns and cities. Men of that type will not find +it easy to dispose of the rings and pins, and they +may have to carry them around with them for +some time. I really believe you will get back your +things.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I hope so!” exclaimed Ruth. “It has +been an awful shock.”</p> + +<p>“I would rather they had taken a much larger +amount of jewelry than have harmed either you +or Agnes,” went on the guardian. “They were +ruffians of the worst type, and would not have +stopped at injuring a person to get what they +wanted. But don’t worry, we shall hear good +news from the police, I am sure.”</p> + +<p>“I believe that, too,” put in Neale. “I wish I +was as sure of hearing good news of my father.”</p> + +<p>“That is going to be a little harder problem,” +said Mr. Howbridge. “However, we are doing +all we can. I am hoping your Uncle Bill will +have had definite news of your father and of +where he has settled since he came back from the +Klondike. Your father would be most likely to +communicate with your uncle first.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose so,” agreed Neale. “But when +shall we see Uncle Bill?”</p> + +<p>“As I told you,” went on the lawyer, “his circus +will soon show at a town near which we shall pass +in the boat. The younger children will probably +want to go to the circus, and that will give me +a good excuse for attending myself,” the lawyer +went on with a laugh, in which Ruth joined.</p> + +<p>The night passed quietly, though about twelve +o’clock another boat came along and had to pass +the <i>Bluebird</i>. As there is but one towpath along +a canal, it is necessary when two boats meet, +or when one passes the other, for the tow-line +of one to go under or over the tow-line of the second +boat.</p> + +<p>As the <i>Bluebird</i> was tied to the shore it was +needful, in this case, for the tow-line of the passing +boat to be lifted up over it, and when this was +being done it awakened Ruth and Agnes. At first +the girls were startled, but they settled back when +the nature of the disturbance was known.</p> + +<p>Dot half awakened and murmured something +about some one trying to take her “Alice-doll,” +but Ruth soon quieted her.</p> + +<p>Neale was awake early the next morning, and +went on the upper deck for a breath of air before +breakfast. He saw Hank emerge from the curtained-off +place that had been arranged for the +sleeping quarters of the mule driver.</p> + +<p>“Well, do we start soon?” asked Hank, yawning +and stretching.</p> + +<p>“I think so,” Neale answered, and then he saw +Hank make a sudden dart for something that had +evidently slipped from a hole in his pocket. It +was something that rolled across the deck, something +round, and shining like gold.</p> + +<p>The mule driver made a dive for the object and +caught it before it could roll off the deck, and +Neale had a chance to see that it was a gold ring.</p> + +<p>Without a word Hank picked it up and put it +back in his pocket. Then, without a glance at the +boy, he turned aside, and, making his way to the +towpath, he began carrying the mules their morning +feed.</p> + +<p>Neale stood staring after him, and at the +memory of the ring he became possessed of +strange thoughts and wonderings.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink13'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XIII—THE TRICK MULE</a></h2> + +<p>Neale O’Neil was wiser than most boys of his +age. Perhaps having once lived in a circus had +something to do with it. At any rate, among the +things he had learned was to think first and speak +afterward. And he decided to put this into practice +now. He was doing a deal of thinking about +the ring he had seen roll over the deck to be so +quickly, almost secretively, picked up by Hank +Dayton. But of it Neale said nothing to the mule +driver nor to those aboard the <i>Bluebird</i>.</p> + +<p>Walking about on the upper deck and looking +down the towpath toward Hank, who was bringing +the mules from their sylvan stable to feed them, +Neale heard Ruth call:</p> + +<p>“How’s the weather up there?”</p> + +<p>“Glorious!” cried the boy. “It’s going to be a +dandy day.”</p> + +<p>“That’s great!” exclaimed Ruth. “Come on, +children!” she called. “Everybody up! The +mules are up and we must be up too,” she went on, +paraphrasing a little verse in the school reader.</p> + +<p>“Did any of the mules fall into the canal?” +asked Dot, as she made haste to look at +her “Alice-doll,” who had dried satisfactorily during the +night.</p> + +<p>“’Course not! Why should a mule fall into the +canal?” asked Tess.</p> + +<p>“Well, they might. My doll did,” went on the +smallest Corner House girl. “But, anyhow, I’m +glad they didn’t.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, so am I,” remarked Mr. Howbridge, as +they all gathered around the breakfast table, +which Mrs. MacCall had set, singing the while +some Scotch song containing many new and +strange words.</p> + +<p>“Well, shall we travel on?” asked the lawyer, +when the meal was over and Hank was hitching +the mules to the tow-rope, the animals and their +driver having had a satisfying meal.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, let’s go on!” urged Agnes. “I’m +crazy to go through one of the locks.”</p> + +<p>“Will there be any trouble about getting the +houseboat through?” asked Ruth of her guardian. +“She is a pretty big craft!”</p> + +<p>“But not as long as many of the canal boats, +though a trifle wider, or ‘of more beam,’ as a +sailor would say,” he remarked. “No, the locks +are large enough to let us through. But tell me, +do you find this method of travel too slow?” he +went on. “I know you young folks like rapid motion, +and this may bore you,” and he glanced +quickly at Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Oh, not at all,” she hastened to say. “I love +it. The mules are so calm and peaceful.”</p> + +<p>Just then one of the animals let out a terrific +hee-haw and Agnes, covering her ears with her +hands, laughed at her sister.</p> + +<p>“That’s just as good as a honk-honk horn on an +auto!” exclaimed Tess.</p> + +<p>“Calm and peaceful!” tittered Agnes. “How +do you like that, Ruth?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t mind it at all,” was the calm answer. +“It blends in well with the environment, and it’s +much better than the shriek of a locomotive +whistle.”</p> + +<p>“Bravo, Minerva!” cried Mr. Howbridge. +“You should have been a lawyer. I shall call you +Portia for a change.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t, please!” she begged. “You have +enough nicknames for me now.”</p> + +<p>“Very well then, we’ll stick to the old ones. +And, meanwhile, if you are all ready I’ll give the +word to Hank to start his mules. There is no +hurry on this trip, as the man to whom I am to +deliver this boat has no special need for it. But +we may as well travel on.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll be glad when I can start the gasoline +motor,” remarked Neale.</p> + +<p>“Which will be as soon as we get off the canal +and into the river,” said the lawyer. “I’d use the +motor now, only the canal company won’t permit +it on account of the wash of the propeller tearing +away the banks.”</p> + +<p>The tow-line tauted as the mules leaned forward +in their collars, and once more the <i>Bluebird</i> was +under way.</p> + +<p>Life aboard the houseboat was simple and easy, +as it was intended to be. There was little housework +to do, and it was soon over, and all that remained +was to sit on deck and watch the ever-changing +scenery. The changes were not too +rapid, either, for a boat towed on a canal does not +progress very fast.</p> + +<p>“It’s like a moving picture, isn’t it?” remarked +Agnes. “It puts me in mind of some scenes in +foreign countries—rural scenes, I mean.”</p> + +<p>“Only the moving pictures move so much +faster,” returned Ruth, with a smile. “They +show you hundreds of miles in a few minutes.”</p> + +<p>“Gracious, I wouldn’t want to ride as fast as +that,” exclaimed Tess. “We’d fall off or blow +away sure!”</p> + +<p>It just suited the Corner House girls, though, +and Neale extracted full enjoyment from it, +though, truth to tell, he was rather worried in his +mind. One matter was the finding of his father, +and the other was a suspicion concerning Hank +and the ring.</p> + +<p>This was a suspicion which, as yet, Neale hardly +admitted to himself very plainly. He wanted to +watch the mule driver for a time yet.</p> + +<p>“It may not have been one of Ruth’s rings, to +begin with,” reasoned Neale. “And, if it is, I +don’t believe Hank had anything to do with taking +it, though he may know who did. I’ve got to keep +on the watch!”</p> + +<p>His meditations were interrupted, as he sat on +the deck of the boat, by hearing Hank cry:</p> + +<p>“Lock! Lock!”</p> + +<p>That meant the boat was approaching one of the +devices by which canal craft are taken over hills. +A canal is, of course, a stream on a level. It does +not run like a river. In fact, it is just like a big +ditch.</p> + +<p>But as a canal winds over the country it comes +to hills, and to get up or down these, two methods +are employed. One is what is called an inclined +plane.</p> + +<p>The canal comes to the foot of a hill and stops. +There a sort of big cradle is let down into the +water, the boat is floated into the cradle, and then +boat, cradle and all are pulled up over the hill on +a sort of railroad track, a turbine water wheel +usually furnishing the power. Once over the +brow of the hill the cradle and boat slide down +into the water again and the journey is resumed.</p> + +<p>The other means of getting a canal boat over a +hill is by means of a lock. When the waterway is +stopped in its level progress by reaching a hill, a +square place is excavated and lined with rocks so +as to form a water-tight basin, the open end being +closed by big, wooden gates.</p> + +<p>The <i>Bluebird</i> was now approaching one of these +locks, where it was to be raised from a low to a +higher level. While Hank managed the mules, +Neale steered the boat into the stone-lined basin. +Then the big gates were closed behind the craft, +and the mules, being unhitched, were sent forward +to begin towing again when the boat should have +been lifted.</p> + +<p>“Now we can watch!” said Dot as she and Tess +took their places at the railing. Going through +canal locks was a novelty for them, as there were +no locks near Milton, though the canal ran +through the town.</p> + +<p>Once the <i>Bluebird</i> was locked within the small +stone-lined basin, water was admitted to it +through gates at the other and higher end. These +gates kept the body of water on the higher level +from pouring into the lower part of the canal. +Faster and faster the water rushed in as the lock +keeper opened more valves in the big gates. The +water foamed and hissed all around the boat.</p> + +<p>“Oh, we’re going up!” cried Dot. “Look, +we’re rising!”</p> + +<p>“Just like in an elevator!” added Tess.</p> + +<p>And, indeed, that is just what it was like. The +water lifted the <i>Bluebird</i> up higher and higher. +As soon as the water had raised it to the upper +level, the other gates were opened, and the <i>Bluebird</i> +moved slowly out of the lock, having been +raised about fifteen feet, from a lower to a higher +level. Going from a higher to a lower is just the +reverse of this. Sometimes a hill is so high that +three sets of locks are necessary to get a boat up +or down.</p> + +<p>Once more the mules were hitched to the tow-line, +and started off. As the boat left the lock another +one came in, which was to be lowered. The +children watched this as long as they could, and +then turned their attention to new scenes.</p> + +<p>It was toward the close of the afternoon, during +which nothing exciting had happened, except that +Tess nearly fell overboard while leaning too far +across the rail to see something in the water, that +Neale, looking forward toward the mules and their +driver, saw a man leading a lone animal come out +of a shanty along the towpath and begin to talk +to Hank.</p> + +<p>Hank halted his team, and the <i>Bluebird</i> slowly +came to a stop. Mr. Howbridge, who was talking +to Ruth and Agnes, looked up from a book of +accounts he was going over with them and inquired:</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Hank has met a friend, I imagine,” ventured +Neale. “It’s a man with a lone mule.”</p> + +<p>“Well, he shouldn’t stop just to have a friendly +talk,” objected the lawyer. “We aren’t hiring +him for that. Give him a call, Neale, and see what +he means.”</p> + +<p>But before this could be done Hank turned, and, +making a megaphone of his hands, called:</p> + +<p>“Say, do you folks want to buy a good mule +cheap?”</p> + +<p>“Buy a mule,” repeated the lawyer, somewhat +puzzled.</p> + +<p>“Yes. This man has one to sell, and it might +be a good plan for us to have an extra one.”</p> + +<p>“I never thought of that,” said the lawyer. +“It might be a good plan. Let’s go up and see +about it, Neale.”</p> + +<p>“Let’s all go,” proposed Agnes. “It will rest +us to walk along the towpath.”</p> + +<p>The <i>Bluebird</i> was near shore and there was no +difficulty in getting to the path. Then all save +Mrs. MacCall, who preferred to remain on board, +walked up toward the two men and the three +mules.</p> + +<p>The man who had stopped Hank was a rough-looking +character, but many towpath men were +that, and little was thought of it at the time.</p> + +<p>“Do you folks want to buy a good mule?” he +asked. “I’ll sell him cheap,” he went on. “I +had a team, but the other died on me.”</p> + +<p>“I’m not much of an authority on mules,” said +Mr. Howbridge slowly. “What do you say, +Neale? Would you advise purchasing this animal +if he is a bargain?”</p> + +<p>Neale did not answer. He was carefully looking +at the mule, which stood near the other two.</p> + +<p>“Where’d you get this mule?” asked Neale +quickly, looking at the stranger.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’ve had him a good while. He’s one of +a team, but I sold my boat and—”</p> + +<p>“This mule never towed a boat!” said the boy +quickly.</p> + +<p>“What makes you say that?” demanded the +man in an angry voice.</p> + +<p>“Because I know,” went on Neale. “This is a +trick mule, and, unless I’m greatly mistaken, he +used to be in my uncle’s circus!”</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink14'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XIV—AT THE CIRCUS</a></h2> + +<p>All eyes were turned on Neale O’Neil as he said +this, and it would be difficult to say who was the +more astonished. As for the Corner House girls, +they simply stared at their friend. Hank Dayton +looked surprised, and then he glanced from the +mule in question to the man who had offered to +dispose of the animal. Mr. Howbridge looked +very much interested. As for the strange +tramp—for that is what he was—he seemed very +angry.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” he cried. “This mule +isn’t any trick mule!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, isn’t he?” asked Neale quietly. “And I +suppose he never was in a circus, either?”</p> + +<p>“Of course not!” declared the man. “Who are +you, anyhow, and what do you mean by talking +that way?”</p> + +<p>“I advise you to be a little more respectful in +tone,” said Mr. Howbridge in his suave, lawyer’s +voice. “If we do any business at all it will be on +this boy’s recommendation. He knows about +mules. I do not. I shall hear what he and Hank +have to say.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it’s all foolish saying this mule was in a +circus,” blustered the man. “I’ve had him over a +year, and I want to sell him now because he hasn’t +any mate. I can’t pull a canal boat with one +mule.”</p> + +<p>“Especially not a trick mule that never hauled +a boat in his life,” put in Neale.</p> + +<p>“Here! You quit that! What do you mean?” +demanded the man in sullen tones.</p> + +<p>“I mean just what I said,” declared Neale. “I +believe this is a trick mule that used to be in my +uncle Bill’s show—in Twomley and Sorber’s Herculean +Circus and Menagerie, to be exact. Of +course I may be mistaken, but if not I can easily +prove what I say.”</p> + +<p>“Huh! I’d like to see you do it!” sneered the +man.</p> + +<p>“All right, I will,” and Neale’s manner was +confident. “I recognize this mule,” he went on +to Mr. Howbridge, “by that mark on his off hind +hoof,” and he pointed to a bulge on the mule’s +foot. “But of course that may be on another +mule, as well as on the one that was in my uncle’s +circus. However, if I can make this mule do a +trick I taught old Josh in the show, that ought +to prove what I say, oughtn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“I should think so,” agreed the lawyer.</p> + +<p>“You can’t make this mule do any tricks,” +sneered the tramp. “He’s a good mule for pulling +canal boats, but he can’t do tricks.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, can’t he?” remarked Neale. “Well, we’ll +see. Come here, Josh!” he suddenly called.</p> + +<p>The mule moved his big ears forward, as though +to make sure of the voice, and then, looking at +Neale, slowly approached him.</p> + +<p>“Anybody could do that!” exclaimed the man +disdainfully.</p> + +<p>“Well, can anybody do this?” asked the boy. +“Josh—dead mule!” he suddenly cried. And, to +the surprise of all, the mule dropped to the towpath, +stretched out his legs stiffly and lay on his +side with every appearance of having departed +this life.</p> + +<p>“There!” exclaimed Neale. “That’s the trick +I taught him in the show, before I left it.”</p> + +<p>The other mules were sniffing at their prostrate +companion.</p> + +<p>“Oh, isn’t he funny!” cried Dot, as Josh opened +one eye and looked straight at her.</p> + +<p>“I’d rather have a mule than Billy Bumps for +a pet!” declared Tess.</p> + +<p>“Did you really make him do it, Neale?” asked +Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and I can do it again!” declared the lad. +“Up, Josh!” he commanded, and the mule scrambled +to his feet. “Dead mule—Josh!” cried +Neale again, and down the animal went a second +time.</p> + +<p>“Well, what have you to say to that?” the boy +turned to ask the tramp. But the man did not +stay to answer. Off he ran, down the towpath, at +top speed.</p> + +<p>“Shall I get him?” cried Hank, throwing the +reins on the back of one of his mules, while Josh, +in response to a command from Neale, stood upright +again.</p> + +<p>“No, let him go,” advised Mr. Howbridge. “It +is very evident that he had no legal claim to this +mule, and he either took him away from the circus +himself, or received him from some one who did. +Neale, I congratulate you.”</p> + +<p>“Thanks. I thought I recognized old Uncle +Josh, but the trick proved it. He hasn’t forgotten +that or me; have you, old fellow?” he asked +as he rubbed the mule’s velvety nose. And the +animal seemed glad to be near the boy.</p> + +<p>“Pretty slick, I call that,” said Hank admiringly. +“Guess you’ll have to teach my mules +some trick, Neale.”</p> + +<p>“It takes too long!” laughed the lad.</p> + +<p>“Is this our mule now?” asked Dot, as she approached +the new animal, which was quite gentle +and allowed the children to pet him.</p> + +<p>“Well, I don’t know just who does own him,” +said Mr. Howbridge, not wanting to give a legal +opinion which might be wrong. “But he certainly +does not belong to that man,” and he looked after +the retreating figure, now far down the towpath.</p> + +<p>“’Cause if he’s our mule I’d like to give my +Alice-doll a ride on his back,” went on Dot.</p> + +<p>“I’d like a ride myself!” exclaimed Tess.</p> + +<p>“Oh, don’t try that!” sighed Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Josh wouldn’t mind,” put in Neale. “I used +to ride him in the circus. Look!”</p> + +<p>With a spring he reached the mule’s back, and +then, at the word of command, Josh trotted up and +down the towpath.</p> + +<p>“Oh, do let me try!” begged Tess.</p> + +<p>“Shall I put her on?” Neale asked, and, at a +nod from Ruth, he lifted the little girl up on the +mule’s back, and the delighted Tess was given a +ride.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s ever so much nicer’n Scalawag!” she +cried as she was lifted down. “Try it, Dot!” +Scalawag was the circus pony that Neale’s uncle +had given to Tess and Dot.</p> + +<p>“I will if I can hold my Alice-doll!” stipulated +the youngest Kenway.</p> + +<p>“Sure!” assented Neale, and the fun was continued.</p> + +<p>“I wish I dared to do it!” exclaimed Agnes, +with a look at Ruth. But Ruth shook her head, +and Agnes, after a moment’s hesitation, yielded +to Ruth’s sense of the fitness of things.</p> + +<p>“Well, the question now arises,” said Mr. Howbridge, +“what shall we do with this mule, which +seems to have been stolen?”</p> + +<p>“I say take him along with us,” answered Hank. +“One of our critters might get hurt, and we’d have +to lay up if we didn’t have an extra one.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe Uncle Josh would pull in harness +with another mule,” said Neale. “He has +always been a trick mule, and has worked alone. +He is quite valuable.”