ust come for us, Miss
Tolliver," she begged a moment later, happening to meet the principal
in the hall. Nellie had already run off to find Miss Jenny Ann.

The express package was long and quite narrow, and Miss Tolliver
insisted that a sheet be spread out to protect the library floor.
Joseph, the houseman, was sent for to open the box. He hammered and
pried out a dozen or more nails. Inside the wooden box was a pasteboard
one of exactly the same shape. Phyllis lifted the lid and gave a sharp
cry. She and Miss Matilda Tolliver were standing nearest to the box.
Miss Tolliver repeated Phil's cry in shriller and more terrified tones.
"Be calm, girls, be calm," she commanded the next moment as she dropped
into a chair. "Joseph, go for the police. Some one has sent us a bomb
to blow up the school."

Madge could not help peeping over into the box. Phyllis was shaking
with laughter. She had seen a white card sticking out of the funnel of
an odd boat-shaped box. The card bore the name of Lieutenant James
Mandeville Lawton.

"It isn't a bomb, Miss Matilda, it is only a pasteboard model of our
friend Lieutenant Jimmy Lawton's torpedo-boat destroyer. Lieutenant
Lawton promised to let us hear if he were successful in preventing some
people from stealing the patent on his boat. He has just taken this way
to let us know he has won. It's awfully jolly!" explained Phil. "I am
so glad he remembered us."

She picked up the miniature torpedo-boat destroyer and a shower of
bonbons fell to the floor.

Every one laughed, including Miss Matilda Tolliver.

In the top of the box were two flags. One was a little silk flag of the
United States Navy. The other one was in blue and white. On it was
inscribed: "Long Life to the 'Merry Maid' and Her Merry Maidens."

Madge waved the blue flag triumphantly over her head. "Them's my
sentiments!" she announced. "Aren't we glad that our little houseboat
was found unharmed? Sure and she is only waiting for us to take her
into new waters."

"It won't be very long till next summer," comforted Phil.

"And then we'll pull up anchor for new scenes."

Where they went and what happened to them the following summer is fully
set forth in "MADGE MORTON'S TRUST." Those who have been interested in
the little captain and her friends will find the history of their third
houseboat voyage even more absorbing than either of their earlier trips
on board the famous "Merry Maid."

THE END.

* *