Part 45 (1/2)

The afternoon had been cloudy, and late in the evening it began to rain

Then the wind cah the forest inthousands of whitecaps across the surface of the lake

”It isn't Mirror Lake to-night,” said Belle, with a little shi+ver ”It's o out in a canoe to-night,” returned Phil, as beside her

”I think we are going to have quite a storm,” said Laura ”Just listen to that wind!”

With fitful gusts tearing around the bungalows, no one feltto bed About ten o'clock ca for half an hour Then the wind died away, and gradually the rain ceased

”I guess the worst of it is over,” announced Mrs Wadsworth, presently

”I think we may as well retire” And shortly after that all of the in while Dave could not sleep As had been the case the night previous, he tu of the trouble that had come to him But at last tired nature claimed its own, and he sank into a profound slumber, from which he did not awaken until some time after sunrise

”hello! I must have overslept,” he declared, as he leaped up, to see that his chu his toilet, and the other boys and soirls had started to walk down to the dock to look at the lake, when a cry caalow

”Mrs Wadsworth! Mr Porter!” cairl ”Please come here!”

”What is it, Mary?” asked Mrs Wadsworth, as she appeared fros are ?”

”Sure, , irl pointed around in a helpless sort of fashi+on ”All the knives and forks and spoons are gone! And so are some of the pots and pans and kettles!”

”Is that possible?”

”Yes, s in the pantry and in the ice-box are gone, too!” announced Mary, running frolarized, ma'am!”

CHAPTER XXVIII

DELLA FORD'S STATEMENT

”Burglars!”

”Did they take any of our valuables?”

”Oh, I wonder if they were in our roos here when you went to bed?” questioned Mrs

Wadsworth, of the servant girl, as now in the wildest possible state of excite from one roo was in its place I'irls crowded into the kitchen, and then looked into the pantry, in a corner of which was located the ice-box

”How about this pantry , Mary? Did you leave it open last night?”