Part 42 (2/2)
But it all ended happily.
”And so they caught Cross?” remarked Jack.
”Yes,” said the lawyer, ”one of the private detectives got a clue and followed it up. They got his crony, too, the other man who came in the office when you ran out, Nancy. And they both confessed, after pressure was brought to bear on them. It is not the first crime Cross has been guilty of. He has a bad record, I am told. I learned of his arrest after I started here this morning, following your telegram,” he said to Cora, for, on learning of the arrival of Mrs. Raymond, Cora had wired to her mother's lawyer to come in haste.
”Then my name is cleared?” asked Mrs. Raymond.
”Absolutely,” answered Mr. Beacon. ”You will not even have to appear in court.”
”I wish _I_ didn't have to,” said Nancy, nervously.
”I can arrange to have a private hearing,” went on the lawyer. ”It will be no ordeal at all.”
Nor did Nancy find it so. A kindly judge in his chambers, several days later, listened to the story, and named Mr. Beacon as guardian of Nancy Ford, whose property was, in the main, saved from the clutches of Mr.
Cross. He had embezzled some of it, and that crime, with others, brought him severe punishment.
As for Mrs. Raymond, she went to live with her brother in the lighthouse.
”And now for some good times!” exclaimed Cora when all the legal matters had been attended to. ”We have had enough of mystery and wonderings. You can spend the rest of the summer here with us; can't you, Nancy?”
”If you want me, and have room.”
”Of course we want you!” cried Jack. ”Remember you promised to ride in my car when we go over to Stony Beach to-morrow.”
”I asked her first!” cried Norton.
”But she promised me,” cut in Walter.
”Oh, what boys!” protested the blus.h.i.+ng Nancy.
”Don't mind them,” suggested Cora, putting her arms around her new friend.
”You'll soon get used to them.”
”I think I can get used to almost _anything_--after that s.h.i.+pwreck,” said Nancy, with a smile.
”Well, I like _that_!” cried Jack. ”Comparing us to a s.h.i.+pwreck! Come on, fellows, let's go fis.h.i.+ng. The tide is right for crabbing, too,” and they went out, leaving the girls to themselves.
”In spite of everything--the fire, the s.h.i.+pwreck and the many wonderings it has been a wonderful summer,” said Cora softly, as they sat on the broad porch.
”And I wonder what the winter will bring forth--and next summer?” remarked Belle. But the further adventures of the little band of friends must be reserved for another volume, which will be ent.i.tled ”The Motor Girls on Crystal Bay; Or, The Secret of the Red Oar.”
The summer vacation was almost at an end. There was one last motor boat trip, and then the _Duck_ was returned to its owner, and the _Pet_ again made ready for the land journey back to Chelton.
”Good-bye, bungalows, good-bye!” recited Cora on the day of their departure, as she got into her big maroon car.
<script>