Part 5 (2/2)

”And we must get back to the bungalow,” she observed. ”Freda and I have an important appointment for eleven, and if you all promise not to follow us or attempt to go out in the _Chelton_, perhaps we will have some interesting news for you this evening.”

The boys strolled away, talking about the motor boat they had hired.

Money, for some reason, was not plentiful that Summer with Jack and his chums, and they had to be content with a second-hand craft, that had been patched and re-patched until there was little of the original left. They were not even sure the _La.s.sie_ would run, but they were anxious to try her.

CHAPTER IV

THE RED OAR

”This way, Cora. The sand is so heavy out there it is better to keep near the edge,” said Freda, as the two girls tramped along in the deep sand of the seash.o.r.e that banded Crystal Bay.

”But isn't it perfectly beautiful along here?” exclaimed Cora, in rapt delight. ”I had no idea the little place could be so charming.”

”Oh, yes,” returned Freda, with a suspicion of a sigh. ”Over there, just in that splendid green stretch is, or was, grandfather's place.

It runs all along to the island, and on the other side there is a stream that has been used for a mill race.”

”Over there!” Cora repeated. ”Why, that looks like the very best part of the bay. And that house on the hill?”

”Grandfather's own home and--mother's,” finished Freda.

”Is it rented now?”

”Yes, we have rented it for three years, and it has brought us quite a little income,” said Freda.

”But you see that is cut off now. I am sure I do not know who collects the rents.”

”What a shame!” cried Cora. ”And all because there is some technical proof of owners.h.i.+p missing. I should think that when your family had undisputed possession for years it ought to be sufficient to establish your rights.”

”Yes, we never dreamed we could lose it,” Freda explained. ”Mother and I have lived there in the Winter since father died, and we have rented it in Summer, as I said. Of course the Summer is the desirable time here. And we had some of the loveliest old furniture. But when we had to break up we sold most of it.”

”Look out! There's a hole there,” Cora warned just in time, for in the heavy sand little rivulets were creeping from some rollers tossed in by a pa.s.sing boat. The bay was dotted with many craft, and the picture it presented gave Cora keen delight, for it forecasted a merry Summer for the motor girls.

”We only have a little farther to go,” Freda said. ”I hope old Denny has kept his word and stayed in. He is the queerest old fellow--you will be amused at him, I am sure. But he was always such a staunch friend of grandfather.”

”I am anxious to meet him,” rejoined Cora. ”Somehow I feel we girls ought to get at the bottom of this. Wouldn't it be fine if we could?”

”More than fine, it would be glorious!” Freda replied. ”If we lose it all now, I will have to look for work. Not that I mind that,” she added, ”but I intend to take a course in nursing. I have always longed to be a nurse.”

”And that would be a splendid profession for you,” Cora agreed. ”I do hope you will not have to go to work in some office.”

”Oh, there's Denny! Denny!” called Freda, leaving Cora without further ceremony, and hurrying ahead as fast as the soft sand would allow.

”See, there he is! Just going out in his fis.h.i.+ng boat.”

Cora ran after her, and soon they overtook the old fisherman, who was deaf. Freda didn't mind getting her shoes wet in order to approach the water's edge.

”Good morning, Denny,” she called, ”come in here. We want to talk to you.”

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