ust as we left it
after we filled it up again that day. And when we came back again, I
looked a second time, and still it was the same. And I watched half the
night and would certainly have seen if any one had gone there. No, I'm
sure it wasn't for that. But what was it for?"

"Give it up," advised Phyllis, "at least for the present. Anything else?"

"No, except the conclusion I drew about the person's coming on a stormy
night. Do you realize this?--there's quite a big chance that they--or
rather, _she_!--will come again on the _next_ stormy night--perhaps!"

"Well, if that's the case," exclaimed Phyllis, "I've drawn a little
conclusion of my own. The next stormy night I'm going to spend at your
bungalow--and we're going to keep awake all night!"

CHAPTER VII

A NEW DEVELOPMENT

But the weather remained quite clear for several nights after this. And
meantime other things happened that gave a new twist to the girls'
conjectures.

Two mornings after the events of the last chapter, Phyllis appeared at
Rest Haven with a mysterious wrapped parcel in her hand. Answering
Leslie's curious glance, she whispered:

"I want you to take this thing and keep it here and hide it. It's 'The
Dragon's Secret.' I don't feel safe a minute with it around our place
since Ted's performance the other day. You know, he boasted he'd find out
our secret, and he will certainly make every effort to, or I don't know
him. Whether he'll succeed or not depends upon how clever _we_ are in
spoiling his plans. If he found this, though, we might as well not try to
keep the rest from him. I discovered him snooping around my room rather
suspiciously yesterday. This was locked up in my trunk, and he _said_ he
was only hunting for fudge! But anyhow, you'd better keep it now, if you
can think of some safe place to hide it."

"I'm sure I don't know where to put it!" sighed Leslie, rather worried by
the responsibility. "Aunt Marcia and I shared one big trunk because it
didn't seem worth while to bring two, when one needs so few things here.
So of course I couldn't put it in there, and the lock of my suitcase is
broken. There isn't a bureau-drawer with a key in the whole bungalow--so
what am I going to do?"

For a time, Phyllis was equally puzzled. Then suddenly she had a bright
idea. "I'll tell you! That top shelf in your pantry where the
refrigerator is! You said you'd put quite a few k