?"

"I shouldn't like to," demurred Cleo, "because you know that would
surely put the kibosh on our hikes. If Aunt Audrey were home I feel
certain she would allow us our liberty, conditionally, of course.
Pshaw! I wish the horrid man had kept away. Isn't it mean!"

Madaline appeared, rosy and shining, from the lavatory; evidently her
gardening experience had been both enjoyable and profitable.

Garbed in pretty dainty frocks, and carrying gorgeously brilliant
sweaters, the trio, with Jennie as chaperon, raced off to the lake
directly after dinner. The evening was delightfully clear and cool
after the shower, and the promise of a row out through the willow-bound
water was sufficient lure to banish from their minds all thoughts of
the suspicious man and the threatening old woman.

A group of boys down on the little pavilion was found to include Andy
and Mally Mack, as well as Jack Hagan, and very generously they offered
to give the girls a boat ride.

"Anything from a tug to a canoe!" proffered Andy, "and you may row,
sail or paddle."

"That's lovely," acknowledged Cleo, "but we promised to take a big flat
boat so Jennie may come this time," she smiled gratefully. "We would
love a canoe ride, some evening when Aunt Audrey is home."

Doing the next best thing to taking part in the sail, that of providing
the big flat bottom boat for the party, the boys promptly rowed up to
the clear end of the float and assisted Jennie to embark. Of course
the girls hopped in, disdaining so much as the kind hand Andy offered
them, and with a united push they were sent out into the pool, that now
in sunset looked like "a rummage sail [Transcriber's note: sale?] in a
paint shop," as Grace described the brilliantly lighted waters.

Regretful glances were sent after that "big flat bottom boat," but
women like Jennie had to be humored, and even good natured boys
realized this.

Grace and Cleo rowed up the stream. Many pleasure craft were afloat,
and the visitors already knew a number of Bellaire girls and boys who
called pleasant greetings.

The lake, wide at the basin, narrowed off into a tiny stream as it
followed the course, tracing its origin in the mountain springs.
Willows thick as a tasseled hedge hid the banks, and teased the boat as
the girls ducked and dipped their way, determined to go to the end, or
till they touched bottom.

"It will be almost dark in that dense thicket," Jennie warned them,
"and you know we ar