ere," added Hazel. "I'm so anxious to
hear from home."

"Yeth, tho am I," lisped little Grace Thompson.

"You have arranged for us at the hotel for to-night, haven't you?"
demanded Jane McCarthy. "Father said you would look after these
matters for me."

"It's all right, Miss. We'll go to the postoffice now. I'll look
after your baggage when we get you settled for the night. We won't
take it away from the station till we talk over what you want to do.
Are you ready?"

They walked down the street, laughing and chatting, a happy lot of
girls, followed by a group of curious villagers, who even accompanied
them into the post-office. It was unusual to see so many pretty girls
in Compton, for summer visitors seldom came to the place. Furthermore,
these were different from any visitors ever seen there, so far as dress
was concerned. While waiting for the mail to be distributed, the girls
laughed and talked, apparently utterly oblivious of the presence of the
staring villagers. Miss Elting inquired for mail for the party as soon
as the wicket was opened.

"Here, Tommy, is a letter for you," she smiled. Grace took the letter
eagerly. "And here are letters for Harriet, Hazel, and Margery. There
is one for me, too. It is from your father, Jane."

"I have a letter here from Dad. I--will you look at that?" Jane stood
staring at the window. For a brief instant she had caught sight of a
man wearing a huge pair of goggles. He was peering through the
post-office window at them. But as she looked, the man disappeared.
"It was our friend with the green goggles again as sure as I'm alive!"
she exclaimed. "He was staring in here for all he was worth, but the
minute he saw me looking at him he vanished."

"I am afraid we are going to have trouble with this mysterious
individual," declared Harriet. "He seems to have developed a peculiar
interest in our affairs that is far from flattering."

"We are not going to be annoyed as we were last year," said Miss Elting
firmly. "Mr. Grubb, there is something very strange in all this. If
for any reason you know this man or have even the slightest idea of his
identity I must ask you to be perfectly frank with me."

Janus Grubb declared solemnly that he had not the least idea who the
man could have been. Nor had he been able to find any person who had
seen the fellow approach them. Miss Elting and the guide stepped out
to the porch, followed by the girls, still chatting o