</p> + +<p>“Do you suppose your uncle sold him?” asked +the lawyer.</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe so,” said the boy. “I believe +he was stolen, and I know, in that case, that Uncle +Bill would be glad to get him back.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then let’s take him back,” suggested +Hank. “I can drive him along with my mules for +a spell until we come to the place where the circus +is playing. He’ll drive, I guess, if he won’t pull a +boat, and he’ll be company for my mules.” Hank +was fond of animals, and treated them kindly.</p> + +<p>“How does that plan appeal to you, Minerva?” +asked Ruth’s guardian. “This is your trip, as +well as mine. Do you want to be bothered with an +extra mule?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t see that he would be any bother,” +she said. “If Hank looks after him, we shan’t +have to. And if it’s Neale’s uncle’s mule he ought +to be returned.”</p> + +<p>“That settles it,” said Mr. Howbridge. “We’ll +take the mule with us.”</p> + +<p>“I’m sure Uncle Bill will be glad to get him +back,” declared Neale. “And I’m pretty sure he +never sold him.”</p> + +<p>So it was arranged. Once more the <i>Bluebird</i> +was under way, the two harnessed mules towing +her and Uncle Josh, the trick animal, wandering +along at his own sweet will.</p> + +<p>For a time the Corner House girls, with Neale +and Mr. Howbridge, walked along the towpath. +Then they went back to the boat as Mrs. MacCall, +blowing on a horn, announced meal time.</p> + +<p>The trip along the canal continued in leisurely +fashion. Now the <i>Bluebird</i> would be lifted up at +some water-foaming lock, or lowered in the same +fashion. Twice they were lifted over inclined +planes, and the young folks, especially Dot and +Tess, liked this very much.</p> + +<p>The weather had been all that could be desired +ever since they started, except the rain storm in +which the girls were robbed. But now, about +four days after leaving Milton, they awoke one +morning to find a disagreeable drizzle. But Hank +and the mules did not seem to mind it. In fact +they rather liked splashing through the rain and +mud.</p> + +<p>Of course getting out and strolling along the +towpath was out of the question for the voyagers, +and they found amusements enough on board the +houseboat.</p> + +<p>It rained all day, but it needed more than this +to take the joy out of life for the Corner House +girls.</p> + +<p>“Fair day to-morrow!” cried Neale, and so it +proved.</p> + +<p>They approached a small town early the next +day, and as they tied up at a tow-barn station to +get some supplies Dot cried:</p> + +<p>“Oh, look at the elephant!”</p> + +<p>“Where?” demanded Tess.</p> + +<p>“I mean it’s a picture of it on that barn,” went +on the mother of the “Alice-doll,” and she +pointed.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s a circus!” exclaimed Tess. “Look, +Ruth—Agnes!”</p> + +<p>And there, in many gay posters was the +announcement that “Twomley & Sorber’s Herculean +Circus and Menagerie” would show that +day in Pompey, the town they had then reached.</p> + +<p>“It’s Uncle Bill’s show!” cried Neale. “Maybe +I’ll hear some news of my father.”</p> + +<p>“And shall we have to give back Josh mule?” +asked Tess, who had taken quite a liking to the +animal.</p> + +<p>“Well, we’ll see,” said Mr. Howbridge. “But +I think we may as well, all of us, go to the circus,” +he added.</p> + +<p>And, that afternoon, the trick mule having been +left in the towpath barn with Hank’s animals, +almost the whole party, including the driver, went +to the circus. Only Mrs. MacCall decided to stay +on the houseboat.</p> + +<p>On the way to the circus the party passed the +post-office. Ruth remembered that this was a +town she had mentioned in a letter to Luke Shepard +and ran in to see if there was any mail.</p> + +<p>“Ruth Kenway,” said the clerk, in answer to +her question, and a moment later passed out a fine, +fat letter, addressed in the hand she knew so well.</p> + +<p>“I’ll read it to-night—I haven’t time now,” she +told herself, and blushed happily. “Dear Luke—I +hope everything is going well with him.”</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink15'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XV—REAL NEWS AT LAST</a></h2> + +<p>“Oh, look at the toy balloons! Look, Alice-doll,” +and Dot held her constant companion up in +her arms.</p> + +<p>Dot was in a state of great excitement, and kept +repeating to Tess stories of her experiences of the +summer previous when Dot, her older sisters and +some friends, seated in a box of this very circus, +Scalawag, the pony, had been publicly presented +to the smaller Corner House girls—a scene, and a +sensation, which is told of in a previous volume +of this series and which, alas! Tess had missed.</p> + +<p>“There’s pink lemonade!” cried Tess. “Oh, I +want some of that! Please, Ruth, may I have two +glasses?”</p> + +<p>“Not of that pink lemonade, Tess,” answered +the older girl. “It may be colored with hat dye, +for all we know. We’ll see Neale’s Uncle Bill, +who will take us to the best place to get something +to drink.”</p> + +<p>“Just see the fat lady!” went on Dot next.</p> + +<p>“Fat lady! Where? I don’t see any!” exclaimed +Tess. “Do you mean an elephant?” she +asked.</p> + +<p>“No. I mean over there!” and Dot pointed to +a gayly painted canvas stretched along the front +of the tent in which the side shows were showing.</p> + +<p>“Oh, that! Only a painting!” and Tess showed +in her voice the disappointment she felt.</p> + +<p>“Well, the lady is real, and we can go inside and +see her; can’t we, Ruth?” pursued Dot. “Oh, I +just love a circus; don’t you, Alice?” and she +hugged her doll in her arms.</p> + +<p>“Yes, a circus is very nice,” was the answer. +“But now listen to me,” went on Ruth. “Don’t +run away and get lost in the crowd.”</p> + +<p>“You couldn’t run very far in such a crowd,” +answered Tess.</p> + +<p>“No, but you could get lost very easily.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, see the camels! They are going for a +drink, I guess.”</p> + +<p>“Well, they have to have water the same as the +other animals.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, what was that?” cried Dot, as a gigantic +roar rent the air.</p> + +<p>“That must have been a lion,” answered Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Oh, do you think he’ll get loose?” exclaimed +Tess, holding back a little.</p> + +<p>“I guess not.”</p> + +<p>“It’s the same old crowd,” remarked Neale, as +he looked on the familiar scenes about the circus +tent, while Mr. Howbridge walked along with +Ruth. Agnes and Neale were together, and Dot +and Tess had hold of hands. Hank, after the +arrival at the grounds, said he would travel +around by himself, as he saw some men he knew. +He agreed to be back at the canal boat at five +o’clock, after the show.</p> + +<p>“Wait until I get you a ticket,” Neale said, as +the mule driver was about to separate from them. +Going to the red and gold wagon, Neale stepped +to the window. The man inside was busy selling +tickets and tossing the money taken in to an assistant, +who sorted and counted it.</p> + +<p>“How many?” asked the man in the ticket +wagon, hardly looking up.</p> + +<p>“Seven—two of ’em halves,” answered Neale +quickly.</p> + +<p>“Well, where’s the money—where’s the cash?” +asked the cashier rather snappily, and then, for +the first time, he looked up. A queer change came +over his face as he recognized Neale.</p> + +<p>“Well, for the love of alligators!” he exclaimed, +thrusting forth his hand. “When’d you get on +the lot?”</p> + +<p>“Just arrived,” answered Neale with a smile. +“Got some friends of mine here who want to see +the show.”</p> + +<p>“Surest thing you know!” cried the cashier. +“How many’d you say? Seven—two halves? +Here you are,” and he flipped the tickets down on +the wooden shelf in front of him. “Are you coming +back to join the outfit?” he went on. “We +could bill ‘Master Jakeway’s’ act very nicely now, +I imagine. Only,” and he chuckled, “we’d have +to drop the ‘Master.’ You’ve got beyond that.”</p> + +<p>“No, I’m not coming back,” answered Neale. +“That isn’t saying I wouldn’t like to, perhaps. +But I have other plans. I’ve heard that my father +has returned from the Klondike, and I want +to see my uncle to find if he has any news. Is he +around—Uncle Bill, I mean?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, he was talking to me a while ago. And I +did hear him mention, some time back, that he had +news of your father. Well, well! I am glad to +see you again, Neale. Stop in and see me after +the show.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll try to,” was the answer.</p> + +<p>Hank, being given his ticket, went away by himself, +and, after greeting some more of his circus +friends, Neale began a search for his uncle. It +was not an easy matter to locate any of the circus +men on the “lot” at an hour just before the performance +was to begin. And Tess and Dot were +eager to go in and see the animals, the side shows, +the main performance and everything else.</p> + +<p>“I’d better take them in,” Ruth said finally. +“You can join us later, Neale, you and Mr. Howbridge.”</p> + +<p>So this plan was agreed on, and then the two +eager girls were led into the tents of childish mystery +and delight, while Neale and the lawyer +sought the proprietor of the show.</p> + +<p>They found him talking to Sully Sorber, the +clown, who was just going in to put on his makeup.</p> + +<p>At first Uncle Bill just stared at Neale, as +though hardly believing the evidence of his eyes. +Then a welcoming smile spread over his face, and +he held out his hand.</p> + +<p>“Well! Well! This is a coincidence!” exclaimed +the ringmaster. “I was just figuring +with Sully here if we would get any nearer Milton +than this, as I wanted to have a talk with you, and +now here you are! How did it happen? Glad to +see you, sir,” and he shook hands with Mr. Howbridge. +“I’ve been going to answer your letters, +but I’ve been so busy I haven’t had time. One of +the elephants got loose and wrecked a farmer’s +barn, and I’ve had a damage suit to settle. But I +am glad to see you both.”</p> + +<p>“Tell me!” exclaimed Neale eagerly. “Have +you any news from father? Is he back from the +Klondike? Where can I find him?”</p> + +<p>“My! you’re as bad as ever for asking questions,” +chuckled Mr. Bill Sorber. “But there! I +know how it is! Yes, Neale, I have some real +news, though there isn’t much of it. I never see +such a man as your father for not sending word +direct. But maybe he did, and it miscarried. +Anyhow, I’ve been trying to get in touch with him +ever since I got your letter, Mr. Howbridge,” he +went on speaking to the lawyer.</p> + +<p>“Yes, your father has come back from the +Klondike,” he resumed to Neale. “He put in his time +to good advantage there, I hear, and made some +money. Then he set out for the States, and, in an +indirect way, I learned that he is located in Trumbull.”</p> + +<p>“Trumbull? Where’s that?” asked Neale +eagerly.</p> + +<p>“It’s a small town on Lake Macopic!” answered +the circus man.</p> + +<p>Neale and the lawyer looked at one another in +surprise.</p> + +<p>“Do you know the place?” went on the ringmaster. +“I must confess I don’t. I tried to look +it up to see if it was worth moving there with the +show, but I couldn’t even find it on the map. So +it must be pretty small.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know exactly where it is,” the lawyer +said. “But the fact of the matter is that we are +on our way to Lake Macopic in a houseboat, and it +is quite a coincidence that Neale’s father should be +there. Can you give us any further particulars?”</p> + +<p>“Well, not many,” confessed Mr. Sorber. +“Mr. O’Neil isn’t much more on letter writing +than I am, and that isn’t saying much. But my +information is to the effect that he had to go there +to clear up some dispute he and his mining partner +had. He was in with some men in the Klondike, +and when it came to a settlement of the gold they +had dug out there was a dispute, I believe. One +of the men lived in Trumbull, and your father, +Neale, had to go there to settle the matter. But I +am glad to see you!” he went on to the former circus +lad. “And after the show, which is about to +begin, we can have a long talk, and then—”</p> + +<p>At that moment a loud shouting arose from the +neighborhood of the animal tent. Mingled with +the cries of the men was a peculiar sound, like that +of some queer whistle, or trumpet.</p> + +<p>“There goes Minnie again!” cried Mr. Bill +Sorber. “She’s broken loose!” and he ran off at +top speed while other circus employees followed, +the shouting and trumpeting increasing in volume.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink16'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XVI—RUTH’S ALARM</a></h2> + +<p>“Minnie’s loose!” cried Neale to Mr. Howbridge +after the flight of the circus men. “Minnie +is one of the worst elephants in captivity! +She’s always making trouble, and breaking loose. +I imagine she’s the one that wrecked the farmer’s +barn Uncle Bill was telling about. If she’s on +the rampage in the animal tent it means mischief!”</p> + +<p>“An elephant loose!” cried Mr. Howbridge. +“And Ruth and the children in the tent! Come +on, Neale!” he cried. “Hurry!”</p> + +<p>But there was no need to urge Neale to action. +He was off on the run, and Mr. Howbridge showed +that he was not nearly so old and grave as he +sometimes appeared, for he ran swiftly after his +more youthful companion.</p> + +<p>The shouting continued, and the trumpet calls +of the angry or frightened elephant mingled with +them. Then, as Neale and Mr. Howbridge came +within view of the animal tent, they saw bursting +from it a huge elephant, followed by several men +holding to ropes attached to the “ponderous +pachyderm,” as Minnie was called on the show +bills. She was pulling a score of circus hands +after her, as though they were so many stuffed +straw men.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bill Sorber at this time reached the scene, +and with him were several men who had hurried +after him when they heard the alarm. The ringmaster +seemed to know just what to do. He +caught an ankus, or elephant hook, from one of +his helpers, and, taking a stand directly in the +path of the onrushing Minnie, he raised the sharp +instrument threateningly.</p> + +<p>On thundered the elephant, but Mr. Sorber +stood his ground. Men shouted a warning to him, +and the screams and cries of women and children +rose shrilly on the air. Minnie, which was the +rather peaceful name for a very wild elephant, +raised her trunk in the air, and from it came the +peculiar trumpet blasts. The men she was pulling +along were dragged over the ground helplessly.</p> + +<p>“Can he stop her, Neale?” gasped Mr. Howbridge, +as he ran beside the former circus boy.</p> + +<p>“Well, I’ve seem him stop a wild lion that got +out of its cage,” was the answer. “But an elephant—”</p> + +<p>And then a strange thing happened. When +within a few feet of the brave, resolute man who +stood in her path, Minnie began to go more slowly. +Her shrill cries were less insistent, and the men +being dragged along after her began to hold back +as they regained their feet.</p> + +<p>Mr. Sorber raised the ankus on high. Its sharp, +curved point gleamed in the sun. Minnie saw it, +and she knew it could cruelly hurt her sensitive +trunk. More than once she had felt it before, +when on one of her rampages. She did not want +to suffer again.</p> + +<p>And so, when so close that she could have +reached out and touched the ringmaster with her +elongated nose, or, if so minded, she could have +curled it around him and hurled him to death—when +this close, the elephant stopped, and grew +quiet.</p> + +<p>“Minnie! Minnie!” said the man in a soothing +voice. “Behave yourself, Minnie! Why are you +acting in this way? Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”</p> + +<p>And the elephant really seemed to be. She lowered +her trunk, flapped her ears slowly to and fro, +and then stood in her tracks and began swaying +to and fro in the manner characteristic of the big +beasts.</p> + +<p>Mr. Sorber went up to her, tossing the ankus to +one of his men, and began to pat the trunk which +curled up as if in anticipation of a treat.</p> + +<p>“Minnie, you’re a bad girl, and you oughtn’t to +have any; but since you stopped when I told you to +I’ll give you a few,” said the ringmaster, and, +reaching into his pocket, he took out some peanuts +which the big animal munched with every appearance +of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>“She’s all right now,” said Neale’s uncle, as +the regular elephant men came up to take charge +of the creature. “She was just a little excited, +that’s all. How did it happen?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, the same as usual,” replied Minnie’s +keeper. “All at once she gave a trumpet, yanked +her stakes loose, and set off out of the animal tent. +I had some ropes on her ready to have her pull one +of the wagons, and we grabbed these—as many of +us as could—but we couldn’t hold her.”</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid we’ll have to get rid of Minnie, +she’s too uncertain. Doesn’t seem to know her +own mind, like a lot of the women folks,” and Mr. +Sorber smiled at Mr. Howbridge.</p> + +<p>“You were very brave to stop her as you did,” +observed the lawyer.</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, it’s my business,” said the animal +man. “It wasn’t such a risk as it seemed. I was +all ready to jump to one side if she hadn’t +stopped.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder if any one in the animal tent was +hurt,” went on the lawyer. “We must go and +see, Neale. Ruth and the others—”</p> + +<p>“I hope none of your folks were injured,” +broke in Mr. Sorber. “Minnie has done damage +in the past, but I guess she only just ran away +this time.”</p> + +<p>With anxious hearts Neale and Mr. Howbridge +hastened to the animal tent, but their fears +were groundless. Minnie had carefully avoided +every one in her rush, and, as a matter of fact, +Ruth, Agnes, Dot and Tess were in the main tent +when the elephant ran out. They heard the excitement, +but Ruth quieted her sisters.</p> + +<p>“Well, now we’ll go on with the show,” said Mr. +Sorber, when matters had settled to their normal +level. “I’ll see you afterward, Neale, and you +too, Mr. Howbridge, and those delightful little +ladies from the old Corner House.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Uncle Bill, I almost forgot!” cried the +boy. “Have you that trick mule yet—Uncle +Josh? The one I taught to play dead?”</p> + +<p>“Uncle Josh? No, I haven’t got him, but I +wish I had,” said the circus owner. “One of the +stablemen took him away—stole him in fact—and +I’d give a hundred dollars to get him back!”</p> + +<p>Neale held out his hand, smiling.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” asked his uncle.</p> + +<p>“Pay me the hundred dollars,” was the answer. +“I have Uncle Josh!”</p> + +<p>“No! Really, have you?”</p> + +<p>“I have! I thought you hadn’t sold him!” exclaimed +the boy, and he told the story of the man +on the towpath.</p> + +<p>“Well, that is good news!” exclaimed Mr. Sorber. +“I’ll send for Uncle Josh right away. I +sure am glad to have him back. He was always +good for a lot of laughs. He’s almost as funny +as Sully, the clown.”</p> + +<p>A few minutes later Neale and Mr. Howbridge +joined Ruth and the others in the main tent.</p> + +<p>Tess and Dot especially enjoyed the performance +very much. They took in everything from +the “grand entry” to the races and concert at the +end. They were guests of the show, in fact, Neale +having procured complimentary tickets.</p> + +<p>When the performance was over, they visited +“Uncle Bill” in his own private tent, and the Corner +House girls had a glimpse of circus life “behind +the scenes,” as it were, Tess’s first experience +of the sort.</p> + +<p>Neale met many of his old friends and they all +expressed the hope that he would soon find his +father. Uncle Josh, the trick mule, was brought +to the grounds by Hank, and the animal seemed +glad to be again among his companions.</p> + +<p>“Will you be back again this evening?” asked +Neale’s uncle, when the time came for the party +to go back to the houseboat for supper.</p> + +<p>“I think not,” was Neale’s answer.</p> + +<p>He said good-by to his uncle, arranging to write +to him and hear from him as often as needful. +And then they left the circus lot where the night +performance would soon be given.</p> + +<p>“Well, I have real news of father at last,” said +Neale to Agnes, as he went back toward the canal +with his friends. “I would like to know, though, +if he got rich out in the Klondike.”</p> + +<p>“If he wants any money he can have half +mine!” offered Dot. “I have eighty-seven cents +in my bank, and I was going to save up to buy my +Alice-doll a new carriage. But you can have my +money for your father, Neale.