e present,
we'll have to be satisfied with locking him up. We have plenty of
evidence," she added, waving that part of it aside with a motion of her
hand. "Letters and things, you know. He kidnapped my little brother and
sister," indicating the twins, who snuggled close against her and
regarded their former captor with terrified eyes, "and then demanded
twenty thousand dollars of my mother for their return."

"Blackmail, eh?" growled one of the men, throwing a scornful look at the
Spaniard. "Well, you'll get paid up this time, old boy. Get on there,
will you?"

* * * * *

It was many hours later and the dusk was falling softly over the land.
The passengers of the wrecked ship had long ago started villageward,
there to entrain for the city, leaving two of their number behind.

These two were seated at the head of a long table in the little house at
Bluff Point, devouring chicken and rice before an audience of admiring
and joyful Outdoor Girls. Only Mollie very often could not see them for
the tears that dimmed her eyes.

Quite suddenly Betty stopped in the very middle of a sentence to stare
at Mollie.

"Your mother!" she cried. "You forgot to let her know!"

"Oh, no, I didn't," Mollie answered. "I sent a telegram by one of the
boys who took that dirty Spaniard to the station. And, oh, girls," she
leaned forward suddenly while the tears overflowed and slowly trickled
down her face, "if she does as I begged her to, she will be here
to-morrow. Darling little mother!"

At the love in her voice the girls felt their own eyes grow wet.

"What a difference!" said Betty softly, looking around the table. "A few
nights ago we were utterly miserable. Now we are wildly happy. We have
the darling twins back again, and our boys 'over there' are safe.
Girls," she cried, suddenly springing to her feet and raising her cup on
high, "let's drink a toast--"

"To what?" they cried, rising with one motion.

"To the time when our boys come home!"

And so, in the midst of their happiness, with the dark clouds rolled
away and the sun shining through, we will once more wave farewell to our
Outdoor Girls.

THE END

* * * * *

_This Isn't All!_

Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have made in
this book?

Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures and
experiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the same