Part 2 (1/2)
They met at the station the next morning--the girls and boys. Lottie Weaver was there, in the glory of a new maroon sweater, and Ed Foster was also on time.
The express for Crystal Bay was late, and as Cora and her motor girl chums marched up and down the platform, nervously waiting, Cora saw a girl coming from the waiting room.
”Why, Freda Lewis!” she exclaimed, hurrying up and putting her arms about her. ”What are you doing here? I thought you were going back to Bar Harbor for the Summer.”
”So we were! Oh, Cora! I'm so glad to see you. I had to change cars here--I got on the wrong train, it seems. I've been traveling all night.”
”You look it, my dear! Oh, if I had only known you were here----”
”I haven't been waiting long. I'm to take the Sh.o.r.e Express.”
”That's our train. But, Freda, you don't look at all well--not a bit as you did at school,” for Freda was a chum Cora had made much of a year or so before, but had not seen of late.
”I'm not well, Cora,” said Freda, earnestly.
”What is the trouble?”
”Anxiety, mostly. Oh, Cora, we've had such a dreadful time, mother and I!”
Her voice trembled pitifully.
”Freda, dear, what is the matter?” asked Cora in sympathetic tones, for she saw tears in the other's eyes.
”Oh, it's money matters. You know we own--or at least we thought we did--a large tract of land at Crystal Bay.”
”Crystal Bay!” exclaimed Cora, in surprise.
”Yes. It was Grandfather Lewis's homestead. Well, most of our income has come from that since father's death, and now--Oh, I don't know all the details, but some land speculators--land sharks, mother calls them--are disputing our t.i.tle.
”Mother has just worried herself sick over it, and I'm afraid she is going into nervous prostration. I've been to see some distant relatives about the matter, but I can't do anything. I'm so sorry for dear little mother. If she should break down----”
Poor, worried Freda could not go on. Cora held her close and the thought came to her that Freda herself was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The girl had changed very much from the happy, laughing chum of a year before.
”Freda, dear, tell me more about it,” murmured Cora. ”Perhaps I can help--I have friends--Jack and I----”
”Here comes the train!” interrupted Jack. ”Come on, Cora!”
”I must see you again, Freda,” said Cora, hastily. ”I'll look for you on the train. I've got to get my party together. Don't forget--I'll see you again!” and, wondering what was the cause of her friend's worry, Cora hastened up the platform, toward her companions, while the train steamed noisily in.
CHAPTER II
FREDA'S STORY
”Well, are we all here?”
”Count noses!”
”Did anybody lose anything?”