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you,” replied Neale, without a smile at +Dot’s offer. “Maybe I shan’t need it, but it’s +very kind of you.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. MacCall had supper ready soon after they +arrived at the boat, and then, as the smaller girls +were tired from their day at the circus, they went +to bed early, while Ruth and Mr. Howbridge, +Agnes and Neale sat out on the deck and talked. +As they were not to go on again until morning, +Hank was allowed to go back to the circus again. +He said seeing it twice in one day was not too +much for him.</p> + +<p>“I do hope you will find your father, Neale,” +said Agnes softly, as, just before eleven o’clock, +they all went to bed.</p> + +<p>But Ruth, at least, did not go to sleep at once. +In her bosom she carried the letter she had received +from Luke, and this she now read carefully, +twice.</p> + +<p>Luke was doing well at the summer hotel. The +proprietor was sick, so he and the head clerk and +a night man had their hands full. He was earning +good money, and part of this he was going to +spend on his education and the rest he intended to +save. He was sorry he could not be with the +houseboat party and hoped they would all have a +good time. Then he added a page or more intended +only for Ruth’s eyes. The letter made the +oldest Corner House girl very happy.</p> + +<p>Soon after breakfast the next morning they +were under way again. The circus had left town +in the night, and Neale did not know when he +would see his uncle again. But the lad’s heart +beat high with hope that he might soon find his +father.</p> + +<p>The weather was propitious, and hours of sunshine +were making the Corner House girls as +brown as Indians. Mr. Howbridge, too, took on +a coat of tan. As for Neale, his light hair looked +lighter than ever against his tanned skin. And +Hank, from walking along the towpath, became +almost as dark as a negro.</p> + +<p>One morning, Ruth, coming down to the kitchen +to help Mrs. MacCall with the dinner, saw two fat, +chubby legs sticking out of a barrel in one corner +of the cabin.</p> + +<p>The legs were vigorously kicking, and from the +depths of the barrel came muffled cries of:</p> + +<p>“Let me out! Help me out! Pull me up!”</p> + +<p>Ruth lost no time in doing the latter, and, after +an effort, succeeded in pulling right side up her +sister Tess.</p> + +<p>“What in the world were you doing?” demanded +Ruth.</p> + +<p>“I was scraping down in the bottom of the +barrel to get a little flour that was left,” Tess explained, +very red in the face. “But I leaned over +too far and I couldn’t get up. And I couldn’t call +at first.”</p> + +<p>“What did you want of flour?” asked Ruth. +“Goodness, you have enough on your dress, anyhow.”</p> + +<p>“I wanted some to rub on my face to make me +look pale,” went on Tess.</p> + +<p>“To make you look pale! Gracious, Tess! what +for?”</p> + +<p>“We’re playing doctor and nurse, Dot and I,” +Tess explained. “I have to be sick, and sick people +are always pale. But I’m so tanned Dot said +I didn’t look sick at all, so I tried to scrape some +flour off the bottom of the barrel to rub on my +face.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you have enough now if you brush off +what’s on your clothes,” laughed Ruth.</p> + +<p>“And be careful about leaning over barrels,” +put in Mrs. MacCall. “You might have been +hurt.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” agreed Tess, “I might be but I wasn’t. +Only my head felt funny and my legs felt queer, +too, when I wiggled them.”</p> + +<p>They were approaching the end of the stretch of +the canal through which they must travel to reach +Gentory River. The boat would be “locked” from +the canal to the larger stream, and then Neale +could have his wish of operating the motor come +true.</p> + +<p>Toward evening they arrived at the last lock of +their trip. Just beyond lay the river, and they +would proceed up that to Lake Macopic.</p> + +<p>As the <i>Bluebird</i> emerged from the lock and +slowly floated on the little basin into which just +there the Gentory broadened, the attention of +Ruth and Agnes was directed to a small motor +boat which was just leaving the vicinity.</p> + +<p>Ruth, who stood nearest the rail, grasped her +sister by the arm, and cried an alarm.</p> + +<p>“Look! Those men! In the boat!” exclaimed +Ruth.</p> + +<p>“What about them?” asked Agnes, while Mr. +Howbridge glanced at the two sisters.</p> + +<p>“They’re the same men who robbed us!” exclaimed +Ruth. “The men who took our jewelry +box in the rain! Oh, stop them!”</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink17'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XVII—UP THE RIVER</a></h2> + +<p>Neale O’Neil, who had been steering the houseboat +during the operation of locking it from the +canal into the river, sprang away from the tiller +toward the side of the craft at Ruth’s cries. +There was no immediate need of guiding the <i>Bluebird</i> +for the moment, as she was floating idly with +the momentum gained when she was slowly pulled +from the lock basin.</p> + +<p>“Are those the men?” asked Neale, pointing to +two roughly dressed characters in a small motor +boat.</p> + +<p>“I’m sure they are!” asserted Ruth. “That +one steering is the man who grabbed the box from +me. Look, Agnes, don’t you remember them?”</p> + +<p>Mr. Howbridge, who heard what was said, acted +promptly. On the towpath, near the point where +the river entered the canal through the lock, was +Hank Dayton with the two mules, the services of +which would no longer be needed.</p> + +<p>“Hank! Hank! Stop those men!” cried the +lawyer.</p> + +<p>The driver dropped his reins, and sprang to the +edge of the bank. Near him was a rowboat, empty +at the time, and with the oars in the locks. It was +the work of but a moment for Hank to spring in +and shove off, and then he began rowing hard.</p> + +<p>But of course he stood no chance against a +motor boat. The two men in the gasoline craft +turned on more power. The explosions came +more rapidly and drowned the shouts of those on +the houseboat. Hank soon gave up his useless effort, +and turned back to shore, while Ruth and +Agnes, leaning over the side of the rail, gazed at +the fast-disappearing men.</p> + +<p>“There must be some way of stopping them!” +cried Mr. Howbridge, who was quite excited. +“Isn’t there a motor boat around here—a police +boat or something? Neale, can’t you get up steam +and take after them?”</p> + +<p>“The <i>Bluebird</i> could never catch that small +boat,” answered the boy. “And there doesn’t +seem to be anything else around here now, except +rowboats and canalers.”</p> + +<p>This was true, and those on board the <i>Bluebird</i> +had to suffer the disappointment of seeing the men +fade away in the distance.</p> + +<p>“But something must be done!” insisted the +lawyer. “An alarm must be given. The police +must be notified. Where’s the keeper of the lock? +He may know these ruffians, and where they are +staying. We must do something!”</p> + +<p>“Well, they’re getting away for the time being,” +murmured Neale, as he gazed up the river +on which the motor boat was now hardly discernible +as it was turning a bend. “But we’re going +the same way, and we may come across them. +Are you sure, Ruth, that these are the same men +who robbed you?”</p> + +<p>“Positive!” declared the girl. “Aren’t you, +Agnes?”</p> + +<p>“No, I can’t be sure,” answered her sister with +a shake of her head. “The men looked just as +rough—and just as ugly—as the two who attacked +us. But it was raining so hard, and we +were in the doorway, and the umbrella was giving +such trouble—no, Ruth,” she added, “I couldn’t +be <i>sure</i>.”</p> + +<p>“But I am!” declared the oldest Kenway girl. +“I had a good look at the face of at least one of +the men in the boat, and I know it was he who +took my box! Oh, if I could only get it back I +wouldn’t care what became of the men!”</p> + +<p>“It ought to be an easy matter to trace them,” +said the lawyer. “Their motor boat must be +registered and licensed, as ours must be. We can +trace them through that, I think. Neale, would +you know the men if you saw them again?”</p> + +<p>“I might,” answered the boy. “I didn’t have a +very good look at them, though. They both had +their backs toward me, and their hats were pulled +down over their faces. As Ruth says, however, +they looked rough and desperate.”</p> + +<p>“We must take some action,” declared the +lawyer, with his characteristic energy. “The authorities +must be notified and that motor boat traced. +We shall have to stop here to register our own +craft and get a license, and it will give us an +opportunity to make some inquiries.”</p> + +<p>“Meanwhile those men will get away!” exclaimed +Ruth. “And we’ll never get our jewelry +back. If we could get mother’s ring,” she added, +“it wouldn’t be so bad.”</p> + +<p>“They can’t get very far away if they stick to +the river,” said Mr. Howbridge. “The river +flows into Lake Macopic and there is no outlet +from that. If we have to pursue the men all the +way to the lake we’ll do it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then let’s get busy,” suggested Neale. +“The sooner we have our boat registered and +licensed, the sooner we can start after those men. +Of course we can’t catch them, for their boat goes +so much faster than ours. But we can trace +them.”</p> + +<p>“I hope we can,” murmured Ruth, gazing up +the river, on which there was now no trace of the +boat containing the rough men. “We have two +quests, now,” she added. “Looking for our +jewelry box, and your father, Neale. And I hope +we find your father, whether I get back my things +or not—anything but the ring.”</p> + +<p>“Let us hope we get both,” said the boy.</p> + +<p>Then followed a busy hour. Certain formalities +had to be gone through with, in order to +enable the <i>Bluebird</i> to make the voyage on the river +and lake. Her motor was inspected and passed. +Neale had seen to it that the machinery was in +good shape.</p> + +<p>Mr. Howbridge came back from the boat registry +office with the necessary permit and license, +and Ruth asked him:</p> + +<p>“Did you find out anything about the men?”</p> + +<p>“No one here knows them,” he said. “They +were never here before, and they came only to get +some supplies. It appears they are camping on +one of the islands in Lake Macopic.”</p> + +<p>“Was their boat registered?” asked Neale.</p> + +<p>“Yes. At least it is presumed so. But as we +did not see the number on it we can give the authorities +no clue. Motor boats up here don’t have +to carry their number plates in such large size as +autos do. That craft was not registered at this +office, but it was, very likely, granted a permit at +the office at the other end of the river or on the +lake. So we can only keep on and hope either +to overtake the men or to get a trace of them in +some other way.”</p> + +<p>“We can never overtake them if they keep going +as fast as they did when they left here,” said +Agnes.</p> + +<p>“They won’t keep that speed up,” declared +Neale. “But we had better get started. We’ll +be under our own power now, and can travel whenever +we like, night or day.”</p> + +<p>“Are we going to take the mules with us—and +Mr. Hank!” asked Dot, hugging her “Alice-doll.”</p> + +<p>“Hank is going to accompany us,” said Mr. +Howbridge. “But we’ll leave the mules behind, +having no place for them on the <i>Bluebird</i>. I think +I will dispose of them, for I probably shall not +go on a vacation along the canal again.”</p> + +<p>“But it was a delightful and novel one,” said +Ruth.</p> + +<p>“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” her guardian remarked. +“It would have been little pleasure to +me—this trip—if you young folks had not enjoyed +it.”</p> + +<p>“I just love it! And the best part is yet to +come!” cried Agnes, with sparkling eyes. “I +want to see the islands in the lake.”</p> + +<p>“And I want to get to Trumbull and see if my +father is there,” added Neale. “I think I’ll send +him a letter. I’ll mail it here. It won’t take but +a moment.”</p> + +<p>“You don’t know his address,” said Agnes.</p> + +<p>“I’ll send it just to Trumbull,” said the +boy. “Post-office people are sharks at finding +people.”</p> + +<p>He wrote the note while the final preparations +were being made for leaving on the trip up the +river. Mrs. MacCall had attended to the buying +of food, which was all that was needed.</p> + +<p>And then, after Neale had sent his letter to the +post-office, he went down in the engine room of +the <i>Bluebird</i>.</p> + +<p>“Are we all ready!” he called up to Mr. Howbridge, +who was going to steer until Neale could +come up on deck after the motor had been started.</p> + +<p>“All ready!” answered Ruth.</p> + +<p>Neale turned the flywheel over, there was a +cough and a splutter, and then a steady chug-chugging.</p> + +<p>“Oh, we’re going! We’re going!” gayly cried +Tess and Dot. Almost anything satisfied them as +long as they were in motion.</p> + +<p>“Yes, we’re on our way,” said Mr. Howbridge, +giving the wheel a turn and sending the houseboat +out into the stream.</p> + +<p>The trip up the Gentory River was no less delightful +than the voyage on the canal had been, if +one may call journeying on such a quiet stream a +voyage. It was faster travel, of course, with the +motor sending the <i>Bluebird</i> along.</p> + +<p>“The only thing is, though,” said Hank, who +sat near the wheel with Neale, “I haven’t anything +to do. I miss the mules.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I guess there’ll be enough to do. Especially +when we get up on the lake. You’ll have to +help manage the boat,” remarked Neale. “I hear +they have pretty good storms on Macopic.”</p> + +<p>“They do,” confirmed Hank.</p> + +<p>They motored along until dusk that evening, and +then, as their way led for a time through a part +of the stream where many craft navigate, it was +decided to tie up for the night. It passed without +incident, and they were on their way again the +next morning.</p> + +<p>It was calculated that the trip on the river +would take three days, but an accident to the +motor the second day delayed them, and they were +more likely to be five than three days. However, +they did not mind the wait.</p> + +<p>The break occurred on a lonely part of the +stream, and after stopping the craft and tying up, +Neale announced, after an examination, that he +and Hank could make the needful repairs.</p> + +<p>“We’ll start in the morning,” said the boy.</p> + +<p>“Then we’ll just go ashore and walk about a +little,” suggested Ruth, and soon she and her +sisters and Mr. Howbridge were on the bank of +the beautiful stream.</p> + +<p>The twilight lingered long that night, and it +was light enough to see some distance ahead as +Ruth and the others strolled on. The river bank +turned and, following it beneath the trees, the +party suddenly heard voices seemingly coming +from a secluded cove where the stream formed +an eddy.</p> + +<p>“Must be fishermen in there,” said Mr. Howbridge. +“We had better not disturb them.”</p> + +<p>As they were turning away the voices became +louder, and then on the still night air there came +an exclamation.</p> + +<p>“I don’t care what you think!” a man’s voice +shouted. “Just because you’ve been in the Klondike +doesn’t give you the right to boss me! You’ll +give me an even half of the swag or—”</p> + +<p>And then it sounded as though a hand had been +clapped suddenly over the speaker’s mouth.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink18'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XVIII—THE NIGHT ALARM</a></h2> + +<p>Mr. Howbridge and Ruth quickly looked at one +another. The same thought and suspicion came +in each of their minds at the same time.</p> + +<p>“Who’s that?” Dot asked, she and Tess having +lingered behind the others to pick some flowers +from the bank of the stream.</p> + +<p>“Hush, children,” cautioned Ruth in a whisper. +“We must not disturb the—fishermen.”</p> + +<p>She added the last word after a look at her +guardian. No further sound came from the cove +where the voice had been uttering a protest and +had been so suddenly hushed.</p> + +<p>“Oh, look at those big red flowers! I’m going +to get some of those!” cried Dot, darting off to +one side. “My Alice-doll loves red flowers,” she +added.</p> + +<p>“I’ll get some, too,” said Agnes. “Mrs. MacCall +also loves red flowers, though she says +there’s nothing prettier than ‘Heeland hither’ as +she calls it.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, we’ll get her some, and she’ll have a +bouquet for the table,” assented Dot. “And then +maybe she’ll let us have a little play party for +Alice-doll to-morrow, and we can have things to +eat.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you’re always thinking of your old Alice-doll!” +complained Tess. “You’d think all the +play parties and all this trip were just for her, +and the things to eat, too.”</p> + +<p>“We can eat the things Mrs. MacCall gives us—if +she gives us any,” corrected Dot. “Come on, +help me get the flowers.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, all right, I will,” said Tess. “But you +know, Dot Kenway, that Ruthie will give us anything +we want for a party.”</p> + +<p>As the two little girls darted toward the clump +of gay blossoms Ruth called:</p> + +<p>“Be careful. It may he swampy around here.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll look after them,” offered Agnes, “and +you and Mr. Howbridge can go see if those +men—”</p> + +<p>She did not finish her sentence, which she had +begun in a whisper, but nodded in the direction of +the clump of trees, around the eddy of the river. +It was from there the stifled exclamation had +come.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I think it would be a good plan to take +a look there,” said Mr. Howbridge to Ruth in a +low voice. “Especially if the children are out of +the way. I don’t suppose it could by any chance +be the same men, but—”</p> + +<p>“Look!” suddenly exclaimed Ruth, pointing to +something moving behind a screen of bushes that +hung over the river near the eddy. As she spoke +the bushes parted and a motor boat shoved her +bow out into the stream. In another instant the +boat came fully into view, and there was revealed +as occupants two roughly dressed men. They +gave one quick glance along the bank toward Ruth +and Mr. Howbridge, and then while one attended +to the wheel the other sprang to the engine to +increase the speed.</p> + +<p>There was a nervous spluttering from the motor, +and the boat shot out into the river, the two men in +her crouching down as though they feared being +fired at.</p> + +<p>“There they are!” cried Ruth, clasping Mr. +Howbridge’s arm in her excitement. “The same +two men!”</p> + +<p>“Are you sure?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Well, they’re the same two we saw down near +the canal lock, in the boat,” Ruth went on. “I’m +sure it’s the same boat, and I’m as positive as I +ever was that they are the ones who robbed us.”</p> + +<p>“It is the same boat we saw the other day,” +agreed the lawyer. “And I think the same men. +Whether they are the thieves is, of course, open +to question. But I should very much like to question +them,” he added. “Hold on there!” he called +to the men. “I want to see you!”</p> + +<p>But the boat did not stop, rather she increased +her speed, and it seemed that one of the men +laughed. They did not look back.</p> + +<p>“I wish there was some way of taking after +them!” exclaimed Ruth’s guardian. “But, as it +is, it’s out of the question.”</p> + +<p>They were on a lonely part of the river. No +houses were near and there was no other boat in +sight, not even a leaky skiff, though some farmer +boy might have one hidden along the shore under +the bushes. But a rowing craft would not have +been effective against the speedy motor boat, and +finding another craft to match the one containing +the two rough men was out of the question.</p> + +<p>Farther and farther away the men were speeding +now. Agnes and the two younger girls, having +heard the shouts of Mr. Howbridge, turned +back from their flower-gathering trip.</p> + +<p>“Is anything the matter?” asked Agnes.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, nothing much. Mr. Howbridge saw +two men in that boat,” answered Ruth, with a +meaning look at her sister. “But they did not +stop.” And when she had a chance, after Dot and +Tess had moved out of hearing distance, Ruth +added: “They’re the same men, Agnes!”</p> + +<p>“You mean the ones who robbed us?”</p> + +<p>“I’m pretty sure; yes!”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear!” voiced Agnes, and she looked +around the now darkening woods. “I wish we +hadn’t stopped in such a lonely place,” she murmured.</p> + +<p>“Nonsense!” laughed Mr. Howbridge. “I +shall begin to think you doubt my ability as guardian. +My physical, not my mental,” he added.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, it isn’t that,” Agnes made haste to +say. “Only—”</p> + +<p>“And we have Neale, and Hank, too,” broke in +Ruth. “While Mrs. MacCall is a tower of +strength herself, even if she is getting old.