e summer resorts some miles away, were located two beautiful
bungalows, one of six rooms and the other of eight rooms. They were
built on a plot of ground bordering on a small cove of the lake, and
extending about a thousand feet back into the woods of the
mountain-side.

As my old readers will remember, Ben Basswood's father was interested in
real estate, and, a year or two before, he and Mr. Wadsworth had gone
into a land deal of considerable proportions. Several important
transactions had resulted, and in making one of the deals Mr. Wadsworth
and Mr. Basswood had become possessed of the two bungalows on Mirror
Lake, the two gentlemen owning both jointly.

At first, on acquiring the property, the jewelry manufacturer had been
in favor of selling it at public auction; but to this Mr. Basswood had
demurred.

"I think, Mr. Wadsworth," he had said, "if we hold that property for a
few years it will be far more valuable than it is now. The State road
has been built to within a few miles, and there is strong talk of its
being carried directly past Mirror Lake. Not only that; there is also
talk of the railroad putting in a spur through that district, and of
course that will help a great deal."

"Very well, Mr. Basswood. If you think we ought to hold the land, we'll
do it," had been Mr. Wadsworth's reply. "But what are we going to do
with the bungalows in the meantime?"

"We can either use them or rent them," had been the answer.

For the past season, and also during the early part of the present
summer, the two bungalows had been leased to some people from Rochester.
But now both bungalows were unoccupied.

It had been Dunston Porter's suggestion that they go up to Mirror Lake
on the return from the trip to Yellowstone Park, and this idea had been
quickly seconded by the young folks, especially by Laura and Jessie, who
had never as yet spent any time in the Adirondacks.

"They tell me the mountains are lovely, especially during the autumn,"
said the daughter of the jewelry manufacturer. "Oh, let us go, by all
means!"

"I am sure I would like it," Laura had answered. "But who will go with
us?"

The matter had been talked over while the young folks were returning
from Yellowstone Park, and also while Dave and Ben were at home, as well
as during the voyage on the _Eaglet_. As a result it had been arranged
that Mr. and Mrs. Basswood were to go up for part of the time, and also
Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth. Laura and Jessie