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, I know,” murmured Agnes. “But—well, +don’t let’s talk about it,” she finished.</p> + +<p>“And I think we’d better be going back. It will +soon be quite dark.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” agreed the lawyer. “We had better go +back.”</p> + +<p>He looked up the river. The boat containing +the two rough men was no longer in sight, but +finally there drifted down on the night wind the +soft put-put of the motor.</p> + +<p>“We thought you had deserted us,” said Neale +when he saw, from the deck of the <i>Bluebird</i>, the +lawyer and the girls returning.</p> + +<p>“We went farther than we intended,” answered +Ruth.</p> + +<p>“How’s the motor?” asked the lawyer.</p> + +<p>“Hank and I will have it fixed in the morning.”</p> + +<p>“Where is Hank now?” Agnes wanted to +know, and it seemed as though she had begun to +rely on the rugged and rough strength of the man +who had driven the mules.</p> + +<p>“Oh, he went off for a walk, and he said maybe +he’d fish a while,” Neale said. “He’s a bug on +fishing.”</p> + +<p>Then, while Mrs. MacCall took charge of Tess +and Dot, giving exclamations of delight at the +flowers, even while comparing them with her +Highland heather, Agnes and Ruth told Neale +what had happened—the swift-departure of the +motor boat and its two occupants.</p> + +<p>“They were evidently having a dispute when +we came along,” said Ruth. “We heard one of +them say something about the Klondike.”</p> + +<p>“The Klondike!” exclaimed Neale, and there +was a queer note in his voice.</p> + +<p>“Yes, they certainly said that,” agreed Agnes. +“Oh, I do wish we were away from here.” And +from the deck of the boat she looked at the wooded +shores of the river extending on either side of the +moored craft. The Gentory was not very wide +at this point, but the other shore was just as lonely +and deserted as that where the voyagers had come +to rest for the night.</p> + +<p>“Don’t be so nervous and fussy,” said Ruth +to Agnes. “Mr. Howbridge won’t like it. He +will think we don’t care for the trip, and—”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I like the trip all right,” broke in Agnes. +“It’s just the idea of staying all night in this +lonely place.”</p> + +<p>“We have plenty of protectors,” asserted Ruth. +“There’s Neale and—”</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” asked the boy, hearing his +name spoken.</p> + +<p>“Agnes was saying she was timid,” went on +Ruth, for Mr. Howbridge had gone to the dining-room +for a glass of milk Mrs. MacCall had suggested +he take before going to bed. “I tell her +with you and Mr. Howbridge and Hank to protect +us—”</p> + +<p>“Aggie timid! Oh, yes, we’ll look after you!” +he promised with a laugh. “At the same time—Oh, +well, I guess Hank won’t stay late,” and +he looked at his watch.</p> + +<p>“You seem worried,” said Agnes to her friend +when they were alone for a moment. “Do you +think these men—those Klondikers—are likely to +make trouble?”</p> + +<p>“No, not exactly that,” Neale answered. “To +tell you the truth I was thinking of Hank. I may +as well tell you,” he went on. “I didn’t see any +connection between the two happenings before, +but since you mentioned those men there may be.”</p> + +<p>“What are you driving at?” asked Agnes, in +surprise.</p> + +<p>“Just this—” answered Neale. “But let’s call +Ruth.” Ruth came and then Neale continued: +“Hank suddenly dropped his tools when we were +working over the motor and said he was going for +a walk. He also mentioned fishing. I didn’t +think much of it at the time, for he may be odd +that way when it comes to a steady job. But now +I begin to think he may have gone off to meet +those men.”</p> + +<p>“But he didn’t meet them,” Ruth said. “We +saw them speed away in motor boat alone.”</p> + +<p>“They may have met Hank later,” the boy +said.</p> + +<p>“But what makes you suspicious of him?” Ruth +asked.</p> + +<p>“I’ll tell you.” And Neale related the episode +of the gold ring.</p> + +<p>“Oh, do you think it could be one of ours that +the men took? Do you think Hank is in with +them, and wants his share of the ‘swag’ as one +man called it?” questioned Agnes eagerly.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know, I’m sure,” answered Neale. +“But he certainly had a ring. It rolled to the +deck and he picked it up quickly enough.”</p> + +<p>“Say, Ruthie!” exclaimed Agnes impulsively, +“now’s a good chance while he’s away. We could +look through the place where he keeps what few +things he has—in that curtained off corner by his +cot.”</p> + +<p>Ruth shook her head.</p> + +<p>“I’d rather not,” she remarked. “I couldn’t +bear to do that. I’d much rather accuse him +openly. But we won’t even do that now. We’ll +just watch and wait, and we won’t even tell Mr. +Howbridge until we are more sure of our +ground.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” agreed Neale and Agnes after they +had talked it over at some length.</p> + +<p>It was agreed that they should all three keep +their eyes on Hank, and note whether there were +any further suspicious happenings.</p> + +<p>“Of course you want to be careful of one +thing,” remarked Neale, as the three talked it +over.</p> + +<p>“What is that?” questioned Agnes quickly.</p> + +<p>“You don’t want that mule driver to suspect +that you are watching him. If he did suspect +it he’d be more careful to hide his doings than +ever.”</p> + +<p>“We won’t let him suspect us, Neale,” declared +Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Of course he may be as innocent as they make +’em, and on the other hand he may be as deep +as——”</p> + +<p>“The deep blue sea,” finished Agnes.</p> + +<p>“Exactly.”</p> + +<p>“He certainly doesn’t appear very deep,” remarked +Ruth. “He looks rather simple minded.”</p> + +<p>“But sometimes those simple looking customers +are the deepest,” declared the youth. “I know +we had that sort join the circus sometimes. You +had to watch ’em every minute.” And there the +talk came to an end.</p> + +<p>The mule driver came along some time later. +He had a goodly string of fish. Agnes was asleep, +but Ruth heard him putting them in the ice box. +She heard Neale speak to the man, and then, gradually, +the <i>Bluebird</i> became quiet.</p> + +<p>“Well, he got fish, at any rate,” Ruth reasoned +as she turned over to go to sleep. “I hope he has +no connection with those robbers. And yet, why +should he hide a ring? Oh, I wonder if we shall +ever see our things and mother’s wedding ring +again.”</p> + +<p>Ruth was too much of a philosopher to let this +keep her awake. There was a slight feeling of +timidity, as was natural, but she made herself +conquer this.</p> + +<p>Finally Ruth dozed off.</p> + +<p>How long she slept she did not know, but she +was suddenly awakened by hearing a scream. It +was the high-pitched voice of a child, and after +her first start Ruth knew it came from Tess.</p> + +<p>“Oh, don’t let him get me! Don’t let him get +me!” cried the little girl.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink19'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XIX—ON THE LAKE</a></h2> + +<p>Instantly Ruth was out of bed, and while she +slipped on her bath robe and while her bare feet +sought her slippers under the edge of her bunk, +she cried:</p> + +<p>“What is it, Tessie? Ruth is coming! Sister +is coming!”</p> + +<p>At once the interior of the <i>Bluebird</i> seemed to +pulsate with life. In the corridor which ran the +length of the craft, and on either side of which +the sleeping apartments were laid off, a night +light burned. Opening her door Ruth saw Mrs. +MacCall peering forth, a flaring candle in her +hand.</p> + +<p>“What is it, lass?” asked the sturdy Scotch +woman. “I thought I heard a wee cry in the +night.”</p> + +<p>“You did!” exclaimed Ruth. “It was Tess!”</p> + +<p>In quick succession, with kimonas or robes over +their sleeping garments, Neale, Mr. Howbridge +and Agnes came from their rooms. But from the +apartments of Tess and Dot no one came, and +ominous quiet reigned.</p> + +<p>“What was it?” asked Mr. Howbridge. “One +of you girls screamed. Who was it?”</p> + +<p>Something gleamed in his hand, and Ruth knew +it to be a weapon.</p> + +<p>“It was Tess who cried out!” Ruth answered. +“All I could hear was something about her being +afraid some one would catch her.”</p> + +<p>And then again from the room of Tess came a +low cry of:</p> + +<p>“Ruthie! Ruthie! Come here!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, dear, I am coming,” was the soothing +reply. “What is it? Oh, my dear, what has happened?”</p> + +<p>When she opened the door she saw her sister +sitting up in bed, a look of fear on her face but +unharmed. And a quick look in the adjoining +apartment showed Dot to be peacefully slumbering, +her “Alice-doll” close clasped in her arms.</p> + +<p>“What was it, Tessie?” asked Ruth in a +whisper, carefully closing Dot’s door so as not to +awaken her. “What did you see?”</p> + +<p>“I—I don’t just remember,” was the answer. +“I was dreaming that I was riding on that funny +Uncle Josh mule that knows Neale, and then a +clown chased me and I fell off and the elephant +came after me. I called to you, and—”</p> + +<p>“Was it all only a dream, dear?” asked Ruth +with a smile.</p> + +<p>“No, it wasn’t all a dream,” said Tess slowly. +“A man looked in the window at me.”</p> + +<p>“What window?” asked Agnes.</p> + +<p>Tess pointed to one of the two small casements +in her small apartment. They opened on the bank +of the river, and it would have been easy for any +one passing along the bank of the stream to have +looked into Tess’s windows, or, for that matter, +into any of the openings on that side of the craft. +But the windows, though open on account of the +warm night, were protected by heavy screens to +keep out mosquitoes and other insects.</p> + +<p>“Do you really mean some one opened your +window in the night, or did you just dream that, +too?” asked Ruth. “You have very vivid dreams +sometimes.”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t dream about the <i>man</i>,” insisted Tess. +“He really opened the screen and looked in. See, +it’s loose now!”</p> + +<p>The screens swung outward on hinges, and +there, plainly enough, the screen of one of the +casements in Tess’s room was partly open.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps the wind blew it,” suggested Agnes, +wishing she could believe this.</p> + +<p>Neale stepped over and tested the screen.</p> + +<p>“It seems too stiff to have been blown open +by the wind,” was the comment.</p> + +<p>“But of course,” Mr. Howbridge suggested, +“the screen may not have been tightly closed +when Theresa went to bed.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes it was, sir!” exclaimed Mrs. MacCall +positively. “I looked at them myself. I didn’t +want any of the mosquitoes to be eatin’ ma pretties. +The screens were tight closed!”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear, I don’t like it here!” said Tess, on +the verge of tears. “I don’t want tramps looking +in my room, and this man was just like a tramp.”</p> + +<p>The noise of some one moving around on the +upper deck of the craft attracted the attention of +all.</p> + +<p>“That’s Hank!” exclaimed Neale. “I’ll go and +see if he heard anything unusual or saw any one. +It may be that some fellow was passing along the +river road and was impudent enough to pull open +a screen and look in, thinking he might pick up +something off a shelf.”</p> + +<p>But Hank, who in his curtained-off place had +been awakened by the confusion below him, declared +he had seen or heard nothing.</p> + +<p>“I’m a sound sleeper,” he said. “Once I get +to bed I don’t do much else but sleep.”</p> + +<p>So nothing was to be got out of him.</p> + +<p>And it was difficult to tell whether or not Tess +had dreamed about the man, as she had said she +dreamed about the elephant and the mule. Neale +volunteered to look on the bank underneath +the window for a sign of footprints. He did +look, using his flashlight, but discovered +nothing.</p> + +<p>“I guess it was all a dream,” said Ruth. “Go +to sleep, Tess dear. You’ll be all right now.”</p> + +<p>“I’m not going to sleep alone,” insisted +the little girl, her lips beginning to quiver.</p> + +<p>“I’ll stay with you,” offered Ruth, and so it +was arranged.</p> + +<p>“It’s an awful queer happening,” remarked +Agnes.</p> + +<p>“Lots of things seem queer on this trip,” put +in Tess. “Maybe we better give up the houseboat +trip.”</p> + +<p>“You won’t say that in the morning,” laughed +Neale.</p> + +<p>“How do you know that?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I know,” the boy laughed.</p> + +<p>They all went back to their beds, but it was +some time before several of them resumed their +interrupted slumbers. Tess, the innocent cause +of it all, fell off to dreamland with Ruth’s arm +around her in the rather cramped quarters, for +the bunks were not intended to accommodate two. +But once Tess was breathing deeply and regularly, +Ruth slipped back to her own apartment, pausing +to whisper to Agnes that Tess seemed all right +now.</p> + +<p>Ruth remained awake for some time, her mind +busy with many things, and mingled with her confused +thoughts were visions of the mule driver, +Hank Dayton, signaling to some tramp confederates +in the woods the fact that all on board the +<i>Bluebird</i> were deep in slumber, so that robbery +might be easily committed.</p> + +<p>“Oh, but I’m foolish to think such things,” the +Corner House girl told herself. “Absolutely foolish!”</p> + +<p>And at last she convinced herself of that and +went to sleep.</p> + +<p>The next morning Neale and Mr. Howbridge, +with Hank to help, made a careful examination of +the soft earth on the river bank under Tess’s window. +They saw many footprints, and the stub of +a cigarette.</p> + +<p>But the footprints might have been made by +themselves when they had moored the boat the +evening before. As for the cigarette stub, though +Hank smoked, he said he never used cigarettes. +A pipe was his favorite, and neither Mr. Howbridge +nor Neale smoked.</p> + +<p>“Some one passing in the daytime before we +arrived may have flung the stub away,” said the +lawyer. “I think all we can do is to ascribe the +alarm to a dream Tess had.”</p> + +<p>The little girl had forgotten much of the occurrence +of the night when questioned about it next +morning. She hardly recalled her dream, but she +did insist that a man had looked in her window.</p> + +<p>“Well, next time we tie up over night we’ll do +it in or near some city or village, and not in such +a lonely place,” decided Mr. Howbridge.</p> + +<p>Neale and Hank made good their promise to +repair the motor, and shortly after breakfast the +craft was in shape to travel on.</p> + +<p>The weather continued fine, and if it had not +been for the alarm of the night before, and the +shadow of the robbery hanging over Ruth and +Agnes, and Neale’s anxiety about his father, the +travelers would have been in a most happy mood. +The trip was certainly affording them many new +experiences.</p> + +<p>“It’s almost as exciting as when we were snowbound,” +declared Agnes.</p> + +<p>“But I’m glad we don’t have to look for two +little runaways or lost ones,” put in Ruth, with +a glance at Tess and Dot as they went out to play +on the upper deck.</p> + +<p>It was just before noon, when Ruth was helping +Mrs. MacCall prepare the dinner, that the oldest +Kenway girl heard a distressing cry from the upper +deck where Tess and Dot had been playing +all the morning.</p> + +<p>“Tess, stop!” Ruth heard Dot exclaim. “I’m +going to tell Ruthie on you! You’ll drown her! +Oh, Tess!”</p> + +<p>“She can’t drown! Haven’t I got a string on +her?” demanded Tess. “This is a new way of +giving her a bath. She likes it.”</p> + +<p>“Give her to me! Ruthie! Ruthie! Make +Tess stop!” pleaded Dot.</p> + +<p>“I wonder what the matter is,” said Ruth, as +she set down the dish she was holding and hastened +to the upper deck.</p> + +<p>There she saw Dot and Tess both leaning over +the rail, at rather a dangerous angle, and evidently +struggling, one to get possession of and the other +to retain, some object Ruth could not see.</p> + +<p>“Be careful! You’ll fall in!” Ruth cried.</p> + +<p>At the sound of her voice her sisters turned +toward her, and Ruth saw they each had hold of +a cord.</p> + +<p>“What are you doing; fishing?” Ruth asked. +“Don’t you know Hank said you couldn’t catch +fish when the boat was moving unless you trolled +with what he called a spoon?”</p> + +<p>“We’re not fishing!” said Dot.</p> + +<p>“I’m just giving the Alice-doll a bath,” explained +Tess. “I tied her on the end of a string +and I’m letting her swim in the water. She likes +it!”</p> + +<p>“She does not! And you must stop! And you +must give her to me! Oh, Ruthie!” cried Dot, +trying to pull the cord away from Tess. In an +instant there was a struggle between the two little +girls.</p> + +<p>“Children! Children!” admonished Ruth, in +perfect amazement at such behavior on the part +of the gentle and considerate Tess. “I’m surprised +at you! Tess, dear, give Dot her doll. +You shouldn’t have put her in water unless Dot +allowed you to.”</p> + +<p>“Well, but she needed a bath!” insisted Tess. +“She was dirty!”</p> + +<p>“I know it, and I was going to give her a bath; +but she has a cold and I was waiting till she got +over it!” explained Dot. “Tess, give me that +string, and I’ll pull my Alice-doll up!” she demanded.</p> + +<p>The struggle was renewed, and Ruth was hastening +across the deck to stop it by the force of +more authority than mere words, when Neale, who +was steering the craft, called out.</p> + +<p>“There’s the big water! We’re at Lake Macopic now!”</p> + +<p>Hardly had the echo of his words died away +than Dot cried:</p> + +<p>“There! Now look what you did! You let go +the string and my Alice-doll is gone!”</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink20'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XX—DRIFTING</a></h2> + +<p>Dot burst into tears, and Tess, startled by the +sudden tragic outcome of her prank, leaned so far +over the edge of the boat to see what happened +to the doll that Ruth cried:</p> + +<p>“Be careful! You’ll fall! Don’t you go into +the lake, as well as the doll!”</p> + +<p>Tess bounced back on deck. She looked +ashamed when she saw Dot crying.</p> + +<p>“You can have one of my dolls when we get +back home,” Tess offered. “Or you can have my +half of Almira the cat, and all her kittens. I’ll +give you my share.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t want ’em! I want my Alice-doll!” +wailed Dot.</p> + +<p>“I’ll have Hank get her for you!” called Neale, +as he swung the boat around. “The string will +float, even if your doll won’t, and Hank can fish +it back aboard.”</p> + +<p>Neale signaled to Hank by means of a bell running +from the upper deck near the steering wheel +to the motor room below, where the former mule +driver looked after the gasoline engine. It was +arranged with a clutch, so it could be thrown out +of gear, thus stopping or reversing the power, if +need be.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” called Hank, coming out +on the lower deck and looking up at Neale. “Going +to make a landing?”</p> + +<p>“No. But Dot lost her Alice-doll overboard,” +Neale explained. “Tess had a string to it and—”</p> + +<p>“Oh, is that what the string was?” exclaimed +Hank. “I saw a cord drop down at the stern +past the motor-room window and I made a grab +for it. I thought it was somebody’s fish line. +Wait, I’ll give it a haul and see what I can get +on deck.”</p> + +<p>Leaving the wheel, which needed no attention +since power was not now propelling the craft, +Neale hastened to the lower deck, followed by +Ruth, Tess and Agnes. They saw Hank pulling +in, hand over hand, the long, white cord. Presently +there came something slapping its way up +the side of the <i>Bluebird</i>, and a moment later there +slumped down on the deck a very wet, and much +bedraggled doll.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s my Alice! It’s Alice!” cried Dot. +“I’ve got her back once more.”</p> + +<p>“There won’t be much left of her if she gets +in the water again,” prophesied Neale. “This is +the second time this trip.”</p> + +<p>“She <i>is</i> rather forlorn looking,” agreed Ruth, +trying not to smile and hurt her little sister’s feelings, +for Dot was very sensitive about her dolls, +especially her “Alice” one. “I shall have to get +you a new one, Dot.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t want anybody but my Alice-doll! Will +you hang her up in the sun for me so she’ll dry?” +begged Dot of Neale, holding out to him the really +wretched doll.</p> + +<p>“Of course, Dottie. And when we get back to +Milton we can take her to the hospital again and +have her done over as we did after she was buried +with the dried apples. Poor Alice-doll! She has +had a hard life.”</p> + +<p>Tess had gone off by herself, thoroughly +ashamed of her behavior. Dot now went to her +own little room, to grieve over the fate of the +Alice-doll.</p> + +<p>“Aggie,” said Neale, “I think our Tess must +have surely gone insane. I never knew her to do +a deliberately unkind thing before.”</p> + +<p>“It certainly is curious. There, Neale, Mr. +Howbridge is beckoning to you.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” Neale replied. “He wants us to start, +and he’s right. Start her up again, Hank,” he +added. “We’re on Lake Macopic now, and we’ll +have to watch our step. There’s more navigation +here than there was on the river.”</p> + +<p>“Is this really the lake?” asked Ruth, “Are +we really on Macopic at last?”</p> + +<p>“This is where the river broadens out into the +lake,” said Neale, indicating the sweep of waters +about them. “It is really a part of the lake, +though the larger and main part lies around that +point,” and he indicated the point of land he +meant.</p> + +<p>Lake Macopic was a large body of water, and +on its shores were many towns, villages and one +or two places large enough to be dignified by the +appellation “cities.” Quite a trade was done between +some of the places, for the presence of so +much water gave opportunity for power to be +obtained from it, and around the lake were many +mills and factories. There were a number of +islands in the lake, some of them large enough for +summer hotels, while others were merely clumps +of trees. On some, campers spent their vacations, +and on one or two, owned by fishermen, cabins +were built.</p> + +<p>“Yes, we are really here at last,” said Neale. +“I must find out where we are to head for. +Where do you have to deliver this boat, Mr. Howbridge?” +he asked the lawyer.</p> + +<p>“At the upper end of the lake,” was the answer. +“But there is no hurry about it. I intend that we +shall all have a nice cruise on Lake Macopic before +I let my client have possession of this boat. +He is in no special need, and the summer is not +nearly enough over to make me want to end our +vacation yet. That is, unless you feel you must +get back to the Corner House, Martha?” and he +smiled at his oldest ward.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no,” Ruth made haste to reply. “It is +too lovely here to wish to leave. I’m sure we shall +find it most delightful.”</p> + +<p>“Can we go in swimming?” asked Tess, who +liked the water.</p> + +<p>“Yes, there are bathing beaches—several of +them in fact,” answered the lawyer. “We will +stop at one and let you children paddle around.”</p> + +<p>“I can swim!” boasted Tess.</p> + +<p>“I can too,” added Dot, not to be outdone by +her sister.</p> + +<p>Lake Macopic was beautiful, reflecting the sunlight, +the blue sky, and the white, fleecy clouds. +The houseboat once more began slowly navigating +it as Hank threw the clutch in and Neale kept the +wheel steady. They passed several other boats, +and then, as their supplies were running low, it +was decided to put in at the nearest town.</p> + +<p>“We’ll get some cake and maybe a pie or two,” +said Ruth, after consulting Mrs. MacCall. “And +of course, some fresh vegetables.”</p> + +<p>“Can’t we get some strawberries?” questioned +Dot.</p> + +<p>“Too late I’m afraid, Dot. But maybe we can +get huckleberries.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I know what I would like,” cried Tess.</p> + +<p>“I know too,” declared Agnes. “An ice-cream +cone.”</p> + +<p>“Yep. Strawberry.”</p> + +<p>“I want chocolate,” came promptly from Dot.</p> + +<p>“And oh, can’t we have some lollypops too?” +went on Tess.</p> + +<p>“Sure—if the stores keep them,” answered +Mr. Howbridge promptly. “Yes, I see a sign, +‘Ice Cream and Confectionery.’ I guess we can +get what we want over there—when we reach the +place.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, goody,” cried Dot; and Tess patted her +stomach in satisfaction.</p> + +<p>It was early evening when they tied up at a +wharf, which was operated in conjunction with +a store, and while Mrs. MacCall and the girls +were buying such things as were needed, Neale +and Mr. Howbridge made some inquiries regarding +the rules for navigating the lake. They +found there would be no trouble in getting the +<i>Bluebird</i> from place to place.</p> + +<p>“Have you seen a small motor boat run by two +men around here lately?” asked the lawyer of +the dock keeper, after some unimportant talk.</p> + +<p>“What sort of men?”</p> + +<p>“Roughly dressed.”</p> + +<p>“That isn’t much of a description,” was the +retort. “A lot of the fishermen dress roughly, +but they’re all right. But we do have some fellows +up here who aren’t what I’d call first-class.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” asked Mr. Howbridge.</p> + +<p>“Well, I mean there’s a bunch camping on one +of the islands here. Somebody said they were +returned miners from the Klondike, but I don’t +know that I believe that.”</p> + +<p>“Why, those may be the very men we mean!” +cried the lawyer. “One of them claims, or is said +to have been, in the Alaskan gold regions. In fact +this young man’s father is, or was, a Klondike +miner,” went on Mr. Howbridge, indicating Neale. +“Maybe these men could tell us something about +him. Did you ever hear any of them mention a +Mr. O’Neil?” he asked.</p> + +<p>The dock tender shook his head.</p> + +<p>“Can’t say I did,” he answered. “I don’t have +much to do with those men. They’re too rough for +me. They may be the ones you mean, and they +may not.”</p> + +<p>Further questioning elicited no more information, +and Neale and Mr. Howbridge had to be +content with this.</p> + +<p>“But we’ll pay a visit to that island,” decided +the lawyer, when its location had been established. +“We may get some news of your father in that +way.”</p> + +<p>“I hope so,” sighed Neale.</p> + +<p>Rather than tie up at the dock that night, which +would bring them too near the not very pleasant +sights and sounds of a waterfront neighborhood, +it was decided to anchor the <i>Bluebird</i> out some distance +in the lake.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, at dusk, when supper was over +and a little stroll on shore had gotten the “kinks” +out of their “sea legs,” the <i>Bluebird</i> was headed +into the lake again and moored, with riding lights +to warn other craft away.</p> + +<p>In the middle of the night Neale felt the need +of a drink, as he had eaten some buttered popcorn +the evening before and he was now thirsty. +As he arose to get a glass of water from a shelf +in his apartment he became aware of a strange +movement. At the same time he could hear the +sighing of the wind.</p> + +<p>“Sounds as if a storm were coming up,” mused +the boy. And then, as he reached out his hand for +the glass, he felt the <i>Bluebird</i> rise, fall and sway +beneath him.</p> + +<p>“Why, we’re moving! We’re drifting!” exclaimed +Neale. “The anchor must be dragging +or the cables have been cut. We’re drifting fast, +and may be in danger!”</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink21'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XXI—THE STORM</a></h2> + +<p>Neale O’Neil was a lad to whom, young as +he was, emergencies came as a sort of second +nature. His life in the circus had prepared him +for quick and unusual action. Many times, while +traveling with the tented shows, accidents had +happened. Sometimes one of the animals would +get loose, perhaps one of the “hay feeders,” by +which is meant the elephants, horses or camels. +Or, worse than this, one of the big “cats,” or the +meat eaters—including lions, tigers and leopards—would +break from a cage. Then consternation +would reign.</p> + +<p>But Neale had seen how the circus men had met +these emergencies, always working for the safety +of others.</p> + +<p>And now, as he seemed to be alone in the semi-darkness +and silence of the houseboat at midnight, +Neale felt that the time had come for him +to act.</p> + +<p>“We must have pulled our anchor, or else some +one has cut us adrift,” decided the lad. “And if +any one has cut us loose it must be those men +from the motor boat—the tramps—the thieves!”</p> + +<p>He visualized their evil countenances and +thought of how they had behaved toward Ruth +and Agnes—that is, if these were the two men +in question.</p> + +<p>“And I wonder if Hank stands in with them,” +mused Neale. “I must find out. But first I’ve +got to do something about the boat. If we’re +adrift, as we surely are, we may run into some +other craft, or one may run into us, or—”</p> + +<p>Neale paused as he felt a grating beneath the +broad, flat bottom of the boat and the craft +careened slightly.</p> + +<p>“We may go aground or be blown on an island,” +was his completed thought. “But we’re safe so +far,” he mentally added, as he felt the <i>Bluebird</i> +slip off some under-water rock or reef of mud over +which she progressed.</p> + +<p>Then Neale galvanized himself into action. He +forgot all about the drink he had been going to +get, and, slipping on shoes and a rubber coat +that hung in his room, he stepped out into the +corridor which ran the length of the boat between +the two rows of sleeping rooms.</p> + +<p>Neale was going up on deck to look around and, +if possible, find out what had caused the boat to +break away from her moorings.</p> + +<p>As Neale passed Ruth’s door it opened and +she came out, wrapped in a heavy robe.</p> + +<p>“What is it, Neale?” asked the oldest Corner +House girl. “Has anything happened?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing much yet. But it may,” was the answer. +“We’re adrift, and it’s coming on to blow. +I’m going to see what the matter is.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll come with you,” Ruth offered. Neale was +like a brother to the Kenway girls. “Shall I +call Mr. Howbridge and Mrs. Mac?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Not yet,” he answered in a low voice. “It +may be that the cable has only slipped, but I +don’t see how it could. In that case I’ll only have +to take a few turns around a cleat and we’ll be all +right. No use calling any one unless we have +to.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll come and help,” Ruth offered, and Neale +knew she could be of excellent service.</p> + +<p>Together they ascended the stairs in the half +darkness, illuminated by the glow from a night +oil lamp in the hall. But no sooner had they +emerged on the open deck than they became aware +of the gravity of the situation. They were almost +blinded by an intense glare of lightning. +This was followed by a menacing rumble of thunder, +and then Ruth gasped for breath as a strong +wind smote her in the face, and Neale, just ahead +of her, turned to grasp her lest she be blown +against a railing and hurt.</p> + +<p>“Great guns!” exclaimed Neale, “it’s going to +be a fierce storm.”</p> + +<p>“Are we really adrift?” exclaimed Ruth, raising +her voice to be heard above the howl of the +wind.</p> + +<p>“I should say we are!” cried Neale in answer. +“But the boat is so big and solid she isn’t going +as fast as an ordinary craft would. But we’re +drifting all right, and it’s going to be a whole lot +worse before it’s better. Do you want to stay +here?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Of course I do! I’m going to help!” declared +Ruth. But at that moment came another +bright flash of lightning and a terrific peal of +thunder. And then, as if this had split open the +clouds, down came a deluge of rain.</p> + +<p>“Go below and get on your waterproof and +then tell the others to get up and dress,” advised +Neale. “We may come out of it all right, and +again we may not. It’s best to be prepared.”</p> + +<p>“Are we—are we far from shore?” panted +Ruth, the wind almost taking the words from her +mouth. “Are we apt to be dashed against it, do +you think?”</p> + +<p>“We can’t be wrecked,” Neale answered her. +“This is a well built boat. But we may have to +go ashore in the rain, and it’s best for the children +to be dressed.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll tell them!” cried Ruth, and she descended, +glad to be in out of the storm that was increasing +in violence every moment. That little time she +was exposed to it almost drenched her. Neale’s +rubber coat was a great protection to him.</p> + +<p>The boy gave one quick look around. The wind +was blowing about over the deck a number of +camp stools that had been left out, but he reasoned +that they would be caught and held by the rope +network about the deck. Neale’s chief anxiety +was about the anchor.</p> + +<p>The cable to which this was bent was made +fast to a cleat on the lower deck, and as the lad +made his way there by an outside stairway he +heard some one walking on the deck he had just +quitted.</p> + +<p>“I guess that’s Hank,” Neale reasoned.</p> + +<p>The boy was pulling at the anchor rope when +he heard Hank’s voice near him asking:</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter, Neale?”</p> + +<p>“We’re either dragging our anchor or the +cable’s cut,” answered the lad. And then, as the +rope came dripping through his hands, offering no +resistance to the pull, he realized what had happened. +The anchor was gone! It had slipped the +cable or been cut loose. Just which did not so +much matter now, as did the fact that there was +nothing to hold the <i>Bluebird</i> against the fury of +the gale.</p> + +<p>Realizing this, Neale did not pull the cable up +to the end. He had found out what he wanted to +know—that the anchor was off it and somewhere +on the bottom of the lake. He next turned his +attention to the boat.</p> + +<p>“We’re drifting!” he cried to Hank. “We’ve +got to start the motor, and see if we can head up +into the wind. You go to that and I’ll take the +wheel!”</p> + +<p>“All right,” agreed the mule driver. “This is +some storm!” he added, bending his head to the +blast of the wind and the drive of the rain.</p> + +<p>It was growing worse every moment, Neale realized. +Buttoned as his rubber coat was, the lower +part blew open every now and then, drenching his +bare legs.</p> + +<p>As the boy hurried to the upper deck again to +take command of the steering wheel, he heard +from within the <i>Bluebird</i> sounds which told him +the Corner House girls, their guardian, and Mrs. +MacCall were getting up. The voices of Tess and +Dot could be heard, excited and somewhat frightened.</p> + +<p>“The only real danger,” thought Neale to himself, +“is that we may hit a rock or something, and +stave a hole in us. In that case we’d sink, I guess, +and this lake is deep.”</p> + +<p>But he had not told Ruth that danger. He +grasped the spokes of the wheel firmly, and waited +for the vibration that would tell him Hank had +started the motor. And as he waited he had to +face the wind and rain, and listen to the vibrating +thunder, the while he was almost blinded by the +vivid lightning. It was one of those fierce summer +storms, and the temperature took a sudden +drop so that Neale was chilled through.</p> + +<p>“Why doesn’t Hank start that motor?” impatiently +thought the lad. “We’re drifting fast and +that big island must be somewhere in this neighborhood. +I wonder how close it is? If we hit +that going like this—good-night!”</p> + +<p>A vivid flash of light split the darkness like a +dagger of flame and revealed the heaving tumultuous +lake all about, the waters whipped and lashed +into foam by the sudden wind. Storms came up +quickly on Lake Macopic, due to the exposed situation +of the body of water, and there were often +fatalities caused by boats being caught unprepared.</p> + +<p>Just as Neale was going to take a chance and +hurry below to see what was delaying Hank, there +came the vibration of the craft which told that +the motor had been started.</p> + +<p>“Now we’ll get somewhere,” cried Neale aloud. +“I think I’d better head into the wind and try to +make shore. If I can get her under the shelter of +that bluff we passed this afternoon, it will be the +best for all of us.”</p> + +<p>He swung the wheel around, noting that the +<i>Bluebird</i> answered to the helm, and then he dashed +the water from his face with a motion of his head, +shaking back his hair. As the craft gathered +speed a figure came up the stairs and emerged on +deck. It fought its way across the deck to the +wheel and a voice asked:</p> + +<p>“Are we making progress, Neale?”</p> + +<div style='text-align:center'> +<img id='ilink04' src='images/illus-004.jpg' alt=''/> +<p class='caption'>“You shouldn’t have come here, Aggie!” he cried, above the noise of the storm.</p> +</div> + +<p>“Oh, yes! But you shouldn’t have come up +here, Aggie!” he cried, above the noise of the +storm. “You’ll be drenched!”</p> + +<p>“No, I have on Mr. Howbridge’s raincoat. I +made him and Ruthie let me come up here to help +you. You certainly need help in this emergency.”</p> + +<p>“It’s an emergency all right!” declared Neale. +“But we may come out of it safely.”</p> + +<p>“Can’t I help you steer?” asked Agnes. “I +know how.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, you may help. I’m trying to make—”</p> + +<p>Neale never finished that sentence. A moment +later there was a jar that made him and Agnes +stagger, and then the <i>Bluebird</i> ceased to progress +under the power of her motor and was again +being blown before the fury of the storm.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink22'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XXII—ON THE ISLAND</a></h2> + +<p>“What’s the matter? What has happened?” +cried Agnes, clinging partly to Neale and partly +to the wheel to preserve her balance. “Are we +sinking?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no,” he answered. “We either struck +something, or the motor has gone bad and stopped. +I think it’s the last. I’d better go and see.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll take the wheel,” Agnes offered.</p> + +<p>“You don’t need to,” said her companion. +“She had no steerageway on her; and you might +as well keep out of the storm. The rain is fierce!”</p> + +<p>Agnes decided to take this advice, since staying +on deck now would do no good and Neale was going +below.</p> + +<p>Neale raced to the motor room, where he found +Hank ruefully contemplating the silent engine.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Neale. “Is she +broken?”</p> + +<p>“Busted, or something,” was the answer. “If +this was a mule, now, I could argue with it. But +I don’t know enough about motors to take any +chances. All I know is she was going all right, +and then she suddenly laid down on me—stopped +dead.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I felt it,” returned Neale. “Well, we’ll +have to see what the trouble is.”</p> + +<p>Agnes had gone into the main cabin where she +found her sisters and Mr. Howbridge. Mrs. MacCall, +in a nightcap she had forgotten to remove, +was sitting in one corner.</p> + +<p>“Oh, the perils o’ the deep! The perils o’ the +deep!” she murmured. “The salty seas will +snatch us fra the land o’ the livin’!”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense!” exclaimed Mr. Howbridge, for he +saw that Dot and Tess were getting frightened by +the fear of the Scotch housekeeper’s words. +“Lake Macopic isn’t salty, and it isn’t deep. +We’ll be all right in a little while. Here’s Agnes +back to tell us so,” he added with a smile at his +ward. “What of the night, Watchman?” he +asked in a bantering tone.</p> + +<p>“Well, it isn’t a very pleasant night,” Agnes +was forced to admit.</p> + +<p>“Why aren’t we moving?” asked Tess. “We +were moving and now we have stopped.”</p> + +<p>“Neale has gone to see, Tess. He will have +things in shape before long,” was Agnes’ not very +confident reply.</p> + +<p>“Well, we’re nice and snug here,” said Ruth, +guessing that something was wrong, and joining +forces with Agnes in keeping it from Mrs. MacCall +and the younger children. “We are snug and +dry here.”</p> + +<p>“I think I’ll go and give the sailors a hand,” +Mr. Howbridge said. “Ruth, you tell these little +teases a story,” he said as he shifted Dot out of +his lap and to a couch where he covered her with +a blanket.</p> + +<p>“I’ll get this wet coat off,” remarked Agnes. +“My, but it does rain!” She passed Mr. Howbridge +his coat.</p> + +<p>Ruth took her place as mistress of the little +household of Corner House girls—mother to the +three parentless sisters who depended so much +on her.</p> + +<p>“And now, children, for the story!” she said. +“What shall it be about?”</p> + +<p>This took the attention of Tess and Dot off +their worries, and though the wind still howled +and the rain dashed against the windows of the +<i>Bluebird</i>, they heeded it not.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Mr. Howbridge had made his way +to the motor room where a sound of hammering on +iron told him that efforts to make repairs were +under way.</p> + +<p>“What is it, boys?” he asked as he saw Neale +and Hank busy over the motor.</p> + +<p>“A wrench was jarred loose and fell into the +flywheel pit,” explained Neale. “It stopped the +motor suddenly, and until we get it loose we can’t +move the machinery. We’re trying to knock it +out.”</p> + +<p>“Need any help?” asked the lawyer, who had +donned an old suit of clothing.</p> + +<p>“I think we can manage,” said Neale. “But +you might take a look outside and see what’s happening. +That is, besides the storm. We can hear +that.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it seems to insist on being heard,” agreed +the guardian of the girls. “You say the anchor +is dragging, Neale?”</p> + +<p>“No, it’s gone completely. At the bottom of the +lake somewhere. I didn’t have a chance to examine +the end of the cable to see if it was cut or +not.”</p> + +<p>“Cut!” exclaimed the lawyer in surprise.</p> + +<p>“Well, it may have been cut by—accident,” +went on Neale, with a meaning look which Mr. +Howbridge understood.</p> + +<p>“I’ll find out,” was the comment, and then the +lawyer went out into the rain while Neale and +the mule driver resumed their labors to loosen +the monkey wrench which was jammed under +the flywheel, thus effectually preventing the motor +from operating.</p> + +<p>Mr. Howbridge made his way along the lower +deck until he came to where the anchor cable was +made fast to the holding cleat. He pulled up the +dripping rope, hand over hand, until he had the +end on deck.</p> + +<p>A lightning flash served to show him that the +end was partly cut and partly frayed through.</p> + +<p>“It may have chafed on a sunken rock or been +partly cut on the edge of something under water,” +thought the lawyer. “At any rate the anchor +is gone, and unless I can bend on a spare one we’ve +got to drift until they can get the motor going. +I wonder if I can find a spare anchor. Captain +Leed said nothing about one when he turned the +boat over to me.”</p> + +<p>Stumbling about the deck in the rain, storm +and darkness, the lawyer sought for a possible +spare anchor. Meanwhile Ruth kept up the +spirits of her two smallest sisters and Mrs. MacCall +by gayly telling stories. She was a true +“little mother,” and in this instance she well deserved +the appellations of both “Martha” and +“Minerva.”</p> + +<p>Fortunate it was for the Corner House girls +that the <i>Bluebird</i> was a staunch craft, broad of +beam and stout in her bottom planks. Otherwise +she never would have weathered the storm that +had her in its grip.</p> + +<p>Lake Macopic was subject to these sudden outbursts +of the furious elements. It was surrounded +by hills, and through the intervening +valleys currents of air swept down, lashing the +waters into big waves. Sailing craft are more +at the mercy of the wind and water than are +power boats, but when these last have lost their +ability to progress they are in worse plight than +the other craft, being less substantial in build.</p> + +<p>But the <i>Bluebird</i> was not exactly of either of +these types. In fact the craft on which the +Corner House girls were voyaging was merely +a big scow with a broad, flat bottom and a superstructure +made into the semblance of a house on +shore—with limitations, of course. It would be +practically impossible to tip over the craft. The +worst that could happen, and it would be a sufficient +disaster, would be that a hole might be +stove in the barge-like hull which would fill, and +thus sink the boat. And the lake was deep +enough in many places to engulf the <i>Bluebird</i>.</p> + +<p>Mr. Howbridge realized this as he stumbled +about the lower deck, looking for something that +would serve as an anchor. He soon came to the +conclusion that there was not a spare one on +board, for had there been it naturally would have +been in plain view to be ready for use in emergencies.</p> + +<p>Having made a circuit of the deck, not finding +anything that could be used, Mr. Howbridge debated +with himself what he had better do next. +He stepped into a small storeroom in the stern +of the craft above the motor compartment where +Neale and Hank were working, and there the lawyer +flashed the pocket electric torch he carried. +It gave him a view of a heterogeneous collection +of articles, and when he saw a heavy piece of iron +his eyes lightened.</p> + +<p>“This may do for an anchor,” he said. “I’ll +fasten it on the rope and heave it overboard.”</p> + +<p>But when he tried to move it alone he found +it was beyond his strength. He could almost +manage it, but a little more strength was needed.</p> + +<p>“I’ll have to get Neale or Hank,” mused Mr. +Howbridge. “But I hate to ask them to stop. +The safety of the <i>Bluebird</i> may depend on how +quickly they get the motor started. And yet—”</p> + +<p>He heard some one approaching along the lower +deck and a moment later a flash of lightning revealed +to him Ruth.</p> + +<p>“I heard some one in here,” said the Corner +House girl, “and I came to see who it was. I +thought maybe the door had blown open and was +banging.”</p> + +<p>“I was looking for an anchor, and I have found +one, though I can’t move it alone,” the lawyer +said. “But why have you left your sisters?”</p> + +<p>“Because Mrs. Mac is telling them a Scotch +story. She has managed to interest them, and, +at the same time, she is forgetting her own +troubles. So I came out. Let me help move the +anchor, or whatever it is.”</p> + +<p>“Spoken like Martha!” said Mr. Howbridge. +“Well, perhaps your added strength will be just +what is needed. But you must be careful not to +strain yourself,” he added, anxiously.</p> + +<p>“I am no baby!” exclaimed Ruth. “I want to +help! Where is it?”</p> + +<p>Flashing his light again, her guardian showed +her, and then, while the wind seemed to howl in +fiercer fury, if that were possible, and while the +rain beat down like hail-pellets, they managed to +drag out on deck the heavy piece of iron, which +seemed to be some part of a machine.</p> + +<p>The storeroom opened on that side of the deck +where the superstructure of the houseboat gave +some shelter, and, working in this, Ruth and Mr. +Howbridge managed to get the frayed end of +the anchor rope attached to the heavy iron.</p> + +<p>“Now if we can heave this overboard it may +save us from drifting on the rocks until Neale +and Hank can get the engine to working again,” +said the lawyer.</p> + +<p>“We’ll try!” exclaimed Ruth. Her guardian +caught a glimpse of her face as the skies flashed +forth into flame again. Her lips were parted from +her rapid breathing, revealing her white teeth, +and even in the stress and fury of the storm Mr. +Howbridge could not but admire her. Though +no one ever called Ruth Kenway pretty, there +was an undeniable charm about her, and that had +been greater, her guardian thought, ever since +the day of Luke Shepard’s entrance into her +life.</p> + +<p>“It’s our last hope, and a forlorn one,” Mr. +Howbridge said dubiously, looking at their anchor.</p> + +<p>Together they managed to drag the heavy piece +of iron to the edge of the deck. Then, making +sure the rope was fast about the cleat, they +heaved the improvised anchor over the side. It +fell into Lake Macopic with a great splash.</p> + +<p>“What was that?” cried Neale, coming out on +deck, followed by Agnes, who had been down +watching him work at the engine.</p> + +<p>“Our new anchor,” replied the lawyer. “It +may serve to hold us if you can’t get the engine +to working,” and he explained what he and Ruth +had done.</p> + +<p>“Good!” exclaimed Neale. “I hope it does +hold, for it doesn’t seem as if we were going to get +that monkey wrench out in a hurry. I’m looking +for a long bar of iron to see if we can use it as a +lever.”</p> + +<p>“There may be one in the storeroom where we +found the anchor,” remarked Ruth.</p> + +<p>“I’ll have a look.”</p> + +<p>The <i>Bluebird</i> was not living up to her name. +Instead of skimming more or less lightly over the +surface of the lake she was rolling to and fro in +the trough of the waves, which were really high. +Now and then the crest of some comber broke +over the snub bow of the craft, sending back the +spray in a shower that rattled on the front windows +of the cabin.</p> + +<p>Anxiously the four on deck waited to see the +effect of the anchor. If it held, catching on the +bottom of the lake, it would mean a partial solution +of their troubles. If it dragged—</p> + +<p>Neale hastened to the side and looked down at +the anchor cable. It was taut, showing that the +weight had not slipped off. But the drift of the +boat was not checked.</p> + +<p>“Why doesn’t it hold?” asked Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Is it dragging?” came from the lawyer.</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe it is touching bottom,” replied +Neale. “I’m afraid the rope is too short. We +are moving faster than before.”</p> + +<p>Just as he spoke there came a vivid flash of +lightning. Involuntarily they all shrank. It +seemed as though they were about to be blasted +where they stood. And then, as a great crash +followed, they trembled with the vibration of its +rumble.</p> + +<p>The next instant Ruth and Agnes cried simultaneously:</p> + +<p>“Look! We’re being blown ashore!”</p> + +<p>Neale and Mr. Howbridge peered through the +darkness. Another lightning flash showed their +peril.</p> + +<p>“We’re going to hit the island!” shouted Neale.</p> + +<p>A few seconds later the wind blew the <i>Bluebird</i>, +beams-on, upon a rocky shore.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink23'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XXIII—SUSPICIONS</a></h2> + +<p>The shock of the sudden stop, the tilting of the +craft, which was sharply careened to one side, the +howl of the wind, the rumble of the thunder, the +flash of the lightning, and the dash of the rain—all +these combined to make the position of those +aboard the <i>Bluebird</i> anything but enviable.</p> + +<p>“Are we lost! Oh, are we lost?” cried Mrs. +MacCall, rushing out of the cabin. “Ha the seas +engulfed us?”</p> + +<p>“No, nothing of the sort!” answered Mr. Howbridge. +“Please don’t get excited, and go back +to the children. We are all right!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I believe we are,” added Neale, as another +flash showed what had happened. “At least +we are in no danger of sinking now.”</p> + +<p>For they had been sent before the fury of the +storm straight upon the rocky shore of one of the +large islands of Lake Macopic. And there the +houseboat came to rest.</p> + +<p>As Neale had said, all danger of foundering +was passed, and in case of need they could easily +escape to substantial land, though it was but an +island. But tilted as the <i>Bluebird</i> was, forming +a less comfortable abode than formerly, she offered +a better place to stay than did the woods of +the island, bending as they were now to the fierce +wind, and drenched as they were in the pelting +rain.</p> + +<p>“We’re here for the night, at least,” said Neale, +as the continued lightning revealed more fully +what had happened. “We shall not drift any +more, and though there’s a lot of excitement going +on, I guess we can keep dry.”</p> + +<p>He and Mr. Howbridge, with Ruth and Agnes, +stood out on the open, lower deck, but there was +a shelter over their heads and the sides of the +house part of the boat kept the rain from them. +The storm was coming from the west, and they +had been blown on the weather side of the island. +The lee shore was on the other side. There they +would have been sheltered, but they could not +choose their situation.</p> + +<p>“We’d better take a turn with a rope around +a tree or two,” suggested Hank, as he came up to +join the little party. “No use drifting off again.”</p> + +<p>“You’re right,” agreed Neale. “And then we +can turn in and wait for morning. I only hope—”</p> + +<p>“What?” asked Agnes, as he hesitated.</p> + +<p>“I hope it clears,” Neale finished. But what +he had been going to say was that he hoped no +holes would be stove in the hull of the boat.</p> + +<p>It was no easy task for him and Hank to get +two lines ashore—from bow and stern—and fasten +them to trees. But eventually it was accomplished. +Then, as if it had worked its worst, the +storm appeared to decrease in violence and it was +possible to get a little rest.</p> + +<p>However, before turning in again, Mrs. MacCall +insisted on making a pot of tea for the older folk, +while the small children were given some bread +and milk. As the berths where Dot and Tess had +been sleeping were uncomfortably tilted by the +listing of the boat, the little girls were given +the places occupied by Ruth and Agnes, who managed +to make shift to get some rest in the slanting +beds.</p> + +<p>“Whew!” exclaimed Neale as he went to his +room when all that was possible had been done, +“this has been some night!”</p> + +<p>As might have been expected, the morning broke +clear, warm and sunny, and the only trace of the +storm was in the rather high waves of the lake. +Before Mrs. MacCall served breakfast Neale, Mr. +Howbridge, Agnes and Ruth went ashore, an easy +matter, since the <i>Bluebird</i> was stranded, and made +an examination. They found their craft so firmly +fixed on the rocky shore that help would be needed +before she could be floated.</p> + +<p>“But how are we going to get help?” asked +Ruth.</p> + +<p>“Oh, there may be fishermen living on this +island,” said Mr. Howbridge. “We’ll make a +tour and see.”</p> + +<p>“And if there is none,” added Neale, “Hank or +I can row over to the next nearest island or to the +mainland and bring back some men.”</p> + +<p>The <i>Bluebird</i> carried on her afterdeck a small +skiff to be used in making trips to and from the +craft when she was at anchor out in some stream +or lake. This boat would be available for the +journey to the mainland or to another island.</p> + +<p>An examination showed that the houseboat was +not damaged more than superficially, and after a +hearty breakfast, Neale and Mr. Howbridge held +a consultation with Ruth and Agnes.</p> + +<p>“What we had better do is this,” said the lawyer. +“We had better turn our energies in two +ways. One toward getting the disabled motor in +shape, and the other toward seeking help to put +us afloat once more.”</p> + +<p>“Hank can work on the motor,” decided Neale. +“All it needs is to have the monkey wrench taken +out of the pit. In fact the space is so cramped +that only one can work to advantage at a time. +That will leave me free to go ashore in the +boat.”</p> + +<p>“Why not try this island first?” asked Ruth. +“If there are any fishermen here they could help +us get afloat, and it would save time. It is quite +a distance to the main shore or even to the next +island.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is,” agreed Neale. “But I don’t mind +the row.”</p> + +<p>“It is still rough,” put in Agnes, looking over +the heaving lake.</p> + +<p>“Then I think the best thing to do,” said Mr. +Howbridge, “is for some of us to go ashore and +see if we can find any men to help us. Three or +four of them, with long poles, could pry the +<i>Bluebird</i> off the rocks and into the water +again.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, do let’s go ashore!” cried Agnes, and Tess +and Dot, coming up just then, echoed this.</p> + +<p>Mrs. MacCall did not care to go, saying she +would prepare dinner for them. Hank took off +his coat, rolled up his sleeves and started to work +on the motor, while the others began their island +explorations.</p> + +<p>The houseboat had been blown on one of the +largest bits of wooded land that studded Lake +Macopic. In fact it was so large and wild that +after half an hour’s walk no sign of habitation +or inhabitants had been seen.</p> + +<p>“Looks to be deserted,” said Neale. “I guess +I’ll have to make the trip to the mainland after +all.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps,” agreed the lawyer, while Ruth +called to Tess and Dot not to stray too far off +in their eagerness to see all there was to be seen +in the strange woods. “Well, we are in no special +rush, and while our position is not altogether +comfortable on board the <i>Bluebird</i>, the relief from +the storm is grateful. I wonder—”</p> + +<p>“Hark!” suddenly whispered Ruth, holding up +a hand to enjoin silence. “I hear voices!”</p> + +<p>They all heard them a moment later.</p> + +<p>“I guess some one lives here after all,” remarked +Mr. Howbridge. “The talk seems to +come from just beyond us.”</p> + +<p>“Let’s follow this path,” suggested Neale, +pointing to a fairly well defined one amid the +trees. It skirted the shore, swung down into a +little hollow, and then emerged on the bank of a +small cove which formed a natural harbor for a +small motor boat.</p> + +<p>And a motor boat was at that moment in the +sheltered cove. All in the party saw it, and they +also saw something else. This was a view of two +roughly dressed men, who, at the sound of crackling +branches and rustling leaves beneath the feet +of the explorers, looked up quickly.</p> + +<p>“It’s them again! Come on!” quickly cried +one of the men, and in an instant they had jumped +into the motor boat which was tied to a tree +near shore.</p> + +<p>It was the work of but a moment for one of them +to turn over the flywheel and start the motor. +The other cast off, and in less than a minute from +the time the Corner House girls and their friends +had glimpsed them the two ragged men were on +their way in their boat out of the cove.</p> + +<p>“Look! Look!” cried Ruth, pointing at them. +“They’re the same ones!”</p> + +<p>“The men we saw at the lock?” asked Neale.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and the men who robbed us—I am almost +positive of that!” cried the oldest Corner House +girl.</p> + +<p>“The rascals!” exclaimed the lawyer. +“They’re going to escape us again! Fate seems +to be with them! Every time we come upon them +they manage to distance us!”</p> + +<p>This was what was happening now. The +tramps—such they seemed to be, though the +possession of a motor boat took them out of the +ordinary class—with never a look behind, speeded +away.</p> + +<p>“How provoking!” cried Agnes. “To think +they have our jewelry and we can’t make them +give it up.”</p> + +<p>“You are not sure they have it,” said Mr. +Howbridge, as the motor craft passed out of sight +beyond a tree-fringed point.</p> + +<p>“I think I am,” said Ruth. “If they are not +guilty why do they always hurry away when they +see us?”</p> + +<p>“Well, Minerva, that is a question I can not +answer,” said her guardian, with a smile. “You +are a better lawyer than I when it comes to that. +Certainly it does look suspicious.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, for a motor boat!” sighed Neale. “I’d +like to chase those rascals!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it would be interesting to find out why +they seem to fear us,” agreed Mr. Howbridge. +“But it’s too late, now.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder why they came to this island,” mused +Ruth. “Do you think they were fishermen?”</p> + +<p>“They didn’t have any implements of the +trade,” said Mr. Howbridge. “But their presence +proves that the island is not altogether uninhabited. +Let’s go along, and we may find some +one to help get the boat back into the water.”</p> + +<p>They resumed their journey, new beauties of +nature being revealed at every step. The trees +and grass were particularly green after the effective +washing of the night before, and there were +many wild flowers which the two little girls gathered, +with many exclamations of delight.</p> + +<p>Turning with the path, the trampers suddenly +came to a small clearing amid the trees. It was +a little grassy glade, through which flowed a +stream of water, doubtless from some hidden +spring higher up among the rocks. But what most +interested Neale, Agnes, Ruth and the lawyer was +a small cabin that stood in the middle of the +beautiful green grass.</p> + +<p>“There’s a house!” cried Dot. “Look!”</p> + +<p>“It’s the start of one, anyhow,” agreed Mr. +Howbridge.</p> + +<p>“And somebody lives in it,” went on Ruth, as +the door of the cabin opened and a heavily bearded +man came out, followed by a dog. The dog ran, +barking, toward the explorers, but a command +from the man brought him back.</p> + +<p>“I hope we aren’t trespassing,” said Mr. Howbridge. +“We were blown on the island last night, +and we’re looking for help to get our houseboat +back into the lake.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, you aren’t trespassing,” the man replied +with a smile, showing two rows of white +teeth that contrasted strangely with his black +beard. “I own part of the island, but not all of +it. What sort of boat did you say?”</p> + +<p>“Houseboat,” and the lawyer explained the +trouble. “Are there men here we can get to help +us pole her off the shore?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Well, I guess I and my two boys could give +you a hand,” was the slow answer. “They’ve +gone over to the mainland with some fish to sell, +but they’ll be back around noon.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll be glad of their help,” went on the +lawyer. “Do you live here all the while?”</p> + +<p>“Mostly. I and my boys fish and guide. Lots +of men come here in the summer that don’t know +where to fish, and we take ’em out.”</p> + +<p>“Were those your two sons we saw in a motor +boat back there in the cove?” asked Neale, indicating +the place where the tramps had been +observed. Rather anxiously the bearded man’s +answer was awaited.</p> + +<p>“What sort of boat was it?” he countered.</p> + +<p>Neale described it sufficiently well.</p> + +<p>“No, those weren’t my boys,” returned the man, +while the dog made friends with the visitors, much +to the delight of Dot and Tess. “We haven’t any +such boat as that. I don’t know who those fellows +could be, though of course many people come +to this island.”</p> + +<p>“I wish we could find out who those men are,” +said Mr. Howbridge. “I have peculiar reasons +for wanting to know,” he went on.</p> + +<p>“I think they call themselves Klondikers, because +they have been, or claim to have been, to +the Alaskan Klondike,” said Neale. “Do you +happen to know any Klondikers around here?”</p> + +<p>Somewhat to the surprise of the boy the answer +came promptly:</p> + +<p>“Yes, I do. A man named O’Neil.”</p> + +<p>“What!” exclaimed Neale, starting forward. +“Do you know my father? Where is he? Tell me +about him!”</p> + +<p>“Well, I don’t know that he’s your father,” +went on the black-bearded man. “Though, now I +recollect, he did say he had a son and he hoped +to see him soon. But this O’Neil lives on one +of the islands here in the lake. Or at least he’s +been staying there the last week. He bought +some fish of me, and he said then he’d been to +the Klondike after gold.”</p> + +<p>“Did he say he got any?” asked Neale.</p> + +<p>The man of the cabin shook his head.</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t say so,” he remarked. “Mr. +O’Neil had to borrow money of one of my boys +to hire a boat. I guess he’s poorer than the general +run. He couldn’t have got any gold in the +Klondike.”</p> + +<p>At this answer Neale’s heart sank, and a worried +suspicion crept into his mind. If his father +were poor it might explain something that had +been troubling the boy of late. Somehow, all the +brightness seemed to go out of the day. Neale’s +happy prospects appeared very dim now.</p> + +<p>“Poor father!” he murmured to himself.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, from the lake behind them came some +loud shouts, at which the dog began to bark. +Then followed a shot, and the animal raced down +the slope toward the water.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink24'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XXIV—CLOSING IN</a></h2> + +<p>“Perhaps these are the men!” exclaimed Ruth +to the lawyer.</p> + +<p>“What men?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Those tramps—the ones who robbed us in the +rain storm that day. If they come here—”</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked the man of the +cabin—Aleck Martin he had said his name was. +“What seems to be the trouble with the young +lady?” And, as he spoke, gazing at Ruth, the +barking of the dog and the shouting grew apace.</p> + +<p>“She is excited, thinking the rascals about +whom we have been inquiring might now make +their appearance,” Mr. Howbridge answered.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Martin laughed so heartily that his black +beard waved up and down like a bush in the wind, +and Dot and Tess watched it in fascination.</p> + +<p>“Excuse me, friend,” the dweller in the cabin +went on, “but I couldn’t help it. Those are my +two boys coming back. They always cut up like +that. Seems like the quietness of the lake and +this island gets on their nerves sometimes, and +they have to raise a ruction. No harm in it, not +a bit. Jack, the dog, enjoys it as much as they +do.”</p> + +<p>This was evident a few moments later, for up +the slope came two sturdy young men, one carrying +a gun, and the dog was frisking about between +the two, having the jolliest time imaginable.</p> + +<p>“There are my boys!” said Mr. Martin, and +he spoke with pride.</p> + +<p>“Oh, will you excuse me?” asked Ruth, in some +confusion.</p> + +<p>“That’s all right—they do look like tramps,” +said their father. “But you can’t wear your best +clothes fussing around boats and fish and taking +parties out. Well, Tom and Henry, any luck?” he +asked the newcomers.</p> + +<p>“Extra fine, Dad,” answered one, while both +of them stared curiously at the visitors.</p> + +<p>“That’s good,” went on Mr. Martin. “These +folks,” he added, “were blown ashore last night +in their houseboat. They want help to get it +off.”</p> + +<p>“Will you go and look at her, and then we can +make a bargain?” interposed Mr. Howbridge.</p> + +<p>“Oh, shucks now, friend, we aren’t always out +for money, though we make a living by working +for summer folks like you,” said Mr. Martin, +smiling.</p> + +<p>“Is that your boat over there?” asked one of +the young men whose name, they learned later, +was Tom.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” assented Neale, for the fisherman +pointed in the direction of the stranded <i>Bluebird</i>, +which, however, could not be seen from the cabin.</p> + +<p>“We saw her as we came around,” went on +Henry. “I wondered what she was doing up on +shore, and we intended to have a look after we +tied up our craft.”</p> + +<p>“Will you be able to help us get her afloat?” +asked Ruth, for she rather liked the healthful, +manly appearance of the two young men.</p> + +<p>“Sure!” assented their father. “This is that +O’Neil man’s son,” he went on, speaking to his +boys.</p> + +<p>“What, O’Neil; the Klondiker?” asked Tom +quickly.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” assented Neale. “Can you tell me +about him? Where is he? How did he make out +in Alaska?”</p> + +<p>“Well, he’s on an island about ten miles from +here,” was the answer of Henry. “As for making +out, I don’t believe he did very well in the +gold business, to tell you the truth. He doesn’t +say much about it, but I guess the other men got +most of it.”</p> + +<p>“What other men?” asked Neale, and again his +heart sank and that terrible suspicion came back +to him.</p> + +<p>“Oh, a bunch he is in with,” answered Henry +Martin. “They all live together in a shack on +Cedar Island. Your father hired a boat of us. I +trusted him for it, as he said he had no ready cash. +But I reckon it’s all right.”</p> + +<p>This only served to make Neale more uneasy. +He had been hoping against hope that his father +would have found at least a competence in the +Klondike.</p> + +<p>Now it seemed he had not, and, driven by poverty, +he might have adopted desperate measures. +Nor did Neale like the remarks about his father +being in with a “bunch” of men. True, Mr. +O’Neil had been in the circus at one time, and +they, of necessity, are a class of rough and ready +men. But they are honest, Neale reflected. +These other men—if the two who had escaped in +the motor boat were any samples—were not to be +trusted.</p> + +<p>So it was with falling spirits that the boy waited +for what was to happen next.</p> + +<p>Agnes’ quick mind and ready sympathy guessed +Neale’s thoughts.</p> + +<p>“It will be all right, Neale O’Neil. You know +it will. Your father couldn’t go wrong.”</p> + +<p>“You’re a pal worth having, Aggie,” he whispered +to the girl.</p> + +<p>“I would like to see my father,” he said to the +lawyer. “Do you think we could go to Cedar +Island in the houseboat?”</p> + +<p>“Of course we can!” exclaimed Mr. Howbridge. +“We’ll go as soon as we can get her afloat.”</p> + +<p>“And that won’t take long; she didn’t seem to +be in a bad position,” said Tom. “Come on, +we’ll go over now,” he went on, nodding to his +father and his brother.</p> + +<p>“I have an Alice-doll on the boat,” said Dot, +taking a sudden liking to Henry.</p> + +<p>“You have?” he exclaimed, taking hold of her +hand which she thrust confidingly into his. +“Well, that’s fine! I wish I had a doll!”</p> + +<p>“Do you?” asked Dot, all smiles now. “Well, +I have a lot of ’em at home. There’s Muriel and +Bonnie Betty and a sailor boy doll, and Nosmo +King Kenway, and then I have twins—Ann Eliza +and Eliza Ann, and—”</p> + +<p>“Eliza Ann isn’t a twin any more—anyway not +a good twin,” put in Tess. “Both her legs are +off!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, that’s too bad!” exclaimed Henry sympathetically.</p> + +<p>“And if you want a doll, I can give you one of +mine,” proceeded Dot. “Only I don’t want to +give you Alice-doll ’cause she’s all I have with me. +But if you want Muriel—”</p> + +<p>“Muriel has only one eye,” said Tess quickly.</p> + +<p>“I think I should love a one-eyed doll!” said +the young man, who seemed to know just how to +talk to children.</p> + +<p>“Then I’ll send her to you!” delightedly offered +Dot.</p> + +<p>“And I’ll send you one of Almira’s kittens!” +said Tess, who did not seem to want her sister to +do all the giving.</p> + +<p>“Hold on there! Don’t I get anything?” asked +Tom, in mock distress.</p> + +<p>“Almira’s got a lot of kittens,” said Dot. +“Would you like one of them?”</p> + +<p>“Well I should say so! If Henry’s going to +have a kitten and a doll, I think I ought at least +to have a kitten,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Well, I’ll send you one,” promised Tess.</p> + +<p>And then, with the two children, one in charge +of Henry and the other holding Tom’s hand, the +trip was made back to where the <i>Bluebird</i> was +stranded.</p> + +<p>“It won’t be much of a job to get her off,” +declared Mr. Martin, when he and his sons had +made an expert examination. “Get some long +poles, boys, and some blocks, and I think half an +hour’s work will do the trick.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, shall we be able to move soon?” asked +Mrs. MacCall, coming out on deck.</p> + +<p>“We hope so,” answered Ruth, as she went +on board and told of the visit to the cabin, while +Neale hurried to the engine room to see what +success Hank had met with. The mule driver had +succeeded in getting the monkey wrench out from +under the flywheel, and the craft could move under +her own power once she was afloat.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter with Neale?” asked Mrs. +MacCall, while the men were in the woods getting +the poles. “He looks as if all the joy had departed +from life.”</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid it has, for him,” said Ruth soberly. +“It seems that his father is located near +here—on Cedar Island—and is poor.”</p> + +<p>“Nothing in that to take the joy out of life!” +And Mrs. MacCall strode away.</p> + +<p>“Well, being poor isn’t anything,” declared +Agnes. “Lots of people are poor. We were, before +Uncle Peter Stower left us the Corner +House.”</p> + +<p>“I think Neale fears his father may have had +something to do with— Oh, Agnes, I hate to say +it, but I think Neale believes his father either +robbed us, or knows something about the men +who took the jewelry box!”</p> + +<p>“But we know it isn’t true!” exclaimed Agnes.</p> + +<p>“Anyway, the Klondike trip was a failure.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and I’m so sorry!” exclaimed Agnes. +“Couldn’t we help—”</p> + +<p>“I think we shall just have to wait,” advised +her sister. “We can talk to Mr. Howbridge about +it after we find out more. I think they are going +to move the boat now.”</p> + +<p>This task was undertaken, and to such good advantage +did Mr. Martin and his sons work, aided, +of course, by Neale, Mr. Howbridge and Hank, +that the <i>Bluebird</i> was soon afloat again.</p> + +<p>“Now we can go on, and when I get back home +I’ll send you a doll and a pussy cat!” offered Dot +to Henry.</p> + +<p>“And I’ll send you two pussy cats!” Tess said +to Tom.</p> + +<p>The young men laughed, their father joining +in.</p> + +<p>“How much do I owe you?” asked the lawyer, +when it was certain that the houseboat was afloat, +undamaged, and could proceed on her way.</p> + +<p>“Not a cent!” was the hearty answer of Mr. +Martin. “We always help our neighbors up here, +and you were neighbors for a while,” he added +with a laugh.</p> + +<p>“Well, I’m a thousand times obliged to you,” +said the guardian of the Corner House girls. +“Our trip might have been spoiled if we couldn’t +have gone on, though I must say you have a delightful +resting spot in this island.”</p> + +<p>“We like it here,” admitted the fisherman, +while his sons were looking over the houseboat, +which they pronounced “slick.”</p> + +<p>Neale seemed to have lost heart and spirit. Dot +and Tess, of course, did not notice it so much, as +there was plenty to occupy them. But to Ruth +and Agnes, as well as to Mr. Howbridge, Neale’s +dejection was very evident.</p> + +<p>“Is the motor all right?” asked the lawyer of +Neale, when the Martins had departed with their +dog.</p> + +<p>“Yes, she runs all right now.”</p> + +<p>“Then we might as well head for Cedar Island,” +suggested the lawyer. “The sooner you find your +father the better.”</p> + +<p>“Yes—I suppose so,” and Neale turned away +to hide his sudden emotion.</p> + +<p>Once more the <i>Bluebird</i> was under way, moving +slowly over the sparkling waters of Lake Macopic. +All traces of the storm had vanished.</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Mac wants to know if we are going to +pass any stores,” said Agnes, coming up on deck +when the island on which they had been stranded +had been left behind.</p> + +<p>“We can run over to the mainland if she wants +us to,” the lawyer said. “Is it anything important, +Agnes?”</p> + +<p>“Only some things to eat.”</p> + +<p>“Well, that’s important enough!” he laughed. +“We’ll stop at that point over there,” and he indicated +one. “From there we can make a straight +run to Cedar Island. You won’t mind the delay, +will you?” he asked Neale, who was steering.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no,” was the indifferent answer. “I +guess there’s no hurry.”</p> + +<p>They all felt sorry for the lad, but decided nothing +could be done. Mr. Howbridge admitted, after +Ruth had spoken to him, that matters looked black +for Mr. O’Neil, but with his legal wisdom the +lawyer said:</p> + +<p>“Don’t bring in a verdict of guilty until you +have heard all the evidence. It is only fair to +suspend judgment. It would be cruel to raise +Neale’s hopes, only to dash them again, but I am +hoping for the best.”</p> + +<p>This comforted Ruth and Agnes a little; though +of course Agnes, in her loyalty to Neale, did not +allow doubt to enter her mind.</p> + +<p>The point for which the boat was headed was a +little settlement on the lake shore. It was also the +center of a summer colony, and was a lively place +just at present, this being the height of the season.</p> + +<p>At the point were a number of stores, and it +was there the supplies for the Scotch housekeeper +could be purchased. Ruth and Agnes had made +their selections and the things were being put on +board when a number of men were observed coming +down the long dock.</p> + +<p>One of them wore a nickel badge on the outside +of his coat, and seemed to have an air of +authority. Neale, who had been below helping +Hank store away some supplies of oil and gasoline +that had been purchased, came out on deck, +and, with the girls and Mr. Howbridge, watched +the approach of the men.</p> + +<p>“Looks like a constable or sheriff’s officer with +a posse,” commented Ruth. “It reminds me of +a scene I saw in the movies.”</p> + +<p>“It is an officer—I know him,” said Mr. Howbridge +in a low voice. “He once worked on a +case for me several years ago. That’s Bob +Newcomb—quite a character in his way. I wonder if +he remembers me.”</p> + +<p>This point was settled a moment later, for the +officer—he with the nickel badge of authority—looked +up and his face lightened when he saw the +lawyer.</p> + +<p>“Well, if it ain’t Mr. Howbridge!” exclaimed +Mr. Newcomb. “Well now, sufferin’ caterpillers, +this is providential! Is that your boat?” he +asked, halting his force by a wave of his hand.</p> + +<p>“I may say I control it,” was the answer. +“Why do you ask?”</p> + +<p>“’Cause then there won’t be no unfriendly +feelin’ if I act in the performance of my duty,” +went on the constable, for such he was. “I’ll have +to take possession of your craft in the name of +the law.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” asked Mr. Howbridge, +rather sharply. “Is this craft libeled? All bills +are paid, and I am in legal possession. I have +a bill of sale and this boat is to be delivered to a +client of mine—”</p> + +<p>“There you go! There you go! Ready to +fight at the drop of the hat!” chuckled the constable. +“Just like you did before when I worked +on that timber land case with you. But there’s +no occasion to get roiled up, Mr. Howbridge. I +only want to take temporary possession of your +boat in the name of the law. All I want to have is +a ride for me and my posse. We’re on the +business of the law, and you, being a lawyer, know +what that means. I call on you, as a good citizen, +to aid, as I’ve got a right to do.”</p> + +<p>“I recognize that,” said the lawyer, now smiling, +and glancing at Ruth and the others to show +everything was all right. “But what’s the +game?”</p> + +<p>“Robbery’s the game!” came the stern answer. +“We’re going to round up and close in on a +band of tramps, robbers and other criminals! +They have a camp on an island, and they’ve been +robbin’ hen roosts and doin’ other things in this +community until this community has got good +and sick of it. Then they called in the law—that’s +me and my posse,” he added, waving his +hand toward the men back of him. “The citizens +called in the law, represented by me, and I am +going to chase the rascals out!”</p> + +<p>“Very good,” assented Mr. Howbridge. “I’m +willing to help, as all good citizens should. But +what am I to do? Where do I come in?”</p> + +<p>“You’re going to lend us that boat,” said Constable +Newcomb. “It’s the only large one handy +just now, and we don’t want to lose any time. As +soon as I saw you put into the dock I made up +my mind I’d commandeer the craft. That’s the +proper term, ain’t it?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” assented the lawyer, smiling, “I believe +it is. So you want to commandeer the <i>Bluebird</i>.”</p> + +<p>“To take me and my posse over to Cedar Island, +and there to close in on a bunch of Klondikers!” +went on the constable, and Neale, hearing it, gave +a startled cry.</p> + +<p>“Anybody on board that’s afraid to come may +stay at home,” said the constable quickly. “I +mean they can get off the boat. But we’ve got to +have the craft to get to the island. Now then, Mr. +Howbridge, will you help?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly. As a matter of law I have to,” +answered the lawyer slowly.</p> + +<p>“And will you help, and you?” went on the constable, +looking in turn at Neale and Hank, who +were on deck. “I call upon you in the name of +the law.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, they’ll help,” said Mr. Howbridge +quickly. “Don’t object or say anything,” he +added to Neale in a low voice. “Leave everything +to me!”</p> + +<p>“Fall in! Get on board! We’ll close in on the +rascals!” cried the constable, very well pleased +that he could issue orders.</p> + +<p>Neale’s heart was torn with doubts.</p> + +<h2 class='chapter' id='clink25'><a href='#toc'>CHAPTER XXV—THE CAPTURE</a></h2> + +<p>Constable Newcomb and his posse disposed +themselves comfortably aboard the <i>Bluebird</i>, and, +at a nod from Mr. Howbridge, Neale rang the +bell to tell Hank to throw in the gear clutch and +start the boat.</p> + +<p>The girls, much to Agnes’ dissatisfaction, had +been left ashore, since there was likely to be rough +work arresting the “Klondikers,” as the constable +called the tramps on Cedar Island. Mrs. MacCall +stayed with them.</p> + +<p>They had disembarked at the point dock and +when the boat pulled off went to the hotel there +to await the return of their friends.</p> + +<p>“Now, Mr. Newcomb, perhaps you can explain +what it’s all about,” suggested the lawyer to the +constable, when they sat on deck together, near +Neale at the steering wheel. The lawyer made the +boy a signal to say nothing, but to listen.</p> + +<p>“Well, this is what it’s about,” was the answer. +“As I told you, a parcel of tramps—Klondikers +they call themselves because, I understand, +some of ’em have been in Alaska. Anyhow a parcel +of tramps are living on Cedar Island. +They’ve been robbing right and left, and the folks +around here are tired of it. So a complaint was +made and I’ve got a lot of warrants to arrest the +men.”</p> + +<p>“Do you know any of their names?” asked the +lawyer.</p> + +<p>“No, all the warrants are made out in the name +of John Doe. That’s legal, you know.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I know,” assented Mr. Howbridge. +“And how many do you expect to arrest?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, about half a dozen. Two of ’em have a +motor boat, I understand, but they had an accident +in the storm last night and can’t navigate. +That’s the reason we’re going over there now—they +can’t get away!”</p> + +<p>“Good!” exclaimed Mr. Howbridge. “I fancy, +Mr. Newcomb, I may be able to add another complaint +to the ones you already have, if two of the +men turn out to be the characters we suspect.”</p> + +<p>“Why, have they been robbing your hen roost, +too?” asked the constable.</p> + +<p>“No, but two of my wards, Ruth and Agnes +Kenway, were robbed of a box of jewelry just before +we started on this trip,” said the lawyer. +“Two rough men held them up in a hallway on +a rainy morning and snatched a jewel box. The +men were tramps—and the day before that two +men who called themselves Klondikers had looked +at vacant rooms in the house where the robbery +occurred. Since then the girls think they have +seen the same tramps several times. I hope you +can round them up.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll get ’em if they’re on Cedar Island!” the +constable declared. “Got your guns, boys?” he +asked the members of his posse.</p> + +<p>Each one had, it seemed, and the nervous tension +grew as the island was neared. Hank drove +the <i>Bluebird</i> at her best speed, which, of course, +was not saying much, for she was not a fast craft. +But gradually the objective point came into view.</p> + +<p>“It’s just as well not to have too fast a boat,” +the constable said. “If the Klondikers saw it +coming they might jump in the lake and swim +away. They won’t be so suspicious of this.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps not,” the lawyer assented. But he +could not help thinking how tragic it would be if +it should happen that Neale’s father was among +those captured. Neale himself guided the houseboat +on her way.</p> + +<p>“Put her around into that cove,” Constable +Newcomb directed the youth at the wheel, when +the island was reached.</p> + +<p>Silently the <i>Bluebird</i> floated into a little natural +harbor and was made fast to the bank.</p> + +<p>“All ashore now, and don’t make any noise,” +ordered the officer. “They haven’t spotted us +yet, I guess. We may surround ’em and capture +’em without any trouble.”</p> + +<p>“Let us hope so,” said Mr. Howbridge. “Have +they some sort of house or headquarters?”</p> + +<p>“They live in a shack or two,” the constable +replied. “It’s in the middle of the island. I’d +better lead the way,” he went on, and he placed +himself at the head of his men.</p> + +<p>“Don’t make any outcry or any explanation if +your father is among these men,” said Mr. Howbridge +to Neale, as the two walked on behind the +posse. This was the first direct reference to the +matter the lawyer had made.</p> + +<p>“I’ll do whatever you say,” assented Neale listlessly.</p> + +<p>“It may all be a mistake,” went on the lawyer +sympathetically. “We will not jump at conclusions.”</p> + +<p>Hank had been sworn in as a special deputy, and +was with the other men who pressed on through +the woods after Constable Newcomb.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the leader halted, and his men did +likewise.</p> + +<p>“Something’s up!” called Mr. Howbridge to +Neale. They went on a little farther and saw, in +a clearing, a small cabin. There was no sign of +life about it.</p> + +<p>“I guess they’re in there,” said the constable +in a low tone to his men. “The motor boat’s at +the dock, and so is the rowboat, so they’re on +the island. Close in, men!” he suddenly cried.</p> + +<p>There was a rush toward the cabin, and Mr. +Howbridge and Neale followed. The door was +burst in and the constable and his posse entered.</p> + +<p>Three men were asleep in rude bunks, and they +sat up bleary-eyed and bewildered at the unexpected +rush.</p> + +<p>“Wot’s matter?” asked one, thickly.</p> + +<p>“You’re under arrest!” exclaimed the constable. +“In the name of the law I arrest you! +I’m the law!” he went on, tapping his nickel +shield.</p> + +<p>One of the men made a dart for a window, as +though to get out, but he was knocked back by +a deputy, and in a few seconds all three men were +secured.</p> + +<p>Neale, who had pressed into the cabin as soon +as possible, looked with fast-beating heart into +the faces of the three tramps. To his great relief +none was his father.</p> + +<p>“Now, what’s all this about?” growled one of +the men. “What’s the game?”</p> + +<p>“You’ll find out soon enough,” declared the +constable. “Are either of these the men you +spoke of?” he asked the lawyer.</p> + +<p>“Yes, those two are the ones that several times +went off in a hurry in the motor boat,” said Mr. +Howbridge. “But I can not identify them as the +ones who took the jewelry. Ruth and Agnes Kenway +will have to do that.”</p> + +<p>As he spoke the two men looked at him. One +shook his head and the other exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“It’s all up. They got us right!”</p> + +<p>“Come on now lively, men!” cried Constable +Newcomb. “Search this place, gather up what +evidence you can, and we’ll take ’em to jail.”</p> + +<p>“Are there any others?” asked Neale, hoping +against hope as the men were taken outside the +shack and the search was begun.</p> + +<p>“I guess we have the main ones, anyhow,” answered +Mr. Newcomb. “Oh, look at this bunch of +stuff!” he cried, as he threw back the dirty +blankets of one of the bunks. “They’ve been robbing +right and left.”</p> + +<p>It was a heterogeneous collection of articles, and +at the sight of one box Mr. Howbridge exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“There it is! The jewelry case I gave Miss +Ruth! These men were either the thieves or they +know something about the robbery. See if anything +is left in the box.”</p> + +<p>It was quickly opened, and seen to contain a +number of rings, pins, and trinkets.</p> + +<p>“Well, there’s a good part of it,” the lawyer +remarked. “It will need Ruth and Agnes to tell +just what is missing.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Howbridge and Neale were watching the +constable and his men finish the search of the +cabin, while others of the posse had taken the +prisoners to the boat, when suddenly into the +shack came another man, whose well-worn clothing +would seem to proclaim him as one of the +“Klondikers.”</p> + +<p>But at the sight of this man Neale sprang forward, +and held out his hands.</p> + +<p>“Father!” cried the boy. “Don’t you know +me?”</p> + +<p>“It’s Neale—my son!” was the gasping exclamation. +“How in the world did you get here? +I was just about to start for Milton to look you +up.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I guess, before you do, we’ll look you +up a bit, and maybe lock you up, also,” said the +constable dryly. “Do you belong to the Klondike +bunch?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Well, yes, I might say that I do; or rather +that I did.” said Neale’s father, and though the +boy gasped in dismay, Mr. O’Neil smiled. “I +understand the crowd has been captured,” he +added.</p> + +<p>“Yes. And you may consider yourself captured +also!” snapped out the officer. “Jim, a pair +of handcuffs here!”</p> + +<p>“One moment!” interposed Mr. Howbridge, +with a glance at Neale. “I represent this man, +officer. I’ll supply bail for him—”</p> + +<p>Mr. O’Neil laughed.</p> + +<p>“Thank you,” he said. “Your offer is kind, and +I appreciate it. But I shan’t need bail. I believe +you received a letter telling you to make this +raid, did you not?” he asked the constable.</p> + +<p>“I did,” was the answer. “It was that letter +which gave us the clue to the robbers. I’d like +to meet the man who wrote it. He said he would +give evidence against the rascals.”</p> + +<p>“Who signed that letter?” asked Neale’s +father.</p> + +<p>“I have it here. I can show you,” offered Mr. +Newcomb. “It was signed by a man named +O’Neil,” he added as he produced the document. +“He said he’d meet us here, but—”</p> + +<p>“Well, he has met you. I’m O’Neil,” broke in +the other. “And it was I who gave you the information.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Father!” cried Neale, “then you’re not +one of the—”</p> + +<p>“I’m not one of the thieves; though I admit +my living here among them made it look so,” said +Mr. O’Neil. “It is easily explained. One of the +men made a fraudulent claim to part of a mine I +own in Alaska, and I had to remain in his company +until I could disprove his statements. This +I have done. The matter is all cleared up, and I +concluded it was time to hand the rascals over to +the law. So I sent the letter to the authorities, +and I’m glad it is all ended.”</p> + +<p>“So am I!” cried Neale. “Then you did strike +it rich after all?”</p> + +<p>“No, not exactly rich, Son. I was pretty lucky, +though, and I struck pay dirt in the Klondike. I +wrote your Uncle Bill about it, but probably the +letters miscarried. I never was much of a letter +writer, anyhow. And I never knew until the other +day that you were so anxious to find me. I +couldn’t have left here anyhow, though, for I had +to straighten out my affairs. Now everything +is all right. Do you still want to arrest me?” he +asked the constable.</p> + +<p>“No,” replied Mr. Newcomb. “I reckon you’re +a friend of the law and, in consequence, you’re +my friend. Now come on, boys, we’ll lock up the +other birds.”</p> + +<p>Neale walked by the side of his father and it +was difficult to say who talked the most. Mr. +Howbridge accompanied the constable and from +him learned how the raid had been planned +through information sent by Mr. O’Neil.</p> + +<p>When the party reached the houseboat, whither +some of the deputies had preceded with the prisoners, +the sight of a figure on the upper deck attracted +the attention of Neale and the lawyer.</p> + +<p>“Agnes!” gasped her guardian. “How did +you get here?”</p> + +<p>“On the <i>Bluebird</i>. I just couldn’t bear to be +left behind, and so I slipped on board again after +you said good-by on the dock. There wasn’t any +shooting after all,” she added, as if disappointed.</p> + +<p>“No, it was easier than I expected,” admitted +the lawyer. “And, while you should not have +come, this may interest you!”</p> + +<p>“Our jewelry!” cried Agnes as she took the +extended box. Quickly she looked over the contents.</p> + +<p>“Only two little pins are missing!” she reported. +“We shan’t mind the loss of them. Oh, +how glad I am to get my things! And mother’s +wedding ring, too! How did it happen?”</p> + +<p>“I think you have Neale’s father to thank,” answered +Mr. Howbridge.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I am so glad!” cried Agnes, and she was +happy in more ways than one. “What did I tell +you, Neale O’Neil?”</p> + +<p>The <i>Bluebird</i> made a quick trip back to the +point and the rascals were locked up. Two of +them proved to be the thieves who had robbed +Ruth and Agnes, though their ill-gotten gains did +them little good, as they dared not dispose of +them. The third prisoner was not involved in +that robbery, though he was implicated in others +around the lake. Eventually, all three went to +prison for long terms.</p> + +<p>Neale’s father, of course, was not involved. +As he explained, he had located a mine in Alaska +and it made him moderately well off. But he had +a rascally partner, and it was necessary for Mr. +O’Neil to stay with this man until a settlement +was made. It was this partner who had dealings +with the thieves; and that had made it look bad +for Neale’s father. This man was arrested later.</p> + +<p>As soon as he saw how matters were on Cedar +Island Mr. O’Neil decided to give the evil men +over to the law, and he carried out his plan as +quickly as possible. The two “Klondikers” who +had inquired about rooms from the Stetson family +were part of the thieving gang, and they were +also later arrested. They were planning a bank +robbery in town, and the two men who took the +jewelry from Ruth and Agnes were part of the +same crowd. The robbery of the girls, of course, +was done on the spur of the moment. The two +ragged men had merely taken shelter in the doorway, +after having called at the Stetson house to +get the “lay of the land.” And as such characters +are always on the watch to commit some +crime they hope may profit them, these two acted +on the impulse.</p> + +<p>For some reason the bank robbery plans miscarried, +and the two jewelry robbers started back +for Lake Macopic, where they had left some confederates, +including Mr. O’Neil’s partner. The +rascals imagined the Corner House girls were following +them, hence the several quick departures in +the motor boat. Whether one of these men looked +in the window of Tess was never learned.</p> + +<p>“I’m so glad our suspicions of Hank were unfounded,” +said Ruth, when later the events of the +day were being talked over in the <i>Bluebird</i> cabin.</p> + +<p>“Yes, that ring was his mother’s,” said Neale. +“He told me about it after I had hinted that we +had been watching him. And, oh, Father, I’m so +glad I found you!” he added. “You’re through +with the Klondike; aren’t you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I’m going to sell out my mine and go into +some other business.”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean back to the circus?” asked Mr. +Howbridge.</p> + +<p>“No. Though I want to see Bill and the +others.”</p> + +<p>“Why don’t you stay with us and finish the +trip on the houseboat, Mr. O’Neil?” Ruth asked.</p> + +<p>“Thank you, I will,” he answered, after the +others had added their urgings to Ruth’s invitation.</p> + +<p>And so, after the somewhat exciting adventures +the trip was resumed, and eventually the craft +was delivered to her owner.</p> + +<p>Before this, however, happy days were spent +cruising about Lake Macopic, the children and +Mrs. MacCall enjoying life to the utmost. There +were days of fishing and days of bathing and +splashing in the limpid waters near sandy beaches. +Tess and Dot were taught to swim by Neale, and +his father made the children laugh by imitating +seals he had seen in Alaska.</p> + +<p>Hank, too, seemed to enjoy the vacation days, +and he proved a valuable helper, forming a great +friendship with Mr. O’Neil. During those days +Ruth received two more letters from Luke and +one from his sister. Luke was still working hard +at the summer hotel, and Cecile reported that the +sick aunt was now much better. Luke congratulated +Neale on finding his father. And then, as +was usual, he added a page or two intended only +for Ruth’s eyes,—words that made her eyes shine +with rare happiness.</p> + +<p>“Oh, we had a lovely time!” said Agnes when +they disembarked for the last time. “The nicest +summer vacation we ever spent.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed it was,” agreed Ruth.</p> + +<p>“And when I get home I’m going to send Mr. +Henry my doll and a kitten so he won’t be lonesome +on that island in winter,” observed Dot.</p> + +<p>“And I’m going to send Mr. Tom something,” +declared Tess. “He likes me, and maybe when I +grow up I’ll marry him!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, what a child!” laughed Ruth.</p> + +<p>“I’m glad you liked the trip,” said the lawyer. +“And I think we can agree that it accomplished +something,” he added as he looked at Neale and +his father.</p> + +<p>“It made my Alice-doll a lot better!” piped up +Dot, and they all laughed.</p> + +<p>And so, in this jolly mood, we will take leave of +the Corner House Girls.</p> + +<p class='center' style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;'>THE END</p> +<hr style='border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:70%; margin:2em auto' /> + +<p>CHARMING STORIES FOR GIRLS</p> + +<p>(From eight to twelve years old)</p> + +<p>THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS SERIES</p> + +<p>BY GRACE BROOKS HILL</p> + +<p>Four girls from eight to fourteen +years of age receive word that a rich +bachelor uncle has died, leaving them +the old Corner House he occupied. +They move into it and then the fun +begins. What they find and do will +provoke many a hearty laugh. Later, +they enter school and make many +friends. One of these invites the +girls to spend a few weeks at a bungalow +owned by her parents; and the +adventures they meet with make very +interesting reading. Clean, wholesome +stories of humor and adventure, +sure to appeal to all young girls.</p> + +<p> +       1 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS.<br/> +       2 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS AT SCHOOL.<br/> +       3 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS UNDER CANVAS.<br/> +       4 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS IN A PLAY.<br/> +       5 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS’ ODD FIND.<br/> +       6 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS ON A TOUR.<br/> +       7 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS GROWING UP.<br/> +       8 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS SNOWBOUND.<br/> +       9 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS ON A HOUSEBOAT.<br/> +       10 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS AMONG THE GYPSIES.<br/> +       11 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS ON PALM ISLAND.<br/> +</p> + +<p>BARSE & HOPKINS, PUBLISHERS</p> + +<p>Newark N.J.—New York, N.Y.</p> +<hr style='border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:70%; margin:2em auto' /> + +<p>THE POLLY PENDLETON SERIES</p> + +<p>BY DOROTHY WHITEHILL</p> + +<p>Polly Pendleton is a resourceful, wide-awake +American girl who goes to a boarding +school on the Hudson River some miles +above New York. By her pluck and resourcefulness, +she soon makes a place for +herself and this she holds right through the +course. The account of boarding school +life is faithful and pleasing and will attract +every girl in her teens.</p> + +<p> +       1 POLLY’S FIRST YEAR AT BOARDING SCHOOL<br/> +       2 POLLY’S SUMMER VACATION<br/> +       3 POLLY’S SENIOR YEAR AT BOARDING SCHOOL<br/> +       4 POLLY SEES THE WORLD AT WAR<br/> +       5 POLLY AND LOIS<br/> +       6 POLLY AND BOB<br/> +</p> + +<p>Cloth, Large 12mo., Illustrated.</p> + +<p>BARSE & HOPKINS, PUBLISHERS</p> + +<p>Newark N.J.—New York, N.Y.</p> +<hr style='border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:70%; margin:2em auto' /> + +<p>CHICKEN LITTLE JANE SERIES</p> + +<p>By LILY MUNSELL RITCHIE</p> + +<p>Chicken Little Jane is a +Western prairie girl who +lives a happy, outdoor life +in a country where there +is plenty of room to turn +around. She is a wide-awake, +resourceful girl +who will instantly win her +way into the hearts of +other girls. And what +good times she has!—with +her pets, her friends, and +her many interests. +“Chicken Little” is the affectionate +nickname given to her when she is +very, very good, but when she misbehaves it is +“Jane”—just Jane!</p> + +<p> +       Adventures of Chicken Little Jane<br/> +       Chicken Little Jane on the “Big John”<br/> +       Chicken Little Jane Comes to Town<br/> +</p> + +<p>With numerous illustrations in pen and ink</p> + +<p>By CHARLES D. HUBBARD</p> + +<p>BARSE & HOPKINS, PUBLISHERS</p> + +<p>NEWARK, N. J.—NEW YORK, N. Y.</p> +<hr style='border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:70%; margin:2em auto' /> + +<p>Dorothy Whitehill Series For Girls</p> + +<p>Here is a sparkling new +series of stories for girls—just +what they will like, +and ask for more of the +same kind. It is all about +twin sisters, who for the +first few years in their +lives grow up in ignorance +of each other’s existence. +Then they are at +last brought together and +things begin to happen. +Janet is an independent +go-ahead sort of girl; +while her sister Phyllis is—but meet the twins +for yourself and be entertained.</p> + +<p>6 Titles, Cloth, large 12mo., Covers in color.</p> + +<p> +       1. JANET, A TWIN<br/> +       2. PHYLLIS, A TWIN<br/> +       3. THE TWINS IN THE WEST<br/> +       4. THE TWINS IN THE SOUTH<br/> +       5. THE TWINS’ SUMMER VACATION<br/> +       6. THE TWINS AND TOMMY JR.<br/> +</p> + +<p>BARSE & HOPKINS, PUBLISHERS</p> + +<p>NEWARK, N. J.—NEW YORK, N. Y.</p> +<hr style='border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:70%; margin:2em auto' /> + +<p>THE MARY JANE SERIES</p> + +<p>BY CLARA INGRAM JUDSON</p> + +<p>Cloth, 12mo. Illustrated.</p> + +<p>With picture inlay and wrapper.</p> + +<p>Mary Jane is the typical American little +girl who bubbles over with fun and the +good things in life. We meet her here on +a visit to her grandfather’s farm where she +becomes acquainted with farm life and farm +animals and thoroughly enjoys the experience. +We next see her going to +kindergarten and then on a visit to Florida, and then—but +read the stories for yourselves.</p> + +<p>Exquisitely and charmingly written are these books which +every little girl from five to nine years old will want from the +first book to the last.</p> + +<p> +       1 MARY JANE—HER BOOK<br/> +       2 MARY JANE—HER VISIT<br/> +       3 MARY JANE’S KINDERGARTEN<br/> +       4 MARY JANE DOWN SOUTH<br/> +       5 MARY JANE’S CITY HOME<br/> +       6 MARY JANE IN NEW ENGLAND<br/> +       7 MARY JANE’S COUNTY HOME<br/> +</p> + +<p>BARSE & HOPKINS, PUBLISHERS</p> + +<p>NEWARK, N. J.—NEW YORK, N. Y.</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Corner House Girls on a Houseboat, by +Grace Brooks Hill + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS ON A *** + +***** This file should be named 38609-h.htm or 38609-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/6/0/38609/ + +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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